Bloodbound to the Witch Heir: Claimed By Four

Celeste’s POV

*****

The pain, embarrassment and shame that came with Azrael’s rejection almost made me numb.

It was rejection, right?

I kissed him. He kissed me back, with way more heat than I would’ve anticipated.

Safe to say I got aroused right there and then.

But then—he pulled away.

And left me open with words I still tried so hard to process.

Because the fuck does he mean by giving in to his wants would be ’catastrophic’? The man obviously feels the same pull that I do. He wants to thread THAT part.

So what’s the matter?

"Tch," I clicked my tongue, pulling in a breath as I wandered around the academy compound. "Men. No matter the shape, age or colour they always find new ways to disappoint."

Now would be a good time to call Willow and rant to her. She was the only one I could talk freely about the bonds to... Even though she didn’t know everything involved.

Too bad she and the other year two wolves were stuck in Professor Amelia’s mandatory test.

Sighing to myself, I placed my hand over my eyes to get a better view of the buildings ahead.

The academic buildings.

They each stood tall, with a few students trooping in and out while others stood outside, engaging in brief discussions. Willow was in one of these buildings—

—But right now I didn’t care about that.

Rather, my mind trailed back to last night and an interesting room within one of these buildings. A room where I could stay away from stares and whispers and just sulk on my life.

The Alpha Heir’s Haven.

"Silas," I mumbled, biting my bottom lip. "He needed a gold key card to go in last time."

Well, fuck.

What do I know now? I didn’t have Silas’ contact and even if I did... What would I tell him I was going there to do?

As I stood just outside the building where the haven was located, arms folded in my chest, I picked up the sound of boys laughing behind me.

Already used to being the running gag in this hellhole, I glanced back, expression bland.

But to my surprise, they weren’t laughing at me.

Standing at the top of the stairs leading into the building was a group of five boys. All senior year students, made known thanks to the academy’s uniforms on them.

However, only one of them stood out amongst them.

A wolf—no. An Alpha.

"Damien, you’re hilarious, man," one of the guys tapped the back of a young man with tousled black hair. "Did y’all see the look on that pup’s face? Next time he’ll think better before disrespecting an Alpha."

Ah-Ha!

I was right after all.

Smirking to myself, I recalled something Silas mentioned when I was searching for a first aid kit while he bled out. Good old Damien here was one of the Alphas with access to the haven.

Meaning—

"A key," my eyes lit up when I saw something glinting with a golden light from his front shirt pocket. It was tiny, almost unnoticeable.

But oh, I noticed.

A golden key card.

My fingers curled into my fists, magic brimming just underneath my skin. Taking a quick look around, I clutched the book I took from the library in my right hand, left hand preparing a spell.

The boys were too busy stroking each other’s egos to notice me.

When I got close enough, I twitched my wrist. The key card blinked with silver light, appearing in between my fingers. Quickly shoving it in my pocket, I smiled, walking past them and heading into the building.

Sadly—

"Hey, look." One of them just had to say something. "It’s the runaway princess."

Laughter boomed from the rest. Exaggerated. Clearly just to spite me. Yet all that did was make the feeling of stealing the key card all the more refreshing.

With a glance over my shoulder, I smirked wider, winking at all of them. "I’m guessing you guys did such a good job protecting our dear school last night."

Their laughter stopped, a few frowning.

Aww, they probably expected I’d ignore or shrink back. Fuck them.

Spinning back to the arched entrance, I grinned, patting the key card in my pocket.

.

.

Navigating through the hallways and floors until I got to the last one was a bit hectic. A few students spotted me and gawked with confusion.

One professor teaching the human hunter students had asked if I needed help with anything.

All I offered was a smile and a "no, thank you" until I got to my destination.

Standing in front of the door brought back a couple of memories from last night. Particularly involving toned abs and a pair of hazel orbs monitoring my every move.

"Hopefully, he doesn’t come in here," I drew out the key card, about to swipe it on the door.

Then I noticed something that made me freeze.

The door was unlocked.

Chills ran down my spine, my fingers withdrawing from the door handle.

Was someone inside? W–What if it was one of the Heirs?

Panic took over, my mind spinning as I struggled for a way out of this. Maybe I could just go back downstairs and sneakily return the key card to—

"You guys, wait up a sec!" Hearing that voice sent my heart falling all the way to my feet.

Alpha Damien!

"I think I left the damn thing inside the haven," his voice came closer from a corner of the hallway to my right. "I swear, if someone’s messing with me..."

Yep. That will do it.

Without thinking, I pushed the door open. Closing it behind me, I backed it, heart thudding heavily against my chest until I felt like I was going to drop.

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

Scanning around the room, I was about to hide under the desk at the other end—

"Well, well..." That baritone voice made me pause, my nostrils flaring. Heat pooled in my cheeks when I saw who sat behind the desk, legs placed nonchalantly on it.

Silas.

This time he was fully dressed in an ash suit, a glass suspended in one hand and a cigar between the fingers of the same hand.

Just my luck...

My heart was still in my throat but I managed to speak. "I... I need your help," running toward the desk, I turned around, squatting beside him. "If Damien comes here, tell him you haven’t seen his—"

"Hey, Silas?" A knock on the door made my pulse stutter.

I held my breath, lowering myself until I crawled under the desk. Fortunately, Silas already got on his feet, adjusting his suit before walking.

"Damien," he blurted. "Did you forget something?"

The door creaked open, making me place my hands over my mouth.

He’s a damn werewolf. Picking up my scent or my heartbeat would be a piece of—

"Is someone here with you?" Damien asked the forbidden question that almost made me piss my pants.

Goddess, please!

A fucking invisibility spell that cancels my scent would’ve been really helpful right now.

"Don’t be silly, Damien." Silas chuckled. "You still haven’t answered my question."

My brows furrowed under the desk.

Now that’s a bit odd...

Last I checked, Silas was a year three student. Damien is a senior year student. Year four. An Alpha at that.

So could Silas really speak to him like that?

"My key card, man." Damien groaned. "I think I might’ve dropped it on my way out with the others."

"Of course, you did." Silas scoffed. "Well, I haven’t seen it here. Sadly." The door creaked louder, as if he was making more space for him to come in. "But if you want to come in and search around—"

"Nah." Damien sighed. "No need. Fuck—this means I’ll have to go meet the Dean for a new one. It’ll be the second time this semester already."

Oop.

When I heard receding footsteps followed by the soft bang of the door, my shoulders relaxed, a heavy breath leaving my mouth. Lowering my hands, I was about to wipe off sweat from my forehead when Silas uttered:

"Come out, Celeste,"

Something about his voice made me want to do exactly what he says.

Gods, could this be my undoing?