Bloodbound to the Witch Heir: Claimed By Four

Celeste’s POV

*****

"Hey, look," Willow’s whisper made me blink. "It’s Mr wannabe Alpha."

Yeah, no shit. We just made eye contact for what felt like aeons.

Turning away from him, I sighed, arms folded. "Right. Anyway, you heard Professor Amelia. I guess this means we’ll be separated." I said that to both Willow and Silas.

Gods, the Blood trials.

I attended the competition last year—but I never participated. That dynamic changing now felt so... Surreal?

"Yeah," Willow tapped my back, flipping back her short blonde hair. "Remember all Caelum taught you." Her eyes flicked to my brother, giving him a not-so-subtle wink. "Good luck!"

She proceeded to walk away, leaving me, Caelum and Silas standing. The latter slowly withdrew his hand from my shoulder, planting a kiss on my forehead.

"Have you seen Azrael?" He muttered, making me fake a frown.

"Is that what you want to leave as a parting word?" I asked, ignoring Caelum’s awkward expression behind me.

It was then that I realised how weird it was for me to be seen smooching my ex’s brother. Barely a week after I got popular for kissing an entirely different guy.

So I pushed him gently on his shoulders, smiling awkwardly. "Anyway, I haven’t seen him today. But... We talked yesterday."

Ever since the biting incident, we’ve been distant. It wasn’t intentional—at least on my end. I didn’t have the chance to strike another heavy conversation with him either.

And I knew why Silas was asking about him.

"Be on the lookout." He said at last before stepping away, giving Caelum a nod.

My brother nodded back, squinting as he moved closer. "Uhm... You know what I’m about to ask, right?" He dropped when Silas had gotten a good distance away.

I shrugged. "Nope."

"Celeste, he kissed you. Right after he hugged you—"

"It was on the forehead." I twirled to him, folding my arms in front of my chest. "Besides, just because his brother was a monumental asshole doesn’t mean I can’t be..."

The rest of that sentence couldn’t come out. It just couldn’t.

But fuck, I couldn’t draw any suspicions. Even from my literal twin.

"... Can’t be friends with Silas," I forced a smile, the word tasting like ash. "It’s nothing more than that, Caelum. Friends. So, please."

Cheers erupted from the elevated audience sections as the academy’s representatives made their way to the high table. Caelum and I did the same, sticking close.

To my left, Luther and Alpha Damien moved side by side. To my far right, I spotted Atlas and the other witch representing our school. The hunters were already ahead of us.

A shaky breath left my lips.

Here goes everything.

"Let’s give it up for our representatives!" Professor Amelia shouted into her mic, beaming from the high table as we lined up in front of it.

Claps and high-spirited cheers spread throughout the crowd yet again, louder and prouder.

After a few seconds, there was a sudden shift in the air. Even the clouds above stilled, making the noises die down faster than they began.

"They’re here," Atlas mumbled beside me, stretching his neck toward the field’s gates.

The rest of us followed his gaze, just in time to spot the group strutting into the Crimson Expanse. Not like guests. But like people who already knew the outcome for today:

Victory for them.

Eight students in white and silver uniforms trooped in, expressions stern and aura brimming with confidence. They were flanked by two older people, professors most likely.

White Flame Academy.

One of them stood out the most—a girl with lush silver hair that cascaded down her shoulders. Her uniform was a form-fitting knee-high white skirt and a long-sleeve shirt with silver lines running from the shoulders to her wrists. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Despite the distance I noticed the sharpness in her eyes—bright blue like gems, scanning the Crimson Expanse with a look I couldn’t name.

"Gods, she’s hot." Alpha Damien muttered. I winced, giving him a side eye as he continued. "I almost don’t feel like competing against her."

"I doubt she’ll grant you the same grace, Damien." Caelum snorted, barely sparing him a glance. "Better put in your best."

That clearly did a number on the senior Alpha’s ego. But he didn’t verbally spar with my brother—even he won’t dare. Instead, his eyes fell on me, disdain flashing past them.

"I shouldn’t be the one being told that, Caelum." His tone was mocking.

I gritted my teeth, ignoring him as the rival students drew closer.

They stopped a few feet away from us, boots crunching softly against the red sand. The difference between us was almost laughable.

Where Bloodoak stood tense, coiled and ready to react, White Flame looked... composed. Polished. Like this was a performance they’d rehearsed a hundred times already.

Professor Amelia straightened, her smile tight but professional. "White Flame Academy," she announced. "Welcome to Bloodoak."

A tall man with brown hair and a single silver streak stepped forward, returning the greeting with a shallow bow. "The pleasure is ours," he replied smoothly. "We’ve been looking forward to this year’s Trials."

Of course they have.

My attention drifted back to the silver-haired girl before I could stop myself. She was scanning us now, her gaze passing over Damien, over Luther, over Atlas... until it landed on me.

And stayed on me.

The air felt heavier all of a sudden.

Her lips curved. Not a smile. More like she’d found something interesting. Or amusing.

My stomach twisted.

She leaned slightly toward the person beside her and murmured something I couldn’t hear. Whatever it was earned a quiet chuckle.

"Don’t let it get to you," Caelum whispered under his breath, barely moving his lips. "They like to size people up."

"Funny," I muttered back. "I didn’t realise I was wearing a target."

As if summoned by the words, the girl took a step forward, breaking formation just enough to draw attention. Her gaze flicked to Professor Amelia, then back to us.

"Rebecca Whiteflame," she said, voice easily carrying confidence. "Wolf representative for White Flame Academy."

Rebecca.

The name rang somewhere in the back of my mind, unsettling.

So THIS was the daughter of Europe’s Luna Queen?

Her eyes returned to me again, sharper this time.

"And you," she added lightly, tilting her head. "You must be the... replacement."

A few murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Heat crawled up my spine, magic stirring restlessly under my skin. My mouth ached to say something sarcastic and probably vile—

"Look." One of our hunter representatives pointed in the direction White Flame’s students had walked in from.

I swirled my head there, eyes narrowing on the two figures approaching. Imposing with presences that instantly demanded attention and silence.

One was Dean Thorne, donned in a crimson robe with the academy’s emblem shining proudly in front of it.

The other? A woman with lush silver hair that mirrored Rebecca’s.

My eyes widened.

Luna Queen Janelle...