Chapter 20: A Predator's Proposal
(Celeste's POV)
The towering gates of Regina Blackwood's private territory loomed ahead, casting long shadows under the dim light.
My muscles tensed involuntarily, and my wolf curled deep within me, refusing to stir. The weight of this place was unbearable, suffocating—it reeked of power, dominance, and the kind of danger I had spent years trying to avoid.
Victoria walked beside me, her movements graceful and purposeful. The lines of satisfaction etched into her face were subtle, but I caught them all.
She said nothing as the guards opened the gates without hesitation. The symmetry of their motion, the uniformity of their bows, only made the sting worse. Not even wolves of the highest rank questioned her authority here.
As soon as we entered, the ai
