CELESTE
"Didn't you get a voice? Damn it."
Hearing the voice, I stopped dead in my tracks, nearly bumping into Amelia, who looked like she had just swallowed her own scream.
"Is that… the Prince?" I whispered, my voice barely escaping my lips.
Amelia nodded stiffly, her eyes wide. "Most probably. He never comes outside. He is always in the castle… either plotting, training, or brooding."
It was true. No one really saw him. Some blamed pride, others fear. I didn't care either way.
"I will be right back," I said.
Amelia held my hand. "Don't. He is not only an average Alpha. He is like a ghost. Or a monster."
I raised an eyebrow. "A monster who yells at old men? Sure."
My wolf wasn't impressed. Amelia didn't laugh either. Her throat moved as she swallowed. She was nervous, and to be honest, so was I. But curiosity had already sunk its claws into me.
"You better stay here," I told her, carefully pressing my back against the cold stone wall.
I peeked through the small opening of the thick wooden door that led to the council hall. The gap was just enough to see inside.
There were twelve men sitting along the longest table I had ever seen, six on each side. At the end of the table stood a tall man, his back turned to everyone including me. I didn't need to see his face to know who he was. His tunic alone gave him away. Deep navy blue, trimmed with gold stones that shimmered under the light.
The Prince. It was him.
"I just informed my wife about it… I am really sorry I didn't know, Alpha." The gray-haired man I had seen earlier looked like he was ready to drop dead from fear.
The prince didn't flinch. "Spend the night in the dungeon." He said coldly. "Have your wife brought here tomorrow. Is that clear?"
My wolf let out a low huff inside me. What had he done? Just told his wife something? That was enough for prison?
"Yes, Alpha." the man stammered.
"No one… I repeat, no one… should know about the people I invited to this meeting. No one should even know that this meeting happened. If you want to stay alive, keep your mouth shut."
I blinked.
"And tomorrow," the Prince continued, "You will return before dawn. To sign the contracts of Elite assignments."
I scanned the faces in the room. None of them looked prepared. Only frightened men trapped in a room with a man who sounded far more dangerous than any enemy.
One of them stood up, shaking like a leaf in a storm. "Alpha… forgive me… but I am no warrior. I have served in archives all my life. I don't think I have the capability to serve for the elite assignment. I—"
Then suddenly, the prince turned and slammed his hands down on the table. "You will never know what you are capable of…" He growled. "until you let go of what you think you are not."
My wolf froze and held her breath held like I did. Because that was the moment we saw his face.
And oh gods, what a face it was.
I had never cared much about gossip about the princes or the royal family. I was too busy surviving in my little world to daydream about fairy tales. But this… this man… he wasn't a fairy tale. He was a dark, dangerous myth come alive.
He had his thick dark hair swept back. It was messy in the most perfect way, with a few strands falling across his forehead. His jawline was carved like it was made from stone, his lips… they looked too soft for the words he spoke… and those eyes… Fuck.
They were almost entirely black. So dark, that the pupils melted into the iris and the whites of his eyes looked too pale.
"God." I breathed out before I could stop myself. "He is so hot."
As if summoned by my stupidity, the Prince lifted his head slightly.
I nearly had a heart attack.
But luckily, one of the men tried to continue the conversation, drawing attention away from my mistake. "Alpha, I am grateful to be summoned… but I am not sure I understand the purpose of this. We know about the rewards. But what are we being asked to do?"
The Prince's tone shifted. "I need rogues who were born on the blood moon night. Rogues who don't know what they are, who haven't been broken or trained into fear. Your task is to find them before the blood moon night."
I swallowed. So what Amelia was saying wasn't completely wrong.
"They will be told they are selected for elite royal service." He continued. "And they are. But it won't be what they expect. They will be watched. Examined. If they pass the tests, they will be initiated."
Initiated into what?
A younger councilman stood up, voice shaking. "What are you preparing for, Your Highness?"
Tristan didn't answer. He turned away from the table and walked to the window. His profile looked sharp, defined by the firelight. I could see the curve of his cheekbone.
"You are here to finish your tasks. With no other questions asked. Find them. And get your rewards. That's it." He had declared.
The room fell dead silent.
"You will start tomorrow," he said. "Do it quietly. If anyone asks, tell them it's royal education. Special training."
I almost snorted loudly. "What was wrong with this place?" I whispered to myself. "And what the hell is he talking about?"
Suddenly, a slow smirk played on his lips. He lowered his head, hands back on the table. "We are talking about the elite royal assignments," he said.
I furrowed my brows. Wait a minute.
Who was he talking to now?
Realization hit me with the force of a war hammer. Oh no. Oh no.
I had said that out loud.
I tried to shrink back, but it was too late.
His head tilted just slightly. I couldn't even move. I just stared, wide-eyed as he lifted his head and looked straight toward the door where I stood.
Sierra was ready to jump but I felt like the room froze around me. My heart pounded so loud I thought it might burst.
Sierra screamed at me: run.
Then I turned on my heel, pushing off the wall, and tried to run.
But he was faster to order the guards, "Get her here. Now."