Chapter 100: A Predator’s Territory
Chapter 100: A Predator’s Territory
(Celeste’s POV)
Marcus’s sharp smile widened as we stepped into the dimly lit tavern. His violet eyes gleamed with a possessiveness that made my skin crawl. He gestured for his guards to keep their distance, his royal wolf’s aura flooding the space with unmissable dominance.
“This way,” he murmured, steering me toward a darkened, secluded corner. His large frame
loomed over me as he held my burned wrist firmly, making escape impossible. The
moon–blessed pendant Alexander had forced upon me felt heavier with every step, its faint
glow seeming to mock my entrapment.
Marcus’s lips curved upward again as we reached the corner. He pulled out a chair with an exaggerated flourish. “Sit, my little mate.” His tone bordered on mocking, but the danger in his
violet gaze wasn’t subtle.
T
I hesitated, my instincts screaming to resist his command. His hand tightened on my wrist,
and I winced as the bruises worsened under his crushing grip. “Or would you prefer I carry you
back to my personal suite?” he added, his voice laced with amusement.
Forced to comply, I sank into the chair silently, trapping my wolf’s whimpers deep inside me.
Marcus leaned over, one hand gripping the chair’s back near my head, effectively caging me
- in.
“You know,” he began, his voice deceptively soft, “I’ve noticed some… interesting things about
your behavior. Especially around Alexander.”
The mention of Alexander made my muscles tense involuntarily. My wolf curled inward at the
accusatory glint in Marcus’s eyes.
“Relax, precious,” he drawled. “I understand.” His fingers brushed back a strand of hair that
had fallen across my face, their claw–like sharpness grazing my temple. “Feelings for one’s
first love can be… hard to forget.”
My heart skipped a beat. “You misunderstand,” I replied stiffly, forcing my gaze to remain level
with his. “There’s nothing between Alexander and me.”
Marcus tilted his head, the mockery thick in his smirk. “Oh? Nothing, you say?” His lips curved further upward as he leaned in closer, until his icy pine scent overwhelmed my senses. “Then why do you linger? Why does this pendant“-he tugged at the moon–blessed charm resting on
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Chapter 100: A Predator’s Territ…
my collarbone-“remain with you despite your protests?”
I sucked in a shaky breath, refusing to allow his words to pierce through the mental walls I’d
built. “The pendant was a… a gesture of protection–nothing more,” I said carefully, trying to
keep my tone even.
Marcus’s low chuckle sent a cold shiver down my spine. “You mean to tell me,” he said, his voice dropping lower, “that Alexander’s little gift wasn’t his way of keeping a claim on you? Even knowing you belong to me?”
He tugged sharply at the pendant again, the chain biting into my neck before he released it. My wolf recoiled inside as it became clear this wasn’t merely a passing topic for him.
“Let me share a little story.” Marcus straightened, his violet eyes gleaming with malice. He sat across from me with a casual arrogance, propping his chin on his fist like he was preparing to
share a joke.
“Did you know,” he began, his tone deceptively light, “that the Alpha King’s daughter once took special interest in a young wolf who caught Alexander’s eye?”
I froze, my mind racing. I’d heard vague rumors about the Alpha King’s daughter–stories of her volatile jealousy and the punishments wolves suffered at her hands.
Marcus’s predatory smile widened as he watched realization dawn in my expression. “I see you’ve heard whispers,” he said smugly. “Fascinating, isn’t it? She never quite forgave the poor
girl for daring to exist too close to her golden warrior.”
The malice lacing his words felt crushing, aimed not only at the nameless wolf in his story but
directly at me.
“What are you implying?” I asked sharply, though my voice wavered despite my best efforts.
Marcus leaned back in his chair, feigning nonchalance. “Nothing, precious. Just thought you’d find it… enlightening.”
He drew the last word out deliberately, as though letting the weight of it hang unanswered. I gripped the edges of the chair beneath me, swallowing my unease.
“I don’t fear stories,” I said firmly, though my throat felt dry as I tried to maintain whatever semblance of strength remained.
Marcus hummed, his amusement clear. “Maybe not. But you should fear history repeating
itself.”
The statement hung ominously in the air as he suddenly stood, gripping my wrist once again-
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Chapter 100: A Predator’s Territ…
and this time, his claws extended enough to pierce the fabric of my sleeve.
“Shall we continue our conversation somewhere quieter?” he murmured, his violet eyes
gleaming as his wolf surged beneath his skin.
Terror shot through me as I noticed the tavern’s atmosphere shift. The warmth of other wolves‘ presences had faded completely. I glanced around quickly, realizing he’d led us into a
more private area, away from prying eyes.
“You planned this,” I accused, my voice trembling despite my attempts to sound defiant.
Marcus tilted his head in mock surprise. “Planned what? To spend quality time with my mate?
Guilty as charged.”
When I stepped back, his grip on my wrist yanked me forward with almost casual brutality. My scarred wolf whimpered internally as I struggled silently against his strength.
“Were you warned about my territory, little mate?” His tone was gentle, almost caring, but the claws grazing my skin made it obvious this was another cruel game.
“Marcus,” I began carefully, “this is… inappropriate.”
“Inappropriate?” he echoed, his lips twitching into a smile as his claws pricked my skin deliberately. “You think I care about propriety?”
Before I could answer, he shoved me against the rough stone wall lining the secluded corridor. The impact sent pain radiating through my back, and the silver burns on my arm screamed in protest at his closeness. My hands shot up to push against his chest, but his wolf’s strength eclipsed mine.
“You didn’t answer my question,” he whispered darkly. “Did someone warn you about me? Hmm? My dear cousin Diana, perhaps?”
I pressed my lips together, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response. Marcus’s violet eyes narrowed, his claws digging deeper into my arm with infuriating slowness.
“Keeping secrets from your mate?” he taunted. “I thought we were past that.”
His free hand rose, cold claws tracing the jagged scars on my face. “Do these make strong, precious?” he mocked quietly. “Do you think they make you my equal?”
you
feel
A sharp laugh escaped his lips. “Let me tell you what true strength is.”
In an instant, his fingers wrapped around my throat, his royal wolf’s overwhelming dominance cutting off my air. My knees buckled slightly as I clawed at his arm, but his grip didn’t budge.
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“True strength,” Marcus continued, his voice dangerously soft, “is knowing when to surrender.”
Spots danced at the edges of my vision as my wolf howled internally, panicking at the lack of
oxygen.
my throat
Just when I thought he might follow through on his silent threat, Marcus released
abruptly. I gasped for air, clutching at the aching muscles where his grip had been.
But his hands didn’t leave me for long. He grabbed my face firmly, forcing my gaze upward. ”
Eyes on me,” he ordered, his claws scraping my jaw, his voice dripping with cruel satisfaction.
“You mentioned concerns about pack politics earlier, he murmured, his thumb brushing
mockingly over my lips. “But shouldn’t you be more concerned about dear Eleanor’s fragility?”
My heart dropped into my stomach, the cold dread surging as his words landed their intended
blow.
“Imagine how…” He smiled slowly, savoring every word, “tragic it would be if further strain on
her wolf… hastened the inevitable.”
My wolf froze inside me. Marcus tilted his head, waiting for my reaction that came unbidden-
a barely audible whimper escaped my throat.
His smile widened. He’d found the perfect leash. Eleanor.
The vulnerability I had fought so hard to hide was now another weapon in Marcus’s arsenal.
And he knew it well.
