The Pack's Daughter (Aysel and Magnus) novel Chapter 212

**Midnight Letters by Daniel Crowe**
**Chapter 212**

In the dim light of the room, Celestine felt a violent shiver ripple through her body as the memory of Aysel’s last smirk replayed in her mind. It was a cruel reminder, a chill that coiled tightly around her heart like a serpent, fierce and biting. Aysel had spoken with such insidious glee, expressing her desire for Celestine to entangle herself with the Moonvale Pack. Yet, in that same breath, she had never once offered her a shred of genuine assistance. Each thread of warmth that had once felt like familial love was now revealed to be nothing more than a cruel garnish in Aysel’s twisted game. It was a sickening morsel, tossed into Celestine’s life for Aysel’s own entertainment. This time, it had resulted in her imprisonment; what would be next in this cruel saga?

Suddenly, the bowl Celestine had been clutching slipped from her grasp, crashing to the floor with a resounding clatter. The sound echoed through the hall, snapping her back to the present. Adrenaline surged through her veins, igniting a primal instinct within her. She would not remain a passive victim in this unfolding drama. If the Moonvale Pack was destined to crumble, she would gather as many leverage points as possible before the hunt commenced.

The maid, who had been carrying freshly prepared dishes, froze in her tracks, bewildered by the sudden emptiness at the table. As realization dawned upon her, her eyes darted to the furious young wolf before her. Ah, so the young lady had not been gallivanting about as the rumors suggested. No, she had been caged, trapped in a web of her own making. The gossip circulating in the kitchens had not been unfounded; the world had feasted on every scrap of Celestine’s downfall. Her release, her imprisonment, and even the details of her so-called “misdeeds” had become fodder for the wolves to gnaw upon. Some had even compared her to Julia, who had danced across the seas, mocking Celestine with the old adage: “One must walk the proper path; the forge tests the iron itself.”

With a sudden, fierce motion, Celestine’s palm struck the maid’s face with a sharp “SLAP!” The sound rang through the hall, a stark declaration of her fury. Her teeth bared as a hiss escaped her lips, a primal response to the audacity of a lowborn underling daring to judge her with such predatory eyes.

“OUT!” she commanded, her voice laced with venom.

The maid stumbled backward, clutching her face, fear radiating from her every step as she hurried away.

A cruel smile curled Celestine’s lips, a venomous expression that reflected her inner turmoil. How dare these pawns look down on her? Once a false heir, now reduced to a caged wolf—how arrogant they had been to think they could belittle her so easily.

Luna Evelyn, witnessing the sudden outburst, recoiled slightly, her mouth opening as if to speak, but instead, she let out a soft sigh. Gently, she reached out to pat Celestine’s trembling hand. “Don’t worry, my dear. Your father and brother will handle this.”

Celestine leaned closer to her mother, tears spilling down her cheeks, a torrent of emotion overwhelming her. “Mom… I can’t take it anymore. Even a servant dares to judge me. I can’t stay in this den.” She exaggerated her breaths, feigning concern for the pack. “Father and brother must be furious as well. I need to be away from here for a while. Mom… could I stay at your residence in Moon Manor?”

Her plan was clear: avoid the main pack while still gathering leverage.

But Luna Evelyn’s smile faltered, a flicker of hesitation crossing her gaze.

“Mom?” Celestine pressed, forcing a strained smile through her tears. “It’s fine… I could stay at my apartment in the western part of the city. Though… it’ll make coming home difficult.”

“No!” Luna Evelyn interjected, her resolve hardening in her amber eyes. “Your dens, your jewels, all immovable assets—they’ve been donated. There’s nowhere for you to stay there.”

Celestine’s claws flexed into fists, the rage boiling just beneath the surface. “It’s fine. You were deceived for my sake. But since Aysel failed to fulfill her promise… can you return them?”

Luna Evelyn averted her gaze, unable to meet her daughter’s piercing stare. “Aysel said Magnus would be watching. Those things won’t be yours anymore.”

Deep down, Luna Evelyn was still wary of returning anything that Aysel had claimed. Only now did she grasp the extent of what had been in Celestine’s possession, gifted by the Moonvale Pack. Aysel herself had only her modest apartment, her first villa a gift from Magnus Sanchez of the Shadowbane Pack.

Rage surged through Celestine, scorching her from paws to muzzle. Yet, amidst the fury, a cold calculation began to take shape. The moment for open battle had not yet arrived.

Leaning her head against Luna Evelyn’s neck, she feigned weakness, a wolf masking her true intentions. “Mom… I have only you now.”

Luna Evelyn stroked her hair gently, a soothing gesture meant to comfort. “It’s fine. Stay here safely. Your quality of life won’t diminish.”

Celestine’s gaze drifted to the shadows, her face contorted into a predator’s grimace. Quality of life, she mused bitterly. The meal alone had revealed the cage awaiting her. The Moonvale Pack had been cruel first; she would answer in kind.