Chapter 209: A Desperate Plea
Chapter 209: A Desperate Plea
(Lucas’s POV)
I stood in Scarlett’s room, taking in the scene before me. The dining table lay overturned, food splattered across the floor, broken glass scattered like dangerous stars against the polished wood. The scent of spilled berry compote and moon–blessed glaze hung heavy in the air.
Behind me, Scarlett’s fingers dug into my sleeve, her whole body trembling. I could feel her
wolf’s fear radiating through the fabric, that terrible whimpering that always activated my
protective instincts.
Opposite us stood Celeste, calm as still water, those violet eyes betraying nothing.
“What the hell happened here?” I demanded, my voice echoing in the tense silence.
I positioned myself more firmly in front of Scarlett, my golden wolf surging beneath my skin.
The familiar anger that always accompanied Celeste’s presence these days burned through
my veins.
“It’s nothing, Lucas,” Scarlett whispered behind me. “Celeste was just trying to talk to me.”
I gestured wildly at the destruction around us. “This is talking? Look at this mess!”
Shards of broken plates littered the floor. The roast duck with moon–blessed glaze–Scarlett’s
favorite–lay smeared across the carpet, ruined.
“She was helping me,” Scarlett insisted, her voice quavering. “I needed to see things clearly.”
I turned to face my sister, confusion mixing with my rage. Her emerald eyes–so like mine-
were filled with tears, but something else lurked behind them. Something that looked
disturbingly like guilt.
“Helping you how?” I asked, gentling my voice for her sake.
Scarlett took a shaky breath, glancing briefly at Celeste before meeting my eyes again.
“I… I caused the deaths of those omega wolves,” she admitted, her voice barely audible. “Their
blood is on my hands. I need to atone for what I’ve done.”
Her words hit me like a physical blow. This wasn’t the denial she’d maintained since the
incident.
“I’ve decided I won’t eat or drink anything until I’ve paid for my sins,” she continued, her voice
1/5
+ Point
Chapter 209: A Desperate Plea
growing stronger with each word. “It’s the only way.”
I stared at her in disbelief. A hunger strike? This wasn’t like Scarlett at all.
My eyes caught her hesitant glance toward Celeste, and rage flooded through me. In two strides, I was standing before my former sister, my fists clenched at my sides.
“What have you done?” I growled, my wolf bristling beneath my skin. “What did you say to
her?”
Celeste didn’t flinch. She’d been expecting this reaction.
“Scarlett has chosen her own path of atonement,” she replied coolly. “I merely reminded her of the consequences of her actions.”
Her violet eyes held mine without wavering. “Those omega wolves are dead because of your
family’s cruelty. Someone needs to pay the price.”
Scarlett shuddered behind me. I didn’t need to look to know she was remembering what I’d
done to those wolves–the blood, the violence, the dying whimpers as my claws tore through
flesh.
“She’s already being punished,” I argued. “Father confined her to the pack house. This is
between family members–you have no right to interfere.”
Celeste’s laugh was sharp and bitter. “Confinement? In this luxurious suite with every comfort
provided?” She gestured around the room. “That’s not punishment, Lucas. That’s a vacation.”
Her words stung because I knew they held truth. Scarlett’s “punishment” was nothing compared to what Celeste had endured for a crime she hadn’t committed.
“And how many times was I threatened with starvation for far less serious offenses?” she
continued, twisting the knife deeper. “How many times did Alpha James promise to withhold food until I confessed to something I didn’t do?”
I flinched at the memory. Father had indeed made such threats, though I’d never believed he would follow through.
“That’s different,” I argued. “You were stubborn and defiant. You needed stronger discipline.”
“I refused to confess to something I didn’t do,” she countered, her silver–scarred wolf flashing in her eyes. “Just as Scarlett now refuses to hide from what she did do.”
She paused, her gaze shifting from me to Scarlett. “But there’s more to this hunger strike than simple atonement.”
2/5
+8 Points
Chapter 209: A Desperate Plea
My wolf tensed, sensing what was coming.
“Scarlett’s fast will continue until Alpha James agrees to release Matthew Sterling’s father
from detention,” Celeste declared, her voice ringing with finality.
The pieces suddenly clicked together in my mind. A startled laugh escaped me.
“So that’s what this is really about,” I said, my golden eyes flashing with realization. “Not the
omega wolves at all. This is about your warrior boyfriend.”
Celeste didn’t deny it. “It’s about both. It’s about justice.”
The conviction in her voice was absolute. She truly believed she was right.
“Matthew’s father faces execution for allegedly causing a merchant’s death,” she continued.
“While the true architects of multiple omega deaths walk free. How is that fair?”
Her accusation hung in the air between us. We both knew she was referring to my father and
- me.
I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to lash out. “This is absurd.”
“Is it?” Celeste challenged. “Or is it simply inconvenient for your family?”
I took a step toward her, my wolf surging beneath my skin. “There’s a simple solution to all
this, you know. Break off your relationship with Sterling. Then his father’s detention becomes
irrelevant.”
Celeste’s expression didn’t change. “That’s not going to happen.”
She looked past me to Scarlett. “Your sister’s fast will continue until Alpha James chooses
between his daughter’s health and his alliance with the merchant wolves‘ pack.”
My jaw tightened. “You’re using her as a pawn.”
“I’m giving her a chance to truly atone,” Celeste corrected. “And forcing your father to make a choice he should have made long ago–family over politics.”
(Scarlett’s POV)
I felt my heart race as I understood the full implication of Celeste’s words. This wasn’t just
about atoning for the omega wolves. This was about forcing Father’s hand.
The fear must have shown in my eyes, because Lucas turned to me with concern.
“Don’t listen to her, Scarlett,” he urged. “You don’t have to do this.”
But I did. I knew what Celeste was capable of. If I didn’t cooperate with this hunger strike, she
3/5
+8 Points
Chapter 209: A Desperate Plea
would reveal everything–not just about the omega wolves, but about the sacred moon crystal incident, about Grace’s involvement in separating her and Alexander, about all the lies I’d told
over the years.
“Please, Lucas,” I begged, grasping his arm tighter. “Just convince Father to release Matthew’s father. I promise I won’t eat or drink until he does.”
My emerald eyes filled with fresh tears–not entirely manufactured this time. The thought of going without food terrified me. I wasn’t like Celeste, who had endured four years of silver
torture. I’d never faced real hardship.
“This is ridiculous,” Lucas snapped, turning back to Celeste. “What did you say to her? What threats did you make to frighten her this way?”
I tugged at his sleeve. “Please, brother. Just help me convince Father.”
Lucas looked down at me, his golden eyes filled with conflicting emotions. I could see the
moment when worry overtook his anger.
“Scarlett…”
“Please,” I whispered, letting my tears spill over. “I need to do this.”
Lucas took a deep breath, then turned back to Celeste. “You won’t get away with using my
sister as leverage.”
Celeste’s expression remained calm. “I don’t need to get away with anything. Alpha James will
make the right choice when faced with his daughter’s suffering.”
Her certainty was absolute, and I saw something flash in Lucas’s eyes–recognition, perhaps,
that she was right about our father’s priorities. About the difference in how we were treated.
For a moment, my brother seemed unable to form a response. Then, with a growl of
frustration, he broke away from my grip.
“I’m going to tell Father exactly what you’re doing,” he snarled at Celeste. “This scheme ends
now.”
He stormed from the room, the door slamming behind him with enough force to rattle the
windows.
(Celeste’s POV)
As Lucas’s footsteps faded down the corridor, I turned my attention back to Scarlett. Without her brother’s presence, she seemed to shrink, instinctively pressing herself against the far wall as if trying to put maximum distance between us.
4/5
+8 Points
Chapter 209: A Desperate Plea
Her wolf whimpered beneath her skin, emerald eyes wide with undisguised fear.
“Nina will attend you from now on,” I informed her. “She’ll ensure no food or drink reaches you
except water.”
Scarlett’s eyes widened as she understood the implication. She would be under constant
surveillance, unable to secretly break her fast when no one was looking.
“Do you understand?” I asked.
She nodded silently, her emerald eyes never leaving mine.
“Good,” I said, satisfied with her compliance.
I turned to leave, pausing at the doorway to look back at her. She remained pressed against the wall, her auburn hair hanging limply around her pale face, her expensive clothes wrinkled and stained from the food I’d spilled.
