Chapter 70 - The Failure

CELESTINA VILLARAMA'S POV

It has been quite a long time since I last saw Ace, and I think that was the main reason why the way he spoke sounded much more mature than before. Ace ordered the rest of the pack warriors and guards to back off, and all of them made way for Ace to walk in front of our spot.

"I still have a faint remembrance of what we used to share, so please leave while I'm still being nice, Celestina. I'm not the same person as you know," Ace said with a serious expression written on his face.

Regardless of what he said, I refused to believe him. It's not like there's a chance that his memories were partially erased, but judging from the way he acted, he's making the impossible possible.

"There's no room for retreat now that I'm here, Ace. Certain scenarios led me here, and I doubt that you know about them. I'd appreciate it if you could let us pass," I replied, now showing an ounce of emotion. "I just brought Lucas with me; he wouldn't have attacked your men if they didn't hurt me first," I added to explain why the alpha of their rival pack was with me.

Ace arched an eyebrow. He probably felt like he was the only one who knew nothing and was dumbfounded. "Don't try playing me with your words, Celestina. If you would still insist on going in, I won't hold myself back anymore, no matter what you'd think of me from now on."

The pack warriors resumed their attacks as soon as they were given the signal by Ace. He really wasn't joking around when he said those; he kept aiming at very crucial points of my body, and it kept making me groan in pain. I could barely dodge all of his blows.

Ace was quickly changing the method of his combat, which made it quite hard for me to read what his next move would be. Every single time that I attempted to catch his fists to prevent his punches, he'd strike me with a twist of his foot, causing me to continuously leap backwards until he stopped.

As much as I wanted to stay by Lucas' side to make things easier, I couldn't. Ace was literally doing everything he could think of just to keep Lucas out of my reach. So I only looked at the alpha with concern for his health, considering how he recently, barely, recovered from being cursed by the moon goddess.

"Until when are you going to keep this up, Ace?" I asked to divert his attention to something else, but it was inevitable as he didn't stop beating me up.

I could already sense my arms getting bruised and swollen because of his knuckles that were as hard as metal; I couldn't utilize my regenerative capabilities. If this still goes on for a couple of minutes more, the worst thing that could happen to me would be to lose an arm or two.

"Do you think Master Kristoffer would still welcome you the next time you show yourself in front of him, once you've taken my life?" I tried asking another query that might trigger his emotions, but he still had this blank expression in his eyes.

I clicked my tongue, irritated by the fact that he's acting a hundred percent different from the Ace that I had a drink with before. It was almost as if it wasn't Ace who was here with us, and a completely different person that merely had the same appearance as Ace.

Breathing heavily, I took the opportunity to be the one who went on the offensive side. Although he didn't have to make that much effort to block my blows, he was undeniably stronger than I was, and I guess my attacks were only an insect bite on him.

"Will you still continue being stubborn if you hear that your dearest brother is currently held captive by Beta Leonardo of the Silver Moon Pack? That his life is at risk?" I questioned him without halting, advancing forth.

"What?" Ace finally uttered a word, and his lips remained slightly parted from one another. "Ice? Are you talking about my twin brother, Ice?" he added.

I successfully landed a deep scar on his face the moment that he gave me an opening. He had to step backwards to keep his distance from me, holding his cheek, which was immediately healed.

"Yes," I answered briefly.

Ace shook his head. "Ice was a traitor of the Crimson Moon Pack. If he had the guts to betray us, then I'm certain that he's stronger than any other werewolf from his current pack," he muttered, convincing himself that Ice wasn't in danger.

I heaved out a sigh to let out my frustration. "Ice will die in the hands of the beta if I don't end up accepting Leo as my mate and be their Luna," I informed him, and that's when he started to attack me again.

"You're putting my brother's life at risk! Go back to your turf and be with whoever Beta Leonardo is and release my brother from harm," Ace exclaimed.

This was the first time that I witnessed Ace's rage. Even though I couldn't really see the aura that was emitting from his body, I could sense how large his bloodlust was, just from the way that more than half of his body shifted.

Ace turned into a wolf with black fur. I had no idea if he was still the one in control of his conscience or if he had been dominated by his wolf.

"Lend me a hand, Ace. If you help me out by stopping the Luna ceremony from happening tonight, I swear that I'd keep Ice safe and sound. I can even make him return to your pack if you want," I seriously mumbled, stretching out one of my arms for him to claim.

However, instead of receiving Ace's paw, he chose to kick me with it.

"Argh!" I widely opened my mouth as blood gushed out from it, as my back had hit the gates of the pack house.

"You're in no position to order me around!" Ace's wolf spoke. "If Ice is bound to die, then so be it. Losing one relative or two wouldn't even hurt me," he added, contradicting the concern that he had earlier.

"Celestina!" Lucas yelled, causing me to glance his way. "Ace is stronger than you think. And now that he has shifted with his wolf, his level has reached greater heights than you and Kris," he said without looking at me, since he was occupied dealing with those that were continuously ambushing him.

I gritted my teeth as I forced myself to stand up, holding my forearm that got scraped from the gate. "E-even so, I still believe in Ace. He'd never abandon Ice, no matter how nonchalant he may seem about his brother," I replied.

My eyes heated up as soon as I caught a glimpse of how Ace's wolf stomped over Lucas' body. The alpha didn't hear Ace coming his way, and I couldn't even sense him coming there, so I couldn't warn Lucas at all.

"Lucas!" I screamed at the same time that my feet began running towards the alpha's spot. "Stop this mess, Ace! You're main target is me, so don't you dare hurt Lucas," I exclaimed, stretching both of my arms sideways to cover Lucas, who was lying flat on the ground.

I looked at the alpha's fragile body, and the only thing I could think of was what they said to him earlier. He was the weakest werewolf among every other living creature.

If Lucas would easily be defeated by Ace in this situation, then he's probably ashamed to call himself the alpha of a pack.

"We'll retreat, if that's what you desire," Lucas declared, causing me to widen my eyes as I never agreed to back down.