Chapter 32 - The Trial

CELESTINA VILLARAMA’S POV

It’s kind of a miracle that no one was tailing us. From the very second that I stepped out of the mansion through there, I already anticipated that Alpha Lucas would be agitated as he ordered us to go back there. I heaved out a loud sigh, wiping my hands on my clothes.

Ice suddenly stepped in front of me, blocking my way. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt somewhere?" He worriedly asked, attempting to grab both of my wrists, which I immediately pulled out of his reach.

I shook my head as I walked past him. “It’s nothing. I just thought that the alpha would follow us around.”

“Lucas? I’m certain that he knows that we’re outside the mansion now,” Ice replied, moving beside me without removing his eye contact from my face. “I can’t help but wonder why you’re suddenly acting aloof.” His voice almost couldn’t be heard as he whispered.

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. I don’t know if he noticed that I couldn’t see him similarly to how I did, just because of how he appointed me as his slave. “What do you mean? I’ve never been distant to you, Ice.” I showed him a small smile, just to make him feel convinced.

However, it doesn’t seem like he believed a single word that came out of my mouth.

Ice rolled his eyes, then placed one of his hands on my left shoulder. “You’re lying. You can’t even look me straight in the eye,” he murmured.

I didn’t want to argue with him, so I decided not to speak until we reached our destination. Everyone was minding their own business, which was great since I didn’t want anyone to pay attention to me today. There was a fountain in the center of the path, while there were stalls around the area.

“Why did you want to go here?” Ice broke the silence between us. He was busy roaming his eyesight throughout the place. “Let me rephrase my question…”

Ice grabbed me by the elbow all of a sudden, so I couldn’t prevent him from dragging me until we reached the fountain. “H-hey, don’t be too rough! You could’ve just told me to go with you…” I grunted, forcing him to release his grip on me.

“How did you know this place?” Ice’s aura was suddenly darker than the last time I saw his aura. His facial expression tells me that he wasn’t in the mood for any jokes. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself and assume that you purposely brought me here, so answer me honestly, Celestina…” he mumbled in such a hard, serious tone.

I bit my lower lip, unable to look away. “I just wanted to get some fresh air.” I turned around, sitting on the vacant spot near the fountain, and invited him to sit beside me. “I wasn’t prepared for everything that occurred to me the past few days…” I glanced up to the sky while explaining my thoughts to the delta—all of the miserable experiences that I’ve been bottling up inside my mind.

Ice stretched his arms up, stopping midway near my shoulders before he dropped it back to his lap. “Now I understand why you’re suddenly cautious with me,” he said, then faked a laugh. “You’re making me regret that I chose to make you my slave. Don’t worry, I won’t force you to do what opposes your will.”

I genuinely smiled as I appreciated his kindness, even though I knew that I’d still face a lot of misfortune with the alphas sooner or later. We spent the entire afternoon outside, just talking about ourselves. Although I didn’t have the opportunity to learn about his real identity, especially the powers that he’s hiding.

I clenched my right fist, placing it above my chest, as I sensed how comfortable I’d gotten with Ice. This wasn’t the first time that I’ve felt this way. It’s like... I have always known him for my entire life.

I tugged at the edge of his shirt when he stood up. “Have we met somewhere before?” I asked him out of pure curiosity, with my head bowed down to stare at my own feet, in case he would look at me with ferocity.

“You’ll soon figure things out, Celestina…” He held my hand that was on his clothes, gently pushing it away. “Ace probably warned you not to talk about those unless you’ve regained your memories, right?”

I could only nod my head twice in response before I rose to follow his tracks. Despite the guidance I’m getting from everyone I’ve met in this realm so far, I still can’t help but worry about the future. The probability that I’d get myself in danger is higher than the chance that I’d survive until the end.

“Ace… what are you doing here?” Ice suddenly spoke, which disrupted my thoughts, causing me to glance at where he was looking. “Did you call him over?” he asked me, so I just shook my head as I raised one of my eyebrows.

Ace raised his arm as he folded four of his fingers to point at me. “I’m here to claim Miss Celestina Villarama,” he formally replied.

The wind rushed through my hair as I stared at him before I tilted my head sideways. “What do you mean, Ace? If that’s not a direct order from the Wongs, then excuse us…” I attempted to walk away, but Ace immediately grabbed my wrist. “I have no reason to return to the Crimson Moon Pack, Ace. I’d rather stay here with Alpha Lucas than push myself toward a man who rejected me!” I flicked his arm to let go of me.

The delta stood by my side, blocking his right arm in front of me so that his brother wouldn’t be able to grip me again.

“At least hear me out, Ice,” Ace pleaded with him instead of me. “This is for her sake. I’m not doing this for Alpha Siege or Beta Kristoffer. I have to make her undergo a single trial, and then after that, I’d make sure to get out of your sight,” he added.

I sighed, turning the other way as I completely ignored him. “Let’s go, Ice. We don’t have to listen to what he’s saying. Alpha Lucas might get infuriated when he finds us here with him.”

“If you don’t do this, you might never get your curse revoked,” Ace muttered in between his short gasps. “You know what will happen if you can’t undo the curse that the moon goddess gave you, right?” he asked.

I gritted my teeth with my forehead scrunched. Ace is trapping me in a corner where I have no choice but to agree to what he wants me to do. Slightly parting my lips, I breathed in heavily at the same time that I faced Ace again. “Come with us inside the pack house, then I’d consider hearing you out.”

If my calculations aren’t mistaken, then I’m sure that Ace wouldn’t have the courage to step inside our mansion without prior notice.

“Okay,” Ace briefly responded, confidently walking past the both of us as he headed towards the pack house.

I gasped as I gazed upon the delta. He also glanced my way, and we were probably thinking the same… How did Ace get so brave after such a short time?