Chapter 77

Soren

Celia and I are stuck in the car for what seems like an eternity. We stayed at a dingy and shady hotel, one that we left as early as we could, and we found ourselves sitting on an old dirt road right in front of a tree line.

The forest is big and vast. I know this because my father showed me maps of the packs’ borders that sit along each other. The forest separates us and the Lycans. There is no patrol here because of the sheer force of the forest.

It is too dense for any normal person to go through. The trees are so close together that barely any light can get through, making it perpetually nighttime underneath the cover of the trees. Only a skilled group of soldiers and rangers can navigate their way through the forest.

“When will they be here?” Celia asks. I turn and look at her.

She is relaxed back into her seat, a sleepy look on her face. I reach out and flatten her frizzy hair. She leans into my touch, her eyes closing shut, a small and content smile spreading cross her face.

This is nice. This is everything that I could have asked for and more. Well, maybe except for my ex-girlfriend coming after me and wanting to kill my fated mate, but this while situation has pushed Celia and I closer together than ever before and for that I am very lucky.

“You should get some sleep,” I quietly say to her, “I’ll wake you when we get there, yeah?”

Celia hums in response. It is quiet and soft but loud enough for me to hear. My smile grows on my face and I watch as her body tenses before relaxing, slipping away into sleep.

I turn the car off and roll down one of the windows. I get out of the car as quietly as I can and close the door.

The moon hangs high in the sky. It is a bright white color, the landscape illuminated with a light blue glow to it. It is peaceful, serene…calming, even. My inner wolf feels energetic inside of my chest, moving around inside the crevices of my mind.

The Duke’s soldiers should have been here waiting for us. It is unlike them to keep us waiting, having always been on time and never late to their destination. A small snippet of anxiety twists inside of my chest.

Could it be Bianca? Does she have something to do with this? Could she have infiltrated the Lycans and figured out where Celia and I are now hiding?

No, I can’t think like that. That will only make us even more stressed and we do not need any more of it in our lives. Celia and I need to remain as sane as we can — with the looming threat of Bianca over our shoulders — in order to get through this harrowing period.

Movement catches my attention. I turn towards the tree line, ready to fight whoever may come after Celia and I. I walk past the car, narrowing my eyes at the trees.

Lycan soldiers emerge from the darkness. They hold their assault rifles and their uniforms are a deep black color with purple accents, blending into the forest night.

“Alpha King?” one of the men calls out.

“Yes,” I call back. My fists ball at my sides, prepared for whatever may come my way.

The soldiers lower their guns. The man in the middle breaks free from the group, his gun now bouncing off of his hip with every step he takes.

“The Duke would like us to escort you to his home,” he speaks as soon as he gets close to me. He bows his head and removes the mask from his face, revealing his darkened features.

“Alright,” I slowly nod.

My gut instinct tells me that it is going to be okay with the soldiers. If they were with Bianca and her rogues, they never would have given us a chance to speak. They simply would have killed us before we even realized they were there.

“She’s asleep in the car. I’d like to drive us. I’m assuming you have cars waiting behind the tree line?” I say. The man nods, holding the edge of his gear. “Good. We’ll follow you in, then.”

I turn around and head back towards my car. The men disappear back into the woods and I start the car, driving down the old and dusty road. The car pushes through the trees and the men signal to me to turn of my headlights. I follow their orders, unsure as to where we are going but I know it is for the best.

After a few minutes, with Celia now holding onto my hand, we break through the other side and move into a clearing. A large wooden mansion sits in-between the trees, the moonlight illuminating the view. A few lights are turned on, emitting a warm glow in the dark night.

I park the car and watch as the soldiers open up the car doors. I wave them away from Celia, quickly getting out and walking to her side. Her eyes flutter open and she stares at me, looking around.

“Are we here?” Celia asks with a yawn.

“Yes,” I nod. I gently slip my arm underneath her knees and pull her into my embrace, carrying her out of the car, “I’m going to take you to your room now, okay? You need to get some more sleep.”

Celia nods. She lays her head against my shoulder and lets out another quiet yawn. I look to the soldiers and they guide us up the stairs and into the home.

The Duke’s mansion is nice and warm. The lights are a dim orange color and are gentle on the eyes. There are soldiers stationed at every door, monitoring the environment around the home.

“Up the stairs and to the right,” one of the soldiers speaks, nodding his head towards the stairs.

I follow his instructions and walk up the stairs. Celia stirs in my arms, her grip around my neck tight yet lazily. I walk us down the hallway and find the empty row of bedrooms. There are two rooms right across from each other, ones that we will find some peace in for the night.

“Celia,” I whisper her name into her ear. Her eyes flutter open and connect with mine. Her face relaxes and a small, tired smile spreads across her lips. “Do you want me to put you in bed?”

“No,” Celia shakes her head. She stretches out her arms over her head and I slowly lower her to the ground. “I can manage.”

“Aright,” I nod.

I hold back a comment about wanting to stay with her. I hold back the urges and temptations that course through my veins.

All I can get myself to do is to take her hand and bring her knuckles to my lips, pressing a sweet kiss to her knuckles. I look back up at her, noticing the way her cheeks are now a light pink color, her lips slightly parted.

“Soren?” Celia whispers. I hum in response. “Will you…stay with me tonight?”

“Of course,” my heart swells at her request.

Celia squeezes my hand and pushes the door open. She takes a step backward and we submerge ourselves into the darkness and safety of the bedroom.