Celine POV
When I fell asleep, I was with Sebastian. His presence wrapped around me like a protective shield, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt safe. But sleep did not bring peace. My dreams were a relentless replay of my final moments with Dolton his face, his voice, his agony. Over and over, I saw him locked away because of me, his screams echoing in my mind.
I hated it. I hated that he suffered because of me. It wasn’t right. But even as guilt consumed me, a small part of me clung to the hope that his father and brothers wouldn’t barm him. They might be cruel, but not to him…. right?
When I wake, the emptiness beside me is like a sudden chill, I am alone. The silence feels heavy, oppressive, as a sense of unease creeps through me like a shadow that refuses to fade.
Then, the noise hits me. Loud shouts pierce the quiet, and the sound of hurried footsteps fills the air. I sit up, my heart pounding. Something is wrong. Very wrong-
“Now! They need all the soldiers and guards! Both the prince and king have been captured!” The words, barked out with urgency, make my stomach drop. 1 scramble out of bed, my bare feet hitting the cool, uneven floor. My tent, small and dimly lit by the faint morning light filtering through the canvas, feels stifling now.
Stepping outside, the chaos is overwhelming. Soldiers clad in armor rush past me, their boots pounding against the dirt paths that weave through the camp. The early morning mist clings to the air, making everything seem dreamlike and surreal. The towering pine trees surrounding the camp cast long shadows, their tops swaying in the breeze as if whispering secrets of the impending danger
I turn, scanning the faces of the soldiers, desperate for someone I recognize. But there’s no one. Just the rising panic in the air. The prince and king… captured. My heart races as the implications sink in. Could they have gone back to the pack? Why? What could have possibly driven them to risk such a thing?
Worry tightens its grip on me, but fear alone won’t help. If they’ve been captured, my safety is nothing more than an illusion. I have to do something.
I slip into the shadows, following the soldiers from a distance. I know Sebastian would never agree to this, but ! can’t sit idly by. The path winds through the forest, and the sounds of rushing feet and clanging weapons grow louder as we near the pack grounds. The towering pack house comes into view, its imposing stone walls standing stark against the dense greenery. It’s a fortress, cold and unyielding, its high windows gleaming like watchful
eyes.
As I approach, the sound of fighting grows sharper–growls, roars, and the clash of steel. My heart pounds in my chest as I press myself against the stone walls of the pack house, trying to remain hidden. Peering around the corner, I see wolves and dragons locked in a brutal battle. Their forms blur as they clash, their ferocity shaking the air around them. My breath catches, but I force myself to move.
Rushing behind the offices, I stick to the shadows, my steps quick but careful. The cells are close now. If I can reach them, maybe I can free Sebastian and the others. The stone walls around me feel cold and oppressive, their gray surfaces bearing the weight of countless secrets. The air smells of blood and smoke, and my hands tremble as I approach the heavy iron door leading to the cells.
I push through, the door creaking loudly in the chaos. Don’t stop. I don’t. I run down the narrow, dimly lit staircase, the stone steps uneven beneath my feet. The air grows colder as I descend, and the faint groans of pain reach my ears. My chest tightens.
At the bottom, I find him. Sebastian. He’s slumped on the cold stone floor inside a cell, his body motionless. My heart shatters at the sight.
-1/2
+25 BONUS
Going Back
“Celine! It’s not safe for you!” Joseph’s voice pulls my attention, his shout coming from another cell further down the corridor. I turn, his face pale but alert as he grips the bars.
“What’s wrong with him?” I ask, my voice trembling as I drop to my knees outside Sebastian’s cell. My hands reach for the keys hanging on the wall, and I fumble with them in my panic.
“The bullet is stuck in a place he can’t reach,” Joseph says, his words cutting through my rising hysteria. “While they’re in, he won’t be able to move or feel his dragon.
I unlock the cell and rush inside, falling to my knees beside Sebastian. His face is pale, his eyes unfocused. My hands cup his cheeks, willing him to see me, to come back to me.
“You need to remove the bullets! There are maybe three in his back,” Joseph calls out, urgency clear in his tone. “ Whatever they’re made of, they’ve paralyzed him.”
I scramble to find something sharp, anything to cut through his shirt. My hands tremble as I search, but my mind is blank with panic.
“Celine!” Joseph shouts again. “You have your wolf! Focus! You can shift your hands into paws–use your claws!”
His words hit me like a jolt. I hadn’t thought of that. Closing my eyes, I reach deep within myself, calling to my wolf, It’s weak, but there just enough. My hands shift, nails elongating into claws. With one swift motion, I rip through Sebastian’s shirt, revealing the wounds beneath.
The sight stops me cold. Three bullets are embedded just beneath his skin, their edges glinting ominously in the faint light. Whatever they’re made of, it’s poisoning him, keeping him from healing.
