002: Peace offering

Celeste

Watching the warriors fight so fiercely just reminded me of the Great War. At that time, all rival packs surprisingly came together to eradicate a common foe. Now, there was some semblance of peace, but we all knew it was temporary. Anything could distort the balance at any time. 

All packs had their foes and allies, and even attacked each other, both discreetly and openly. This peace was as fragile as it could get, but we could only hope the Alpha King would show leadership and step in, preventing an all-out war among the packs. There was just too much bitterness to ignore. 

“Princess, those armors should be the least of your worries. The Alpha wants to see you now.” 

The armor in my hands suddenly felt too heavy, and I dropped it with a clatter. I even drew the attention of some warriors. I could only give them a wry smile in an attempt to hide my fear.

Throwing the rag on the pile of armor I had already cleaned, I shakily wiped an invisible sweat from my forehead. At the same time, I racked my brain to recall if I did anything that warranted me being summoned by the Alpha.

Nothing came to mind, yet the warriors’ pitiful looks didn’t escape my eyes. I haven’t met my father in three moons, and there shouldn’t be any reason for him to summon me so suddenly, if not to punish me.

“Just calm down and go find out what he has to say. Maybe he would only allow your stepsister to beat you to a pulp today. He may even make you kneel for five hours in front of his study like the last time. What could get worse than that?” 

I could only let out a bitter smile. The alpha was my father, but he was also the last person I ever wished to meet. I spent my days in the training grounds with the warriors, wiping their weapons and armor spotlessly clean. 

Whenever I wasn’t here, I was with the pack doctors. I just wanted to stay as far away from Alpha Holmes and his family as possible. 

Who was I kidding, anyway? Many times, just like today, they found the opportunity to humiliate and torture me, despite my staying out of their business. 

I wonder if he had a new poison he wanted to test on me now. Many pack members didn’t know this, but I was the test subject for most of the new poisons developed in this pack. 

My dear father made sure I never had a moment of peace. He said that was the only way I could contribute to the growth of the pack. A wolffless trash like me didn’t deserve to be married off to secure any alliance anyway. 

Tsk!

With my thoughts scattered all over the place, I was already in front of the council building. I stood before the huge wooden doors, but my hands just wouldn’t budge. 

I didn’t dare to open it. I was scared of what awaited me behind those doors, and was more glad the guards didn’t forcefully push me in. 

“You need to be prepared, Celeste.” It was when I heard the voice that I realized the warrior walked with me from the training grounds to the council hall. The funny thing was that I didn’t even notice his presence. 

My throat felt dry, but I still forced myself to ask, “Did Tabitha cook up any story about me this time?” 

This was the only reason I could come up with. Why else would the warrior alert me to be prepared? The warriors usually did this whenever the Alpha summoned me out of the blue. They may not witness me being tortured sometimes, but the bruises always said it all.

“I wish it were that simple, Celeste.” With his brows scrunched so tightly, the warrior opened the door, leading me into a room full of wolves. 

Well, the council members were all here, but I hadn’t met the man sitting beside the alpha before. He looked so out of place.

What did I do this time? 

Wait! Don’t tell me…

I staggered briefly, my heart missing a thousand beats. I was scared before coming here, but right now, I am petrified. Did he find out? But how? No. No. No. No. It’s impossible! He couldn’t have possibly found out, right? 

“Come here, my dear.” What the heck! 

Did the Alpha of the Moon Howler Pack just refer to me as ‘dear’ before everyone? 

I didn’t know if I should move or not. However, the warrior nudged me gently, and I finally moved.

“My dear, I told you to always dress appropriately. You wouldn’t want people looking down on you for being this haggard all the time, would you?” Erh! He never gave me clothes, so what did he even mean?

I looked behind me, but no one else was there. Was he really talking to me? 

“Sweetheart, like we discussed last night, some rogues attacked the delegation from the Iron Fang Pack. Only the beta survived.” He had a fake look of grief as he pointed toward the stranger I noticed earlier.

We didn’t discuss anything last night. I could also bet that he ordered the killing of the members of the delegation, but why? The alpha of Iron Fang Pack had the reputation of being utterly ruthless, so why would he be provoked so openly? Moreover, the warriors died within our walls. 

Come to think of it, what did all that have to do with me?

Tabitha and her mother stood to the side, all dolled up like they just walked out of a painting. Yet, I looked more like their maid in the faded clothes on my body.

The irony!

So much for their grief about the lost warriors.

“Don’t look so lost, Celeste. As a show of our sincerity, you have been promised to Alpha Horres. Thankfully, he has already agreed to make you his Luna and…” 

All blood drained from my face as my body began to tremble. Everything else he said got drowned out in my flurry of thoughts, because nothing made any sense to me.

“Celeste, I had no other choice but to offer my precious daughter, the apple of my eye. Sweetheart, don’t blame Daddy for giving you up, okay? Just know that it’s all for peace.”

What!!!