Chapter 221: A Rescue and a Standoff
Chapter 221: A Rescue and a Standoff
(Celeste’s POV)
Jason’s scream echoed through the room, a primal sound of agony that made my blood run cold. The silver dagger protruded from his eye, blood pouring down his face in crimson rivulets. His hands clawed at the air, his body convulsing in pain.
I stumbled backward, my own hands trembling.
The door burst open with such force it slammed against the wall. Sandra Moore rushed in, her
face contorting in horror as she took in the scene before her.
“Jason!” she shrieked, rushing to her son’s side. When she turned to face me, her eyes burned
with a hatred so intense it made my silver–scarred wolf cower. “What have you done to my
son?”
Before I could respond, she whirled toward the beta wolves who had followed her into the
room.
“Seize her!” Sandra commanded, her wolf surging with fury beneath her skin. “Restrain this
silver–scarred monster!”
Two bulky betas moved toward me. I backed away until I felt the cold wall behind me, my
options for escape vanishing. Despite the wolfsbane still clouding my senses, I raised my
hands defensively, determined to fight until my last breath.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I warned, my voice steadier than I felt.
The betas hesitated, eyeing me warily. They had just witnessed what I’d done to Jason.
“Take her!” Sandra shrieked, cradling her son’s bleeding head in her lap. “Now!”
As the betas advanced once more, the door burst open again. A younger beta wolf, his face
flushed with exertion, stumbled into the room.
“Madam Moore!” he gasped, struggling to catch his breath. “The pack house–it’s surrounded!”
Sandra froze. “What?”
“Wolves,” the messenger continued. “At least twenty of them. Led by a warrior from the Silver Creek territory–Matthew Sterling.”
Relief washed over me like a cool breeze, loosening the knot of fear in my chest. Matthew had
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Chapter 221: A Rescue and a St…..
come for me, just as he’d promised he always would.
Sandra’s eyes narrowed, her mind clearly working furiously behind her calculating gaze. After
a moment, she seemed to reach a decision.
“Take Jason to the pack healer,” she ordered, her voice suddenly calm and controlled. “Use the
servants‘ passages. No one must see him in this state.”
The betas carefully lifted Jason, who had fallen into a pained, semi–conscious state. His
moans made my stomach turn.
“And her?” one of them asked, gesturing toward me with his chin.
Sandra’s eyes were cold as she assessed me. “Lock her in the detention room in the east
wing. I’ll deal with these intruders first.”
As the betas escorted me from the room, Sandra called after us. “And make sure she has no
more weapons.”
They searched me roughly before shoving me into a small, windowless room. The heavy door
closed with a definitive click, leaving me alone in the dim light of a single wall sconce.
I sank down onto the narrow bench against the wall, my mind racing. Matthew was here. He
had brought warriors. He had come for me.
Despite my dire situation, a small smile tugged at my lips. My silver–scarred wolf settled
within me, knowing help was near. All I had to do now was wait.
(Matthew’s POV)
I stood at the front of my pack brothers, my blood pounding in my ears. Twenty of Alexander’s
elite guards flanked me, their wolves radiating aggressive energy in response to my own
barely contained fury.
We had formed a perimeter around the Moore pack house, carefully positioned to cover all
exits. The night air was cool against my skin, but I barely noticed, my focus entirely on the
grand building before me.
“Any sign of movement?” I asked Jacob Weber, who had been the one to alert me to Celeste’s
capture.
“None, sir,” he replied, his silver–gray eyes constantly scanning the windows of the pack house.
“But she’s in there. I saw them take her.”
I nodded grimly. Every moment Celeste remained inside that house, my anxiety grew. Jason Moore had already proved himself dangerous and unpredictable. If he had harmed her in any
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way…
My silver–gray wolf surged beneath my skin, thirsting for blood. I forced myself to stay focused. Blind rage would not help Celeste now.
The massive oak doors of the pack house finally swung open. An elderly wolf emerged, his back straight despite his advanced years. His wolf’s aura was powerful, commanding respect
despite his age.
This could only be Senior Council Member Moore himself.
He surveyed our group with sharp eyes, his expression stern but controlled.
“Who leads this assault on my territory?” he demanded, his voice carrying the weight of
decades of authority.
I stepped forward, my silver–gray wolf radiating protective fury. “I am Matthew Sterling, second–in–command to Alexander Steele, head warrior of the Silver Creek territory.”
My voice carried across the courtyard, clear and unwavering. This was not the time for
submissive posturing or political niceties.
“I’ve come for Celeste Winters,” I stated firmly. “She was lured here under false pretenses and
is being held against her will.”
Confusion flickered across Senior Council Member Moore’s face. “Celeste Winters? The
Winter Pack’s former daughter? Why would she be in my territory?”
Before I could respond, a woman hurried down the steps to join him. Her expensive dress and the familiar features she shared with Jason identified her immediately as Sandra Moore.
“Father,” she said, her voice sickly sweet with feigned concern. “There must be some misunderstanding. Jason isn’t even here–he’s out with friends.”
Her eyes darted nervously between the Senior Council Member and me.
“Perhaps the young wolf is confused,” she continued, gesturing dismissively toward me.
“Maybe the Winter girl mentioned meeting Jason somewhere. You know how these young
wolves and their affairs can be.”
My jaw clenched so tightly I could feel my teeth grinding together. Her lies only confirmed my
worst fears about Celeste’s situation.
“Celeste Winters was invited to your home by formal invitation,” I countered, my voice edged with steel. “An invitation bearing your seal, Senior Council Member.”
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Chapter 221 A Rescue and a St…
The elderly wolf’s eyebrows rose. “My seal? I issued no such invitation.”
(Celeste’s POV)
Jacob Weber stepped forward from behind Matthew, his posture respectful but determined. I
had trusted him to get help when I sensed trouble at the Moore estate, and clearly he had
delivered.
“Sir,” he addressed Senior Council Member Moore directly, “I accompanied Miss Winters to
your estate today. She presented this invitation at the gate.”
He held out the cream–colored envelope I had brought with me. The official seal of Senior
Council Member Moore was clearly visible.
Sandra Moore’s face drained of color as she recognized the invitation that should have been destroyed.
Senior Council Member Moore took the envelope, examining it with narrowed eyes. When he
looked up, fury radiated from him in palpable waves.
“This is not my handwriting,” he said, his voice dangerously quiet. “And while this appears to
be my seal, it is not positioned correctly.”
His gaze swung to Sandra, who seemed to shrink under its intensity.
“Explain,” he commanded.
Sandra’s composure cracked. Her hands fluttered nervously as she struggled to maintain her
facade.
“It… it was Jason’s idea,” she finally admitted. “He’s taken a fancy to the Winter girl. He just
wanted to speak with her privately.”
“By forging my seal?” Senior Council Member Moore’s voice was like thunder despite its low
volume.
Jacob spoke up again. “Miss Winters was locked in a room with burning wolfsbane when I left
to seek help.”
Senior Council Member Moore’s expression darkened further. Sandra, sensing her story
unraveling, changed tactics.
“She attacked my son!” she cried out, her voice rising hysterically. “That… that silver–scarred
monster blinded Jason with a silver dagger! He’s with the pack healer now, fighting for his
eye!”
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Chapter 221: A Rescue and a St…
Her words sent shocked murmurs through the gathered wolves. Even Senior Council Member Moore appeared stunned.
(Matthew’s POV)
My blood ran cold. Celeste had attacked Jason? Had he harmed her first? Where was she
now?
“What have you done with her?” I demanded, taking a step forward, my silver–gray wolf surging with protective energy.
Several of my pack brothers moved with me, their wolves responding to mine.
“Where is Celeste?”
Sandra clutched at her father–in–law’s arm, tears streaming down her face.
“My son,” she sobbed dramatically. “My poor Jason. His status in the pack will be compromised forever because of her. Who will respect a wolf with one eye? What powerful family will offer their daughter for mate marking now?”
Senior Council Member Moore’s face was a mask of controlled anger, but I could tell part of his fury was now directed at Celeste. Despite his grandson’s flaws, family loyalty ran deep in wolf packs.
“Bring the Winter girl,” he commanded one of his beta wolves. “I want to hear her account of these events.”
They seemed to forget I was there, consumed by their family drama. But I remained vigilant, my eyes fixed on the pack house doors. If they brought Celeste out, I needed to be ready.
Sandra continued her performance. “She should be punished! Pack law demands retribution
for such an attack!”
Senior Council Member Moore raised a hand to silence her. “First, we hear her side. Then we determine what pack law requires.”
The doors opened once more. My heart leapt to my throat as Celeste emerged, flanked by two burly beta wolves. My eyes scanned her frantically for injuries, relief flooding through me when I found none obvious. Her dress was stained with blood–Jason’s blood, I presumed–but she appeared physically unharmed.
Our
eyes met across the courtyard. A small smile touched her lips, and her violet eyes softened as she took in my formal warrior attire–the uniform I wore only for official pack business or potential combat. She knew I had come prepared to fight for her if necessary.
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Chapter 221: A Rescue and a St…
As she moved toward me, Senior Council Member Moore’s voice cracked like a whip.
“Stop right there, Miss Winters.”
Celeste froze, her silver–scarred wolf visibly bristling beneath her skin.
“You stand accused of grievously injuring my grandson,” the Senior Council Member continued. “And you,” he turned to me, “of besieging my pack house with armed warriors.”
He drew himself up to his full height. “I demand an explanation for these actions against my
family.”
I moved forward, placing myself between Celeste and the Moore wolves. My silver–gray wolf radiated protective energy as I faced the Senior Council Member.
“Your grandson lured Celeste here under false pretenses,” I stated firmly. “He forged your invitation and attempted to force a mate marking. Any injury he sustained was in
self–defense.”
Senior Council Member Moore’s expression remained hard. “You have proof of these claims?”
*Jacob Weber witnessed her capture,” I replied. “And your grandson’s reputation precedes him.”
“That’s irrelevant,” Senior Council Member Moore responded. “This remains a pack matter. You and Miss Winters have trespassed on my territory and attacked a member of my family. You
must both answer for these actions.”
Sandra Moore seized the opportunity, stepping forward with renewed vigor.
“Pack law is clear,” she declared, her voice carrying to all present. “An eye for an eye. Ancient pack justice demands that she lose her eye as retribution for taking my son’s.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd. I felt Celeste stiffen behind me.
Senior Council Member Moore’s gaze fixed on Celeste, a silent battle of wills commencing
between them.
