CHAPTER 6

TRENT

I pushed the door open with brute force, and it slammed against the wall, revealing the head guard and several pack guards seated around the round table. All heads turned in my direction, and they immediately shot to their feet when they saw me.

“How did you people let rogues slip past the pack’s security?” I slammed my hands against the table. “Aren’t I paying you all enough? How can keeping watch over the borders be a problem for every one of you?”

All heads bowed in shame, but that wasn’t what I was looking for.

“Speak!” I thundered, and they all flinched.

I wasn’t ready for this nonsense. They were all grown men, yet I still had to babysit them and teach them how to do their duties properly?

“W-We are very sorry, Alpha.” The head guard, Dason, stepped forward, looking me straight in the eyes. “It was my fault. My lack of attention allowed this to happen. I assure you, Alpha, that none of this will ever happen again.”

My hands clenched tightly as I slowly stood, staring deeply into his eyes.

“You dare look me in the eyes and spew that nonsense? You must be courting death.”

There was so much anger inside me that I couldn’t even bring myself to shout.

Dason suddenly crashed to his knees, his head striking the edge of the table. Blood trickled from the wound and ran down toward his eyes, but he didn’t even blink.

“I am very sorry, Alpha,” he said firmly.

Sighing, I rubbed my temple. I wasn’t truly ready for this. Celine was out there, and this matter was irrelevant compared to finding her.

“I give you one hour to get rid of them and send their heads to whoever sent them.” I turned toward the door. “Immediately after you deliver their heads, kill them all.”

“Understood, Alpha!”

Their voices echoed behind me as I shut the door.

I stood in the hallway, staring into space before tilting my head back and inhaling deeply. I slowly exhaled, trying to calm myself.

Moon Goddess, please.

I know I have committed a grave sin against my mate, Celine, and I have been drowning myself in guilt over it.

I know what it’s like to lose someone dear to me. I have finally found her. Please, don’t take her away from me again.

“Alpha Trent?”

Arianna’s curious voice came from behind me, but my feet kept moving without slowing down.

Her hurried footsteps approached from behind, followed by her scent. Her fingers wrapped around my arm, stopping me.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” I said flatly.

She instantly let go of me.

“Are you mad at me? What offense have I committed to make you refuse to even look at me, Alpha?”

I let out a shaky breath.

“Has Celine left?”

She was silent for a moment.

“She’s speaking with Grandma Bridget.”

My eyes widened instantly, and hope rushed through me.

Before I knew it, I was already running toward Celine.

Perhaps Grandma Bridget could help me speak to her and convince her to forgive me.

I knew how much Celine adored her. She wouldn’t dare make Grandma Bridget angry.

“What’s wrong with you?” Arianna grabbed my arm again, and I yanked it away.

“You shouldn’t be behaving this way! You look like a madman! She’s just a woman. You can replace her anytime. Stop making her feel so important! You saw how she relished the defeat in your eyes when you willingly gave her half of your worth. When will you snap back to your senses?”

Something inside me snapped.

Just a woman?

Replace her?

The words echoed in my head, and the anger burning through my veins intensified.

“Replace her?” I repeated quietly.

In the blink of an eye, wind rushed around me, and Arianna was pinned high against the wall. Her feet dangled helplessly as my fingers wrapped around her throat.

“How dare you say that about my Luna?”

Her eyes widened in shock as she struggled against my grip.

“Celine isn’t just some woman I can replace when I grow tired of her.” My voice was low, each word carrying the weight of my rage. “She is my mate. My other half. The woman I spent months searching for, thinking I had lost her forever.”

My fingers tightened around her throat.

“You have no idea what it feels like to wake up every day knowing the person who completes you is gone. You have no idea how many nights I spent wondering if she was alive, if she was safe, if I would ever see her again.”

Arianna’s fingers clawed at my wrist, but I barely noticed.

“And now that I have finally found her, you expect me to treat her like she’s replaceable?”

I leaned closer, my eyes burning into hers.

“There is no replacing Celine.”

Her eyes widened.

“I would lose everything before I willingly lose her again.”

Her eyes rolled back.

“Please...” she choked, spit dripping from the corner of her mouth.

I let go instantly.

She collapsed onto the floor, breathing heavily and coughing between gasps.

I turned away from her, taking several deep breaths as I fought to regain control of my anger.

That should serve as enough of a warning.

I walked away and hurried toward Celine.

“Bye, Grandma.”

Celine waved at Grandma Bridget as the tall bastard holding her arm guided her toward the limousine.

Never in my entire life with her had I imagined a day would come when I would feel this hopeless, yearning to have her beside me. To have her in my arms, to breathe in her scent, knowing she was mine.

How had I let things fall apart and come to this?

“Celine!”

I yelled, hoping she would stop.

Surprisingly, her feet slowed.

She slowly turned around and glared coldly at me.

Suddenly, Jerome stepped behind her and lifted the veil over her head, lowering it until it covered her face completely. The veil was thick enough that only she could see me clearly, while I couldn’t make out the expression on her face.

“Please, don’t go.”

My feet shook as I reached out a hand toward her.

“I’m truly sorry for everything that has happened. I-I know it will take a long time for you to forgive me, but please... These last few months without you made me realize just how much I couldn’t bear having my other half, the woman I love, away from me.”

If I could kneel, I would have done so without hesitation, but my pride wouldn’t let me.

Still, I would do anything to show her how deeply regretful I was.

“Alpha Trent.”

“Y-Yes.”

My heart leaped with hope.

“Henceforth, I am rejecting the mate bond between us.”

She began speaking, and my jaw dropped as panic rushed through my chest.

No.

No!

“I, Astra…”