Bloodbound to the Witch Heir: Claimed By Four

Celeste’s POV

*****

"So... No one knows why we’re all here?" Silas asked, leaning against a wall with folded arms.

My mates and I were gathered in front of the Dean’s office, standing in the hallway.

He’d told us to wait a moment before going in and I could hear him talking in a hushed voice with someone else. Each passing second only made me more nervous, sweat clinging to my blouse like I’d taken a dip in the ocean.

I stood against the wall opposite the office alongside Azrael and Silas—the former staying close to me. You’d imagine that’d probably make me feel comfortable, right?

Well—

"Maybe the Dean finally recognised whatever spell Celeste cast on us last night." Luther, standing at the right side of the Dean’s office entrance, spoke with a snigger. His eyes locked on me, filled with disgust and something else. "This was your plan all along. Right?"

"Brother—" Silas tried to speak up, but Luther pushed.

"Let her speak for herself." He took two steps forward, gaze making me shrink. My lips trembled as he continued. "Come on, Celeste. Just admit it. Because there’s no way on earth that you’d have four mates—who aren’t even all—"

"Shameless." That single word from Azrael made everyone freeze instantly.

My head swerved to him on time to see the slight twitch on his lips before it set back colder than ice.

Luther, however, didn’t let that slide, boiling with rage as he turned all his attention on Azrael. "What did you say, witch?"

Atlas, who’d been silent and still all this while at the left of the office entrance, gave Luther a once-over at the way he said "witch". But he didn’t say a word, not even sparing me a glance.

Gods, did the mate bond have ANY effect on him at all?

"You’re a wolf. With enhanced hearing." Azrael blurted at Luther plainly. "I don’t need to repeat myself. But I will add that you’re also an untrained mutt. Surprising for an Alpha."

The sound of Luther’s knuckles clenching beside himself snapped through the silent hallway. A growl reverberated from his chest, low and feral.

Azrael didn’t even flinch, whipping his head to me. "Little miss. You really let him court you?"

I couldn’t respond. My jaw tightened, gaze fleeting to Luther who seemed like he was going to explode.

And he did.

"Do you know who the fuck I am?!" He snarled, all over Azrael’s face now. "I rule—"

"You’re a long way from Europe, twat." A sneer twisted my features. Fuck decorum. "What inflated ego could that forgettable pack in Manchester have given you? To make you think I’ll chain myself to a man who cheated on me on MY bed—to what? Punish you? Or myself?"

An odd mix of emotions pressed my chest, settling like an angler. Saying I was "pissed" would be the grandest understatement of my life!

I wanted to slap the fucker right now but it seemed my words struck him. He winced, shoulders relaxing slightly—but jaw still locked with something intense.

Before the tension could get any thicker, a creak echoed through the hallway. We all snapped our necks to the Dean’s door, just in time to see Professor Amelia standing there with a smile.

"You can come in now." Her eyes looked past each of us, hands gesturing at the now wide-open door.

I could already see Dean Thorne sitting behind his desk at the end of the room like bad news wrapped in flesh.

Whatever he had to say to us—I already had a feeling I wouldn’t like it.

Luther waltzed in first, followed closely by his brother. Atlas stepped away from the wall next, looking between Azrael and me briefly before walking in as well.

Taking in a deep breath, I moved beside Azrael, whispering prayers, hoping I wasn’t in trouble. I couldn’t add this to the pile of disappointments I’ve brought to my parents.

"Celeste. Gentlemen..." The Dean drawled, fingers drumming on his desk. "Welcome. Sorry for keeping you waiting."

The shutting of the door behind us by Professor Amelia made me stiffen. The office was—ancient?

It was painted white all over, a red crystal chandelier dangling lazily from the ceiling. The Dean’s desk seemed carved from mahogany.

Talismans and weird-looking masks hung on the wall behind the Dean. A shelf of books that seemed older than my own mother rested on the Northern wall.

Professor Amelia walked past us, standing beside the Dean’s seat like a bodyguard.

In front of the Dean’s desk were four seats. Luther wasted no time sitting on one, clearing his throat.

"Sir, could this have anything to do with—"

"I don’t recall signalling you to sit yet, mister Hale." Thorne’s tone was dry. "Show some etiquette. This isn’t your pack—it’s a school."

From this angle, I could spot how Luther’s face reddened like a tomato. He parted his lips like he wanted to say something—but nothing other than a defeated sigh left him.

I would’ve laughed if I weren’t scared of whatever the Dean had to say.

After Luther got on his feet, standing beside the rest of us, Thorne continued.

"I won’t bother beating around the bush. Miss Bloodoak." Thorne’s eyes locked on me, making my throat tighten.

Dreading his words before I heard them, I nodded, stepping closer. "Y–Yes, Dean?"

He didn’t say anything.

Instead, he turned his head to Professor Amelia, who nodded with a small smile. "Last night at the mating ball... I heard something. You mentioned..."

Dear gods of earth, here it comes.

"... Being mated to Luther."

And THERE it was. I fucking knew it.

"And Silas." Professor Amelia went on. "And Atlas, and to quote you, ’a man whose name you didn’t know yet’." She paused, placing a hand on the Dean’s desk. "Four mates, Celeste. That’s—"

"I know, I know," I said it too quickly. "Unbelievable. Maybe it was exhaustion speaking and—"

"Nonsense." The Dean took over seamlessly, straightening his sitting posture. "We won’t have summoned you here if we thought it was merely the ramblings of a girl who’s had too much to drink."

I subconsciously glanced at the men standing to my left and right. None said a word. But each had different reactions.

While Atlas didn’t even glance, Azrael and Silas both stared at me intensely. Too intense. As for Luther, his expression was disgruntled, arms folded like he was at war with the world.

"For years," the professor clasped her hands with excitement. "I’ve studied the mate bond in wolves. And as the Professor disciplined in ’Mate bond theory’..."

Goddess, here she goes with the bragging.

"... I can solemnly say you were right, Celeste. You are mates with four men. And I also know Mr Vaelmont is one of them." She said with such confidence, making me squint.

That’s until she pulled out a clear crystal stone from her robes, dropping it on the table. I instantly knew what it was.

"A moon stone." She muttered. "Blessed to help the inner wolves of werewolves to find their mates. And also to give those who are wolfless a chance." Her eyes narrowed on me at that last part, making my jaw tighten.

Fortunately, she didn’t stare for too long. "Last night, I gave the moonstone’s blessings to everyone present. And as its handler, it lets me spot mate bond threads when they activate—"

"The point is," the Dean rubbed his forehead, obviously exhausted by her explanations. "We know you’re mated to these four gentlemen. Two wolves. Two... Witches." His gaze lingered on Azrael a second too long. "... Fated to one hybrid. It’s extraordinary to say the least."

He suddenly got on his feet, his tall form looming over us. "There are two anomalies here. First, a Lupine, whether wolf or hybrid, has NEVER had four mates. Second, there are two witches amongst them. Neither, I’m sure, have wolves in their ancestry. Right?"

I turned to Atlas and Azrael, watching as they shook their heads simultaneously.

"You’re the centre of something... Magnificent, miss Bloodoak." Thorne blurted. "A phenomenon witches, wolves and more around the planet will be willing to hunt for their own agendas. Which brings me to another thing..."

His tone dropped, low and cautious. Eyes scanning our faces.

Dean Thorne’s expression shifted into something almost wary. A cold dread started creeping down my spine.

"Could Miss Benedicta’s death somehow be linked to you?"