The Second Chance Of The Rejected Moon (Celine and Bastian) novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Bastian Thorn

Celine said nothing when I told her her family would pay for all the years of torment they forced her to endure. Her honey- colored eyes only showed a flicker of fear, most likely because of the retaliation she’s used to.

My mate is broken inside and out.

She isn’t used to being spoken to with respect or kindness. She was conditioned for years to live in submission, like a slave within her own pack. The overlapping scars across her back are more than enough proof that they never showed her mercy. There are bruises of different colors on her arms and legs, and her overly pale skin makes it obvious they barely allowed her outside. Her extreme thinness, the condition of her body, and the weakness of her wolf make something else even clearer: they kept her weak on purpose, underfed, exhausted, and without enough strength to defend herself or escape.

Fucking bastards. Every single one of them.

“I know, Bastian. It’s not easy to stop being yourself.” She replies softly. “This is as new for you as it is for me. And, from what I can see, you’re not used to dealing with women like me. Are you?”

I take a step back and nod slowly. Celine can see me just as clearly as I can see her.

“That’s true. My instinct is to protect you and make you trust me, but from now on, I’d like you to look at me and speak to me with confidence. I am never going to hurt you, Celine. I will never harm you. I’ll try to be more careful with you, but I won’t always know how to do that. That’s my nature.”

Celine lifts her hands and takes mine when I realize I never stopped touching her hair.

“I’ll also try to… be more open with you. We’re a couple now, and we need to get to know each other.”

I want to hold her, press her against my chest, and never let her go again, but doing that now would be a mistake.

She needs to learn to trust and let go of every burden they forced onto her for years on her own.

So, for now, I only take one of her hands and place a brief kiss against the back of it before intertwining our fingers. Her hand is so small inside mine.

“Time to go home, Celine.”

She barely nods when I start walking toward the door, which opens before we’re even close to it. In the hallway, six warriors stand at attention and lower their heads the moment my mate and I step out.

Celine squeezes my hand, an involuntary reflex.

No one says a word or lifts their head to look at her. They only follow closely behind us. As we walk down the stairs, she notices that neither her father, nor her brothers, nor the woman who did a terrible job as this pack’s Luna are anywhere in sight.

We walk out through the main doors, and Celine takes a deep breath. She wants to leave as soon as possible, but first I have to do something.

The prominent families of the pack, the council of elders, and everyone summoned after I ordered them to appear are gathered in front of the pack house. I don’t need a grand assembly to say a few words. They’ll make sure to spread them themselves, or my people will, the ones staying behind to restore order in this territory.

We walk slowly toward them and. before reaching the group, Celine stops.

“Who are they?” she whispers, looking into my eyes.

17

O

Go

111

O

Aug

The Second Chance Of The Rejected Moon

“Look at them. Don’t lower your head.” I give her a faint smile. “You’ll see.”

&

When I look forward again, all the warmth I showed Celine disappears. I let my Lycan alpha aura wrap around them while shielding my mate from it.

The weakest fall to their knees. The higher-ranking ones struggle to remain standing.

“I’m glad to see all of you here.” I speak coldly. “I won’t waste your time. The Blood Moon pack will, from this/moment forward, remain under my supervision and that of the kingdom. Darius Miller is no longer the alpha of this pack. He has been stripped of his rank and removed from his position.”

The gasps of shock are immediate, and I give them a few seconds to process the information.

“From now on, Alpha Tanner Blackwood will be temporarily in charge of the pack until I find an alpha worthy of the role, one who is honest and willing to work for his people instead of for his own interests. That is all.”

Dios, este Bastian tiene energia de “voy a destruir reinos enteros por ella” y encima después le acomoda el cabello con cuidado. La dualidad masculina. Un peligro público con modales.

They punished my mate simply for existing.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify