Celeste blinked her eyes, adjusting to the blinding light that greeted her. Memories from the moments leading up to her unconsciousness suddenly surged in her mind, like a movie reel on fast forward.
She could vividly recall being in the car, snuggled in Jeremy's warm embrace, everything seemingly peaceful and serene. Until... The car screeched to an abrupt halt, causing both Jermey and her to crash onto the unforgiving ground. The car door swung open, and a familiar scent tickled her nose before darkness engulfed her, like a magician's trick.
And now, here she was, in this freaky-deeky place. As she lowered her gaze, her heart skipped a beat. There she was, tightly bound to a chair, like some sort of damsel in distress straight out of an action flick. Looking around, she spotted Jeremy and the other wolves. But they were still unconscious. Well, at least she wasn't alone in this madness.
Her eyes darted around the unfamiliar surroundings, taking it all in. The air held a peculiar aroma, like a mix of mystery and betrayal. Yep, no doubt about it, those scent-sniffing skills of hers revealed the kidnappers behind this whole mess—the rogues. The very same rogues she had laughed and brawled with, who now decided to spice up their lives by kidnapping them and tying them on the chairs.
Feeling the rough rope constricting her, Celeste couldn't resist the urge to wriggle and squirm. But did those ropes have a mind of their own? They seemed to have a personal vendetta against her, tightening around her arms with every struggle.
"What the fuck?" she exclaimed, finally noticing the peculiar texture of the ropes. They seemed to be different from any ordinary material she had ever seen. Now her mind wandered into the realm of curiosity. Celeste couldn't help but wonder if these ropes would tighten further if she transformed into a wolf.
Celeste was still trying to wrap her head around what had exactly transpired when the door swung open. And there, striding in, was the unmistakable silhouette of the familiar werewolf.
"What the heck, Kent? Why the grip? Why did you tie us up?" Celeste exclaimed, her confusion evident. Thankfully, they hadn't gagged her.
"The question should be aimed right back at you. What's the deal with this big group barging in? Planning to ambush my pack?" Kent retorted, leaning forward with crossed arms, his gaze fixed on Celeste.
"You've got us all wrong," Celeste said, licking her lips. Goddess, she felt parched as a desert. "We didn't come here to attack you guys. We're here to clear up some misunderstandings. And even more, we're hoping to forge an alliance."
"Misunderstandings? Alliance? What are you talking about?" Kent raised an eyebrow at her.
"Can you please untie me? Let's just have a normal conversation," Celeste said, looking up at Kent. This sort of situation felt alien and uneasy to her. Kate stood silently behind Kent, her expression a mixture of complexity. Celeste could almost taste the bitterness of betrayal emanating from her. She couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.
Sure, Kate mistook herself for the Luna, but she took Celeste as a friend. Now Celeste had left without a word. As their eyes met, Kate quickly averted her gaze, turning her head away.
"Come on now, I'm just one person. What harm can I possibly do to you big bad wolves?" Celeste added with a touch of sarcasm.
Kent snorted and nodded. In response, Kate stepped forward and proceeded to untie Celeste. With a mere touch and a flick of her wrists, the ropes effortlessly slipped off Celeste's hands. Celeste couldn't fathom what magical material was used. She brought her hands back to her chest, rubbing the lingering imprints left by the binding ropes.
"Thanks," Celeste whispered. Kate offered a small, fleeting smile in return before swiftly retreating back behind Kent.
Celeste's gaze scanned the room, landing on her pack members who were still slumbering with closed eyes. They didn't seem to be pretending to be asleep. Surprisingly, they bore no visible wounds or scars. Celeste's mind drifted back to the peculiar rope that had bound her, and she turned her head to face Kent. "So, did you sprinkle some sleep magic on them, too?"
She couldn't help but notice the absurdity of the situation. After all, Kent was a werewolf, not a sorcerer. It wasn't as if he could simply conjure up magic on a whim. Yet, Celeste knew better than to question him at this moment.
"You've got quite the agile mind," Kent remarked, neither confirming nor denying her teasing suggestion.
Letting out a sigh laced with a touch of exasperation, Celeste continued, "You're being overly cautious, Kent. We didn't come here to settle the score with you. I mean, look at us! Just a handful of wolves. What could we possibly do to your pack? Besides, even if we were plotting your demise, I wouldn't have agreed to it. I owe you, remember?"
A mischievous glint danced in Kent's eyes as a fleeting, complex expression crossed his face. "Alright then, spill the beans. What exactly brought you here? You said you're here to clear up misunderstandings? Let's start with that."
"Patience," Celeste replied, a playful grin tugging at the corners of her lips. "I was just getting to that. I know Byron may have already given you his version of what happened two decades ago, but let me assure you, our werewolf pack and Byron himself weren't responsible for what happened to your old pack."
She paused, observing Kent's lack of reaction. Clearly, he had already heard this part before.
"Byron showed up in your territory the next day solely because he had heard of the incident. He came to investigate and offer support," Celeste explained, her voice tinged with sincerity.
"But that wasn't the first time I caught a whiff of his scent, you see. No, no. On that fateful day when the attack happened, I smelled him. So, what's there to debate?" Kent raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on Celeste. It was evident that her words hadn't swayed him much.
"But there's more to it," Celeste revealed with a theatrical flourish. "I've already mentioned that Jeremy isn't my true twin brother. I said he was adopted. But then we stumbled upon the shocking truth that Jeremy was switched. Byron swapped my real twin brother for Jeremy. The switch happened precisely on the day your pack came under attack. Jeremy who was once a member of your old pack."
Kent's brow furrowed, his eyes fixed intently on Celeste, curiosity mingling with disbelief. "What on earth do you mean?"