Chapter 143: A Poisoned Awakening
Chapter 143: A Poisoned Awakening
(Celeste’s POV)
My head pounded with a relentless, piercing ache as consciousness slowly returned. A sharp, pungent scent clawed its way into my nostrils–an overwhelming mix of herbal ointments and
the metallic tang of silver. My wolf stirred weakly but recoiled almost instantly from the smell, whimpering in the back of my mind.
I blinked my eyes open with effort, my vision still hazy. The furnishings around me were
unfamiliar. The room held a distinctly masculine air–dark wood, muted tones, and a faint
scent of aged parchment mixed with the herbs. Panic bubbled in my chest. This wasn’t my
room in the pack house.
“Get out.”
The voice was cold, sharp as a blade, and utterly commanding.
My head snapped toward the sound, and my breath hitched. A man sat a few feet away, his body angled toward the window. His gaunt frame and sharp features made him look like a
shadow of the warrior he once must have been. Even seated in the wheelchair, he exuded an
aura of authority and cold detachment.
I knew him from descriptions I’d overheard–Kane Steele.
Alexander’s older brother and former elite warrior, his legend loomed large despite his current
state. Stories of his bravery in saving the Alpha King, at the cost of his own health, had been
etched into pack lore.
But the man before me now bore no resemblance to the hero depicted in those tales. His ice–blue eyes held a frigid disdain as they pinned me in place, dissecting every movement with detached cruelty. The scars across his pale face and hands only added to his intimidating air.
I froze under his scrutiny, my instincts screaming danger.
His voice cut through the silence again, each word sharper than the last. “I said, get out.”
The paralysis from his words broke, and I scrambled to move. But the moment I tried to swing my legs off the bed, the muscles refused to obey.
Panic surged through me as I attempted to push myself upright. My limbs felt like dead weight–foreign and useless. The poison. Realization struck hard and fast. My body hadn’t
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Chapter 143: A Poisoned Awake…
recovered from whatever Lucas and Scarlett had forced down my throat.
“Move faster,” Kane sneered, his voice filled with condescension as he leaned back into his
wheelchair.
I forced myself to sit up, though each movement felt like dragging myself through a swamp. My trembling arms gave way, and I fell forward, landing hard on my knees.
Humiliation burned through me as I knelt there, gasping against the cold floor. It took every
ounce of self–control I had not to cry.
“Oh, how pitiful.” Kane’s amusement was evident in his soft chuckle.
I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms as I gritted out, “I…I apologize. I didn’t mean to disturb you.” My voice cracked, weak and pathetic even to my own ears.
He said nothing, his silence louder than words as his chilling gaze bore down on me like a predator watching wounded prey.
Desperation coursed through me. I had to leave this room. I didn’t know how I got here, but deep down, I could guess. The memory of Lucas, Scarlett, Grace, and that cursed wine
crashed into me like a tidal wave.
The claws of realization dug deep.
They had drugged me. Poisoned me.
And brought me here.
Kane’s quarters. My heart thundered in my chest as another horrifying scenario unfolded in my mind. Did Lucas intend for Kane…?
No. I shook my head violently, rejecting the thought. That couldn’t have happened. It wouldn’t. Fear mixed with fury, creating a volatile storm brewing inside me.
Finally, I forced my shaky legs under me, stumbling to stand upright. My knees wobbled dangerously, but I managed to steady myself against the edge of the bed.
A cold laugh escaped Kane’s lips as he watched my struggle. “By all means, feel free to leave,” he said, gesturing dismissively toward the door. “But judging by the state you’re in, you won’t
make it far.”
I glared at him through swollen, blurry eyes but didn’t dignify his remark with a response.
Instead, I focused on my breathing, forcing my body to move one feeble step after another. Kane didn’t stop me. He simply observed, his expression detached as though I were an
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Chapter 143: A Poisoned Awake….
amusing spectacle.
My surroundings spun slightly, but I ignored it, dragging myself toward the heavy wooden door. Even with my dulled senses, I could make out subtle details–the fine etchings on the door’s surface, the faint scratching mark on the handle.
I gritted my teeth, gripping the handle tightly before yanking it downward as hard as I could.
The chill of the hallway air hit me instantly, carrying with it faint, muffled sounds of distant
voices. My wolf stirred weakly at the change of scent but remained silent.
My goal was clear–get out of this pack house before anyone else found me. Before Lucas or
Scarlett unleashed another scheme.
The hallway stretched endlessly ahead of me, each step feeling like an eternity. My body
screamed in protest, the wolfsbane poisoning sapping what little strength I had left. Still, I
pressed forward, guided by instinct more than anything else.
Then I heard him.
“Little Moon?”
The nickname froze me in my tracks. I turned my head dizzily, searching. A figure approached
swiftly from the shadows.
Relief flashed through me briefly before being overshadowed by dread.
Matthew Sterling.
Alexander’s right–hand man. The ever–loyal second–in–command.
His storm–gray eyes widened the moment our gaze met. Despite my haze, I caught the flicker
of recognition, followed by alarm.
“Celeste!” His tone was sharp but filled with concern as he closed the distance between us.
I stumbled slightly, but before I could hit the ground, his arms were around me. His strong grip
steadied my failing legs, pulling me upright.
“What happened?” he demanded, his gaze scanning my flushed face and trembling form. His nose crinkled slightly as he caught the scent.
“Wolfsbane,” he murmured under his breath, realization dawning. “And…moon–blessed…” His
voice trailed off, disgust and anger simmering beneath his calm exterior.
I tried to step back, but his hands remained firm on my shoulders. “Let go,” I managed to
croak, my voice hoarse from the lingering effects of the poison.
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Chapter 143: A Poisoned Awake…
“Stay still,” he commanded softly, removing the dark warrior’s cloak draped across his
shoulders. Without waiting for an answer, he wrapped it around me in a single fluid motion.
The heat of the fabric enveloped my cold body, though it did little to ease my inner turmoil.
Matthew muttered something too quiet for me to catch before gently lifting me into his arms.
The shift in position startled me. “No–put me down!” I squirmed weakly, but it felt like fighting
against stone.
The steel resolve in his gaze brooked no argument. “We’re leaving,” he stated firmly. “Your
condition isn’t up for debate.”
Even as fury surged through me at his audacity, part of me couldn’t ignore the hint of safety
his actions provided. But with Lucas and Scarlett’s betrayal fresh in my heart, I couldn’t bring
myself to trust anyone–not even Matthew Sterling.
“I-” My protest faded as exhaustion overwhelmed me.
My wolf whined softly, caught between gratitude and distrust as Matthew carried me deeper
into the pack house’s shadows.
His movements were steady, purposeful, as though he feared whatever trap had brought me
here might still be lurking around the corner.
With each step, his scent surrounded me, earthy and grounding, cutting through the lingering
bitterness of poison. It reminded me faintly of Alexander… yet not exactly the same.
My eyelids grew heavier with each passing moment.
And though I wanted to fight it–to push away the unwelcome sense of surrender I was
spiraling toward–I could only hope that this time, I wasn’t heading into another nightmare.
H
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