Bloodbound to the Witch Heir: Claimed By Four

Celeste’s POV

*****

"Wait... The Dean blamed you for Miss Benedicta’s death?" Willow gasped when we finally got time to see each other later that day.

The sun was already setting, painting the sky dull orange. We stepped down the stairs of one of the academic buildings leading into a joint class for Supernatural Biology—one of the only joint subjects I aced consistently.

Students filed out around us, either gossiping in corners, checking out something on their phones or up to some shenanigans with their partners.

Turning to Willow, I sighed, slowing my pace just a bit. "Did you listen to a word I said? That’s... Not exactly what the Dean insinuated—"

"The man literally asked if her death could be linked to you." Willow raised a brow. "And then proceeded to leave y’all—including me—on a freaking cliffhanger. If that’s not accusatory, I don’t know what is."

Oh... So she was listening.

My face flushed, right hand gripping the textbook tighter. "Well, he did say we should expect a summoning from him at any time. Honestly, I think his main reason for calling us was... The mate bond." Simply saying those last two words felt like a curse. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

I became self-conscious, glancing at the students we walked past. Some threw glances at me as well. Others had looks that made me want to dart to my room without looking back.

"Right..." The shift in Willow’s tone brought a frown to my face. I swerved my head to her again just in time to see her wink. "How could I forget? The rest of Mr Orlando’s class was filled with chatter about why the Dean called the five of you."

She paused, leaning closer and whispering. "Heads up, by the way. I can smell Luther’s and Silas’ musk on you. I’m sure other wolf girls can as well."

I didn’t need her to explain further.

Saying I blushed would be an understatement. I looked away from her, lowering my head and clutching my blouse subconsciously.

"When will this madness end?" I groaned softly, whispering so low I could barely hear myself. "I can’t let anyone know about the mate bond. Not after Dean Thorne made it seem like it was the beginning of something tragic."

Willow nodded, smile changing into an understanding look. "Well, so far, everyone in our year and beyond knows you and Luther are done. And after last night, some already think you were either spiralling from the breakup or you actually cursed the Hale brothers."

Sigh... I knew I could rely on her to get all the latest gossip. Then again, students in Bloodoak never hid their thoughts on things.

Why would they in a school filled with mind-reading witches and super-hearing wolves?

Eventually, Willow and I drew close to the academy’s residential block. Different groups of students gathered in front of one of the girls’ dormitory buildings, which also happened to be the one Willow and I were walking into.

Standing on the almost ten-meter-wide steps leading into the building were people who almost made me freeze in my tracks.

Yep.

Lysandra, her pack of hyenas and Luther.

My heart was already in my throat, mouth parched like I’d been left out in the sun. Was it the heat? Or was the mere thought of being anywhere near those two physically agitating?

Willow grabbed my palm from beside me, making me turn my head to her. "Not worth it. We have outfits to pick for tonight."

I blinked at her half the time she spoke while subconsciously glancing at the group. Lysandra had already spotted me—of course, she had.

But Luther stood silently, leaning against the marble railing to our right. His arms were crossed, and even from this angle, I could notice the distance in his eyes.

"Don’t look at ’em, Cel." Willow cautioned me one last time before we quickened our pace.

When we got to the steps, many heads almost instantly swerved to me. A group of guys standing close to Luther grinned, tapping him and making sure he saw me.

Those blue eyes settled on me like I was a bad omen. Yet they also held this curiosity. Like he wanted to peer into me and discover why any of this was happening.

I didn’t give him the benefit of staring too long, raising my head high. The murmurs reduced. Students were gathered in front of this building in tens but my presence seemed to make them quiet down faster than any professor.

Fuck.

Not worth it. Not worth it. Not—

The building in front of us seemed like heaven itself. Halfway up, the stairs opened into a broad stone landing, a flat terrace wide enough to host a small crowd.

But alas, the dream of walking into the building got snatched. Literally.

"Hey!" I nearly tripped trying to catch my textbook. It floated out of my grip, levitating several meters above my head.

Telekinesis.

It didn’t take long to find the caster. Lysandra and her girls giggled, the girls already walking up to me while the queen bee kept the telekinetic spell active.

The look in their eyes was an instant notifier that they wanted trouble.

"Cel," Willow tried pulling me away. "We’ll get you a new textbook. Let’s—"

Before she could drag me away, I pulled my hand out of her grip. Glaring at the approaching girls, I snarled: "Give me back my book!"

Everyone on the steps was dead silent now, gawking and whispering in hushed tones.

Mia, a wolf girl with short black hair, twirled a little pen in between her fingers. "What book?"

Natasha, the only witch amongst the three girls, flicked her fingers once. The motion sent an invisible force my way, making me stumble back a few steps.

"You sure you aren’t delirious, princess?" Kiara grinned wolfishly, the first to circle Willow and me. "You know... The same way you’re delirious enough to think you still have a chance with the Hale brothers."

"Can you imagine?" Natasha flicked her wrist again, sending a burst of wind that blew my hair over my face. "The most powerful Alpha heir brothers in this academy—mated to a wolfless mutt. Isn’t that some forbidden ’no-no’ with wolves?"

Willow was usually the one who riled me up against bullying. But when it came to Lysandra and her lackeys... Her hesitance was clear.

Lysandra was an Alpha King’s daughter and a learned hybrid after all.

Speaking of which, the unbothered Aussie queen stood at the side. She had the fingers of her right hand twirling in the air, making it obvious that she was the one holding my book hostage.

And Luther? He had his arms crossed, jacket open enough to give a view of his chiselled chest. His jaw was tight but he didn’t say or do anything. Just watched.

Was this his doing? Was this payback for when I called his pack forgettable?

"It is, Nat." Mia shoved my shoulder just then, shifting away from me the next second. "Wolfless rejects have no use to the rest of the pack. Heck, she has no use for her own family."

My chest tightened at those words.

Willow made a move. "That’s enough. We aren’t looking for any trouble and Celeste—"

"You should’ve stayed away from trouble," Natasha sent a wave that made Willow stumble so hard I had to clutch her close before she could fall. "If you didn’t want to get scratched. Forcing yourself on an Alpha because your family can’t accept you is pathetic."

If looks could kill, Willow’s glare probably would’ve dropped the girls to their knees by now. I’d had enough.

Raising my head, I made a gesture at the floating book. I tried pulling it out of the invisible force holding it back—but as expected, Lysandra’s magic was strong.

Too strong.

"Lysandra." I mumbled, staring at her while my hand was still suspended. "Just... Just let go."

She grinned, shrugging cluelessly. "I have no idea what you mean." Her fingers spun, making the book spin mid-air as well.

No one amongst the students spoke on my behalf. None. Instead, they stifled laughs, staring with mockery and disdain. To them, I was entertainment after a long day of classes.

"I will not say it again," my fingers ached but I didn’t give up. "Let. Go."

Hearing those words, Lysandra’s lips curved into a cruel smile. The kind she made when she was about to ruin you and your reputation in one fell swoop.

"Shiver me timbers!" Mia made a pirate impression, gaining the laughter of her friends and several students. "Someone’s getting guts. Or is it... Audacity?"

"Cel, I’m telling you," Willow whispered to me again. "Let’s just go. They won’t stop, and this will only get worse."

Lysandra heard her. Of course she did.

And she blurted, "Better listen to your friend, darl. Don’t want people to assume you’re crazy. Standing out here accusing me of—"

"Fuck you!" I unleashed even more magic, latching on to the book.

Her lips parted at first. But then her eyes glinted with a fiery light, fingers curling into a fist.

It became a tug of war. I gritted my teeth, head already swirling with a monumental headache from the force I exerted. On a damn book!

Lysandra, on the flip side, had her eyes locked on me, barely placing any focus on the book we dragged. Her friends didn’t interfere like I thought they would.

They kept their distance instead, staring at me like I’d signed a death warrant.

"Does she really think her magic stands any chance against Lysandra?" Someone murmured in the crowd.

"She should’ve just apologised." A female voice snorted. "The slut cursed the Hale brothers with a fake mate bond and now she feels on top of the world."

"Hmph. You think her mother shared her tips for the curse? I heard Luna Queen Odessa was once the most powerful witch on the continent."

"Bitch, the whole world! If we get our hands on that spell, you can finally make Mark notice you..."

These fucking—

The metallic taste of my own blood tinged my tongue.The headache hitting me persisted. But so did I.

With a grunt, I gripped with everything in me. I expected the book to budge a little. Maybe enough to make me jump and try grabbing it.

But—

"AHH!" Lysandra screamed, the light in her eyes flickering. She fell forward, landing face-first on the ground—only helping her face by breaking her fall with her arms.

The book fell from its telekinetic prison, landing in my waiting arms.

"Lysandra!" Luther rushed, grabbing her firmly as if she had been hit by a truck. "Are you okay? What happened just now?"

Yeah... What the heck happened?

Pressing the textbook against my chest, I blinked at my fingers. Was that... Was that my magic? Did I win?

Those questions burned in my mind—until I caught a whiff of something. A familiar cologne that made my back straighten and knees wobble.

"Touch her and you’ll regret being born." A domineering yet reassuring voice came behind me.

I already knew who it was before I turned—

However, when I did, my eyes widened.