Chapter 33 Chapter 33: Apologize Chapter 33: Apologize (Celeste's POV) The silence after my words lingered for only a heartbeat before it shattered. Lucas was the first to react. His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist with bruising force, his golden eyes blazing with anger. His wolf's dominance surged, crashing over me like a tidal wave. Every muscle in my body screamed at me to back down, to submit. My weakened wolf whimpered faintly, retreating slightly in response to his overwhelming energy. "Apologize," he snarled, his voice low but furious. "Now. You embarrassed one of our pack's elders in front of everyone." I didn't flinch. I stood straighter instead, ignoring the painful grip on my silver-scarred wrist. My violet eyes locked onto his golden ones, unwavering, even as his wolf continued to bear down on me. "Release me," I said, my tone calm, cold. Lucas's grip only tightened. "You don't get to make demands right now," he snapped, his voice cutting through the tense, charged air. Nina stepped forward immediately, her silver-gray wolf bristling with protective energy. I barely caught her movement in my peripheral vision, her body taut like a bowstring ready to snap. But I didn't need her interference, not here, not now. "Let me say this one more time," I said, my voice steady but sharper now, "Release me, Lucas." Our gazes clashed. His wolf resisted mine at first, but the moment our eyes truly locked, something inside him faltered. His wolf hesitated. For all his rage, somewhere deep inside him, recognition flickered-the same recognition that had tied us as siblings for so many years before. 1/4 +8 Point Chapter 33: Apologize His fingers loosened ever so slightly. Then, finally, his hand dropped from my wrist completely. I didn't look away from him as I stepped back, reclaiming my space. My wolf stirred faintly within, bolstered by the small victory, no matter how fleeting it felt. Scarlett chose that moment to step forward, ever the peacemaker, her emerald eyes shimmering with carefully curated worry. Her voice cracked just enough to sound genuine as she said, "Lucas, please... not here. Think of the sacred grounds. We need to maintain peace." I almost laughed at her hypocrisy. Peace? Scarlett? The same wolf who had built her status on the ashes of others? It was almost comical. Before Lucas could respond, another voice broke through the delicate tension. "She's not entirely wrong," Alexander said, his tone controlled, carefully neutral. But his words carried weight, enough to make Diana stiffen beside him. I turned to face him fully for the first time since entering the temple. His ice-blue eyes met mine briefly before flicking away, his expression unreadable. "You've made your point, Celeste," Alexander continued. "But a wolf beneath Marcus's protection should know better than to cause a scene. Handle your wolf's emotions more carefully next time." It wasn't what I expected, and it hit me like a dull strike to the chest. Was that... support? I studied him, searching for any sign of deception. His face remained impassive, his every word measured. Diana snarled softly behind him, clearly enraged at her brother's lack of immediate allegiance and fully determined to redirect attention back to me. "Shameless," she spat, her ice-blue gaze burning with disdain. "First, you let Marcus parade you around like a trophy, making you his property in front of the entire pack. And now this? You think you can just- I turned on her, cutting her words short with a single icy glare. "You're lucky a slap is all you received, Diana." The crowd shifted uncomfortably, the intensified tension in the air palpable. I took a deliberate step forward, my voice cold and clipped. "Maybe you've forgotten this, Diana," I continued, my tone sharper now, loud enough for 7/14 ANY +8 Points Chapter 33: Apologize everyone to hear. "Marcus Blackwood-the Alpha King's nephew-has claimed me. Whatever you think of me or my scars, insulting his chosen mate risks far worse punishment from him than a mere slap. Remember that before you speak next time." Diana flinched, her ice-blue eyes narrowing as her wolf bristled defensively. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Emma's uncertain expression-her confidence visibly shaken by the weight of my words. It took all my restraint to keep my composure steady, to not let the lingering memories of Marcus's grip on my wrist distract me here. But Diana wasn't finished. Her pride couldn't stand the humiliation. "Brother," she turned to Alexander sharply, her voice rising with desperation coated in defiance. "You won't let her use Marcus's claim to outmatch a Winters Pack member, will you? You're the strongest wolf here. They wouldn't dare touch us with you standing beside me." Alexander went still. The tension in his jaw was subtle but noticeable. His features hardened briefly, his ice-blue gaze flickering toward mine before settling on his sister. "Diana," he said, his voice dangerously low, "be quiet." His words pierced the space between them like a blade. Diana's wolf flinched, visibly shrinking under the weight of her brother's rebuke. "But, Alexander-" she started, her voice shaky now. "Enough," he barked, his ice-blue eyes glowing faintly as his white wolf's energy surged. The dominance radiating from him silenced Diana entirely, forcing her wolf into reluctant submission. "You don't speak for me," Alexander said coldly, his gaze fixed on her now, sharp as broken glass. "And your reckless words do nothing but invite unnecessary trouble. Apologize." Diana stared at him, stunned. "Now," he growled. Her ice-blue eyes darted toward me briefly before she looked down, seething. Her lips pressed into a tight line before she finally muttered, "Apologies, Celeste." Her words were hollow, but the forced submission in her wolf was unmistakable. Alexander's display of dominance made even the surrounding wolves shrink back slightly, 3/4 +8 Points Chapter 33: Apologize including Emma, who remained frozen despite her earlier attempts at confidence. It almost felt like balance had been restored-for half a moment. But just as Diana retreated slightly, Alexander's gaze shifted back to me. His ice-blue eyes held mine steadily, though his expression remained carved from ice. "You proved your point with Diana," he said, his words slow and deliberate. "But let's not pretend this is about hierarchy alone. Don't think Marcus's claim makes you untouchable. And don't act like your acceptance of his possessive displays doesn't deserve criticism." The sting of his words hit harder than they should. My wolf recoiled as I straightened my posture, unwilling to show any more weakness in front of them. "Control your sister's tongue better in the future," I countered, my voice colder than I intended. "If she keeps grasping for power at someone else's expense, it won't be just me she has to answer to. Marcus's weight in this pack isn't something you should take lightly either." The slight twitch in Alexander's jaw betrayed his reaction. My calculated reminder had hit its mark. The mention of Marcus-of the mate claim rapidly building between myself and the Alpha King's nephew-clearly unsettled him. "Discipline is a double-edged sword," Alexander replied, his tone glacial, making it clear he wasn't backing down either. "You've shown yours with Diana, but maybe Lucas is due to show you the same courtesy." The crowd around us watched in stunned silence, their gaze fixed on the sharp, unspoken challenge crackling like lightning between us. 1 Lucas's growl broke through, a dangerous sound layered with frustration and mistrust, though for once, his golden eyes didn't meet mine directly. 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