CHAPTER ELEVEN

The whole place was dark and silent like a graveyard, only the sound of my own breathing was heard. Smoke erupted from my nostril, and in an instant, my eyes fluttered open, burning with flames.

As if I was controlled by an invisible force, I sat upright, and turned my head slowly, taking a glance around the room. After a while, I got up and decided to head out, but the chains on my wrist restricted me.

My gaze drifted to it, and at the same time, the chains slipped off my hands, and I bit my lips and gaze at the door, which suddenly flung open by an invisible force. 

''Move! Move!''

A voice in my head spoke, and without wasting much time, I began to head towards the door, my eyes fixed intently at nothing. As soon as I'm outside, I heard a loud growl at the back of my mind, and my eyes rolled lazily in their sockets. Unexpectedly, I shut my eyes and crumpled to the floor.

The next day 

I woke up, groaning loudly. My eyes darted around, and I tilted my head as realization dawned on me. I wasn't in the torture room, neither in the dungeon, but a strange room filled with luxury. Suddenly, a man emerged from a room with a towel wrapped around his waist, water dripping from his wet hair, down to his back.

As he turned and faced me, my heart skipped a beat and I sucked in a breath, my eyes widening in shock. I'd seen him before on one of the days I went on an errand with my friend, Lyra.

He's no other than Alpha Lucien, of the Lockwood pack. According to Lyra who'd told me everything I needed to know about him, Alpha Lucien is ruthless and powerful. No one dares him and go scot free.

'' You're finally awake,'' he said with a glint in his eyes, and began to take a step closer to me. I shrieked in fear and shifted backward.

'' Don't be scared, I'm not going to hurt you.'' He muttered, and stopped abruptly, then added with a chuckle. '' Besides, I should be the one scared of you.''

I raised her brows, wondering what was funny. His words resonated in my ears and I widened my eyes in shock. '' Why?'' I blurted out, and Lucien's face twisted in anger.

He hated questions, everyone around him knows. However, when he recalled who she is, he gulped down and responded nonchalantly. '' Because you're special.''

I looked away to avoid his gaze, while different thought began to slip into my mind. For the first time someone ever said that to me. I'd always heard that I was worthless.

'' How did I get here?'' I asked calmly, but he heaved a deep sigh and looked away, rolling his eyes.

'' I found you in the forest, close to the boundary between our pack and Blackfang Pack. I brought you here, and get your bruises treated.''

I glanced at myself, and everything that happened began to flood into my mind. My jaws twitched in anger as I recalled the guards torturing me mercilessly. My cries, my screams, the more I thought about it, the more furious I became. Unexpectedly fire appeared in my palms, and Alpha Lucien held his breath.

'' Celeste,'' he called softly and I turned to him instantly, my eyes burning with flames. '' You're safe now, you're no longer there.''

He demonstrated with his hands, and continued. ''Take a deep breath, and calm down, I'm here for you.''

As if an ice was poured on me, everything within me subsided, and I closed my eyes slowly. When I opened them again, I found Alpha Lucien right in front of her, his gaze locked on her.

'' Are you alright?'' He asked, and I nodded affirmatively. 

'' Thanks for your help, I really appreciate. But I have to go.'' I stepped down from the bed, but Lucien stopped me instantly.

'' You don't have to be in a haste,'' Lucien said calmly and I turned slightly to look at him, but quickly turned away, shifting uncomfortably when I recalled he's only wearing a towel.

However, Lucien noticed it. He cleared his throat softly, and took a step back to give her space. "I'll get dressed in a moment. But first, let me say this…" he paused, and my eyes met his.

"I know you don't trust me yet," he began, watching me carefully. "You've been betrayed, beaten, thrown away like you didn't matter." He gulped down and continued with a tightened face.

 "But to me, you're not just another broken soul. You're fire, strength, and something they'll never be able to destroy."

My lips parted, but I was short of words. The lump in my throat tightened.

"I don't want to trap you here," Lucien added gently. "You're free to leave whenever you want. But if you stay…" he took a deep breath, "I'll give you my protection. I'll give you my sword, and I'll give you vengeance."

His face darkened with anger, and my fist clenched involuntarily. "You don't know what they did to me."

"I don't need to know every detail," he paused and heaved a deep sigh. "I saw enough in your eyes and on your body." His voice dropped and I bit my lips as memories flooded my mind again.

"The moment I saw you in that forest, I knew something bad had happened to you, but it wasn't ordinary. And I swear, on the blood of my ancestors, Celeste. As long as you're with me, whoever touched you will suffer."

There's silence between us for a while, as I contemplated on what to do. Lucien seemed to be different from the way Lyra spoke about him. I began to wonder if he has other motive or he's just concerned about her.

Since he didn't have anything to say again,, Lucien turned slightly toward the other room. "Let me change, there's food on the table. Take your bath, eat something. After that, I'll tell you everything I know about you, and the mark that appeared on your back."

Celeste raised her head in surprise. "What mark?" She asked, confusion etched on her face.

Lucien paused at the doorway, and glanced over his shoulder. "The same one that's on my chest."

He muttered, and with that, he disappeared into the next room, leaving Celeste frozen at the spot, her heart pounding louder than ever.

A FEW DAYS LATER 

Alpha Orion sat in his study room, with a glass of alcohol in his hand. The truth was hard to believe, even when it's glaring before his eyes. It's been four days since she went missing, four days since his warriors went searching for her, four days since Seraphina died. His heart clenched as he thought of it, and at the same time the door opened and a guard walked in. 

'' Greetings, alpha.'' Said the guard with a bow.

'' Any news?'' Alpha Orion asked, without sparing him a glance. 

'' Yes, your highness. She's found in the neighbouring pack, report has it she's with Alpha Lucien.''

Orion turned to him instantly, his eyes widened in shock. The glass slipped from his hand and shattered against the floor, causing the guard to shriek in fear. 

"What did you just say?"

The guard hesitated, before responding. "She… Celeste… she was seen in the Lockwood Pack. With Alpha Lucien, your highness."

For a moment, he couldn't utter a word nor move. His mind filled with random thoughts. He couldn't believe his ears, Celeste alive and not with anyone else, but his greatest enemy, Alpha Lucien.

The name alone ignited a storm of fury within him.

Orion clenched his jaws, and his eyes glowed faintly with his wolf's rage. "He took her." he whispered, more to himself than the guard. "He has her."

"Reports say she's being treated well, Alpha. That she's…"

"Silence!" Orion roared, and shot the guard a deadly glare.

'' I'm sorry, my alpha.'' He apologize with a slight bow, but Orion didn't pay attention to him. 

"Prepare the horses. Send word to our allies, we have to get her back.'' Alpha Orion ordered, and the guard bowed and walked out through the door, leaving him alone in the room.

'' You can't escape from me, Celeste. They have tried before, but no one succeeded. I am Orion Blackwood. No one messes with me.''