Chapter 14 Celeste
Celeste's POV
“More and more people are searching for the Lycan kingdoms. They’re incredibly persistent, wandering through every unclaimed forest, climbing mountains and hills,” the head warrior said with admiration.
“Their ambition to find the Lycan kingdoms is so fiery. They never give up and are always passionate,” I said. Their hard work amazed me.
“They are so foolish. Those people only want to boast. I’m sure their efforts will only be appreciated by a few.” Beta Dylan growled in annoyance and snorted.
"Yes, you're right." I nodded. "Ever since the existence of the Lycan Kingdom of Wilmar was revealed to the public and they could no longer hide, a quarter of the world's population has condemned those who seek to destroy the magical barrier protecting the other lycan kingdoms."
The head warrior and Beta Dylan nodded in agreement. We were part of that quarter of people.
“Those people are just wasting their time.” Beta Dylan shook his head. “Even Alpha Andrew, Alpha Arabella, Alpha Romeo, Alpha Dragon, and Alpha Victor are no longer interested in attacking the lycan kingdom.”
“Sometimes I wonder,” the head warrior pondered seriously, “if the Moon Goddess hadn’t chosen Alpha Arabella as Alpha King Russell’s mate, would the existence of all lycan kingdoms have been exposed?”
“There are too many possibilities, and we don’t have the capacity to think that far ahead,” Beta Dylan said wisely.
We were standing at the open gate of our base, watching those people go by with serious faces, looking for clues that would lead them to all the hidden lycan kingdoms.
For hundreds of years, all the Lycan Kingdoms used magic to hide themselves. They locked themselves up because many werewolf packs were very cruel to them.
Over fifty years ago, five werewolf packs wiped out four Lycan kingdoms. They slaughtered every Lycan they could find, driving the survivors from other kingdoms into deeper hiding.
The Lycan kingdoms weren’t the only ones depending on that magical barrier. We rogue assassins also shielded our base with the same kind of spell.
This allowed Lycans to enter our territory, and vice versa. Non-Lycans who were officially part of a Lycan kingdom could also enter the rogue assassins’ headquarters.
Still, our base isn’t easy to find. It’s hidden deep in a remote area, and Lycans rarely leave their own kingdoms unless their leaders do.
We know where every Lycan kingdom lies, and we even know where the survivors of the massacre fifty years ago live. But we made a vow to protect one another’s secrets.
“Should we appreciate those who can find our base even though they can't see us and won't be able to destroy this magic layer?” Beta Dylan smirked and folded his arms across his chest. It was unclear what kind of amusing thought he was having.
“They’ll be prouder to have found us than the Lycan kingdoms,” I said, but of course, we wouldn’t let that happen. “Unfortunately, they’ll die before they can leave this place.”
“Yes, of course, I won’t let them live. I’ll tear them to pieces.” Beta Dylan hissed sharply, his gaze blazing red, and his hand always ready to use the sword at his waist.
Rogue assassins don’t rely on our wolves. We fight with swords, knives, and daggers, and we’ve mastered every form of combat.
I'm the Alpha of this pack, but no one requires me to be able to do all of that. So I rely on my wolf.
Beta Dylan, I, and the head warrior were relieved after those people left because they found no signs of lycans in this area.
We instructed the warriors to notify us if those people ever returned, before we resumed the work we had postponed.
I smiled as I watched Liam and Levi nap in the playroom. They looked like the most tired people in the world. I left them there because they were sensitive to my touch and my voice.
I entered my study, sat in the chair, and stared at the ceiling.
This room used to belong to Benedict. He left me for good three weeks ago, and his scent has already vanished completely.
I can’t smell him anymore—can’t even recall it—but one thing I’ll never forget is how much I loved that intoxicating scent of his.
"I miss you, Benedict."
Benedicton is now happy in heaven with his ancestors.
“You must be pleased. The four men who unleashed the tigers on you and your warriors have received their punishment: a thousand lashes a day and only one small meal. They won’t last long.”
I smiled happily. Beta Dylan and the head warrior have always been the most dependable when it comes to deciding punishments that fit the crime.
'Of course Benedict is smiling broadly,' my wolf said. 'I’m sure he can’t wait to see them there. Benedict will give them a brutal beating.'
I chuckled. “I take your word for it.”
Back when he was alive, Benedict preferred to punish anyone who angered him with his own hands until they begged the Moon Goddess to end their suffering.
He appeared cruel on the outside, but he was actually very kind and loved me and our two children.
I stared at the door as Beta Dylan stepped in after ringing the bell. He was carrying a file. Every day, I read a ton of information.
“I’m giving you information about Alpha Eiden.” Beta Dylan placed the file on the table.
I was shocked and confused. I took the file and read it with my brows knitted together.
The report said that for about a month—three weeks before he found Liam—Alpha Eiden had been paying several rogues to find someone who could understand him and heal him.
“He had a nightmare,” I muttered. “What kind of dream did he have that bothered him so much he didn’t want to have it again?”
“Do you care about him, Alpha?”
I was shocked by his question. “No. I’m just surprised.”
For two months, nightmares kept him awake at night. It might sound like nothing if you can’t feel what he went through.
I don’t care what kind of dream Alpha Eiden had that he was terrified and begged for help from anyone to stop the nightmares from coming every time he closed his eyes.
“Are you going to help him, Alpha? Because it seems no one has told him about the Purple Forest Group,” Beta Dylan asked curiously.
“No.” I shook my head, now looking at him questioningly. “Why do you think they can cure Alpha Eiden?”
I’d almost forgotten that within the rogue clan, there’s a group skilled in magic. They’re not witches: they’re rogues. Their ancestors once befriended witches.
“I’m just guessing.” He shrugged nonchalantly. After that, we discussed the five warriors who would soon return to their mission to investigate the organization that created the virus.
I won't work overtime no matter how much paperwork I have to handle. I'm not just a dreamer; I'm also a mother of two sons.
I have to be able to balance my time between work and my children.
Dinner with Liam and Levi marked the end of my workday.
I couldn’t help but laugh at their silly antics in the playroom. They were so innocent, so full of light. That’s how we all were once before we learned that life isn’t as beautiful as we imagined.
I'm so random. I should be enjoying my time with my children.
“I’m going to eat your brains!” I stood up, shot them a sharp look, stretched my arms forward, tilted my head to the right, and staggered toward them like a zombie.
Levi and Liam, who’d been arguing about how to line up their toy cars, froze and stared at me wide-eyed.
"Ah, zombies!" Levi shouted, pointing at me.
“We have to save ourselves!” Liam shook Levi’s shoulder before they split up and ran around the room, laughing.
I chased after them, quickly but not quickly enough. Their laughter echoed through the room as they teased me for failing to catch them.
Their energy was endless. I couldn’t match their speed, so I sat down against the wall, breathing hard, and surrendered.
Liam and Levi approached me with worried faces and asked how I was doing.
"I got you two!" I pulled them into my arms. They were shocked and screamed. We laughed together.
"Aren't you guys tired?" I kissed their hair as they sat on my lap.
"No," they answered in unison.
"Mom, I'm nervous," Liam fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. "If I don't feel comfortable at Alpha Eiden's home, I don't want to stay there anymore." His sudden honesty caught me off guard.
“It's okay, dear.” I smiled, stroking his blond hair.
I still hadn’t told Beta Dylan, Gamma Silas, or Delta Giana about our plan to stay at Alpha Eiden’s house. What if they didn’t allow it?