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The Summoned

With her heart racing, Celeste followed Magnus's messenger's shadowy track through the thick woodland. She was getting closer to the settlement with each stride, and each shadow seemed to be a warning of the strength she was going to encounter. Since her exile, no significant person has called on her. She felt vulnerable and cautious at the idea of facing Magnus once more following their electrifying exchange.

As she traveled, the trail narrowed and the trees got thicker, darkening the woodland. She became acutely aware of everything around her, including the snap of a twig, the rustle of leaves, and the whisper of movement. The forest itself seemed to hold its breath, observing and evaluating her. Her hand gripped the little pouch that was draped over her shoulder, containing only a dagger and her herbs. She was aware that she would have to exercise caution when in Magnus's territory.

Her heart raced as the village loomed in the distance. At the outskirts of the settlement, the imposing shadow of the Steele Pack's manor emerged, looming like a shadowy sentinel. A moment of panic flickered through her, causing her willpower to weaken. However, she took a big breath and squared her shoulders. She had made it this far. Now there was no going back.

Celeste was met by two guards with curious yet uninterested looks as she arrived at the Steele Pack's domain's gates. Without saying a word, they gestured for her to follow, guiding her past chambers that echoed with a sense of power and antiquity and into twisting hallways. Portraits of prior Alphas adorned the walls; each face was stern and proud, representing a centuries-old heritage.

She refused to convey her awe by maintaining a steady glance. Although she felt the weight of centuries judging her presence and pushing down on her, she didn't want to come out as afraid. The air grew colder and her surroundings more formidable as they made their way more into the manor. Her heartbeat pounded louder with each step she took toward Magnus, reverberating in the surrounding quiet.

One of the guards knocked when they arrived at a huge door. The reply from the other side was muffled. The guard motioned for her to come in and pushed the door open. After taking a deep breath to regain her composure, Celeste entered the room with her head held high and her face reserved. With a silent finality, the door closed behind her, and she found herself alone in an authoritative chamber.

Magnus stood rigidly and thoughtfully in the middle of the room, his back to her, staring out a towering window. The tension-filled stillness between them lingered as she waited without saying anything.

Magnus turned slowly, his eyes calculating and cold as he absorbed her presence in his territory. Something about him had changed; he now had a steely resolution in his eyes that had not been present during the gathering. Celeste kept his eyes fixed on him, unwilling to let him see the slightest hint of fear.

At last, he said, "You came," in a deep, thoughtful voice with weight in every syllable.

"You called me," she answered in a steady voice, but beneath her composed exterior, her heart was pounding. She refused to let him see how his presence affected her and how his eyes seemed to penetrate right to the core of her being. "I didn't have many options."

A slight smile tugged at his mouth's corner. Celeste, there's always an option. I didn't think you would show up.

A spark of defiance ignited inside her. "You don't know me at all if you assumed I would turn away."

His eyes narrowed slightly as he stepped closer. In a whisper that nevertheless sounded louder than a roar, he muttered, "No." "I guess I don't. However, I plan to alter that.

She tried to maintain a neutral expression on her face, but his comments gave her a thrill. This encounter wasn't straightforward. She was both excited and frightened by the idea that it was the start of something much bigger.

Magnus gestured for her to sit, and he sat down at the little table by the window, across from her. Her heart felt anything but steady, but she sat down gently, moving deliberately and calmly. There was a charged quiet between them, as if the tension could not be expressed by words alone.

For a minute, he silently examined her, his eyes calculating and focused. With a gentle yet firm tone, he inquired, "Why were you there?"

Celeste's thoughts whirled. She was unable to express the weird attraction she had experienced or the unexplainable need that drew her to the event. She carefully replied, "I...wanted to see what it was like," not wanting to express how deeply she felt. "The packs don't always congregate beneath the blood moon."

His eyes narrowed and he leaned forward a little. "You think I'll believe that?"

With a harder tone than she had intended, she said, "Believe what you will." "You don't need an explanation from me."

His eyes were serious, yet a smirk flickered at the corner of his mouth. "I find you fascinating, Celeste. You talk to me in a way that few others would.

His remarks gave her a start, but she swiftly covered it up with a neutral expression. "Perhaps you need more people who don't mind telling the truth."

His low, surprising laugh sparked something within of her that she couldn't ignore as his eyes lingered on her.

The door suddenly swung open just as their tension was about to explode. Vivienne stood in the doorway, staring at Celeste sitting across from Magnus with a frozen gaze. In between, her eyes narrowed with distrust and something darker, a possessiveness that made her features angular and antagonistic.

"Am I annoying you?" Although Vivienne's voice sounded silky, there was a noticeable edge to it.

Magnus turned his gaze to Vivienne, his face tightening. He said, "Not at all," but his eyes stayed on Celeste for a moment longer than was required. "We just got to know one another."

The room was rocked by the words, and Vivienne's eyes glowed with barely contained rage. As she gazed at Celeste, her lips curled into a thin, cold smile, and she made no effort to conceal her contempt.

With a harsh tone, Vivienne turned and stormed out, her posture tight, saying, "Then don't let me stop you." There was a cold silence as the door thudded shut behind her.

Celeste was briefly pleased by Vivienne's response, but she was aware that things had become more difficult. The heat in Magnus's gaze was evident as she turned to face him again, and for the first time she experienced the full intensity of their connection—a connection that defied logic and seemed inescapable.

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