The handshake Kent gave her was warm and confident.
The man was gazing at her, a small smile curling at the corner of his lips. His eyes were brimming with curiosity as they roamed up and down and all around her.
The handshake seemed to have lasted for too long. Celeste tried to pull her hand back, but the man's grip was tight.
Kent cleared his throat as if he had just noticed that he was still holding onto her hand. He let go and apologized, "I'm sorry. Your beauty has left me dumbfounded."
Celeste snorted. The man was a flirt. And she couldn't help but notice the way Kent commanded the attention of everyone he met.
It wasn't just his rugged appearance, although that certainly played a part. His beard and piercing eyes only added to the rough-and-tumble image he projected. More than anything, though, it was the air of danger that seemed to surround him at all times. He moved with purpose, his every step graceful yet threatening all at once.
Maybe that was why the young ladies in the pack found him so attractive.
Here they were, living their peaceful lives in the forest, basking in the dappled sunlight on lazy afternoons. Kent's unique experience as a rogue, his tales of crossing mountains and even fighting off enemies, were intriguing enough to sparkle their imaginations.
"So, tell me, Kent, how long have you been a rogue?" The question slipped out of Celeste's mouth.
The man shrugged. "Well… It's only been a few months."
Celeste raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Only a few months? You seem like a seasoned rogue to me."
Kent chuckled at that. "I've always had an adventurous spirit. I guess being a rogue just allows that part of me to be fully tapped."
"The Goddess was right! You guys will like each other." Before Celeste could say anything, Byron chanted with a grin on his face. Both Celeste and Kent turned their gazes to the Alpha.
"What do you mean?" Celeste asked. What did the Goddess have anything to do with this? She looked at Kent and found the man equally confused. Did Byron ask the Goddess about their potential relationship?
"Oops…!" Byron scratched his head as if realizing that he had just spilled the beans.
Suddenly, the crowd at the other end of the place seemed very interesting to him."Ha! What's happening over there? I must go and have a look. You guys have a good chat!" Without waiting for their answers, Byron walked away.
Before he was gone, he made sure to wink at Celeste, at which Celeste rolled her eyes.
She wondered if she should follow him and squeeze him for what he was up to. But Byron was already far away from her before any decision was made.
Celeste retreated her gaze from the Alpha and turned to Kent. The man was staring at Byron, too.
Sensing Celeste's eyes on him, Kent snapped his attention away from the Alpha. But he was not fast enough to hide the complicated emotion in his eyes. His furrowed brows relaxed when he turned to her.
Celeste wondered what the man was thinking about.
"So, how long have you been a part of the pack, Celeste?" Kent asked, pulling Celeste out of her thinking.
"Well, my family has been a part of the pack for generations, so you can say forever."
"I see… No wonder you're so close to Alpha Byron."
Celeste shrugged. "Everyone in the pack is close to Byron. We all trust him. He is a great leader we all love. I knew him ever since I could remember. To me, he's more like a cool uncle."
"That's surprising to me." Kent nodded thoughtfully and mumbled in such a low voice that she almost missed it.
"Why?" The question spilled out of her lips automatically. "Is the Alpha in your old pack stern?"
Kent did a doubt take, seemingly not expecting her to hear his mumble. "Err…yeah. That's why I left."
Didn't he leave because of his Alpha's power game? That was what they had told her. Celeste frowned. Probably that was one of the reasons that drove him away.
"What brought you to our pack, then? After months of being a rogue."
Kent paused for a moment as if considering how much he should reveal. Finally, he said, "I was looking for a fresh start. A new place where I could move on and make a difference."
"Interesting," Celeste said, studying his face. "And have you found that here?"
Kent looked around the place, taking in the faces and warm surroundings. His gaze paused for a few seconds on the Alpha before returning to her face. "Honestly, I don't know. But I have hope," he said softly. "The Goddess nodded for me being here, and everyone has been so welcoming. I feel like I'm part of something special."
Celeste nodded in agreement. "Yes, this pack is something special," she continued when seeing the smile widen on Kent's face. "We stick together, no matter what. We fight for what we believe in and protect those we care about."
"You sound very passionate about that," he observed.
"I am," Celeste replied earnestly. "Being a werewolf is more than just a curse or a blessing. It's a responsibility. We have power, and we have to use it wisely."
"I agree," Kent smiled at her, his eyes sparkling. "We have to be mindful of our actions and their consequences."
Celeste smiled back at him.
"You're a smart woman, Celeste. I can tell we're going to get along just fine."
Celeste felt a blush rise to her cheeks. She hadn't expected such a compliment from him, but she was pleasantly surprised. "Thank you, Kent. I think we are, too."
The man moved closer to her, the curiosity on his face growing more obvious.
Suddenly, a short cry burst from the bush not far away from them. It was not loud, but both Celeste and Kent heard it clearly. They exchanged a quick glance, then without hesitation, turned to the source of the noise.