Chapter 12 - The Golden Necklace

CELESTINA VILLARAMA’s POV

The training between me and Ice has been going smooth for over a week now. I have also been formally introduced to their alpha, Lucas, who was still kind of not fond of my presence at all. They all made me feel like I wasn’t welcomed to be in this pack, and up until now, it was only the delta who accepted me wholly. And because of the treatment which I know I ultimately don’t deserve, I’ve had the first-hand assumption that I’d sooner or later be thrown out of their pack house just like what I experienced before. Though, I should strive hard in order to stop that from happening again and let it not be a premonition.

“What are you spacing out for, Celestina?” Ice asked while he was gripping on my neck.

Yes, he’s literally strangling me to death as of this moment, and he told me that it was an essential exercise which was necessary for me to learn how to control my breathing pattern and technique when I’m in a pinch.

“I couldn’t get over how the alpha’s gaze upon me was not swayed even for a second from the very first time that I walked through the mansion’s entrance. He made me seem like I was an arch enemy of his that he should look out for,” I answered.

Before things could get any worse, I brought out my hidden strength and deployed it all over to my bare hands. Both of it expanded along with the sharpening of my fingernails. I maximize my time to force Ice to undo his strangle on me. I was actually able to pierce through his skin until I reached his flesh, slightly making his thick blood gush out from that certain part of his arm.

“You’re improving quicker than I imagined,” Ice complimented with a small smirk curved on his lips. It was somehow evident that he’s seriously struggling from what I’m persistently doing, which is why he chose to let me go instantly before the tables could have been turned.

“I’ve learned from the best mentor that I got. Of course I’d be better,” I scoffed, which made his grin slowly fade away and was immediately replaced with his shyness.

Ice pretended to clear his throat by faking a cough. “I just remembered something important,” he said to change the current atmosphere in the midst of our awkward conversation. “Lucas told me the other day that he needs to see you today,” he continued.

I was speechless.

I was literally frozen from our position, not until Ice waved his hand continuously right in front of my face. “W-what? Oh, right… the alpha wants to see me — why?” I stuttered as I was totally dumbfounded.

I can’t recall anything that has a relevance with their alpha. There’s no way that I’ve unknowingly committed a crime within his territories too. It’s not like I’ve done any trouble with his subordinates, I don’t have enough power to do that right now, and I don’t have the intention to.

I’m about to go insane just thinking about any possible reason there is.

“That’s what I wanted to know as well, Celestina,” he said with a soft sigh. “I tried to ask Lucas for the details since I didn’t want you to go there without being prepared for whatever he’s scheming… but, he just wouldn’t bother giving me the slightest idea about it. So I guess that it would be best if you would bring out the best in you if things indeed go south for you.”

Ice seemed to be giving me a sign that he doesn’t have full trust in their alpha. I’m not definitely sure if I was simply being delusional or if he is really giving out two definitions of his statements?

“Where am I supposed to meet him?”

***

Ice wasn’t able to accompany me all the way to the alpha’s office. He only gave me specific directions since he was told not to follow me all the way here.

I’m currently standing straight in front of his door that was equipped with… cannons?

“Get inside, Celestina Villarama,” said by a monotonous voice from the other side of this door.

I gulped as soon as I pulled the door, revealing the interior designs of his office. I was kind of expecting to see the vibrant theme of his furniture that would give me the dominant vibes of his superiority. However, that wasn’t the case. His walls were painted from a variety of pastel colors. It was as if someone else handled the creation of what his office would look like, and that he had no other means to argue with its outcome.

Must’ve been someone special to him.

“A-ah…” I gasped when suddenly I felt a strong impact from behind that forced me to let go of the door until it got locked from the other side. “What are you planning to do to me, Alpha Lucas?” I asked as I firmly stood a few distance apart from where he was.

The next second that he raised his hand to reach my cheek, I saw how much his aura drastically changed. It was now screaming of destruction — the desire to murder someone in sight within a blink of an eye.

“That red head of yours pisses me off…” Alpha Lucas said with a stern gaze. “Even the presence of those necklaces infuriates me to the hell of it,” he added.

As he attempted to roam his hand down the necklace, it illuminated and prevented the alpha from touching it, as if there was some sort of barrier that would block those who weren't wearing the said accessory.

My shoulders shook in realization that he wasn’t delighted at all.

I gritted my teeth at the same time that I clutched onto the necklace. “EXACTLY WHAT THE F*CK IS WRONG WITH ALL OF THE WOLVES IN THIS REALM?! YOU ALL SEEM TO BE DESPERATE TO TAKE THIS NECKLACE AWAY FROM ME.” I paused for a short while to catch my breath and take a few steps backward. “THEN I’M SORRY, BUT I HAVE NO INTENTION OF LENDING THIS TO ANYONE… SINCE THIS WAS ENTRUSTED ONLY TO ME FROM THE VERY FIRST MOMENT THAT I ENTERED THE REALM OF XENON!”