Chapter 18: Borderlands

I held my breath as Castiel inched closer to me, leaving almost no room between our bodies. And while I knew how powerful his spells could be, I couldn’t help but feel worried about this… situation.

And now that I think about it, me being in his car might spark a scandal—

“You think too much,” he teased before easing the furrowing of my brows with his finger. “I don’t want you to be tense while treating the soldiers later.”

But how could I relax? Between the three of my mates being near me, Medea’s surefire plot to kill me during the first trial, the rabid outbreak, and the massive Red army marching towards the border, relaxing would be the last thing on my mind.

“I just don’t want to get too cocky. The Reds might have their own tricks up their sleeves.”

“Is that all that you’re worried about? Aren’t you afraid that I might really do something… scandalous?”

“Your Eminence.” I shot him a warning glance. “You preach of proper decorum when you don’t even follow your own words…”

Castiel chuckled before moving away, raising his hands. “Hey, I’m just teasing you, dearest…”

He leaned against his seat, and the car was filled with silence once again. I stared outside the car, my thoughts jumbled and almost incoherent.

Him, Kieran, Augustus, and that stranger… they’ve been living rent-free in my mind since earlier this night, when I learned and fully realized that I’ve been mated to four.

When I almost died a year ago, I had long convinced myself to never accept any other mate bonds that the Mother Goddess would give. I’ve begged her every night to make Fluke stop yearning for one, because for me, no one could ever love me again, a broken Lycan, discarded by her husband, and foolish enough to leave her claim to immense power.

“I can sense your wolf right now, Hestia,” Castiel softly whispered before taking my hand. “What’s wrong?”

I shrank into my seat, placing enough distance between us as he leaned over. “It’s nothing, Castiel…”

“Do you really think you could fool me? We grew up together, Hestia. I know when something is bothering you.”

I sighed. “I’m just thinking of all the things that had happened… Everything feels surreal, and I don’t even know where to start. What if I fail again this time? What if I…”

What if I die, for real?

“Dearest,” he called as he made me look at his blue eyes. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise. Whether you win the crown or not, I’ll find a way to protect you.”

Our eyes locked for a very long time. Knowing Castiel, he won’t stop until he convinces someone. I know he meant every word that he said.

But these insecurities I’ve had for the past year, they fester. Like maggots on open wounds, devouring every inch of flesh slowly.

“You believe in me too much, Castiel.”

Castiel chuckled. “If I don’t, then who would? That Rogue who’s carrying you around like a sack of potatoes?”

I giggled when that image of Kieran popped into my mind. “Hey, at least give Kieran some credit…” Castiel fell silent. I glanced at him, wondering if I said something wrong. “What?”

“You like him.”

Jealousy dripped in those three words that he uttered. I cleared my throat. “I don’t.”

“That’s the same look you had when you told me you liked Augustus before we came of age.”

I shifted again in my seat, not because his interrogation made me feel as if I was being grilled in an oven, but because I… simply haven’t accepted the fact that someone was starting to occupy space in my heart. We’ve been stuck together for almost a year. This strange feeling might just be gratitude.

Even if we were bonded by Mother, it’s impossible that I’m catching feelings for that brute.

Before I could even say anything, the car came to a sudden halt, almost sending me towards the driver’s seat. I immediately looked up ahead, only to see that the other military cars in front of us had stopped as well.

“What’s happening?” Castiel’s subordinate asked, looking through the window. “We’re still three miles from the base…”

The mountains towered over us, and the tunnel ahead was dark. I opened the car door on my side and stepped out, when I noticed that Kieran and Augustus from the car up ahead also did the same.

They were both scanning the mountains.

“Kieran? What’s wrong?” I asked, looking at the direction he was facing. His eyes narrowed, as if he was trying to make out something in the dark. “Why did we stop?”

He placed his index finger on top of his lips, telling me to be quiet. Our envoy also turned off the engines of their cars one by one.

Click. Augustus loaded a small pistol and handed it to me. His men started to go into a defensive position, as Kieran remained still.

Then, it hit me. A strong scent of iron wafted through the air. Followed by the loud howling of multiple wolves coming from a distance.

Did we come too late?

Kieran pulled me behind him, his other hand bracing to use his axe. I saw Medea and Isobel step out of one of the cars behind us as well, confused about what was going on.

She seemed… unfazed. Too calm, to be exact, for someone facing a rabid outbreak.

The virus could be passed via saliva or bodily fluids. Mutations act fast, and within 24 hours, a victim could turn into the same rabid wolf that had victimized them. And while divine wolves have the ability to heal these kinds of afflictions, we were not fully immune to them.

In fact, if we get bitten, the rate of the mutations within our bodies is faster than that of a normal wolf, which in turn would create stronger and deadlier rabid Lycans.

Dealing with one was already a massive headache. But the fact that Medea could still stand like that and ask Isobel for something to eat makes me wonder what she was planning to do.

Something’s not right.

The stench of iron grew unbearable as massive hordes of infected Lycans and wolves alike descended from the mountains. Augustus’s men managed to keep them from approaching us, until…

“The Nightfall Pack,” I screamed as I recognized the crest worn by an infected Lycan pup. “They came from the Nightfall Pack!”

Without thinking, I ran towards the infected pup, who was crying out loud, and scooped her into my arms. Augustus was almost screaming at his men for a ceasefire, while Castiel created a barrier around us to prevent them from attacking.

I laid the pup on the cold cement and began to prick my finger to draw blood. Her dry lips trembled as blood dropped on her mouth, as her little body slowly went back to its normal state.

“An entire borderlands pack… infected?” Augustus turned to his Gamma. “I thought you said our men were the only ones afflicted?”

“No, this isn’t rabid infection,” Castiel commented. “This is… the Dark Moon’s curse.”