Chapter 130: A Predator’s Gift
(Celeste’s POV)
Regina dismissed her beta guards with a curt wave, a gesture imbued with casual authority only the Alpha King’s sister could command.
“Leave us,” she said, her melodious voice carrying an unmistakable undertone of control. Her
violet eyes gleamed with predatory interest as they landed on me, studying me in a way that
sent subtle shivers down my spine.
Victoria shifted uneasily beside me, her wolf bristling. I caught the faintest whiff of her
anxiety, the scent drifting off her like a warning pheromone. She clearly disliked being left
alone in this room, knowing the kind of manipulations Regina was capable of.
The beta guards hesitated only a moment before bowing and stepping out, closing the
mahogany doors behind them. The sound of the latch clicking into place echoed loudly,
punctuating the heavy silence that filled the elegant office.
Regina disappeared briefly into an adjoining chamber beyond a polished door adorned with
gold filigree. The faint shuffle of fabric and hushed movement told me she wasn’t gone for long. Still, the seconds she left us felt stretched, drawn out by the tension thrumming through
Victoria’s aura.
“Relax, Luna Victoria,” I said softly, my tone deliberately light. “I’m quite certain her intentions
are pristine.”
Victoria didn’t respond immediately, her emerald eyes darting to the doors as if considering a silent escape. Finally, she exhaled shakily, murmuring, “She can be… unpredictable when it
comes to protecting her family.” Her careful choice of words belied her true emotions.
The faint sound of heels clicking against the marble floor signaled Regina’s return. She emerged with the smooth poise of royalty, holding a leather–bound folder embossed with the
royal pack’s seal in one manicured hand.
“A gift,” she announced, her voice carrying an eerie mix of warmth and calculation as she
strode back to her desk.
She placed the folder on the gleaming surface, sliding it toward me across the polished mahogany. The crisp scratch of leather against wood broke the silence.
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Chapter 130: A Predator’s Gift
I tilted my head slightly, concealing my immediate mistrust behind a composed expression.
My fingers hesitated just above the folder before lightly resting on the cool material.
Victoria’s discomfort became almost palpable beside me, her wolf’s energy vibrating with
restrained tension. “Regina, what is this?” she asked cautiously, her gaze flicking nervously
between her sister–in–law and me.
“Property deeds,” Regina replied breezily, as if gifting land and businesses were akin to
offering flowers. “The Silver Moon Boutique in the city center, to be precise.”
I blinked once, masking my surprise with practiced ease. The Silver Moon Boutique was
among the most prestigious establishments in royal territory. Acquiring it was no trivial
gesture.
Regina stepped closer, her violet eyes glinting with satisfaction as she observed my reaction-
or lack thereof. “I’ve decided it’s only fitting,” she continued smoothly, her tone exuding
gracious generosity. “After all, Little Moon, you are to be a part of our family soon.”
The casual use of Marcus’s chosen nickname for me grated against my nerves. My wolf
stirred reluctantly, its instincts sharpening in suspicion.
Victoria’s gasp was audible, her emerald eyes widening with disbelief. “Regina, that boutique
is worth-” She stopped herself with a sharp intake of breath.
“Exactly what my future daughter–in–law deserves,” Regina interrupted firmly, the smile on her
lips polite but unyielding. Her gaze fixed on me, evaluating my every microexpression.
I allowed my fingertips to rest lightly against the folder, a gesture that conveyed both caution
and curiosity. “You honor me,” I replied, my voice steady despite the anger simmering just
beneath the surface.
Regina smiled warmly, almost indulgently, as though she were entirely ignorant of the true
emotions boiling beneath my composed exterior. Her wolf purred audibly through the bond, a
sound that felt more encroaching than affectionate.
“It’s not only a gift, Little Moon,” she pressed on happily. “Consider it a symbol of trust. A
token of unity between us.”
Before I could respond, Victoria finally found her voice. “This seems… a touch extravagant,”
she said carefully, her tone lined with unease. “Perhaps something smaller?”
“Nonsense,” Regina dismissed easily, waving a hand as if brushing away imaginary cobwebs. “Celeste is no ordinary wolf, Luna Victoria. She’s destined for greatness, and we must treat her accordingly.”
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Chapter 130: A Predator’s Gift
The confidence in her tone irritated me–not because I doubted my capabilities, but because her words were laced with underlying control. This wasn’t just a gift. It was an attempt to buy my compliance, a blatant reminder of my tether to the Blackwood family.
“I’ll arrange for you to tour the boutique soon,” Regina added cheerfully, as if dictating plans
for a casual luncheon.
Resigned to the charade, I inclined my head graciously. “Your generosity is unmatched, Lady
Blackwood.”
A flicker of unease clouded her features for the briefest moment. “Oh, come now, you must
call me Regina,” she corrected quickly, reclaiming her winning smile. “We are family, after all.”
Family. The word tasted bitter on my tongue, reminding me of Marcus’s “hospitality” in the
Dark Forest. My silver scars throbbed dully beneath my clothing, a silent protest against this
farce.
The remainder of the visit passed uneventfully, filled with pleasant conversation about the
boutique’s potential and the responsibilities of royal pack members. Regina skillfully
maneuvered the dialogue away from recent events involving Marcus, reinforcing her efforts to
smooth over any growing discord.
Once I had finally taken my leave, clutching the burden of her so–called gift, Victoria and I
walked silently back toward the parking area. The stifling atmosphere of the royal pack
territory seemed to cling to my skin.
Victoria sighed audibly, her wolf’s tension slowly ebbing now that we were beyond Regina’s
immediate influence. “That could have gone worse,” she admitted softly, though the anxiety in
her eyes remained.
My response was cut short when we spotted a familiar figure leaning against a sleek black SUV nearby.
Marcus.
The sight of him sent an involuntary shudder through my scarred wolf. Memories of his
torture den flashed vividly, the sound of a whip echoing faintly in my ears.
Victoria tensed visibly, her emerald eyes narrowing with thinly veiled fear. “What are you doing
here?” she demanded, though her tone lacked its usual Luna strength.
Marcus’s predatory grin widened as he straightened, his relaxed stance belied by the dangerous aura radiating from his royal wolf. “Waiting for Little Moon, of course,” he said smoothly, his violet gaze locking onto mine.
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Every fiber of my being screamed at me to turn and walk the other way, but outwardly, I
remained composed. After years of surviving Moon Shadow Prison, I had learned how to keep
even the most visceral kinds of fear hidden.
“I’ll speak with him privately,” I said calmly, taking a step toward Marcus despite Victoria’s
sharp intake of breath.
She clutched my arm urgently. “Celeste, you don’t need to-”
“It’s fine,” I interrupted gently, my voice tinged with finality. “I can handle it.”
Her hand dropped reluctantly, though the worry etched into her expression lingered. “Your father expects you back soon,” she said weakly, her words carrying a faint plea for Marcus to respect Alpha James’s authority.
Marcus simply smiled, his polished, princely demeanor intact. “We won’t be long,” he
promised, his tone dripping with false assurance.
Victoria watched helplessly as I climbed into his SUV, the soft click of the car door effectively
severing her flimsy protests.
The second we were alone, the mask of civility fell away. Marcus’s violet eyes glinted with unrestrained hunger, his claws extending slightly as he leaned toward me.
“Do you know where we’re going, Little Moon?” he asked, his tone low and dangerous.
I met his gaze unflinchingly, my voice steady as I replied, “The Dark Forest.”
His lips curled into a sharp grin, satisfied by my response yet puzzled at my lack of resistance.
“You’re surprisingly brave,” he mused, his violet eyes narrowing. “Perhaps I underestimated
you.”
A small, enigmatic smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. “Why don’t we visit somewhere
else first?”
His smile faltered, confusion flickering across his features. It was a rare thing to unbalance Marcus Blackwood, but a weapon I couldn’t afford to waste.
“Oh?” he prompted, his tone laced with curiosity. “And where might that be?”
I didn’t answer directly. Instead, I held his gaze steadily, my smile widening just enough to suggest that whatever lay ahead, it wouldn’t unfold as he expected.
