Chapter 59 - The Trap

CELESTINA VILLARAMA'S POV

Beta Leonardo's smirk still lingers in my mind. It wasn't the kind of smirk that can make me feel like he's secretly mocking me. It was rather like he was amused to witness the tears that streamed down my face. Ice brought me back to the pack house, and we still haven't uttered a single word since we came out of the beta's house.

I crossed my legs as I was sitting on the couch in the lobby, just near everyone who was going in and out of the mansion. Afraid of what the outcome would be, I kept on biting my fingernails.

"Do you think that Leo will be a great leader of the Silver Moon Pack if ever his condition is to become the alpha?" I blurted out a random question that popped in my head. It was supposed to be for myself only, but I was also intrigued to hear other people's opinions about it.

Ice frowned with a look of disapproval. "No one among us can replace our current alpha, no matter what happens,Celestina. I won't give up on Lucas, and I will never side with Leonardo after everything that I heard from the Wongs siblings regarding Leonardo's insane personality," he answered me without thinking twice.

The way that Ice didn't even hesitate to tell me that he wouldn't team up with Leo makes me glad, knowing that I wasn't the only one who thought the same.

"Did you have a chance to converse with his late mate?" I asked out of pure curiosity, even if I had already heard the story from Master Kristoffer before.

Ice shook his head along with a soft sigh. "I've always seen Lara going in the Crimson Moon Pack together with Leonardo, but I never talked with her," he said. "I noticed that she was getting skinnier day by day though. I was worried that she was sick or maybe unintentionally cursed, but I wasn't close with Leonardo those days."

"So Leo didn't know about Lara's weak condition?"

"Either he didn't know or he chose to feign ignorance as if they weren't fated mates who could sense each other's pain," Ice mumbled, leaning his head behind as he shut his eyes to cool himself.

***

Hours passed by, and the moonlight was too bright as it shone near my spot as I was outside the pack house. No one bothered to talk to me and insist that I get in. I was too occupied thinking about when Beta Leonardo would show himself and tell me his decision.

Playing with the small rocks that were below my feet, I heard a woman's voice calling my name from behind, so I turned to look at her and saw that it was my damn sister.

"What do you want now, Stella? Aren't you satisfied that I'm already back here for good and stuck with Lucas instead of Siege?" I rolled my eyes at the same time that I crossed my arms below my chest.

Stella approached me with an eyebrow raised. "You're making it sound like I'm your enemy, Celestina," she replied with a scoff. "I just wanted to invite you for dinner, I heard from the pack maids that you still haven't eaten anything since then. It wouldn't be good for any of us here if you're going to be sick with the alpha. What will you do if they assume that the alpha is causing a plague?"

The way she spoke sounded sincere, so I can't quite determine if she was simply pretending to be kind, or maybe something nice happened to her lately.

Having no reason to decline Stella's invitation to dinner, I followed her all the way to the dining hall. The maids all had their heads bowed down upon my entrance, together with my sister. I couldn't understand why they had to show such respect to an omega.

"Have a seat anywhere you'd like. The meal is already prepared for each seat, and there's no difference among them; it's all served equally," Stella informed me as she sat on the nearest chair in front of the person who would take the middle seat at the edge of the long table.

I faked a laugh as I pulled a chair opposite Stella. We were directly facing each other, but I couldn't read the expression written on her face.

"What's the occasion? I don't think that you invited me here because you were worried," I questioned her, still having doubts. "Did someone set you up to call me here?" I added to my first query.

I noticed the immediate change of her blank expression to a surprised one. Her eyes widened along with a gasp. "You're not that dumb, huh?" Stella muttered, picking up the knife and fork from the table beside her plate. "The beta wanted to see you, but he didn't have the courage to tell you directly. So he asked me to find you and invite you here. Understand now?" she answered without fabricating her statements.

Several claps were heard before all the maids that were gathered around the dining hall took their leave after forming a straight line, heading towards the exit. Glancing behind me, where I heard the clapping sound, I saw Leo marching forth with a wide smile.

"It's been a couple of years since I had someone to accompany me for dinner," Leo warm-heartedly said as he sat. "I thought you would turn down your beloved sister's invitation."

"What do you want, Leo? Have you already made up your mind if you'd temporarily lead the pack for Lucas' sake?" I inquired, showing absolutely no interest in having a casual conversation with him.

The beta sighed loudly as he leaned his back behind him. "Don't you even realize that you've placed yourself in a trap?" He crossed his arms, looking intently at me. "I won't abide by your request unless you show me what I'd possibly gain from being a temporary leader."

I stared blankly in mid-air when Leo suddenly stood up from his seat to place his chin on my left shoulder to whisper the words that I wasn't anticipating to hear from him.

"Why should I be a mere temporary if I have the option to be the next Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack?" Leonardo scoffed, and I clearly heard it before he returned to his seat. "I'm sure you know what I meant by that, Celestina. You don't have to look so dazed."

If my guess is correct, Leonardo wants to replace Lucas in his title. That can only be possible if Leo can defeat Lucas in a one-on-one duel, but considering the situation now, Lucas will definitely lose against the beta.

There must be a rule that prohibits him from taking Lucas' life while he's cursed, so it must be done by someone else other than Leo who desires to rise to the top.

Placing my fists above the table, I faced him head-on. “You won’t stand a chance against Lucas even if he looks weak in our eyes right now, Leo,” I said after I finally mustered up the courage to be confident about the current alpha’s strength, regardless if he was cursed by Sarina.

Leonardo’s lips curled into a wide grin. “I won’t be satisfied with defeating an alpha who’s bedridden, though.” He held his chin. “I heard that you were close friends with the Delta. Is there something going on between the two of you?” he curiously asked.

I couldn’t help but furrow my eyebrows. “Don’t you dare touch Ice. Mark my words, Leo, I won’t turn a blind eye if you lay a hand on him.” I threatened him the best that I could, giving him a deadly glare, which I never knew I was capable of.