Chapter 26 - The Past's Irrelevance

CELESTINA VILLARAMA's POV

Most of the time, I still can't figure out if my presence in this realm would actually have any benefit for those who resided here first. Afterall, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if ever I'm going to be the reason for their beloved realm's destruction.

I sighed as I felt the presence of a man approaching me. I can sense how careful he was because of those little footsteps that he was making as he walked. "What do you want?" I asked without bothering to look behind.

A soft chuckle echoed through the hallway of the pack house. "Nothing in particular, Celestina. Did Frost harm you?" Ice asked as if he knew nothing about what occurred back at the dungeon.

I wasn't so sure what my answer would be. It's not like it was Frost's intention to force me to meet with Celeste, so I just shook my head. "Frost had almost the same personality as you did. It's great to see that you get along just fine with your wolf. I can't imagine myself being in the same situation as you," I truthfully answered.

"We've got along since the first day that I received him as my wolf." Ice stepped forward to stop me from my tracks as he blocked my pathway. "How did it go? Did you receive yours now? Did your wolf that lives inside your soul say anything to you after going near the fountain of life?" he consecutively asked, his eyes full of curiosity.

"My wolf didn't show herself yet. It seems like that fountain of yours wasn't that effective either... or I'm just really cursed by the moon goddess since I was born without that much luck in life," I lied. Though my last sentence was kind of how my life went in the real world.

My parents back then only cared about their own safety. But when the disasters began to wreak havoc within our lives, they changed their attitude just to gain my favor. Of course, if they did something good to me, they would expect that I would also do the same... that I wouldn't leave them behind no matter what.

Those events don't matter to me now as I only see it as something irrelevant to my life as of now. I'm sure that they would understand me, since I have to take care of myself during my stay here in this realm, which I have no control of.

I don't even have any clue what will be happening in the distant future. Unlike in the real world wherein the turnout of events were almost predictable every single day that passed by.

"Knowing that the fountain didn't work upon your wolf, then it must really be a curse brought upon you by the goddess herself. There are certain conditions to break those curses of the Goddess Sarina, and I'm sure that Lucas would be able to help you with it," Ice blurted out.

Lucas? As far as I can remember, the two weren't on good terms any longer.

"One more thing, you might have forgotten because of Frost's appearance underground. So I just wanted to remind you that you're my slave," he said with a finger pointed in my direction.

It doesn't seem like Frost was living within the conscience of Ice just like how Celeste was, so I doubt that he's listening to whatever we're talking about. It still makes me wonder why he didn't want me to act so vulgar in front of other creatures other than him when in fact, he wasn't even my mate.

"Celestina. Ice." A dominant voice called from above, but as I gazed around the area, there wasn't anyone else within our vicinity.

"Yes, Lucas? Tired of waiting for us?" Ice questioned while he was still with me, though he was occupied in staring nowhere, as if he was directly communicating with Lucas.

I heard a short hiss coming from the alpha. "Stop fooling around, Ice. My patience for you is running out, you wouldn't be happy either way if I end up ruining your beloved ---"

"Dare me, Lucas."

My eyes widened with the sudden change of Ice's way of speaking. Even his eyes looked as if he was ready to kill the alpha any second now. His eyebrows were on a resting position, but those death stares of Ice... were undeniably dangerous.

I unconsciously pinched Ice's arm, which made him glance at me with a brow raised. "Calm down."

Those were only two words, but it seemed to be powerful to him. The instant that he heard what I said, there was already a jolly smile on his face. "Come." Ice sent a gesture to me to follow him to where he was about to go.

***

We're currently outside the pack house and I was expecting that it would only be the two of us again, but no. Faces that were unfamiliar to me were gathered at the field. It's like they each had their respective groups as most of them wore the same outfits.

On the left side were people covered in armor. The next one was filled with weapons. Then, another group was carrying a set of items that were used for both the offense and defense.

While on the right side of the field were occupied by those who seemed to be the doctors or healers of the pack as they all carried medical equipment.

"What are we doing here?" I asked Ice.

He tilted his head over to the direction of the center of the field. "We're here for your training, what else?"

"Training?" I repeated the same word, getting all flustered. "I already told you while I was on my way out of the cave: I have an important mission to accomplish. I don't have any time to spare for this training, Ice," I said in a straightforward manner.

"And exactly what is that mission that you're referring to, that you're willing to disregard your training sessions here, hmm, Celestina Villarama?" asked the alpha who only showed himself just now. "You still haven't even conducted the rightful pledge with me. Do you want to be treated as a lone rogue who got herself lost inside the Silver Moon Pack? I guarantee that your life wouldn't last for a week or even a day if I declare that you weren't fully accepted as one of our members yet," he continued to speak.

Alpha Lucas' upper lip was slightly curled to provoke the shit out of me. Getting treated as a rogue would definitely not be the best for me, and of course, it wouldn't do any good to Celeste either whom I promised to set free.

"I wasn't informed that there was a need to commence a certain rite, Alpha Lucas."

"Didn't I tell you about it?" Ice suddenly asked, as if he planned to tell me about it but had forgotten. "Ah, right... You asked me to train you one on one, I totally forgot to inform you about the rules of this pack," he mumbled to himself before he glanced upon the alpha. "Lucas, spare her. She doesn't know about it yet, and I doubt that she did it during her stay with the Crimson Moon Pack."

The alpha nodded his head once, then called for me. I quickened my pace as he threw a knife midair, which I had to catch.

"You're going to slash through whichever part of your body. The important thing here is that your blood would reach me as you pledge to me and the rest of the pack itself. Do you understand?" Lucas patiently explained what I had to do.

"Yes, Alpha Lucas."

My heart was throbbing in pain as I immediately cut through the middle of my palm. I marched until I was in front of the alpha, then I bowed my head as a simple greeting.

Stretching my hand, I said, "I, Celestina Villarama, swear to be loyal to you, Alpha Lucas, and to the whole community of the Silver Moon Pack. Should I refuse to abide by all conditions that were set before my arrival, I would not complain about whatever punishment would be bestowed upon me."

Lucas was somehow satisfied with my statement, considering that it was my first time to do a pledge on the spot. "I, Alpha Lucas, accept you, Celestina Villarama, as a member of Silver Moon Pack," he mumbled at the same time that he reached for my hand and shook it three times, resulting in the rest of the crowd to applaud and welcome me as their new member.

I felt a sting coming from his hand, which reached my mind.

'You mustn't forget, I only gave you a month to break Sarina's curse. If this membership of yours would ruin the plan, I will no longer think twice to transport myself over to the real world using your identity,' said Celeste who regained her consciousness soon after Lucas touched me.

Maybe I would've been more fortunate if I was born and raised here instead... as I wouldn't have to worry about anyone else outside of this realm.