Chapter 56: Trap
Chapter 56: Trap
(Celeste’s POV)
From the Silver Creek tavern’s upper floor, I stared out of the warped glass window, my gaze
locked onto the activity in the Blood Moon Market below. Wolves moved like a sea of restless
energy, their auras blending and clashing in the vibrant chaos.
But it wasn’t just the crowd that had my attention. Scarlett stood beside Alexander by one of
the stalls, her thin frame leaning ever–so–slightly into his.
She clung to his arm, her emerald eyes glowing faintly in the dim moonlight as she examined the market trinkets with all the grace of someone playing a well–rehearsed part.
My wolf stirred uncomfortably.
Her earlier act of distressed fragility had disappeared. Gone were the trembling hands and trembling voice. Instead, she was poised, deliberate. Calculated. This wasn’t softness–it was
strategy, plain and simple.
The bitter twist of irony brought a faint curve to my lips. Everything Scarlett did felt like a performance. Was this display intended for me? Or was she weaving another calculated thread to entangle Alexander further?
I let out a noiseless breath, ignoring the faint throb of my silver scars. My wolf curled inward with bitter bemusement, silently watching the scene unfold.
Scarlett tilted her head up toward Alexander, her lips moving as if she were asking him something. I couldn’t hear their words, but whatever she said made him hand her another item
from the stall.
Her hand slipped into his easily, her fingers curling against his as she smiled sweetly. He didn’t smile back, but his gaze lingered on her longer than I liked.
A sharp turn of her head, and for a split second, Scarlett’s emerald eyes flicked in my
direction.
My chest tightened.
Did she know I was watching? The glimmer of satisfaction in her gaze was almost too subtle to catch, but my wolf didn’t miss it. It wasn’t direct, but it was there. As though just her proximity to Alexander was enough to make her victorious.
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Chapter 56: Trap
I tensed, fingers twitching slightly against the fabric of my cloak. Nina’s absence only added to my unease. She was taking longer to return than I expected, and the current of unfamiliar wolf auras within the market below sharpened the edges of my thoughts.
I tried to pull my attention away. My breaths were slow and measured. Focus. Don’t let
Scarlett’s games twist the blade any deeper.
But before I had the chance to fully retreat from the window’s view, the presence of strangers behind me sent a sudden jolt through my senses.
It wasn’t Nina.
A flood of power surged into the room, two unfamiliar, dominant auras crashing through the
already tense atmosphere.
My wolf stiffened immediately, her unease spiraling into full–blown alarm.
I turned sharply to face them, my eyes narrowing as two intimidating figures stepped inside.
Neither of them wore the uniforms of Marcus’s royal guards, but their posture radiated the
kind of arrogance only loyal enforcers or dangerous mercenaries could carry.
Nina wasn’t where she needed to be. I cursed silently under my breath.
The first man, taller and broader, had dark eyes that gleamed with thinly veiled aggression.
His presence was suffocating. His wolf prowled just beneath his skin, its energy pressing
against mine in waves of intimidation.
The second wasn’t much smaller, though his movements were quicker, more precise. His
gray–streaked hair did little to soften the sharpness of his stance or the cruel curve of his lips.
Nina’s silver–gray wolf moved before I could say anything, positioning herself firmly between me and the intruders. Her ears flattened, her gaze predatory.
“Identify yourselves, Nina’s voice snapped, firm and unyielding. Her wolf was on high alert
now. Everything about her screamed readiness to fight if the situation demanded it.
The taller one smirked, his teeth gleaming faintly in the dim light of the room. “Precious
daughter of the Winters Pack,” he said mockingly, his voice thick with sarcasm. “Your
reputation precedes you.”
My mouth tightened.
“Answer her question,” I ordered, keeping my voice cold and steady. I refused to let them see the growing unease coiling within me.
“Names aren’t important,” the other one drawled lazily, his eyes sweeping over me with
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Chapter 56: Trap
unsettling calculation. “What matters is… well, let’s just say you’ve caused quite a bit of interest. Right now? You’re a very valuable contract.”
My stomach clenched at his words. Contract?
The confirmation settled like a heavy weight in the pit of my chest: this was no accident. Our meeting at the Blood Moon Market, whatever charade Marcus had called me here for, had
been carefully designed. These weren’t just random threats–they were mercenaries.
Paid hands.
“Stop playing games,” Nina growled, her sharp voice cutting through the tension like a blade.”
Who sent you?”
Instead of answering, the taller one simply chuckled, his stance shifting slightly as though
testing the boundaries of Nina’s resolve.
“That’s none of your concern, warrior,” he sneered, his lips curling into something predatory.”
What is concerning is how easy it’s going to be to finish this job.”
His words were dismissive, almost flippant. But his gaze didn’t stray from me once.
Nina’s growl deepened, her silver–gray wolf bristling visibly as she edged forward. “Try me.”
Before I could issue any further commands, the mercenary who had been speaking to her
lunged faster than I’d anticipated.
His claws struck with practiced precision, his energy fueled with Alpha–level dominance that shouldn’t have been possible for a beta wolf. Nina met his attack head–on, her speed
remarkable even in the confined space of the room.
But he was stronger than she’d expected.
The sound of impact made my heart lurch. His blow sent Nina crashing into the nearest wall, her body hitting with a sickening thud. She slumped to the ground momentarily, blood trickling
from her mouth as her wolf let out a faint whimper.
“Enough,” I snapped, venom clear in my voice as I forced my wolf’s energy outward. My violet eyes met the taller man’s unflinchingly.
My voice was cold, deliberate. “Do you know who I am? Do you think whatever pack hired you can provide protection if you harm someone under Marcus Blackwood’s claim?”
My words hit their mark. For a moment, hesitation flickered between the two mercenaries. Their wolves shifted uneasily, recognizing the weight of Marcus’s name. Everyone knew what
Marcus’s wrath looked like.
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Chapter 56: Trap
But the shorter one eventually scoffed. “You think Marcus scares us? Please.”
He took a deliberate step toward me, his callous grin widening as his companion followed suit. “Our contracts are final. And the wolf who hired us paid more than enough to ensure you
never make it to that mating ceremony.”
The finality of his words sent my thoughts spiraling. Someone wanted me gone. Someone
with resources and connections to these mercenaries–and enough to wield an attack against
not only me but my status as Marcus’s mate–to–be.
It wasn’t just about me anymore. This was politics.
I drew in a sharp breath, forcing myself to maintain my composure. My wolf was panicking
beneath the surface, but showing fear here would be like drawing blood for circling sharks.
Their next move was fast. Too fast.
The taller one produced a coil of glowing rope from his belt, its faint greenish tinge
unmistakable even in the dim light. Wolfsbane.
The acrid scent hit me before the storm of realization did. The symbols etched into the rope-
ancient pack designs–were unmistakable. Whoever orchestrated this attack wasn’t some
minor player.
“You’ll regret this,” I whispered. My voice was calm, but my wolf’s growls vibrated low and dangerous beneath my skin.
The smirk on the shorter man’s face didn’t waver as they moved in unison, their steps
calculated and deliberate.
Then they struck.
The wolfsbane wrapped around me before I could react fully. Its venomous bite seared through my already weakened frame, intensifying the scars that hadn’t finished healing.
My breaths came quick and shallow, my vision fading as the full effects of their attack coursed through me.
Darkness crept into the edges of my consciousness as sharp pain bloomed across every
nerve in my body.
The last thing I saw before everything went black was Nina’s bloodied form slumped nearby and the predatory satisfaction in my attackers‘ eyes.
A/S
