The Second Chance Of The Rejected Moon (Celine and Bastian) novel Chapter 80

Chapter 80

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i feel like I was a little harsh with my words, so I decide to soften everything I said with something more.

“Don’t feel bad. You and I are family after all. The bond between us doesn’t exist, but that doesn’t mean I refuse to get to know you better or that I want you out of my life. I haven’t forgotten what you’ve done for me”

“It wasn’t enough.”

Christian says it quietly. Everything in his expression tells me he feels guilty about it.

“It was, because if it weren’t for you, I would have died dozens of times after the punishments from my stepmother and my brother.”

Bastian growls when I say out loud what I had to endure in my former pack. His golden eyes flash with rage and his fingers tighten around his utensils.

“I should have gotten you out of there, Celine. But if I had, Darius would have killed me, my own mother would have suffered if she lost you… I simply couldn’t.”

I set my utensils aside and smile at him.

“The Goddess wanted me to remain in the Blood Moon Pack because I was destined for Bastian. If you had taken me away, I wouldn’t be here now. Don’t torment yourself over it. I don’t resent you.”

And if I’m honest with myself, I don’t hold any resentment at all. I said horrible things when I left the pack house that morning and took my anger out on the one person who had helped me more times than I can count.

Christian gives a faint smile and nods. The conversation shifts to calmer matters and, once lunch is finished, we say our goodbyes.

“Take that useless Tanner Blackwood with you,” Bastian orders. “I don’t have time to deal with his father.”

My uncle nods with visible relief and leaves with Alaric in the direction of the dungeons.

‘Let’s get everything ready for our trip.”

“Where is your grandfather?”

“In the northern part of the continent.”

That will undoubtedly be a very long journey. Close to human territory.

“That’s near the human continent, right?”

Bastian nods and smiles.

“Yes, it is.”

His eyes soften a little for the first time since we left the training room, although the concern is still visible in them.

“My grandfather always preferred to stay far away from everyone. He says most werewolves are idiots and that the world is quieter when you’re surrounded by trees instead of politicians. The truth is, nobody knows exactly how old he is. He only appears when he wants to and disappears for months at a time. My father says it’s impossible to make him obey.”

“And is he really as terrible as you describe him?”

“Worse. He’s ten times my father’s personality,” he answers with an amused smile. “He’s stubborn, bad-tempered, and has a

The Second Chance Of The Rejected Moon

45 youthinks

habit of insulting anyone who enters his lands without permission. The only reason Jared and my father are still alive is

because one of them is a Thorn.”

That doesn’t reassure me very much, but I think Magnus is a good man. At least with me, he’s like a devoted and dedicated father.

Just like he is with his son.

“Don’t worry.” Bastian takes my hand and kisses my fingers. “If there’s anyone capable of recognizing what’s happening to you, it’s Silas. That old barbarian has seen more things than anyone could imagine.”

And while he absentmindedly caresses my hand, a strange feeling settles in my chest once again. Because the more I hear about that old man hidden away in the northern forests, the stronger that absurd impression I can’t explain becomes.

This time we don’t travel by car.

A damned black helicopter was waiting for us behind the castle, one of those that look ridiculously expensive. Climbing into that thing was one of the most terrifying experiences of my entire life, because I’m afraid of heights and had never, ever, been inside an aircraft before.

I’m one of those people who would rather travel a thousand hours on foot or by car than leave the ground.

The trip lasted almost six hours, and I finally understood why Bastian had chosen that means of transportation. We had to land in the middle of a clearing lost within the vastness of the forest.

And when I say forest, I’m understating it.

The place is dense, dark, and quite terrifying.

“Welcome to the Thorn Forest.” Bastian extends his hand to help me down after him.

Before boarding the helicopter, he had warned me about the type of clothing I should wear. That’s why we both dressed in comfortable, durable clothes and sturdy hiking boots. I packed lightly, but I refused to leave my sword, Erebus, behind at

the castle.

Don’t ask me why.

I simply felt a strange need to bring her with me.

The terrain is damp and difficult. The air is heavy with humidity and carries that intense scent of wet earth, rotting leaves, and untamed vegetation that has never been domesticated. The trees are enormous, much taller than any I’ve ever seen before, and their canopies form a sort of natural ceiling that barely allows light to pass through. Even during the day, the forest remains submerged in unsettling gloom.

“It seems this forest truly lives up to its name. It’s dark, sinister, and complicated.”

Bastian lets out a low laugh and takes my hand while Jack, Thomas, and two more guards follow closely behind us carrying our things. There aren’t many, but enough for us to remain away from the castle for several days.

“You’ll see that, like us, it also has its charm.”

I’m not so sure about that.

We walk for at least forty minutes, and every step feels more difficult than the last. Throughout the journey I’ve had to avoid snakes, insects I’ve never seen before in my life, and roots as thick as small tree trunks protruding from the ground in every direction. More than once I could swear some of them moved when we passed nearby.

Maybe it was my imagination.

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