Book 5: Chapter 51 – Hating My Family

Book 5: Chapter 51 – Hating My Family
Cerelia’s POV 

I had all the luxuries in the world in the room I was locked in but lacked the most important thing: my freedom. All night, I waited for Nikos to update me about my mate. But he didn’t return. A sense of dread gripped my heart. Why didn’t Nikos return? Did something happen to my mate? 

All the time I was locked in, no one took an update on me. At dinnertime, an attendant brought me my food. It tasted so weird that I spit out the only bite I took. It made me suspicious. Had they mixed something into the food? It was better to sleep on an empty stomach than to have their food.

It was morning, and I was ravenous. How long were they planning to keep me here? I would die if I had to stay here another day. There was nothing in the room to keep me occupied. It was a weird house where no one cared about me. Then why did my grandfather want me to come here? Was it only to separate me from my mate? What difference did it make to him if we were together? 

While I fumed in anger, the door unlocked and Nikos came inside with a container. He locked the door and handed the container to me. “Here, eat this. Did you have the food my mom sent you last night?” 

“No, it tasted weird.” I accepted the container and opened it to find my favorite pasta. “Oh, thanks. I’m dying of hunger.” 

“Good, that you didn’t have it. I overheard Grandpa instructing everyone here to purify you.” Nikos gave me a horrified look, but I was clueless about it. 

“Purify me? What does it mean?” 

“Grandpa thinks you’re impure because your mom was an ordinary shifter wolf. The purifying process will purify your blood and you’ll become a true Silver Wolf like us.” He looked apprehensive of the treatment and so did I. 

“But I don’t want it. I’m fine the way I am. How will they purify me?” I took generous bites of the pasta. It was so good, I could eat more. 

Nikos sighed and gave me a look of pity. “They’ll spike your food with herbs and drugs that will change the chemical composition of your body. This will cause structural changes in your brain and affect your cognitive levels. Your brain will be made to function like a true silver wolf. You won’t recognize your shifter mate anymore. The mate bond between you will break and you’ll be attracted only towards our species.” 

Alarmed, I gaped at my brother. “This is so scary, Nikos. Please, can you help me? Alexandrios has already claimed me. I can’t think of another mate. I don’t want to. Please save me.” Tears of helplessness formed in my eyes as I begged my brother. He was my only hope now.

He looked as agitated as I did. “I’ll help you, Cerelia. Calm down. I’ll get you the food we eat. No one should know about it. Your therapist is none other than Aunt Sophia, Uncle Viktor’s mate. You must reach out to her when she checks your progress. She’ll know you haven’t been taking her prescribed herbs.” 

My eyes went wider. “What if she reports me to Grandpa?” 

He nodded. “That’s a risk you’ll have to take, but you have no option left. She usually checks her patients weekly. Right now, she has left for a three-week seminar and workshop in Athens. So you’re safe for three weeks.” 

I knew I was safe for a few weeks, but it didn’t relieve me. Nikos had given no update on Xandrios yet and I was worried now. “Did you find out about my mate? Where is he? How is he? Is he alive?” My lips trembled with fear as I whispered the last part. 

He evaded my gaze. “Grandpa has forced him to leave. Dr. Alexandrios didn’t want to leave, so he injected a sedative to get him unconscious. He ordered his guards to dump him in Pieria Canyon. I have no information about your mate after that. I’m sorry, Cerelia, I didn’t want to tell you.” 

My heart shattered at the news. Was that why I couldn’t connect with my mate? “No, I don’t believe it. My mate can’t die. I don’t feel the pain of separation at all. I’m a mated wolf, Nikos. Surely if he’s in pain, I’ll feel it. But I feel nothing. So he has to be alive. Please find out where the guards have taken him. Please search for my mate. Promise me you will, Nikos. I love him. I can’t live if anything happens to him.” 

“I will Cerelia. Don’t take any drastic steps, please. Wait for my update.” He left with the empty container and the one Aunt Elena had sent. 

The moment the door closed, sobs wracked my body, my mind plunging in grief. 

‘Lia, can you feel Rio’s presence? Do you think they’re dead?’ I knew I could trust my wolf’s instincts. She has never failed me. 

‘I can’t feel him, Cera. Don’t jump to any conclusions. Maybe he’s not in Greece. Maybe the herbs spiked in your drink have made us immune to his presence. Let’s wait for Nikos’s update.’ 

All morning I waited for Nikos’ update. Aunt Elena arrived to check my progress. I lay on the bed feigning weakness and she looked satisfied by my progress. “I’ll send your lunch right away. Don’t worry, the weakness will go away.” 

She walked away, but I hated her. Could she do this to me if I were her daughter? Minutes later, she sent me lunch, but I knew what it contained. Hunger pangs made me double up, yet I didn’t touch the food. The door opened and Alekos entered.

He closed the door and smiled at me, handing me a large container he had hidden in his backpack. 

“Nikos asked me to get you lunch. Here, you can have this. It’s my share. I’m going to the academy to train. I’ll have something there.” 

I smiled at him with relief. “Thanks, bro. Where’s Nikos?” I was eager to get an update on Xandrios. 

“He has gone out with his friends towards Pieria Canyon, I think.” 

My heart skipped a beat. Would Nikos and his friends save my mate? I felt hopeful and helped myself to the food. Alekos left, and I happily finished everything he brought for me. Now I wasn’t alone in this prison anymore. I had two well-wishers and two brothers who loved me. 

After lunch, I hid the container and dozed off to sleep while waiting for Nikos. When I woke up, it was evening already. How did I sleep for so long? 

I turned to get out of bed when my eyes landed on my grandfather, sitting on a chair at my bedside and watching me. My heart constricted with fear. Did he find out my secret? This was my second meeting with him, but I hated him with a vengeance more than I hated the Red Wolves. Now, my grandfather was the only one in the world I wanted dead.

“Why are you here? Are you enjoying torturing your granddaughter? Is this some sort of revenge against my dad? I wish I die sooner than stay here with you under one roof,” I spat, meeting his cold eyes. 

He didn’t budge from his seat. His eyes were colder than the Arctic Ocean as he regarded me intently. “It seems the medicines aren’t affecting you at all. I’ll have to increase your dosage. Watch your tone, girl! The next time you speak to me in that tone, I’ll kill you to save the pack’s honor. I won’t tolerate traitors in my pack. You’ll face the same end as your worthless mate. Am I clear?” he snarled while I seethed with fury. 

“I don’t fear death. I hate you and your rules. Kill me if you want, but be ready to die too. Because I will kill you before I die. If anyone deserves to die, it is you. Do you realize no one loves you in this world? You’re such a failure, Alpha Cassius. I pity you.” I met his stony gaze fearlessly, for I had nothing to lose. If he had killed my mate, I had no reason to live. He could kill me, but I would take his life before I died. 

He sprang to his feet, yet I held his gaze, challenging him to kill me. He shook his head and walked away towards the door. “You’re spirited, Cerelia. You’ll make a great Alpha of the Silvermane Warriors one day.” 

“You wish, Alpha Cassius. I won’t stay here to be your Alpha. I’ll choose death over that.” 

He chuckled instead of taking offense, leaving me seething after him. Did he consider me a child? Did he think my threats were childish? 

Ugh, I hated him.

It was well past dinnertime when an attendant brought me the drugged food. The moment the door opened, I could hear the hushed whispers of the guards. There was chaos outside the mansion, wolves shouting. What was going on? 

The attendant left while I drank water to curb my hunger. It was well past midnight when the door opened and a haggard Nikos arrived with my food. 

“What’s going on, Nikos?” I couldn’t eat without getting an update on my mate. 

“The guards had dumped your mate in Pedro’s car, instructing him to throw Dr. Alexandrios in the Pieria Canyon, but he defied Grandpa’s orders. Pedro helped him escape to Thessaloniki Airport and to Lucania. So your mate has returned home, safe and sound. Grandpa found out and they’re searching for Pedro to execute him. He and his family seemed to have escaped too.”