3. The Deal

Three days ago

Celestine’s POV

I'm hissing in pain while damping a wet cloth on my bruises. It’s been five years since I married Benedict Alberts, the Alpha of the Wild Fangs Pack, and also five years of suffering and humiliation. I’m not expecting anything grand. Just treating me right should be enough. However, Benedict not only mistreats me, but he also takes in his lover in front of me!

"Celestine! Open the damn door!" Benedict yells from the outside of the room. "I heard what you did to Beatrice. How can you be so cruel to hurt such an innocent woman as her?"

I roll my eyes in annoyance. He heard her side of the story, and he easily believed it. Meanwhile, I will be taking the blame for something I didn’t do again. Aside from the bruises I get when his beloved woman pushes me down the stairs, what else will he do to me? Before I can come up with an answer, the door flies open.

Benedict is standing there with his hands curled into fists. His eyebrows meet while he scowls at me. In the next second, he’s already in front of me, raising his hand to land on my face.

"Ugh..." I groan for a moment before my face numbs in pain.

"I hate it when you’re acting arrogant like this, Celestine. Just because your father is the Alpha of a stronger pack, you can act mighty in front of me, your husband!" Benedict lifts my chin harshly, his fingernails buried in my skin. "Now that you’re married to me, you’re nothing but just my wife on paper. You do what I tell you, and maybe I’ll think about cutting you some slack!"

"Just kill me." Pursing my lips, I shoot daggers at him. "Why do I have to follow someone who doesn’t even respect me?!"

It’s not my plan to yell in his face, but I can no longer hold back. The pain in my body and in my soul is too much to bear. Each day is another day of suffering, and I’m almost at my limit. If he can break me at once, I would rather he do that than slowly suffer.

Benedict goes quiet for a moment before he lifts my chin with his hand. "What did you say? Kill you?" He lets out a mocking laugh. "I would have done so if I could," he adds. "But we both know why I can’t just easily get rid of you, right? Don’t challenge my patience while I’m trying to endure you, Celestine."

Endure me? Huh! Isn’t it the other way around?

"Useless piece of shit!" Benedict pushes me away and scowls. "Don’t give her anything to eat until she repents of her sins," he orders the maids standing by the door.

"Yes, Alpha."

"Come and apologize to Beatrice whenever you’re ready, Celestine. I’m warning you, don’t try anything funny."

"Argh!" I slump to the floor and cry. I don’t want to waste any tears for him or anyone else, but they keep streaming down my face. "I can’t take this anymore. I'd rather meet with the devil and pay the price if it means I can get away from this place."

Wiping the tears off my face, I stand up and walk to the balcony. It’s fortunate enough for me to stay in a room with a balcony where I can see the outside, compared to living in the attic, where I used to stay back in my previous Pack.

The wind touches my skin gently, like it's trying to blow away all the pain I feel. I take a step outside and climb onto the railing. A smile appears on my face as I spread my arms. If Benedict doesn’t want to end all of this, I’ll do it myself. There’s no point in enduring if I can’t live the life I want to lead.

"You win..." I tell nobody in particular. "I give up."

I close my eyes and smile before jumping off the railings. My room is on the third floor, so falling down will at least guarantee my death. Everyone should be busy around this time, preparing for dinner. There will be no one to come to my rescue, not that I wish someone would be there to catch me.

Falling down, I open my eyes, and the starry night greets me. I never like the darkness, so looking at the small lights twinkling in the sky gives me a different kind of relief. Maybe dying while looking at this beautiful view is not that bad.

Warm tears fall like waterfalls from my eyes. This is bad. They make my vision blurry, and I can no longer clearly see the sky.

"I just want to die in peace," I mumble.

"Who says you can die?" A strong hand grabs mine. "You’re not allowed to die yet."

Huh?

I shake my head to rid myself of the tears and look up to see who came to ruin my plan. A pair of shining gray orbs meet my brown ones. "Who are you?"

The man whose face is barely visible smirks. "The devil who comes to save you," he replies, pulling me back up.

"No! Let me go!" I stutter. "I want to die!"

He ignores me and continues dragging me up with a huge smirk on his face. "Who says you can die on me? I don’t allow it."

As if the demons are listening to my thoughts, this man appears just in time. I’m not sure if I should trust him, but one thing I know is that he’s not lying to me. Even I can’t tell why I easily trust his words, but my gut is telling me to listen to him. Maybe because I’m desperate and he comes just when I need someone to comfort me? Whatever the reason, my mind has changed.

I don’t want him to let go of me, that’s certain.

"Jump," the man orders me as he grins. "If you still want to die, then jump. I will try not to stop you for the second time," he says.

What? Is he insane? I would have died if he didn’t interrupt! He’s not seriously asking me to die after he stopped and changed my mind, is he?

"What are you dazing at? Didn’t you want to die? I thought earlier was an accident, so I stopped you." His voice is clear as he continues to speak to me nonchalantly. "I wouldn’t have saved you if not for the desperation in your eyes," he whispers.

I fall down on my knees and cry. I’ve been crying often these days. "I don’t want to die!" I scream in between wails. For a moment, I don’t care whether someone can see or hear me. But I don’t want to die, not after my very first attempt failed.

"I want to live!" I grab the hem of his shirt as I beg. "Please get me out of here."

It doesn’t matter if he’s going to ignore my pleas. I just feel the need to let out my mind, and he’s the only person with me right now. Perhaps it’s a coincidence, but I want to believe what my mother used to tell me: Everything happens for a reason. And having him at my worst moment might be a sign that it’s not the end yet. It’s not time to give up.

"I love the look in your eyes," he says as he bends his knee to level our faces. "I don’t expect you to beg me either," he chuckles. "Guess what, little lamb, I might have come here to get you."

The way the edges of his lips curl up in an evil grin is a warning, but even knowing that, I can’t help getting drawn to him.

"Take my hand, Celestine."

My eyes widen when he says my name. Does he know me? But how?

"Come," he repeats, and he grabs my hand. "And I’ll consider helping you out."

Like a lost lamb, I reach out for his hand. The moment our hands intertwine, I feel my whole world change. There’s hope waiting for me, for sure, and maybe happiness too.

He pulls me closer to him, interrupting my thoughts. His hand gently holds the back of my head as he carefully leans my face against his chest. I can hear his heartbeat, thumping against my cheeks.

"It must have been hard for you, Celestine. I’m glad it’s not too late for me to come," he mutters.

"I don’t know who you are, but I guess it’s all thanks to you that I’m still alive," I whisper.

He laughs a bit before carrying me back inside the room. "Get some sleep for now. We’ll talk about it when you wake up," he says, tucking me into bed. "Good night, Celestine."

"You didn’t tell me your name," I mumble.

"Cadmus Cromwell. Remember it," he says, kissing the back of my hand.

Cromwell? Is he related to the Nightclaws Pack?

"Are you the infamous Alpha... Alpha Cadmus?" I get up from lying on the bed to face him. If my hunch is right, there’s no way he’ll come and help me in person, is there?

"Whoa! You did your homework, little lamb!" he exclaims, ruffling my hair.

So it’s true that he’s the Alpha of the Nightclaws Pack. But why would he come for me? I know that my father’s Pack has a connection with them, but the Alpha himself shouldn't be coming here for me just because of that.

But what if he comes to kill me himself? If it’s my father’s order, it’s not impossible.

"Why did you come?" I keep my eyes on him, watching his every movement. I heard that the Nightclaws Pack is famous for being loyal to their crazy Alpha. I don’t know why they label Alpha Cadmus a psycho, but if the rumors are true, it’s not safe to get involved with him.

"Your father died, Celestine."

My world took a momentary pause when I heard the news. Is he telling the truth? If my father is really dead, then it only means one thing. I’m free!

There’s no one I should fear when he’s no longer here. After all, the reason I can’t go against Benedict was my father. The moment I fight him back, Benedict can simply do anything to me, and my father will support him. Thinking back to five years ago, I’m starting to believe that this marriage is meant to kill me.

As the sole daughter of the Alpha of the Shadow Howlers Pack, a prominent Pack from generations ago, I was left alive by my cruel father, simply because I’m a woman he can use for political marriage. While my mother and brothers suffered a terrible death at his hands, I survived but was sent to marry Benedict.

"Ah, haha!" I can't stop laughing in disbelief. The man I'm most terrified of is no longer alive.

"I already know about your father’s cruelty, but to see you laugh happily at the news of his death, you must have hated him so much."

I turn to Alpha Cadmus and smile. "Hate is an understatement. I abhor him to death!"

Alpha Cadmus nods his head. "Then we’re on the same page," he smirks, caressing my face with the back of his hand.

"Let’s make a deal, Celestine," he says, flashing her a dangerous smile. "I’ll get you out of this place."

"What’s in it for you?" I watch him as he bursts into laughter at my reply. "I need to know what you want in exchange for helping me."

"You." His short reply sends bolts of lightning into my body, like a strong warning. "I want you," he repeats.

If it’s this man, revenge will be possible. I want to take back everything that belongs to me.

I take a deep breath and extend my hand to him. "We have a deal."