Chapter 25 - Back To You

CELESTINA VILLARAMA's POV

I heaved out a loud sigh to show how frustrated I was, with the thought that getting to be Siege's mate might be the one and only answer for Celeste's desire to gain her freedom. I can't shrug off the thought of how it was utterly impossible for me to accomplish. One of them requires the presence of my wolf to believe that I really was his mate. While the other one here wants me to break the curse first, which would definitely be hard as Siege still doesn't accept me.

"Can't you just take over my entire conscience like how everyone else does so? Is it necessary for us to function in two different bodies, if in the end, we would still share the same mind?" I asked, in an attempt to search for another way for Celeste to get what she wants.

"You have too many questions. Don't you know the saying that curiosity can kill?" Celeste shook her head in disappointment. Then, she snapped one of her fingers that made the surroundings change.

I was hit with a sense of nostalgia as I saw my parents from afar and also the fact that I was inside our house. Nothing much changed. Both of them seemed to be happy even though I wasn't together with them. It somehow made my heart ache to realize how they can actually laugh despite my absence. It's not like I disappeared out of their sight with a proper farewell; it would have been more understandable if that was the case.

I tried countless times to call out for them like how I regularly did before, but my voice wasn't coming out of my mouth.

I tilted my head to the side where I could see Celeste with a playful smirk. "I wonder if this would actually make you change your mind."

I clenched one of my fists and placed it above my chest. I have a bad feeling about this one.

Celeste moved forward, directly over to where my parents were. They were cooking for their dinner... and only two plates were prepared.

"Oh, you're already back home, Celeste?" mom asked my wolf casually, which I totally expected the least. "Sorry, we didn't get a plate for you yet. We thought that you'd be eating outside with your colleagues from your work and also sleeping with them," she sincerely apologized with a slight bow of her head.

My vision began to get blurry as tears blocked my sight. "No... This can't be happening," I mumbled to myself, refusing to believe what I've witnessed. "Mom, dad! That's not me. I'm your daughter, Celestina! I'm right here... please, look at me. That's an impostor staying with you... she's trying to steal both of you away from me..."

Those words never reached my parents, but I know that Celeste managed to perceive it and is merely being ignorant.

"That's perfectly fine with me, don't worry. It's my fault that I didn't send you or dad a message that I'll be going home tonight. Did you already decide when our celebration will take place?" Celeste asked them, then assisted in the preparation of their food.

"Not yet, dear. I still can't accept the fact that you're already an adult... You were suffering so much due to the loss of your first and greatest lover. Can't believe how you found someone else to marry, but hope you know that we're so proud of you," dad was the one who answered as he gave her wife a tight embrace, as well as Celeste.

What? Celeste's getting married?!

I'm engaged with someone that I don't even know?

I tried to head over to the dining area to confront her, but it's useless. None of my body parts were able to cross. There was some sort of barrier blocking my way.

I hate this... I clearly told Celeste not to get my family involved with whatever she was after. If only I had the power to withstand this and turn the tables around...

"Celestina, wake up... Please, I'm begging you."

Frost was calling me and that's when I realized that he's still waiting for me to return. However, even if I could clearly hear his voice, there's nothing that I can do about it. I can't even give him a simple sign that I'll be going back to his side, that I'm still holding on.

"Are you still not going to accept my deal, Celestina?" Celeste disrupted my thoughts as she spoke from the same seat. When I glanced at her, she was already staring at me with those pairs of eyes that seemed to creep the hell out of me. "Your time is running out, and just as you said earlier, I can easily take over not just your conscience, but your whole existence. You should learn how to be careful of the words that you say next time."

I gritted my teeth as I felt that there's no other solution anymore. "Fine, I get it already. I agree to break the curse for your sake, okay?! Get out of my family's vicinity now," I quickly replied to her.

Both my mom and dad vanished like tiny dust particles soon after I finished speaking.

"Those were scenes based on your own imaginations, Celestina. I was never in contact with your parents, and you should be the one who knows best that it was a hoax... a scheme to set you up to get what I want," Celeste explained the immediate disappearance of my parents. "I'll be giving you approximately thirty days, a whole damn month to be someone's mate. I'm guessing that the moon goddess didn't necessarily require you to be Siege's mate, the Crimson Moon Pack's Alpha. I think anyone out there would actually suffice."

During the whole time that Celeste was saying those, it was clearly evident on her facial expression that she doesn't want anyone else to be my mate. She must be hoping deep inside that I'd notice and pursue for the acceptance of Siege instead of looking at another creature's affection.

"You're not that honest with your own feelings sometimes, huh," I commented, then lightly patted her shining redhead. "Wait for me, I'll set you free, Celeste. Your life depends on my decision. Likewise, my life would depend on the alpha's judgment."

Celeste no longer gave me a reply. Her eyes turned darker until all of those that surrounded me were gone together with my wolf. Fortunately, being left all alone was not a foreign feeling for me.

"Celestina, you're finally..." Frost murmured in the background as I gently forced my eyes to open. "You're finally back to me."

I didn't pay attention to whatever Frost was telling me. My mind was focused on thinking about several plans on how I would be able to gain Siege's attention instead.

Considering that I have no reason to head back to the Crimson Moon Pack, the only resort that I have left is leveling up to reach his standards. I have to do a lot of research regarding the stuff that he's interested in and also those that he hates.

I stood straight and attempted to head out of the cave, but a hand held my forearm. "What?" I asked in a cold tone.

Frost hastily removed his hand on my arm. "Sorry, I was just concerned with your condition. You sounded like you were about to completely pass out and lose your life just a few moments ago. It's weird how you've suddenly regained your strength," he said, getting all flustered as if I was a stranger to him.

"I have a mission to accomplish on my own... I have to leave this place now. I can head back to the pack house by myself, so it's up to you if you'll let Ice go together with me or not."

I turned around, then gracefully walked away from his current spot. As I was heading to the exit of the dungeon, blue flames randomly appeared on my side to guide me on my way. And every single time that I passed a certain point, the fire died.

It must be Frost's doing.