Chapter 227: A Heavy Price
Chapter 227: A Heavy Price
(Matthew’s POV)
The evening air was crisp as I made my way through the Winter Pack territory, two bottles of wine tucked carefully under my arm. One was significantly heavier than the other–the expensive Silver Moon Reserve, its label gleaming with actual silver flecks that caught the moonlight.
I’d spent more than I should have on that bottle. But Alexander deserved it.
The guards at the entrance to his private quarters recognized me immediately. They were all part of his elite unit–wolves I trained with daily.
“He’s reviewing territory maps,” one of them warned me.
I nodded my thanks for the heads–up. Alexander hated interruptions when working on defense
strategies.
His quarters were spacious but surprisingly sparse for someone of his status. Maps covered
the large oak table in the center of the room. Alexander stood over them, his white wolf’s
energy so focused that he didn’t immediately notice my entrance.
I cleared my throat. “Commander.”
He glanced up, his ice–blue eyes narrowing slightly. “Sterling.”
Without asking permission, I approached his table and set down both bottles. “Thought you
might appreciate a drink.”
Alexander’s gaze flicked to the bottles, then back to his maps. After a moment, he sighed and rolled up the parchment he’d been studying.
“What’s the occasion?” he asked, reaching for the Silver Moon Reserve.
I shrugged, trying to appear casual. “Just a thank you.”
Alexander uncorked the bottle with his teeth–a habit that would have horrified the wolves at
Moon Silver Restaurant. He took a long swig directly from the bottle, another practice that would have scandalized the elite wolves who typically sipped such expensive wine from crystal glasses.
He examined the label, his eyebrows rising slightly. “Silver Moon Reserve? Sudden windfall,
< Chapter 227: A Heavy Price
Sterling?”
+15 Points >
I reached for the other bottle–the ordinary moon–blessed wine I could actually afford. “Only one bottle is the expensive kind,” I admitted. “This one’s just regular blessed wine.”
“Hmm.” Alexander took another swig. “And what exactly are you thanking me for?”
My fingers fidgeted with my own bottle. “For the Moore situation. For helping me rescue.
Celeste.”
Alexander’s expression remained impassive. “That was Kane, not me.”
“Your brother happened to show up at precisely the right moment, with knowledge of a
personal debt between him and Senior Council Member Moore.” I met his gaze steadily. “And
my fellow guards wouldn’t have followed my orders to surround a pack house without your implicit command.”
A hint of amusement flickered in Alexander’s eyes. “You think I sent Kane?”
“I know you did.”
The admission hung between us for a moment. Then Alexander shrugged, taking another
drink.
“Fine. You’re welcome.”
Relief washed through me. I’d been right. Alexander had intervened, had ensured Celeste’s
safety.
“But what’s your plan going forward, Sterling?”
His question caught me off guard. “Sir?”
Alexander set the bottle down, leaning against the table. “You can’t physically protect her
forever. What happens when you run out of favors? When you exhaust your resources?”
I stiffened. “I’ll find a way.”
“By dying for her?” Alexander scoffed. “And what good would that do? You’d be dead, and she’d
be alone facing whatever threat killed you.”
His words hit me like a physical blow. I hadn’t thought that far ahead. My focus had been on immediate protection–getting her away from Jason Moore, securing my family’s safety.
“The Winter Pack isn’t going to suddenly approve of your mating just because you’re willing to die for her,” Alexander continued, his tone matter–of–fact rather than cruel. “And the Moores
won’t forget what happened.”
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I stared at the bottle in my hands, unable to formulate a response.
“Think on that,” Alexander said, returning to his maps. “You’re dismissed.”
+15 Points)
The conversation with Alexander weighed heavily on me as I left his quarters. The night air felt suddenly colder against my face.
He was right. I had been reckless, focusing only on immediate threats rather than long–term protection. What would happen if I died trying to protect Celeste? She would be left vulnerable, possibly in a worse position than before.
My silver–gray wolf paced anxiously beneath my skin, disturbed by the realization of our
inadequacy.
Lost in thought, I almost walked directly into Lucas Winters as he emerged from Dr. Pierce’s
clinic. He was moving stiffly, one hand pressed against his lower back.
*-need to rest for at least three days,” Dr. Pierce was saying, following Lucas to the doorway. “Those wounds could cause lasting damage if not properly treated.”
Lucas’s nostrils flared as he caught my scent. His golden eyes narrowed with immediate
hostility.
“Sterling,” he growled.
Dr. Pierce glanced between us, then retreated back into his clinic, clearly wanting no part in whatever confrontation might ensue.
“Lucas,” I acknowledged, my curiosity piqued by his obvious injury. “Everything alright?”
“Perfectly fine,” he snapped, attempting to straighten his posture despite the pain evident in his expression.
I could smell blood–both dried and fresh. The wounds on his back must have been
significant.
“Have you seen Celeste?” I asked, suddenly worried. “Is she okay?”
Lucas’s jaw clenched. “She’s none of your concern.”
“She is every bit my concern,” I replied, keeping my voice calm despite the tension rising between us. “Is she hurt? Did something happen after I left yesterday?”
“Just go home, Sterling.”
He tried to push past me, but winced at the movement. Fresh blood seeped through the back
of his shirt, staining the bandages visible through the thin fabric.
< Chapter 227: A Heavy Price
“You’re bleeding,” I noted. “Those claw marks… did someone attack you?”
His golden eyes flashed with anger. “I said it’s none of your business!”
But I could see the truth in his pain–filled expression. The realization hit me suddenly.
“It was Celeste, wasn’t it?” I kept my voice low, not wanting to embarrass him further by drawing attention from passing pack members. “She did this to you.”
Lucas’s face contorted with a mix of anger and exasperation. “Fine! Yes, your precious
mate–to–be slashed my back open. Satisfied?”
My heart clenched with worry. “What happened? Is she in trouble? Where is she now?”
+15 Panta >
“By the Moon, you’re persistent,” he groaned, pressing his hand to his back again. “Celeste is fine. She’s with our grandmother.”
“Then why did she attack you?” This wasn’t the Celeste I knew. She could be cold, even calculating when necessary, but not violently aggressive without serious provocation.
Lucas’s patience was visibly wearing thin. His golden wolf stirred beneath his skin, agitated by
the pain and my questioning.
“Because I tried to stop her from killing Scarlett,” he finally admitted, his voice dropping to ensure no one else heard. “She nearly succeeded too.”
I blinked in shock. “What did Scarlett do to provoke her?”
“Does it matter?” Lucas hissed. “I’m the one with four gashes down my back! Scarlett nearly
died from blood loss!”
The intensity of his reaction told me there was more to the story. Celeste wouldn’t have attacked her adoptive sister without extreme provocation, especially knowing the
consequences such an action would bring.
“It does matter,” I insisted. “Celeste wouldn’t do something like that without reason.”
Lucas ran a hand through his auburn hair, frustration evident in every line of his body. The movement clearly pained him, causing him to wince again.
“Scarlett sent one of her betas to tell our grandmother about Celeste’s plan to sever pack ties,” he finally admitted, the admission seeming to cost him. “The shock and distress nearly killed Eleanor. Dr. Pierce says she only has days left now.”
Understanding dawned. Eleanor was Celeste’s only true ally within the Winter Pack, the only one who had fought for her release from Moon Shadow Prison, the only one who had
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< Chapter 227: A Heavy Price
welcomed her back with genuine love.
“I see,” I said softly.
“Do you?” Lucas challenged, his golden eyes flashing. “Do you understand that your mere presence in her life is causing all this chaos?”
+15 Points >
The accusation stung, but I kept my expression neutral. “I’m not the one who imprisoned her for four years for a crime she didn’t commit.”
Lucas flinched as if I’d struck him. For a moment, genuine pain–beyond his physical wounds
-flickered in his eyes.
“You’ve been Alexander’s second–in–command for what, three years now?” he asked, abruptly
changing the subject. “No promotion, no territory of your own. How exactly do you plan to support Celeste?”
The question echoed Alexander’s earlier concerns, hitting an insecurity I’d been trying to
ignore.
“I’ll provide for her,” I answered stiffly.
Lucas gave a bitter laugh that ended in a grimace of pain. “My sister is demanding formal
pack separation from our family. Do you know what that means?”
I remained silent, letting him continue.
“It means she’ll have no protection, no status,” he explained, his voice tight with emotion and
physical discomfort. “And you think a second–in–command with no territory of his own can adequately protect a wolf with Celeste’s enemies?”
His words hit harder than any physical blow could have. The truth in them was undeniable.
“My parents will never accept a mate with your standing for Celeste,” Lucas continued, his golden eyes holding mine. “Not because they don’t think you love her, but because they know
you can’t protect her.”
I swallowed hard, my silver–gray wolf whining at the truth we both recognized.
“What would you suggest then?” I asked, surprised by the genuine curiosity in my own voice.
Lucas seemed equally surprised by my question. For a moment, his hostility faded, replaced
by what almost looked like grudging respect.
“Prove your strength,” he said after a moment. “Earn respect within the pack structure. Even a minor leadership position within Alexander’s elite guard would give you enough leverage to be
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< Chapter 227: A Heavy Price
considered.”
+15 Points >
I considered his words carefully. He wasn’t wrong. My current position left me vulnerable to
the whims of wolves like Jason Moore and his powerful grandfather. I needed to climb higher
in the pack hierarchy if I wanted any chance of securing a future with Celeste.
“Celeste is with our grandmother now,” Lucas added, his voice softening slightly. “Eleanor’s condition is… not good. Give Celeste some time before you try to see her.”
With that, he straightened his shoulders despite the obvious pain and walked away, leaving me standing outside the clinic with a new perspective and a growing determination.
Lucas’s words resonated deeply within me as I watched him disappear into the night. My path
forward suddenly seemed clearer: I needed to rise within the pack hierarchy. It wasn’t just
about gaining approval from Celeste’s adoptive parents anymore–it was about ensuring I
could truly protect her from the threats that would inevitably come.
