The Fifth Bloodline

Episode.4

Celine’s POV

The knock on the door came again, louder and more persistent.

I didn’t move.

I didn’t want to see anyone. I just wanted to hide from the world because, somehow, it had managed to hurt me more than I ever thought possible.

I remained curled up in the corner of the room, where I had cried myself to sleep.

Another knock came.

“Celine!”

Aunt Jorah’s voice broke through the silence.

I still didn’t respond.

The door swung open, and I heard her footsteps approaching.

“Don’t tell me you stayed like this all night.”

I said nothing. For a few minutes, it felt like she was simply standing there, watching me.

Slowly, I lifted my head. Sunlight streamed through the curtains and hit my eyes, forcing me to shield my face.

A little smile spread across her face “Sorry for putting you through all this, kid.”

“You should already be dressed. Your father will be here any minute—”

I immediately rose to my feet.

“My father?”

“Yes, your fa—”

The sound of a car engine suddenly echoed through the compound.

Both of us turned toward the window.

A red car rolled through the gates and came to a stop.

“Oh… he’s here.” She said.

My heart stopped.

“Now hurry and—”

I didn’t wait for her to finish. I rushed toward the door.

Bang!

Pain exploded across my forehead. My eyes flew open.

I gasped.

Morning sunlight streamed through the curtains.

Aunt Jorah stood in front of me, staring down at me. It had all been a dream.

“What happened to the bed?”

I didn’t answer. I lowered my head, burying my face in my hands. I do not wish to see anyone now.

“Sorry for putting you through all this kid.” I gazed intently at her as she gently helped me to my feet.

“You should already be dressed.”

I froze.

She gave me a small smile.

“Your father—”

The rumble of a car engine echoed outside.

We both turned toward the window and saw the car that drove in.

“My father?”

My heart skipped.

Without thinking, I bolted toward the door.

She said something behind me, but I barely heard her. I flung the door open and hurried outside.

He stepped out of the car, with Alpha Rowan beside him. I knew this was all a drama!

I knew it. This had to be some kind of test. I know he wouldn’t really abandon me like that.

A smile spread across my face, even though sadness still weighed heavily in my chest.

“Father!”

I ran after him.

Then he turned, and the smile faded from my face.

I stopped in my tracks.

That wasn’t my Father.

“…Excuse me?” He gave me an imitating smile.

I stammered finding words, Heat rushed to my face.

“I…”

Alpha Rowan chuckled as he approached me.

“Come on, Celine. Why did you stop? Did he scare you?”

He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

“She was probably excited to welcome an important guest. Right, Celine?”

I looked at him. Then forced an embarrassed smile.

“Yes. Yes, of course. You are welcome.”

The stranger studied me for a moment.

“Thank you.”

His voice was calm, but there was something cold about it.

He turned and climbed back into the SUV.

A moment later, the vehicle drove away.

I watched until it disappeared through the gates.

Only then did the embarrassment sink in.

I had never felt so foolish. I turned toward Alpha Rowan. He was staring at me with clear disdain before finally walking away.

He also sent that look towards Jorah who stood at the entrance.

I understood the embarrassment, but that didn’t stop Jorah from reaching out to me. She consoled me and reminded me to stay calm before taking me inside.

She prepared breakfast, but I barely touched it. Afterward, I returned to my room and isolated myself.

Still I imagined how happy I could have been today, should have been my happiest day but I’m subjected to this. Struck in forever shame, betrayed by my own father and sister.

Tears dropped out of my eyes and I wiped them off.

“Come on Celine”

I muttered to myself. I don’t know how long I will cry about this but I think I got to stop, I should start finding how to adapt and be happy here.

At least they are celebrating the full moon here today, I should join them and celebrate like ordinary wolf too, although I’m sure every wolf here should have gone to Silver Fang which where the ultimate celebration for every wolf pack of the wisdom bloodline should be as announced, yet I care less about it.

When I heard a knock on my door, my heart boomed! How I wish that’s my father. When I opened up it was Jorah like I expected.

She carrying pack of beautiful dresses. She came in and laid them carefully across the bed before bringing out a small velvet box.

She opened it.

Inside rested a stunning necklace.

The necklace was unlike anything I’d ever seen. It was unmistakably gold, its surface catching the light beautifully.

“I bought this years ago for my first child.”

She smiled faintly.

“But I never had one.”

I gazed at her as she gently grabbed it.

“You should have it,” she said with a smile and reached toward my neck.

I caught her hand.

“No, thanks.”

She gazed silently at me then I looked away. “I don’t want it.”

I gazed at the moonstone pendant on my neck and gave it a gentle touch once more.

“It’s alright.”

“Thank you,”

I whispered.

The look on her face…

I shouldn’t have rejected the gift.

A Luna without a child… I wondered what had happened. Sometimes, I felt like we shared a similar kind of grief.

“You should check the dress, and see the ones you love, you will wear them tonight for the full moon celebration”

Her tone a little serious and then she tried to walk away.

“Wait!”

She turned.

“I don’t know how to select dress, my mum always do that for me.”

“You want me to help?”

“Yes.” I responded with smile and nodded with happiness too.

“For the full moon celebration.”

I nodded. For the first time I felt a small sense of comfort since leaving my pack.

So I stood behind and watched as she made the selection.

“Alpha Rowan… he hasn’t left for Silver Fang. Is he celebrating with us here?”

I asked as it had bothered me because that I know for sure that all the Alphas of our bloodline should be there and his absent would be noticed.

“I don’t think he planned to go, he is having his own guests.”

“Guests?”

“It’s the Full Moon Festival.”

She responded nonchalantly like it was supposed to be normal.

“But…”

“My husband believes our pack needs to be strengthened not just the bloodline.”

She interrupted and that more even added to my unease.

“He’s forming alliance?”

“With Alpha Cassian. Of the spirit bloodline.”

Everything inside me froze. The Spirit Bloodline. That’s the bloodline that had taken my mother from me.

The bloodline my pack had fought for generations. With the thousand hatred growing between us making is the greatest rivalry of the bloodlines.

I had always wondered what the Spirit Bloodline looked like. I’d never seen one of them before. Yet somehow, I had spent my entire life hating them for taking my mother from me.

And tonight, their Alpha would be under this roof.

I didn’t know whether I should be afraid to meet him or curious to finally see one of the wolves I’d spent my entire life hating.

But one question kept bothering me.

Out of all the bloodlines, why had Rowan chosen the Spirit Bloodline?

And why now?

Was there a problem between him and Father?

An allegiance was supposed to be fully aware by all the packs of the bloodlines involved. Rowan might be up to something.

And what does it have to do with me? Bringing me expensive dress.

Wait?

To entertain them? Or?