Chapter 13 - A Crimson Moon

CELESTINA VILLARAMA’s POV

I have exactly no idea where I gained such courage to actually talk back to an alpha, knowing that I reacted the same way that I did to Siege. Maybe I’m just really fed up with all of their similar behaviors towards the necklace that I wore.

I would’ve understood if they hated the moon goddess based on their own share of loathful experiences, but they could have spared me. I have no connection or relevance with their issues, especially that I’m basically a newcomer with her memories lost.

“Seriously though, what happened, Celestina? You haven’t told me anything about the occurrences when Lucas summoned you. I’m getting worried now that you haven’t spoken at least a single word.” Ice has been continuously speaking.

I’ve heard everything that he said, but I had absolutely no energy to give him an answer. He’s right though — my mind has been kept blank ever since the time that I returned from the alpha’s office.

After the way that I confronted their alpha, I feel like my entire life would be a complete mess starting from now on.

“Celestina Villarama, you’re such an idiot!” I repetitively stomped on the ground as I blamed myself. I only caught a glimpse of how Ice shook his head while holding onto the edge of his chin, probably confused of the way that I was acting. “Hey, Ice…” I gently tapped him by his shoulder.

“What is it?”

“Do you know how I can go back to the Crimson Moon Pack house?”

Ice’s lips parted, assuming that he wasn’t expecting this type of question. “Isn’t it specified in the map that you had during our first meeting?” Ice asked, then continued to speak when he saw how uncertain and clueless I was. “Each of our pack’s territories are exemplary, gigantic, considering that there were only two existing packs that were residing inside this realm. And also, I heard that the alpha of the opposing pack was almost hailed as the king of all. I can’t even begin to imagine just how much hatred Lucas would store for the alpha of that pack if ever their paths would cross,” he explained.

***

I’ve gathered a lot of new information about these two packs, all thanks to the Silver Moon Pack’s delta. It was already past midnight before we knew it.

“So what do you plan to do now?” Ice was getting himself ready to head out of the palace.

I heaved out an exhausting sigh, then I placed my hand on my chest. Even I had the same question to myself — what should I do and what was I seeking to achieve in the first place?

“I feel like I’m being called by someone from that pack. I’m sure that it wasn’t simply my own conscious thoughts. It must be someone who sees me as their only resort,” I said as I firmly straightened my joints, expecting for the worst to come and punish me.

“If that’s the case, then let me come along with you.” Ice volunteered and presented himself on how capable he was of protecting me, if ever something unpredicted would occur in between our journey.

There wasn't any reason for me to decline Ice's offer, especially now that I wasn't brave enough to go back to that pack house on my own. Along our trails, I suddenly remembered Kristoffer's warning about not crossing paths with Siege.

"Do you have any special ability that you're proud of?" I asked randomly to remove the silence between us. "I mean, wolves most probably have some certain power that can make everyone else distinguish your outstanding self from other creatures."

Ice shook his head as a response before he raised one of his palms parallel to where I was, making me stop from my tracks. "I'm... how do I say this?" he mumbled to himself. Ice formed a tight ball with his fist as he was mustering up the courage to further explain what he wanted to say. “I don’t have a particular power that I can brag to anyone else, since I am weak to begin with. I’ve only gone through hell with Lucas’ training after I won his trust. He wouldn’t have wasted his time on me if he knew that I would be useless in the end,” he said before he released the way that he clenched his fists.

“Are you possibly…” I bit my lower lip to prevent myself from asking something unnecessary.

Based on the manner that Ice spoke, I’m getting the same hunch that he’s from the same world before I was transported inside this realm. But, what proof do I have that my previous world even existed? Ice might think of me as a woman who lost her sanity after being casted out of the pack.

“Weird,” Ice mumbled as he gazed around.

“What’s the matter?”

Ice’s aura was starting to fade away bit by bit, and that was the point when I knew that we’re about to encounter a huge disaster. His breathing got heavier in each second as he was gently stepping near my position, just to make sure that he would be able to guard me as he wanted. He slightly raised his left arm and extended it over to the other side while his palm was facing my direction, in an attempt to push me closer to him.

“Be alert, Celestina. We’ve walked quite a distance already and we’re supposed to be inside your previous pack’s territories by now, but we’re not… It’s like there’s some sort of barrier that’s blocking the both of us from trying to step inside the Crimson Moon Pack,” Ice explained why he suddenly had to be wary of our surroundings. “If there really was someone calling you from the insides, then this wouldn’t be happening right now.”

His last statement made me think if it was actually the case; that I was mistaken and that I let my hopes get ahead of me. “S-sorry…” I stuttered as I apologized to Ice, even though he wasn’t clearly blaming me for what’s about to occur. “Can’t we just go back to the Silver Moon Pack’s turf?” I asked in a polite way, to avoid getting him frustrated by my sudden change of mind.

Ice shook his head. “Even if I wanted to, it seems like the guards here have already blocked our way out.”

I unconsciously glanced upwards only to witness the clouds giving way for the moon to be seen by the naked eye. Its tint is distinctively altered from being its natural color to bear the same color as blood.

“A crimson moon…”

‘Your mate is about to wield its strongest form ever, Celestina, and you’re not even going to be there to witness him — you’re not the one who’s by his side as he suffers all of the pain that he’s supposed to endure together with his mate. But even so, you too, shall share at least half of the amount of his distress.’

I immediately clung onto Ice’s arm as I felt my knees getting weaker than I’ve ever experienced before.

“Celestina, what’s wrong?!” Ice’s voice was filled with a mixture of confusion and panic.

I couldn’t bother to answer him. My entire body was numb, I couldn’t even open my mouth to let my voice out. It wasn’t just my physical build, it’s like my soul was drifting away from me after I heard what my wolf said to me.