CELESTINA VILLARAMA’s POV

Quite a lot of hours were spent in Sarina’s explanation about the existence of this realm and everything else that I needed to be aware of.

As much as possible, I really didn’t want to believe what Sarina mentioned earlier. But now that I am stuck in a dim forest after letting my feet bring me anywhere it desired, I had no other choice but to believe her. Even from afar, I caught a glimpse of the body shape of a werewolf that seemed to be feasting on a person or an animal. It might even be of the same kind as it.

I immediately covered my mouth with both of my hands and attempted to step backwards to start dashing out from the woods, but my feet were completely frozen and there was nowhere else that I could possibly go to at this point.

“Somebody, please help me…” I begged within the depths of my mind and soul, knowing that no one would be able to hear me. Even so, I had a faint hope that I’d be saved.

My shoulders were continuously raising as I was literally gasping for air.

The wolf roared which echoed throughout the entire place. There were crows which rampaged out from the branches of those trees and flew away together, heading over to the direction where the wolf was. It’s like they were able to communicate with one another with just a simple roar.

My conscience has been telling me to get out of this place right away, but my body betrayed me. I instantly lost focus on the crows, and the next second that I blinked, all of it was coming at me. “A-ah!” I blocked those with my arms as I crouched in my position.

“Who are you?” An unfamiliar voice asked, which is most probably a man based on the tone of his voice.

I didn’t have time to answer. I simply tilted my head upwards to glance at him, but he was already gripping onto my cheeks with just his left hand. Our faces were only a few centimeters apart from one another, I could even feel his cold breath touching the tip of my nose.

“Don’t make me repeat my question.” He taunted me with his deadly gaze.

“C-Celestina Villarama…” I unconsciously told him my name.

He let go of my cheeks as harshly as he could. I almost had my head banging on the ground, fortunately I was able to control the weight of my body.

“There’s no one named Celestina among my pack. Who sent you here?”

“I-I wasn’t sent by anyone… I have just arrived in this realm a few hours ago,” I replied with pure honesty, I even raised my right hand just to show my sincerity. It wasn’t difficult to notice the change in his facial expression because of his unnatural paleness. It was as if he’s dehydrated. “A-are you thirsty..?” I bit my lower lip due to utter humiliation of myself.

A smirk appeared on his lips. “You’re quite an amusing woman,” he commented.

Just like the clock ticking its hand, he stepped forth in a heartbeat. He knelt one of his knees as he stepped one foot on the ground. Raising my face with the usage of holding my chin, he stopped moving closer when our lips were a millimeter away.

Despite that, I was able to get a grasp of his tongue as he playfully wet his lips. I couldn’t maintain my eye contact with him, he was way too daring and I felt like my bones were about to collapse if I stared any longer.

“Look at me, Celeste.” He ordered me with a nickname.

His words were absolute. I couldn’t defy him. He was beyond superior to me and there wasn’t anything that I could do to get out of this situation.

“Didn’t you know that I can seriously drink your blood until its last drop?” he inquired.

Before I could even shake my head as a response, he was able to secure my lips. In that spur of the moment, my eyes widened due to shock as he immediately moved away from me.

The man wiped off his lips and I noticed how his forehead was filled with sweat.

“W-what’s wrong?”

He pointed at my face, though I have no idea specifically which part of my face he was trying to point out. “That necklace… It couldn’t be…” he mumbled.

I grabbed on the golden necklace which I got from the moon goddess herself. “Do you…” I was about to ask him another query, but he was already nowhere in sight. That man didn’t even bother to introduce himself to me. He freaking stole my first kiss and now, I don’t even know where I should go just to search for him.

The darkness of my surroundings wasn’t enough to hide his emotion. I know for sure that there was a hint of rage and sadness that was hidden in his eyes. There wasn’t any need for him to explain himself, I can read his expression just like an open book.

I glanced over the golden necklace. “I should head back to the castle and ask Sarina about this.” It was supposed to be my plan, but I failed once more.

There were no castles nor was there any evidence left that the kingdom of Sarina existed.

I frowned in confusion as I clenched both of my fists. I tried to call Sarina out from the golden necklace, but it was no use.

“Excuse me.” A child approached me. “You’re being summoned by the beta of the Crimson Moon Pack, and I was ordered to look for you. You’re Miss Celestina Villarama, right?”

I nodded. “Yes, you’re correct. But, I don’t remember having a scheduled appointment with the beta of your pack. I don’t even know who you are, why should I trust a child?”

“Even as a child, I knew much better than the rest of the pack wolves. You’re not from this realm, that’s the only thing that I can give as a reason for you to trust me.”

I was completely speechless, I haven’t even told anyone yet that I wasn’t really born in this place.

CELESTINA VILLARAMA’s POV

This pack house is located in the same forest where I was unconsciously brought to a while ago. It’s at the foot of mountains where the clouds almost cover the entire sky. There is a castle built atop the mountain overlooking the city below.

The main entrance and hallway is lit with warm light, illuminating all corners of the house. There is even a staircase on the side of the hall that is built into the wall, leading up to an upper level, though it may also lead to an underground facility.

The child has given me a lot of stories regarding the wolves who reside in this castle. He told me that the Crimson Moon Pack used to be extremely proud wolves. They pride themselves on being the best hunters as well, even though they’re striving to avoid any hunters out there who are out to treat them as prey.

They’ve begun to get weaker because of the fact that their alpha didn’t have any wife, or what they call as luna. He hasn’t found his mate for years and they have already lost hope in him, to the point that they have challenged the alpha to duels, which no one ever managed to achieve and be victorious against the current alpha.

On my way here, I noticed that there wasn’t any path that'd lead me out from where I came in. As if I’d basically be trapped inside this castle for as long as they want.

“Master Kristoffer Wong, Miss Celestina Villarama has arrived,” he announced in front of the oak door. He didn’t need to knock on it to be noticed.

As if on cue, he opened the door without waiting for the beta’s response, giving me a way to enter through his room which seemed to be more like an office.

It felt as if time stopped on purpose the moment that I made direct eye contact with the man who was called Master Kristoffer Wong, the Beta of Crimson Moon Pack. His black hair was still fixed in the same style as the last time that I saw him, though his eyes no longer showed the shade of blue.

“Y-you’re…” I raised my index finger as I pointed at him.

“I was worried that you might be taken by the Silver Moon Pack after leaving you alone. Please accept my sincere apologies for I have not been able to introduce myself formally to you, but I’m pretty much sure that this child has told you about me already,” Kristoffer mumbled as he bowed his head at me.

From the insides of my body, I knew that my blood rose to my face as I got embarrassed with what he’s doing. “R-raise your head,” I muttered in pure confusion on what I was supposed to address him.

“You can call me whatever you like. I’m also sorry for stealing a kiss from you. If only I knew that you’re… then I wouldn’t have dared to lay a finger on you.” The way that he delivered his message was way too convincing for me to have doubts with his words.

I gritted my teeth as the thought that he’s still hiding something from me entered my mind. I am aware that he has his own reasons, but it would be better if he can tell me about it if it concerns me.

‘You should avoid this man at all costs, Celestina.’

Words that I didn’t think about flashed through my brain. I roamed my eyes around Kristoffer’s room to check if there was someone else inside other than the three of us, but there was nobody else.

‘I’ll soon bring out the best in you, but it’d hinder my plans for you if you get too close with this filthy wolf. I don’t want to put your life at risk, Celestina.’

There it is again. “Who are you?” I asked out loud.

“Didn’t you already know my identity?” Kristoffer butted in, which made me gaze upon him for the second time.

I shook my head repetitively. “S-sorry. I’m not feeling well, can we talk again some other time? I’d like to rest.”

My hands were trembling in fear of uncertainty of what’s happening to me. I wasn’t familiar with this feeling and neither was I aware of who this voice belongs to. It wasn’t from Sarina and it wasn’t from the child that I met in the castle either.

Kristoffer nodded twice and motioned the child to show me the way out. “Bring Celeste to her room.”

I no longer protested since I didn’t have a house to return to anyway. As the beta ordered him, he brought me upstairs. Using the master’s key, he opened the door and crossed its threshold as he switched the lights on.

“You can rest here in the meantime, Miss Celestina Villarama.”

No matter where I lay my eyes upon, all of the things that surround me are dazzling like the stars in the night sky. The moment that I was left alone in the room, my heartbeat became abnormal. It kept on skipping countless beats to the point that I was unable to stand on the ground.

I held tightly on my chest as if it would help ease away the pain.

‘You have to accept me once the clock strikes twelve midnight, Celestina. You’re officially going to be known as Siege Wong’s mate. His scent will lead you to him, his aura will make you go crazy, and his body will heat you up until the bits of your luscious desires.’

I was getting dizzy, my eyesight was slowly fading away until I could no longer see anything other than pitchblack. I felt myself falling to the ground, but it didn’t hurt me at all. My hearing seemed to grow when I heard several footsteps that were approaching where I was located, it kept on thudding louder.

‘You were supposed to be Siege Wong’s mate, but I guess… the moon goddess wants to play with you for a while.’

CELESTINA VILLARAMA’s POV

The brightness that emitted from the chandelier on the ceiling made me wince as soon as I opened my eyes. I tried my best to get up from the bed that I was lying on, only to be assisted by a man who I didn’t notice. His spiky, pushed back, gray hair looked perfect on the suit that he wore. I don’t know the exact reason but I somehow felt scared of him, though there’s something inside me that is getting thrilled just by being near him.

The man was staring blankly on my neck, I knew that he was eyeing my golden necklace just like Kristoffer. “Seriously, what’s with this necklace that makes the both of you lose control of yourselves?” I unconsciously mumbled a query which should have just remained within my mind.

“Know your place, Celestina Villarama.”

Those were simply five words, but it already sent an aching sensation to my heart. His words seemed to cut through me like a knife.

“That crimson hair of yours reminds me of someone I hated. Even that necklace that you have was similar to what she possessed,” he muttered as he closed the book that he was reading. “Everyone here talks to me with respect. No one dared to look me in the eye. Never have I received a word from anyone without my permission. Don’t you have any idea who I am?”

“I would have done the same if I knew who you were,” I replied in a straightforward manner, and there’s no explanation how I was able to speak without stuttering.

‘Mate. Mate. Mate.’

The same word kept on repeating in my mind every single time that I gaze upon this man beside the bed.

“Should I show you what I can do for you to personally determine who I am? I’m not fond of introducing myself…” he said, pulling me out of the bed.

His strength was sufficient for me to be carried over to the other direction as my back slammed through the walls. Fear instilled within my soul. I noticed how his eye color changed from black to a slight shade of blue, but it was only for a second.

“I’m Siege Wong, and I’m the Crimson Moon Pack’s alpha, and I wasn’t really pleased with how you talked to me.”

The exact minute that I heard his name, I pushed him away. “Siege Wong? My mate?” I whispered, slightly parting my lips.

Siege’s eyebrows furrowed as his fangs sharpened. “The f*ck are you saying? If you’re scheming something, you should know that the consequence wouldn’t be that feasible for you to escape.”

My heart was thumping loud. There was something inside me that made me want to touch him.

From others’ perspective, I may look crazy how I was raising my dress right in front of a man. I just had to show him the scratches that were embedded on my thigh. I have no idea since when it was there, but I know that it was a mark from no other than Siege.

“With your silence, I was able to confirm that you’re really my mate,” I concluded with a bright smile on my lips, as if I have been proclaimed as a queen of a kingdom.

He hissed instead of reciprocating the same energy that I gave. “I, Siege Wong, reject you, Celestina Villarama, to be my mate,” he declared with a cold, death glare. "I would never give my mark to someone like you." His voice had become rough and growled as I stood here, staring at him with no emotions to feel, completely taken aback by his words. My eyes glazed over as tears slowly rolled down my cheeks.

I know nothing about this mating process, but one thing is for sure, I have been declined to be the luna of the Crimson Moon Pack’s alpha.

Doomed with the sensation of anger, I clicked my tongue as I rushed out of the castle through the room’s window, since there was no main exit. The power of rejection was beyond what I could have handled. I couldn’t release my wolf and I couldn’t even communicate with it.

What’s wrong with me?

Do I even own any wolf?

Am I going to be this helpless until I rot in this realm?

Both of my knees and shoulders were bleeding because of the impact of my fall from the third floor of the castle, down to the mountain hill. I was planning to head over to the nearby lake, but before I could have started to walk, I saw how it immediately regenerated. It was as if the scars never existed, only the droplets of blood remained.

If I had this sort of ability, then there must still be a chance that I’d find my wolf soon enough. I have already turned eighteen. I would surely be taken for granted until I’m able to turn myself into a wolf.

“Sarina, where are you?” I asked as I gazed upon the illumination of the moonlight that was striking on me. “I have a lot of questions for you. If you don’t come out, I’ll destroy this necklace of yours.”

It may sound redundant, but this golden necklace seems to play a vital role within the Crimson Moon Pack and the moon goddess. And I guess I wasn’t mistaken.

The moon goddess descended to the ground with her wings visible to my eyes. “Was there a need for you to summon me out of the blue?” Sarina rolled her eyes as if she was disturbed.

“Aren’t you the one who decides who gets to be our mates?” I asked, and she simply hummed in agreement. “Then, you know that Alpha Wong was my mate, right?”

“Bingo!” She raised her thumb with a cheeky smile, as if she was trying to provoke me.

“Then how the hell will you explain the reason why he rejected me as his mate?” I frustratingly questioned as I stomped my foot.

Sarina smirked as she walked closer. She held a few strands of my hair and rolled it around before she glanced at me.

“Why would anyone bother being mates with someone who doesn’t possess a wolf?”