Chapter 237: A Desperate Journey to Northern Ridge
Chapter 237: A Desperate Journey to Northern Ridge
(Celeste’s POV)
“He’s dead.”
Eric Reynolds‘ words hit me like a physical blow. The smug satisfaction in his voice as he
delivered this news made my blood run cold.
Emma froze beside me, her body going rigid. “What did you just say?” she whispered.
Eric leaned against the wall outside the Moon Silver Restaurant, his lips curling into a cruel
smile. “Your brother. Matthew Sterling. His elite unit was ambushed in Northern Ridge. Nearly all of them slaughtered.”
I fought to keep my expression neutral even as my heart threatened to stop beating. “You’re lying,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
“Believe what you want,” Eric shrugged. “But Alexander Steele himself left this morning with
reinforcements. Why would he do that if everything was fine?”
Emma’s control snapped. With a feral growl, she lunged at Eric, her fingers extending into
claws, her normally gentle features contorting with rage. Her wolf surged beneath her skin, golden eyes flashing as she slashed at Eric’s face.
“You lying piece of—”
I grabbed her arm before she could complete the attack. “Emma. Stop.”
Eric stumbled backward, startled by her ferocity. His hand went to his cheek where her claws
had grazed him, drawing a thin line of blood.
“Crazy b***h!” he spat, his own wolf stirring in response to the challenge.
“Nina,” I called to my guard who stood nearby. “Take Emma home. Now.”
Nina moved swiftly, wrapping a supportive arm around Emma’s shaking shoulders. “Come,
Miss Emma, Let’s get you back to your parents.”
Emma struggled against Nina’s grip. “No! Let me go! I’ll tear his throat out!”
“He’s not worth it,” I said quietly. “And if what he says is true, Matthew needs us focused, not fighting in the street.”
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The mention of her brother’s name pierced through Emma’s rage. Her shoulders slumped as tears filled her eyes.
“Look at you both,” Eric sneered, regaining his composure. “So pathetic. Even if Sterling
survived the initial attack, he’s probably being tortured by those rogues right now.”
I turned to face him, my violet eyes cold with promise. “If anything happens to Matthew
because of your lies or actions, I will personally ensure you suffer a fate worse than death.”
The intensity of my gaze made him step back. Even without my Winter Pack status, my
reputation preceded me.
Once Nina had led Emma away, I sprinted toward the pack training grounds. I needed
confirmation from a reliable source, not the spiteful words of Eric Reynolds.
The training grounds were unusually quiet. Only a handful of beta wolves practiced in the
silver–bordered arena. When they saw me approaching, their faces reflected varying degrees of
surprise and discomfort.
“Where is Alexander?” I demanded, addressing the senior beta on duty.
He hesitated, glancing nervously at his companions. “Commander Steele left for Northern
Ridge at dawn, Miss… Celeste.”
His correction of my title confirmed what I already knew–news of my severed pack ties had
spread.
“Tell me what happened,” I said, struggling to keep the desperation from my voice.
The beta’s expression turned solemn. “The deputies suffered a major defeat while attempting
to suppress the rogue wolves. Jacob Ward, Eric Bennett, and Matthew Sterling led the
mission.”
My heart sank at the formal confirmation. This wasn’t just Eric Reynolds‘ cruel taunt.
“Commander Steele received word this morning and immediately assembled a rescue party.
He-”
“Rescue?” I interrupted, hope flaring briefly. “So there are survivors?”
The beta shifted uncomfortably. “We don’t have details, Miss. Just that Deputy Bennett managed to get a message to Commander Steele requesting immediate assistance.”
If Eric Bennett had sent a message, he was alive. And perhaps Matthew was too.
“How long ago did Alexander leave?”
< Chapter 237 A Desperate Jou
“About six hours now.”
+8 Points >
Six hours. If I left immediately, I might catch up to them before they reached Northern Ridge.
“Did Commander Steele leave any messages for me?” I asked, knowing it was unlikely.
The beta shook his head. “No, Miss. Everything happened very quickly.”
Under normal circumstances, I might have hesitated to follow Alexander. Our complicated relationship made every interaction a challenge. But this wasn’t about him or me–it was
about Matthew.
“If Nina returns looking for me, tell her I’ve gone to Northern Ridge,” I instructed, already
turning to leave.
“Miss Celeste,” the beta called after me, concern evident in his voice. “Northern Ridge is extremely dangerous, especially now with the rogue situation. Without pack protection-”
“I don’t need pack protection,” I cut him off. “I need to find Matthew.”
Without another word, I raced toward the stables. I would need a fast horse to reach Northern Ridge. Every moment I delayed could mean the difference between life and death for Matthew.
As I ran, I pushed away the dark thoughts threatening to overwhelm me. Matthew couldn’t be dead. I refused to accept it. He had survived in Alexander’s elite guard for years; he was too
skilled, too careful to be taken down easily.
But a voice in the back of my mind whispered doubts. If Jacob Ward and Eric Bennett, both exceptional warriors, had been defeated, what chance did Matthew have?
I silenced that voice. I would find him. I had to.
(Alexander’s POV)
The journey to Northern Ridge had taken too long. Five days of hard travel, pushing my elite wolves to their limits. Five days of imagining what might be happening to my men–to
Matthew.
The administrative building of Silver Creek territory near the Northern Ridge border was a large stone structure, imposing yet oddly unwelcoming. I didn’t bother with formalities as I strode through the entrance, my white wolf bristling beneath my skin.
Beta guards stationed at the door straightened as I passed, their wolves instinctively submitting to mine. They announced my arrival in hushed, anxious tones.
“Commander Steele of the Alpha King’s elite guard is here.”
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< Chapter 237: A Desperate Jou….
+8 Points >
Victor Hayes, the Alpha representative overseeing this border region, hurried into the main hall, his face a mask of deferential concern.
“Commander Steele,” he greeted, bowing deeply. “What an honor. Had we known you were coming-”
I cut him off with a sharp gesture. “Where is Deputy Bennett?”
Hayes faltered, his practiced smile slipping. “Of course. This way, please.”
He led me through a narrow corridor, speaking rapidly as we walked. “The situation is unfortunate, but I assure you we’re doing everything possible to negotiate with the rogues. These border disputes can be delicate-”
“Negotiate?” I stopped abruptly, my ice–blue eyes narrowing. “My men were ambushed and you’re negotiating with their attackers?”
Hayes took a step back, his wolf sensing danger. “It’s standard procedure when dealing with territorial disputes in the borderlands. I-”
“This wasn’t a territorial dispute,” I growled. “My deputies were on an official mission sanctioned by the Alpha King himself.”
Before Hayes could respond, we reached a small room at the end of the corridor. Inside, on a narrow bed, lay Eric Bennett.
My second deputy’s condition shocked even me. His left arm was gone, severed cleanly at the shoulder. Bandages soaked with blood and silver–healing salve covered most of his torso. His face was ashen, lips cracked from dehydration.
“Commander,” he whispered, struggling to sit up when he saw me.
“Stay down,” I ordered, moving to his bedside. “Report.”
Eric’s eyes flickered briefly to Hayes, who hovered in the doorway. Understanding his hesitation, I turned to the representative.
“Leave us.”
Hayes nodded stiffly, closing the door as he exited.
Once we were alone, Eric spoke, his voice weak but urgent. “It was a trap, sir. They knew we
were coming. Knew our formation, our signals, everything.”
Cold fury settled in my chest. “Details.”
“We followed protocol. Jacob scouted ahead, I took the left flank, Matthew the right. We had
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+8 Points >
twelve beta wolves with us.” Eric’s breath caught as pain shot through him. “We were about to enter the main rogue encampment when they attacked from all sides. Not just the twenty rogues we’d been told about–at least fifty.”
“Fifty?” That number was alarming. Rogue wolves rarely formed large packs due to their
inherent dominance issues.
Eric nodded grimly. “They targeted Jacob first. Took him down before we could react. His throat…” He swallowed hard. “They had silver weapons, sir. Not crude ones–professionally forged silver daggers.”
That detail raised more questions. Silver weapons of that quality were expensive and difficult
to obtain, especially for rogues living on the fringes of wolf society.
“The betas tried to regroup, but we were separated. They came for my arm next.” Eric glanced
at the empty space where his limb had been. “Would have taken my head too if Matthew
hadn’t intervened.”
My chest tightened. “Matthew?”
“He fought like a demon, sir. Took down at least eight rogues himself. But there were too
many. Last I saw, they had him surrounded.” Eric’s eyes filled with shame. “I couldn’t help him.
I was losing too much blood.”
“How did you escape?”
“I didn’t. Matthew created a diversion, ordered me to run while he drew their attention. I tried to
refuse, but he…” Eric’s voice broke. “He said someone had to report back. Said to tell you it
was a setup.”
A setup. My suspicion about Victor Hayes deepened.
The door opened, and the representative himself entered, his timing too convenient to be
coincidental. He’d been listening.
“Commander Steele,” Hayes began, his tone falsely sympathetic. “I’ve been in contact with the
rogue leader. They’re willing to release your remaining deputy in exchange for certain
considerations.”
I stood slowly, turning to face him. “What considerations?”
Hayes smiled thinly. “Nothing unreasonable. Access to certain trading routes, amnesty for previous… misunderstandings.”
Eric’s weak voice came from behind me. “Don’t trust him, Commander. He’s working with
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them. Has to be. No one else knew our exact route.”
+8 Points >
I studied Hayes carefully, noting his quickening pulse, the subtle shifting of his feet. All signs
of a wolf preparing to either fight or flee.
Without warning, I extended my claws and slashed across his shoulder. Hayes screamed, stumbling backward.
“Commander! What-”
I grabbed his injured arm and twisted it sharply. The c***k of breaking bone silenced his
protests.
“My wolves have surrounded this building,” I said, my voice deadly calm. “Not even a mouse can escape. I want to see if those rogues will be ‘well–prepared‘ today!”
Hayes crumpled to the floor, howling in pain as he clutched his mangled arm.
I turned to the guards who had rushed in at the sound of the commotion. “Secure him. If he
attempts to communicate with anyone, cut out his tongue.”
The guards nodded, clearly intimidated by my fury.
Outside, darkness was falling, but I had no intention of waiting until morning. Surprise was our only advantage now.
“We attack tonight,” I announced to my waiting elite wolves. “The rogues will not see another
moonrise.”
My white wolf surged beneath my skin, thirsting for vengeance. For Jacob, for Eric, and for Matthew–if he still lived.
I would tear through every rogue in Northern Ridge to find out.
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