Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 248

Chapter 248

Natalia

The Bloodmoon library had quickly turned into my favorite spot in the compound. It was quiet and cozy, the skylights carved into the rock high above casting little pools of golden sunlight onto the stone floors.

Most of all, the smell of books and scrolls–both those who had been meticulously protected during the exodus over a hundred years ago by the highly–skilled librarians as well as newer ones–soothed me. Plus, it was quiet and peaceful here, and few people aside from the librarians in their heavy black robes came here.

Or at least, that was how it started.

But for the past fifteen minutes, the sound of voices in the row of shelves near me had been slowly rising

“How many times do I have to tell you to stay away from her?”

“I was only curious—”

“Curiosity will get you nowhere with people like her.” My stepsister’s voice was sharp and trembling like she was holding back a wave of anger. “She’s probably a fucking liar anyway, and besides, why do you care so much about their customs? They’re all traitors.”

I lifted my eyebrow as I listened to the exchange, the book in my hands long since forgotten. It didn’t take a genius to put two and two together–my stepsister and her fiance were talking about me.

“But I don’t think she’s like the others. I think she’s—”

“She’s a fucking outsider!” I heard the slam of what sounded like a book on the ground, followed by the sound of a harsh slap. Silence fell.

Curious, I set my book on Bloodmoon history aside and stood, padding over to the row in my socks. They didn’t hear me coming, and when I peered around the bookshelf, I noticed that Karl had a red handprint forming on his left cheek. Celeste had backed him into a corner and was jabbing her finger angrily into his chest.

“If I find out that you speak to her again, you’ll be in big trouble,” she was whispering, face contorted in rage. You-”

“Is everything alright here?” I couldn’t just stand idly by, of course. I stepped into view and Karl’s eyes widened. He looked away as if to conceal the mark on his face, and Celeste whirled around, eyes flashing dangerously.

“What are you doing here?” she whisper–barked.

“Reading. It’s a library.” I stepped forward and looked directly at Karl. “Karl, are you alright?”

Karl opened his mouth to respond, but Celeste quickly cut him off, “He’s fine.”

“Is he?” I tilted my head to peer around her. “I’d rather hear it from you, Karl.”

Celeste looked like she’d just sucked on a lemon, but she stepped aside, allowing me to see him. She gestured to me. “Go ahead, Karl. Tell your new friend that you’re okay.”

My jaw ticked as silence fell between us. I kept my gaze fixed imploringly on Karl, silently indicating that he could tell me I would help if he only asked.

13

+25 Bonus

But then he straightened, pushing his glasses up on his nose, and smiled as if the handprint on his face wasn’t forming into a welt.

“I’m fine. Thank you for asking.”

“You’re fine?” I took another step forward. “Karl, she just hit-”

“You heard him.” Celeste stepped in my way, blocking my view of Karl again. I clenched my jaw, resisting every urge from my wolf to fight her then and there. But I couldn’t start a fight–not right here in the library, and especially not with a woman I hardly knew. I had no idea what Celeste was capable of.

Finally, with a tense nod, I turned and left. Needing some air, I left my book where it was and pushed out into the corridor, pressing my hand to my chest.

Despite everything that Andrei and I had been through, he had never laid a hand on me. I couldn’t even fathom wanting to do something like that to someone you’re supposed to love. It made me sick.

“You’re not unwell, are you?”

I whirled around at the sound of my father’s voice. Alexander was approaching, the designs in his richly–woven doublet catching the light. I forced a smile and nodded. “Yes. Just… A little tense in there between Karl and Celeste, that’s all.”

“Ah. I see you’ve gotten a dose of Celeste’s… headstrong nature.

“That’s one way to put it.” I wanted to demand why the hell Alexander hadn’t done something about it, but I kept my mouth shut. It really wasn’t my business.

My father sighed, then changed the subject and said, “I wanted to ask if you’ve thought at all about my proposal.”

Right. About staying here in Bloodmoon. “Alexander–father–I have a life in Ashmoor and Moonshadow. I can’t just leave. The Thornwood is so far away, and I’d be separated from everything I’ve worked so hard to build.”

“I figured as much. Well, I commend you for sticking to your guns.” Alexander’s shoulders sagged a little, making him look a little more his age.

“Have you ever considered coming out of hiding?” I asked. “Returning to Bloodmoon’s ancestral lands in the territories-”

“No. Never.” My father’s eyes flashed. “It’s too dangerous out there. It’s far safer here, concealed within the Thornwood.”

“But the Thornwood is crawling with rogues.”

“We’re addressing it,” Alexander said firmly. The look on his face indicated that the discussion was over. I wanted to argue more, wanted to prove to him that the territories weren’t all bad, but I knew it wasn’t my place. Just as it wasn’t my place to get involved in Karl’s and Celeste’s relationship.

My father’s face softened a little. “David tells me you were quite impressive in the sparring ring. I know your abilities haven’t manifested yet, but perhaps there’s a chance they’re combat–based. It runs in our family; my father was an excellent warrior, and his mother before him was a renowned tracker.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify