Chapter 64: _Fear
Azrael’s POV
*****
12:00pm, Crimson Expanse Audience section
He had sat through the Hunters trial and took particular interest in watching the witches trial. But when it came to the wolves—his eyes narrowed with curiosity.
Luther Hale wasn’t exactly someone he’d trust to tie his own shoe without seeking validation from mother Lysandra... But on the holographic screen today, Azrael saw impressive displays of leadership.
And the coordination of an entire team. A council.
A pack.
When they crossed the ravine, the Crimson Expanse erupted with thunderous cheers and clapping. Many students got on their feet, shouting good things about the European Alpha.
That was until they got faced with the Shadow wolves and the atmosphere suddenly shifted into something grim.
"They’d all have a fighting chance if they could only work together," Silas spoke up just then, pulling Azrael out of his mind and reminding him that he had company. He inclined his neck toward the Beta as he continued. "Take Rebecca for example. Daughter of an Alpha King and—from what I’ve heard—a Silver born."
Azrael’s brows arched.
Silverborns—descendants of the only wolf to have ever been born directly by the moon goddess herself. Said to have the strongest connection to the goddess. Basically demi-gods.
For millennia they were thought to be nothing but a myth. Until the end of the century-long war—
"And then there’s Luther and his powerful white wolf." Silas went on even though Azrael was slowly withdrawing. "Damien’s physical prowess in his human form is pretty impressive. But as we saw when they tried crossing the ravine, he barely thinks before acting..."
The rest of his words got filtered by a sudden wave of boredom. He’d never understand why the once quiet young wolf became chatty around him since these trials began.
Slowly, his head turned to his right. Far away from him but close enough to see her face from this angle.
Celeste.
As he let himself stare at her features and the gentle way Bloodoak’s uniform clung to her... Something beat in his ears. Silent and soft at first.
Until it wasn’t.
Thum. Thum. Thum.
Heart beats—
—From her.
He frowned, head tilting slightly. ’This is...’
Each second that passed made him more certain that he wasn’t hearing things. Neither was it his own undead heart that beat with such excitement.
It was all hers.
The tempo of her blood made his skin bristle even from this distance. His fingers curled, jaw tightening with restraint.
Unusual indeed.
Never had he felt her emotions and heard her heartbeat as intensely as this. Not only that, but he could also pinpoint who all that was directed at.
Luther.
’Is she growing a soft spot for him?’ he asked himself. ’After everything that happened today?’
His eyes wandered to Lysandra sitting behind her. The brat was on her phone, angrily typing something while occasionally raising her head to glare at the holographic screen.
Whatever control she had over Luther was slipping fast. He felt it. And Celeste did too.
With a huff, he brought his gaze back to his mate.
However, time froze the instant he did.
Because now she had those violet orbs on him. Their gazes locked. Every cheer, clap, laugh and shout dissipated until there was nothing left.
Not even the Crimson Expanse itself seemed to exist now.
Just the two of them.
This time, her heart beat became even faster. He saw her throat move when she swallowed. Saw the way her shoulders tightened. Saw her nostrils scrunch in that adorable way it always did when she was hesitating.
Throughout the span of the trials, he’d felt like walking up to her. Now that feeling heightened into something he could barely control—
"They defeated the shadow wolves!" A girl’s shrill yell made him snap his neck to the holographic screen.
On the frame, Luther was shown ripping off the head of a shadow wolf, spilling black blood on the ground. His eyes shone with a predatory light, claws and fangs out like he was ready to shift any second.
Around him, the others also showed impressive signs of victory—Rebecca breathing heavily with her foot on a beast’s skull, Damien ripping out the heart of another and the other student clawing at one in his wolf form.
They won. This round, at least.
"Now that was an electric display of Lupine strength!" Professor Amelia exclaimed into her microphone, sounding more excited than everyone else. "This year’s wolf trial is shaping up to have some of the best participants in over a decade."
Quaint.
But while the students continued watching and throwing theories for what could come next—Azrael pondered something.
Those Shadow wolves weren’t mere constructs of darkness magic.
No.
They bled. They showed no fear... Because they were manifestations of fear itself. The collective fears of every participant in the trial were made into beastly entities.
He should know better. He’s learnt how to manipulate that emotion like a tool for centuries.
"Why are the academies utilising such advanced magic?" He murmured to himself. "Or have the Blood Trials always been this way?"
Silas bent his head over, blinking at him. "You say something?"
Azrael shook his head, pivoting to the opposite direction. "Not quite," his eyes settled on Celeste yet again. She seemed excited like everyone else but her expression was... Distant.
Probably disappointed after their little moment got rudely interrupted.
Well, he was about to change that.
Getting on his feet, he threw the Beta one last glance. "Do inform me if anything of interest comes up." He adjusted his uniform, spinning to his mate’s direction.
Surprise flashed past her eyes as he walked, confident and uncaring of the few stray looks he got on his way.
When he got in front of her, he simply stretched a hand. Zero words or signals. Just that one movement he was sure she couldn’t resist.
Whispers rippled around them. Caelum and Willow gave him suspicious looks, all while Celeste shrank back with hesitation.
Then—
She took his hand without a word, standing up.
A smile curved the corner of his lips as he led her out of there, ignoring the sharp, restless tug from the bond. And the way her heartbeat calmed with his.
