Chapter 49: Moon–blessed Crystal
Chapter 49: Moon–blessed Crystal
(Celeste’s POV)
The air in the pack house was suffocating, as though every lingering emotion from my confrontation with Lucas was determined to cling to the walls. I could still feel his fury, lashing out like wildfire behind me, but I refused to let it affect me. My wolf, scarred and battered, stood steady. For once, I didn’t feel the weight of retreat pressing on my shoulders.
I turned to Victoria. Her eyes were red–rimmed, glistening with unshed tears. Her wolf’s energy was muted, almost pleading. My chest felt oddly light as I squared my stance, meeting her gaze head–on.
“Luna Victoria,” I said sharply, letting the formality of her title cut through the fragile silence
between us.
She straightened slightly, her hands clasping tightly in front of her as though bracing herself
for whatever words I was about to deliver.
“The royal gifts arrived this morning. They were sent with the Alpha King’s approval to honor Marcus’s mate claim,” I continued, my voice steady and cold. “I trust you’ll ensure that they’re
moved to my personal quarters immediately.”
Victoria blinked, momentarily stunned by the decisiveness in my tone. Her lips parted, but no
words left them.
Nina, flanking my side despite her weakened state, tilted her head slightly, her sharp gaze sliding toward Victoria with a faint smirk. The unspoken reminder of pack hierarchy -the one
now favoring me by Marcus’s claim–hung heavy in the air.
“That’s great news, is it not?” I added, my tone deliberately sweetened with mock politeness. “ They’re symbols of compensation, after all. Compensation for my four years in Moon Shadow Prison.” My words were laced with bitterness only thinly veiled beneath the surface.
Victoria’s wolf whimpered audibly, the sound pulling at something deep in her. Her hands trembled slightly, and for a moment, guilt flickered across her features.
“The crystals, the healing stones, and other items are-” Her voice wavered, but she quickly cleared her throat, clasping her trembling hands more tightly. “They are of immense value. Typically, such gifts would… remain in the pack’s sacred treasury for communal use.”
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Chapter 49: Moon–blessed Crystal
“So,” I cut in, “you believe these gifts weren’t intended for me? You believe I owe my suffering to the pack so thoroughly that even these-” I gestured toward the unseen treasures, still being cataloged elsewhere. “-shouldn’t belong to me?”
Her lips pressed tightly together. She looked as though she wanted to refute my claim but couldn’t. Finally, her tear–filled gaze lowered.
“It’s within your rights,” she said softly, her voice breaking at the edges. Her wolf keened plaintively, almost apologetically. “The gifts will be delivered to your personal quarters.”
Her surrender felt hollow, yet there was a flicker of pride in my chest. For once, I wasn’t the one yielding.
“Excellent,” I said, curtsying ever so slightly. The gesture wasn’t genuine–it was a mockery of
the deference I once owed her.
Victoria gasped softly, the hurt radiating from her like a fragile melody. I turned sharply, Nina
following at my side as we left the room.
As we exited, I caught the faint sound of her quietly keening wolf. It echoed through the
otherwise empty hallway, but I didn’t look back.
For the first time in years, I felt strangely… victorious. The faintest smile teased the corner of
my lips.
(Lucas’s POV)
Her back was rigid as she walked away, her silver–scarred wolf somehow appearing bigger,
stronger. My nails bit deep into my palms, the edges of my bandages slicing against raw skin.
“Mother, why?” I hissed, my golden eyes flashing toward Victoria. My wolf bristled with
unchecked fury. “You let her humiliate you!”
Victoria turned, her tear–stained face still pale but resolute. She sighed deeply, the sound
vibrating faintly through her chest as her wolf whimpered again.
“There are laws, Lucas. Pack laws. Mate claim gifts belong to the mate–especially when they’re sent from the Alpha King’s court.” Despite the cracks in her voice, she stood firm. “You
know this as well as I do.”
“But she…” My voice rose against reason. My wolf snorted hot breaths of anger, its frustration
crackling like fire under my skin. “She’s exploiting Marcus’s claim. Don’t you see how arrogant
she’s become?”
“She has rights now, Lucas!” Victoria snapped, her green eyes blazing as her wolf surged
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Chapter 49: Moon–blessed Crystal
forward defensively. “Whether any of us like it or not, she’s Marcus’s chosen mate. She’s protected by his name, his bloodline. That’s why you…”
She faltered, her voice wavering.
“That’s why you can’t keep challenging her,” she whispered, her desperate plea hanging thick with emotion.
The sharp sting of guilt itched at my chest for a moment, but I buried it quickly.
“She’s using him,” I said coldly, clenching and unclenching my fists. My claws nearly broke. through the bandages that still covered my injuries from Marcus’s punishment. “And you’re letting her win. You’ve forgotten the loyalty she owes this pack–what she owes you, Scarlett, our family!”
From the corner of the room, Scarlett stepped forward cautiously.
“Lucas,” she said softly, her delicate voice trembling ever so slightly. “Please. She didn’t mean
“Stop defending her,” I growled, my gaze snapping to Scarlett. My wolf snarled audibly, frustration mingling with unspoken pain. “You know nothing!”
“Enough!” Victoria interjected firmly, her voice rising just enough to catch my focus again.
“Lucas,” she continued, gentling her voice. “I need you to stop this. I need you to think.”
I stared at her, unable to mask the turmoil tearing at my chest. My wolf howled uneasily beneath the surface, but Victoria’s unwavering expression held me in place.
She reached out and touched my shoulder lightly. Her wolf’s energy was faint but calming.” You heard what your father said. No more mistakes. Do you want to lose your place- everything you’ve worked for?”
I froze, swaying slightly under the impact of her question.
Victoria took my silence for agreement. She sighed heavily, stepping back toward Scarlett. Her expression softened as she brushed Scarlett’s hair lightly, as if soothing her nerves.
“She’ll leave soon,” Victoria murmured, though it felt more like she was reassuring herself than speaking to me. “Once the mate marking is done, she’ll go to the Northern territory. We’ll all
move forward.”
Forward.
My wolf’s growl simmered faintly. The word felt like a rusted blade stuck in my jaw.
OLA
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Chapter 49: Moon–blessed Crystal
(Celeste’s POV)
The pile of royal treasures sitting in my quarters was suffocating. They gleamed brightly against the otherwise modest room, their polished surfaces reflecting beams of moonlight.
Rare moon–blessed crystals sparkled with an unnatural brilliance, as though pulsing faintly in sync with my wolf’s heartbeat. Gleaming jewels, ancient healing stones–the extravagance was a glaring reminder of how far from normal my life had become.
“Move the smaller crystals to the right,” I instructed evenly. My voice carried smoothly across
the room to the remaining servants, each of them hurriedly following my directions.
Despite their hurried movements, I caught faint flickers of curiosity and admiration in their
expressions as they moved the treasures.
I stepped forward and selected five smaller healing crystals of lesser value. Their glow was
faint but steady, radiating subtle warmth in my palm.
To the servants, I extended my hand, placing the crystals among the closest of them. “For
your efforts,” I said simply.
Their collective surprise was palpable. The cluster of pack wolves murmured with stunned gratitude, their voices a hum of quiet appreciation. None of them questioned my gesture.
From their genuine reactions, it was clear this generosity wasn’t expected. But generosity,
even directed with intention, was an excellent weapon.
Every ally mattered in the Winters Pack, especially when standing alone.
Returning to the room, my focus turned toward securing the largest crystals. The tensions of
earlier, even Lucas’s fiery outburst, felt smaller as I immersed myself in this calculated work.
Once everything was secured, the aches from my silver scars pulled my attention sharply. The day’s weight sank into my chest, but my gaze shifted toward the door.
There was someone I needed to see.
Without hesitation, I left for Eleanor’s chambers. A lifetime of rare jewels and crystals meant
nothing if her approval didn’t anchor me.
