Chapter 242: A Journey into Darkness
Chapter 242: A Journey into Darkness
(Alexander’s POV)
I sat alone in my quarters at Silver Creek, watching shadows lengthen as the sun set. A knock interrupted my thoughts.
“Enter,” I said roughly.
A beta wolf stepped in, keeping his eyes down. “Commander, Miss Celeste has left with
Matthew’s body and the escort.”
I nodded silently.
“She seemed eager to be gone, sir.”
After he left, I dropped my commander’s mask. My white wolf whined inside me.
When had Celeste stopped caring? Those violet eyes that once held warmth now showed only
cold indifference.
I remembered when she would rush to me after battles, gently cleaning my wounds, her touch
lingering longer than necessary.
My eyes caught the scar on my right hand from a silver blade two years ago. Celeste had
cried when she saw it, bandaging it herself with trembling fingers.
Now that memory felt distant. She hadn’t even looked at me when she left.
Sudden panic gripped me. My wolf surged beneath my skin. I shouldn’t have let her go.
True, I’d sent ten of my best beta wolves. But would they be enough?
As darkness fell completely, the truth became clear: I should never have let her leave without
- me.
(Celeste’s POV)
The SUV hummed quietly as we drove. Matthew’s coffin lay secured in the center, its polished
wood catching the light.
I sat beside it, occasionally reaching out to touch the cool surface. My eyes burned but no more tears would come, leaving only a hollow ache in my chest.
Alexander’s beta wolves surrounded me
–
four in this vehicle, six more in escort vehicles
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ahead and behind. Their presence irritated me. I’d wanted to travel alone with Matthew.
But Alexander had been firm: “Rogue wolves roam these territories. You will not travel
unprotected.”
+8 Paints >
I chose the betas over waiting for Alexander. His investigation would delay him, and I couldn’t
wait another day to bring Matthew home.
The Beta Guard Commander glanced at me in the mirror. “Miss Celeste, we’ll stop to rest in an
hour. There’s a safe outpost ahead.”
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
Outside, darkness swallowed the landscape. Somewhere in that darkness, Matthew’s family
waited, unaware their son was returning in a coffin.
My fingers traced his pendant around my neck. He had promised to protect me. Now I could only bring his body home.
(God’s POV)
In the woods bordering the road, shadows moved against deeper darkness.
Yellow eyes tracked the three SUVS moving steadily along the deserted road. The center
vehicle carried a wooden coffin.
“That’s them,” whispered a gruff voice. “Steele’s wolves.”
The speaker’s face was crossed with fresh scars. His right eye was missing, covered by a crude patch.
“Those are the warriors who raided our den,” confirmed another voice.
A third wolf sniffed the air. “The coffin must hold their fallen deputy. The one we captured
before Steele’s raid.”
“The one who killed six of our brothers,” the one–eyed wolf snarled.
“And now they’ve killed our Alpha and destroyed our home.”
The one–eyed wolf watched the vehicles disappear around a bend. His nostrils flared, catching
another scent.
“There’s a female with them. Her scent is unusual.”
“Steele’s b***h?” suggested the second wolf with a cruel laugh.
“Perhaps. Either way, she’s traveling with our enemies.”
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+8 Points >
He turned to the others, his wolf bristling beneath his skin. “Gather the pack. We follow them.”
The yellow eyes vanished into darkness. The hunt had begun.
(Celeste’s POV)
Morning sunlight filtered through trees as our convoy continued. We’d spent the night at a
secure outpost, but I hadn’t slept.
The Beta Guard Commander maintained a brisk pace, anxious to reach Sterling territory before nightfall.
“Miss Celeste, we should reach Sterling territory by sunset if we maintain this pace.”
Suddenly, the lead vehicle stopped. The commander frowned, grabbing his radio.
“Report,” he barked.
“Movement in the woods. We’re checking.”
The commander slid out of the SUV. “Stay here,” he ordered.
Through the window, I watched him approach the tree line, his body changing subtly. His fingers extended into claws, his teeth sharpening.
The wolves surrounded something in the undergrowth. One struck swiftly, too fast to track.
He straightened, holding a severed snake’s head, its body still writhing.
“Just a spring viper,” another beta called. “They’re coming out of hibernation.”
The commander returned to human form. “False alarm. We’ll continue.”
But my silver–scarred wolf stirred uneasily. The incident felt like a warning.
I glanced at Matthew’s coffin, fear gripping me. I wouldn’t fail him. I would bring him home, no matter what.
(Celeste’s POV)
Two days passed without incident. The betas maintained their vigilant escort, setting efficient schedules and securing our rest stops.
Still, my unease never faded. My wolf remained alert, sensing something my human senses couldn’t detect.
Night fell on the second day when our convoy rounded a bend and stopped abruptly.
“What’s happening?” I asked.
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The commander cursed. “Rockfall. The road’s blocked.”
Through the windshield, large boulders covered the road ahead.
“Natural?” asked one beta.
+8 Points >
“Possibly,” the commander replied, his tone suggesting otherwise. “We’ll clear enough to get
through.”
My wolf’s anxiety spiked. “Wait. Something’s not right.”
The commander nodded. “I agree. Stay in the vehicle while we investigate.”
He gave quick orders. Four wolves would clear rocks while others maintained a perimeter.
From the window, I watched them approach the blockage. My heart pounded. Something was
very wrong.
A shadow moved behind one beta. Before I could shout warning, silver claws burst through his
chest from behind. Blood sprayed across the road, spattering our windshield.
“Ambush!” the commander roared, beginning to shift.
Chaos erupted. Rogue wolves materialized from darkness, attacking from all sides. Their
half–shifted forms looked nightmarish in the headlights – yellow eyes gleaming, silver claws flashing.
The betas fought back, shifting into wolf forms. Snarls and howls filled the night.
The commander yanked open my door. “Run! Into the woods, now!”
I hesitated, looking at Matthew’s coffin.
“We’ll hold them off,” he insisted, pushing me toward the trees. “Your wolf isn’t strong enough.”
He was right. I would only be a burden.
Hating myself, I ran.
Darkness swallowed me as I plunged between trees. Behind me, fighting intensified – snarls, howls, the wet sound of claws tearing flesh.
Then, abruptly, silence fell.
I stopped, breathing hard. The sudden quiet could only mean one thing: the betas had lost.
I should keep running. Self–preservation demanded I hide until dawn.
But that meant abandoning Matthew. Leaving his body to be desecrated by vengeful rogues.
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+8 Points >
My silver–scarred wolf howled within me. Matthew had died protecting others. I couldn’t leave him to the rogues‘ wrath.
I turned back toward the road.
I hadn’t taken three steps when a low chuckle froze me.
“Going somewhere, little wolf?”
A massive figure blocked my path. In dim moonlight, I made out a half–shifted rogue extended claws and fangs, yellow eyes gleaming.
“Those were skilled fighters,” he said, gesturing toward the road. “Steele trains his pets well. But not well enough.”
He circled me, inhaling deeply. “You smell different. Important.”
“Let me pass,” I demanded, voice steady despite my racing heart.
The rogue laughed. “I don’t think so. You’re coming with us.”
“Why?” I asked, searching desperately for escape.
“Revenge,” he said simply. “Steele destroyed our den, killed our Alpha. Now we’ll take something precious from him.”
He grinned, revealing sharp teeth. “Maybe we’ll ransom you back in pieces. Maybe we’ll keep you. Either way, he’ll suffer knowing we have you.”
