Chapter 85: Gathering at Moon Lake
Chapter 85: Gathering at Moon Lake
(Celeste’s POV)
The reflection of the sun on Moon Lake’s surface would have been mesmerizing if it wasn’t for
the iron grip of unease tightening around me. My wolf stirred anxiously within me, instincts
screaming caution at every step.
This wasn’t a peaceful gathering; this was a trap. I could feel Marcus’s hand orchestrating every detail.
The silver burns beneath my skin itched and stung, a constant reminder of Victoria’s betrayal.
Marcus, the same man who just days ago had Lucas bound in silver chains as punishment for
the mercenary attack, suddenly sought “reconciliation“? No. Something was wrong.
“Stay alert, My Lady,” Nina said quietly, her silver–gray wolf at my side, radiating her usual
steady protectiveness. Her words were calm, but I could hear the sharp undertone. She didn’t
trust this meeting, not one bit.
“I’m always alert,” I replied coolly, though I clutched the edge of my cloak tighter than necessary. My voice carried the calm confidence I needed to project, but inside, my mind
whirled.
The two of us approached the clearing near Moon Lake, where pack members were already
forming small groups. A mix of murmurs rippled through the gathering as my presence
became the unspoken focus.
“Ah, the guest of honor arrives,” Diana’s taunting voice sliced through the air.
I turned toward the source, already bracing myself. Diana stepped forward, her golden wolf practically bristling with hostility. The gleam in her sharp eyes said everything–this moment
wasn’t random but carefully planned.
“Everyone, don’t forget to bow to Lady Celeste,” she continued with mock reverence, her lips curving into a sneer. “She’s practically Luna already. Right?”
Murmurs rose around us. The underlying tension in their voices fed Diana’s confidence. She
stepped closer, reveling in the attention she’d drawn.
I forced myself to keep my expression neutral, my back straight even as my wolf snarled within. Diana had always had a sharp tongue, but today, it was venomous.
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Chapter 85: Gathering at Moon L…
“I see you’re still as sharp–tongued as ever, Diana,” I said, my voice cold and even. I wouldn’t rise to her bait. Not yet.
“And I see you’re as entitled as ever,” she shot back, crossing her arms. Amusement flickered in her tone, but her wolf radiated contempt. “Parading around like you’re already claimed. Acting like Marcus has already marked you. How very presumptuous.”
Her words were like barbed hooks, designed to provoke. Several young wolves chuckled nervously, exchanging glances, caught between their fear of Marcus and their curiosity about the drama unfolding.
I raised an eyebrow, tilting my head slightly. “If you’re so eager to acknowledge my rank, Diana, feel free to show proper submission here and now.”
Diana’s composure wavered for a brief second. Her wolf faltered, clearly hesitating at the
implied challenge. But then she quickly masked her reaction with another scoff, her
confidence flaring as she straightened her posture.
“Don’t flirt with me, Celeste,” she hissed. Her voice was low but sharp enough to reach the small crowd forming an invisible circle around us. “You’re far from deserving any submission from me, or anyone else in this pack.”
I locked eyes with her, refusing to flinch. “And yet,” I replied, “here I stand as future Luna.”
The silence that followed was charged. Diana’s lips twitched as if struggling to hold back a retort, her golden eyes narrowing in frustration.
Emma, a younger beta wolf standing nearby, hesitated before stepping forward. The nervous look in her eyes betrayed her unease. Her sharp breathing and fidgeting fingers showed she wasn’t here to challenge me–she was here to stop this before it progressed further.
“Diana,” Emma whispered urgently, tugging at her arm. “Don’t do this. Not here. It’s–it’s not
worth it.”
But Diana wrenched her arm free, her glare snapping to Emma briefly before returning to me. She wasn’t even close to finished. Not yet.
Ignoring Emma, Diana threw another jab. Her voice rose louder, ensuring everyone in the vicinity could hear. “You wear those burns like a badge, don’t you, Celeste? Tell me, how long will it take before manipulating everyone around you leaves you scarred on the inside, too?”
Her words struck sharper than I cared to admit, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of showing pain.
8 Point
Chapter 85: Gathering at Moon L…
“Are we done here?” I asked icily, crossing my arms. “Or are you determined to provide an
audience for your tantrum, Diana?”
Diana snarled, taking a step closer as her wolf bristled. “You think this is a tantrum? Oh, no.
This is a warning. Lucas bled for you-”
Her words cut off as another voice interjected softly. “Please,” Scarlett murmured, stepping
forward with her familiar delicate grace.
Scarlett’s emerald eyes shimmered with concern as she walked between Diana and me. Every
movement she made was calculated, carefully designed to project gentleness and sincerity.
“Diana, let’s not escalate this further,” Scarlett said softly, her hands clasped near her chest.
She tilted her head, her auburn hair catching the sunlight in a way that made her look angelic.
But I saw through it. Every step, every tremble in her voice, was a performance.
“Diana’s just defending her brother,” Scarlett added, her voice barely above a whisper now. She
glanced at me, her eyes wide and earnest. “We’ve all been under so much strain… Let’s not
turn on each other.”
For a moment, the wolves around us seemed swayed. Even Emma looked at Scarlett with a
mix of admiration and pity.
But Diana wasn’t having it. She scoffed openly, her wolf surging forward aggressively as she
turned on Scarlett instead.
“Don’t play innocent, Scarlett,” Diana hissed, her golden eyes narrowing. “You want this as
much as anyone–Celeste out of the way. Don’t deny it. I’ve watched you work too hard to hide behind that delicate act of yours forever.”
Scarlett flinched, her wolf wincing visibly. But her reaction was measured. She didn’t snap back or argue. Instead, she blinked quickly, her emerald eyes filling with tears.
“That’s not true,” Scarlett whispered, her voice trembling. “All I-”
“You’ll have your title soon, anyway,” Diana interrupted, her tone dripping with scorn. She
jabbed a finger in Scarlett’s direction this time. “Lady Luna Scarlett Steele. Isn’t that what this
is all about? Shall we start addressing you properly now?”
The air turned sharp, thick with tension. Even my breathing felt heavier as Diana’s words sank
- in.
Scarlett flushed faintly, her wolf preening. Those words-“Lady Luna“-clearly filled her with pride, no matter how much she tried to hide it behind her trembling figure.
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Chapter 85: Gathering at Moon L…
But even as Scarlett blushed, I saw her glance at Alexander. Her expression shifted, hopeful, expecting… something from him. Approval, acknowledgment, pride–something.
Whatever she sought, she didn’t find it.
Because Alexander wasn’t looking at her.
I felt his ice–blue gaze settle on me instead. Across the clearing, through the flurry of tension and conflict swirling around us, his focus remained fixed.
There was no mistaking it. His brow furrowed slightly, frustration flickering across his
otherwise stoic expression. His jaw tightened. His posture stiffened. Something was clearly
tugging at him.
Scarlett noticed it too. Her quiet pride wavered, her blush fading as uncertainty crept into her
features. Her wolf recoiled, subtle but telling.
“I think we should let this go,” Scarlett murmured suddenly, taking a hesitant step back. Her
voice was quieter now, less sure.
Diana growled under her breath, her golden wolf bristling. “Let it go?” she repeated, disbelief
lacing her voice. “You’d back down now? After everything she’s done to your family?”
The pause that followed was heavy. Even the gathered wolves seemed unsure how to react.
All eyes were divided–half on me, the other half on Scarlett, waiting to see how this act of
hers would end.
Scarlett hesitated for only a moment longer. Then, with a practiced tremble, she turned her
worried gaze on the others watching us. “For the sake of peace,” she whispered.
It was perfectly timed. The perfect ending to her little performance. And just like that, another
attempt to fracture my defenses had been staged for the pack to witness.
