LOGINShare
CHAPTER THREE
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56“Don’t tell me you’re done yet, Nic!” Marcel called out.
There was a growl from within the dark cabin Nicholas had been thrown into, then the Alpha werewolf burst out, leaping a long distance and pouncing on Marcel.
They tumbled and rolled, but it was Marcel who came on top, pinning Nicholas. With a clawed hand, the enemy Alpha created a deep gash on Nicholas’ chest.
Nicholas roared in pain and flailed his limbs till Marcel was pushed off. The enemy Alpha had also been injured, a glaring claw mark showing beneath his ripped clothes.
The difference between both Alphas was, Marcel was already healing. The stronger a werewolf, the quicker their ability to heal.
It was getting clearer who would come out the winner of the duel.
Jon, who had shifted into his wolf form, started towards the fighting Alphas. Darius and the others moved as well, with the aim of stopping the Beta.
Nicholas snarled at his brother. It was a clear instruction. Don’t intervene.
Jon obeyed, ducking his head. That was the way it was when Alphas fought against each other. It was a battle for dominance, with their pride, positions, and most times their lives on the line.
No one was allowed to intervene.
“Enough of this, Nicholas,” Marcel said, as though he was tired. “I don’t want to have to kill anyone to prove a point. Yield, now.”
Nicholas had no intention of doing that. Injured and bleeding, he lunged for Marcel. The eyes of his enemy glowed a red much brighter than Celia had seen any Alpha’s glow.
Marcel maneuvered himself so that he locked Nicholas’ head beneath his arms with incredible strength. He flung Nicholas across what was now a battlefield, and before Celia’s Alpha would even gather himself, Marcel was upon him again.
Marcel grabbed Nicholas’ hind limb and threw him against a tree. Something snapped. Celia was certain Nicholas had broken something on that impact, because after that, he wouldn’t get up.
Marcel reached him and pulled him by his tail back to the center of the settlement. The enemy Alpha gritted his teeth and latched onto Nicholas’ tail with both hands. He swung one way, lifting and slamming Nicholas on the ground. He repeated the action two more times.
It was awful to watch, but no one could do a thing.
Celia felt her chest tighten, like something was wrapping itself around her heart. What was it? Fear? Grief? What the hell was going on with her in a moment like this?
She had the urge to yell for Marcel to stop. Not just that. She felt the urge to go to him. She felt the urge to hug the man who was beating her Alpha to a pulp.
Nicholas, strength sapped from him, shifted back to his human form. Even then, naked and bleeding everywhere, he tried to make it to his feet.
He still wanted to fight. He managed to get to his knees, and he glared at Marcel.
Marcel crouched in front of Nicholas. “What is more important to you?” he asked. “Your pride as an Alpha, or your life?”
Nicholas’ breathing was unsteady. Healing would take too long, considering the damage he had been dealt. His voice was hoarse as he spoke, “This fight is to the death.”
“That’s not how I do things. I like to keep the Alpha’s alive so they keep my pack alive while I’m gone.”
Nicholas looked around, eyes falling on the Alphas Marcel had tamed. He scoffed. “I’d rather die.”
Marcel sighed. “I suppose in your case it is different. You have no Luna or pups to live for, like Darius and the others here.” He rose to his feet and pulled back. “Still, you have a chance to live. Be wise. Take it.”
Nicholas snarled and lunged at him.
“As you wish,” Marcel muttered, just before his hand sank through Nicholas’ chest, and pulled out the Alpha’s heart.
Jon howled, his pain resonating within each pack member.
Something essential had died within them. It was the link they had to the authority they had obeyed for years. That link had been permanently severed.
Eyes turned from Nicholas’ carcass. It was done. He was defeated.
Jon did not acknowledge this. He charged recklessly for Marcel.
“If you wish to join your Alpha, I will make you another example,” Marcel said, his eyes glowing.
Just before Jon would reach him, Indra intercepted and pushed him off his path, ending up with Marcel’s hand in her chest.
With one pull, he could rip out her heart.
“What’s the meaning of this?” he asked, staring disappointedly at the Beta female.
Blood leaking from her mouth, Indra managed to say, “Don’t kill him.”
Jon quickly shifted to his human form. He kept a small distance from Marcel, fear in his eyes for his mate. “Let her go.”
“Hm…” Marcel looked from Jon to Indra. “I see. She’s your mate.”
Indra coughed blood.
“Let her go, please,” Jon begged, and Celia couldn’t believe it was the insufferable Beta she knew that had become so humble.
What kind of relationship did mates have that made them appear so vulnerable?
Even as she thought that, Celia felt pain in her chest. There was a burning sensation, and just as earlier, it felt like something was wrapping itself around her heart.
Something was happening to her.
“What is it?” Sheeva asked, turning her worried look from Indra to her daughter.
“I don’t know. My chest…” Celia looked at Marcel who was looking down at his chest and clawing lightly.
She took a step forward, drawn to him like the river to the sea. Whatever was happening to her, she was somehow certain it was happening to him too, even though he did a better job at ignoring it.
“If it will teach you a lesson, I should kill her,” Marcel said.
“No, stop, don’t,” Jon urged. “I yield.” He dropped to his knees. “Don’t kill her.”
Celia walked forward, through the crowd that was her pack.
Her mother tugged her back. “Where are you going?”
Celia freed herself from Sheeva’s grip and kept advancing. Meanwhile, Marcel eyed Jon skeptically.
“I don’t believe you,” he said.
His next intention was clear. He was going to rip out Indra’s heart.
“No!” Jon yelled.
“STOP!” Celia screamed, and it pulled Marcel’s attention.
It pulled everyone’s attention. She was standing in the open, staring at him, and he was staring back, wearing a perplexed expression.
Celia touched a hand to her chest. She finally understood the binding feeling. Her mother had described it to her countless times, but there was nothing like experiencing it.
Marcel pulled his hand from Indra’s chest, without her heart. His features shifted from perplexion to understanding. “You have got to be kidding me.”
That was Celia’s line.
Of all the werewolves in the world, she had become mates with him.
Related chapters
Her Mate Is The Villain CHAPTER FOUR
Everyone dispersed as Marcel approached Celia, his lithe body seeming to flow like water as he moved. He was unlike any Alpha— unlike any being Celia had seen. The other Alphas stood by in silence, clearly obedient to him. He had also defeated Nicholas without shifting. How could anyone challenge him? Even Jon had turned his attention to taking care of his gravely wounded mate. This was the man? This was the werewolf someone like her was fated to spend her life with, bound by an invisible bond and all that other crap her mother never stopped talking about? When Marcel was only a few steps away, a powerful figure centered in a humbled pack, Sheeva boldly stepped into his path, standing between him and Celia. He eyed her with a leveled gaze. “Why do you stop me?” Sheeva raised her head proudly. “She is my daughter.” “She is my mate.” Sheeva went still. There was a shift in attention. It was clear everyone had been fixated on Marcel, but at his declaration, all focus was on Celia
Her Mate Is The Villain CHAPTER FIVE
Yeah, right. Celia, Luna? That was about as ridiculous as someone telling her she could touch the moon. She was born weak, ‘fated’ to be alone or be mated to another weak wolf whose strength still far surpassed hers. The last part hadn’t quite turned out that way, but the first part was etched in her being. She was weak—an Omega—and she had never heard of someone like her becoming a Luna. Her mother was wrong, and that was rare. Celia slept on the information, and when she woke a few hours later, she decided to go about her day as usual. Except things weren’t going to be as they were. The pack had a new Alpha. Celia could tell Marcel wasn’t in the area—she wasn’t sure how she knew as it was a faint feeling—but her nose often caught the scent of Marcel’s subdued Alphas, lurking about. It must be the same for the pack. Alphas had strong scents. At the crack of dawn, she set out of her cabin. She would go about her duties like nothing had changed, and everyone else would be wise en
Her Mate Is The Villain CHAPTER SIX
Marcel’s fur was a black that seemed to shimmer under the sunlight filtered by the forest canopy. He was massive, even for an Alpha. Nicholas might have had it worse if he had shifted during their fight.Celia wanted to pull back, but found she couldn’t. She was catatonic, held in place by the eyes of her mate who had rejected her mere hours ago. Fate really was unfair, to force her into this. She was certain it knew nothing about matches.Marcel moved, slowly circling her. It was the second time he would do this—circle her. It was uncomfortable, but Celia stayed put. He went out of sight behind her, and when he was back in front of her, he had shifted to his human form.His eyes retained its dull red. His dark hair was scattered, a few front locks long enough that it sat right above his left eye.Oh, the most important detail was that he was naked. That should have been normal. Weres weren’t as conscious about nudity as humans, however, Celia’s reaction was nothing short of humane.I
Her Mate Is The Villain CHAPTER SEVEN
Eyes glowing the red of an Alpha’s, the last member of Marcel’s unfaithful entourage lunged down at Celia and Marcel from the fig tree they were under.Well, Celia obviously wasn’t the target. What importance would she be to anyone? The target was Marcel, so being close to him only meant she was in harm's way.Marcel suddenly shoved her aside just before his attacker literally descended on him. The attacking Alpha managed to get only two swipes of his claws at Marcel’s face before he was thrown off with greater strength.Faster than Bronn and Kai could get in the fight, Marcel was on his feet, causing them to hesitate and keep their distance.Blood running down his face from claw marks that were already healing, Marcel sneered at the Alpha who had descended from the tree. “It was a decent effort, Rollin, but it’ll take more than that.”Rollin had thin, short reddish hair and a lean, tall frame. He kept the greatest distance from Marcel and looked like he rued not finishing his opponen
Her Mate Is The Villain CHAPTER EIGHT
What an odd occurrence this was. The Beta pair of the pack, as well as a council member and the Alpha of the Flora settlement pack were at the door of Celia and her mother’s cabin.For as long as Celia had lived in the simple wooden construction that was her and Sheeva’s home, she had never known the council to visit. Perhaps the council—even Nicholas—had been more prompted to visit when her father was alive.Farkas Blackwood had been a respected male in the pack before his death, though he hadn’t been a council member. Because he was held highly, so was his mate, Sheeva, but even she didn’t get such visits. At least not before now.Celia swallowed. “My mother is hunting today. She’s left with others.”“We’re not here to see Sheeva,” a one–handed Atlas said. Of average height, Atlas had dark hair and slitted dark eyes, a cloth tied around the stump that was his hand. Celia was sure it wouldn’t be long before he could take off the cloth. However, he was now without a hand.“We would l
Her Mate Is The Villain CHAPTER NINE
Celia had been battling the idea that she could be Luna of the Knox settlement, but after Atlas’ words, the battle was lost. She had to accept that whether or not Marcel rejected her as his mate—the feeling was mutual—she was Luna of the pack.The next morning, she found herself sitting at a round table in the Alpha’s cabin—a cabin that had once belonged to Nicholas. If she had been told two days ago that she would occupy one of the seats that made decisions for the pack, she would have laughed hard.Yet this was her reality.The table was silent, its seats occupied by Atlas, Jon and Indra. Oh, and Celia. A minute later, Marcel walked out from a room, stretching and yawning as he did. His hair was a mess, his eyes weary, and still that face might charm anyone.“Are meetings always going to be this early?” he asked tiredly as he slipped into a seat.“You can leave if you don’t like it,” Jon, who was sitting across from Marcel dared to say, causing the spectators of that exchange to sti
Her Mate Is The Villain CHAPTER TEN
“I swear by the moon, mother, that he is the most infuriating male I’ve ever known!” Celia whined as she paced the length of her cabin. Her mother was doing that thing again where she stared at the moon like it was the only thing in existence. She was listening though, because she asked, “I take it the meeting this morning went well?” Celia looked dryly at her mother, and even though Sheeva’s eyes were on the moon, she smirked. Her mother had been out of the settlement for most of the day with a few others, so they only had time to give account of their day now. “He’s a nightmare,” Celia said. “He’s an enigma,” her mother added…or countered. Celia frowned. “You hate him, right? You don’t sound like you hate him. Everyone else does.” “I definitely hate him. He thinks he can break your bond, which is stupid and hurtful, but it is as sure as the moon’s light that he will not break it.” “That’s unfortunate. I’ve found myself rooting for him recently,” Celia said, and her mother turn
Her Mate Is The Villain CHAPTER ELEVEN
Marcel began walking away. “Why would I divulge my reasons to you?”Celia followed him, wondering that as well. “Because maybe a good reason would make you seem less like a power–hungry maniac.”Marcel smirked. “Maybe I am a power–hungry maniac.”This bastard is playing with me. “If that were true, I imagine you’d have been making us build a castle like the humans do.”“You know, little Omega, that’s a good idea.”“It’s Celia, and I’m being serious here. Or at least I’m trying to be.”Marcel stopped and fixed her in place with his eyes. “My reasons are mine, and you must fancy yourself special if you think I’d confide in you. Is it supposed to be some privilege of being my mate?”“I’m not your mate. I’m just a member of the council.”His brows shot up in surprise. “Won’t force the issue then? None of that ‘fate binds us’ crap that the old ones won’t shut up about?”“None of it. In fact, you couldn’t want this ‘mate’ thing over as much as I do, so I hope you weren’t joking about breaki
Latest chapter
Her Mate Is The Villain CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Celia’s match with Hassan was the first of four fights that would be happening that night. The moment she and Hassan were locked in the steel cage and were atop the raised platform within it, there were murmurs of confusion, and then outright laughter from most people in the crowd of spectators.Her wolf-like hearing could pick up most of the conversations had about her. Summarizing and leaving out profanities, they were saying how it was ludicrous that a female should be in the tournament, much less one so young and petite in body frame.They weren’t so delicate with their words. Some were making it clear where they thought Celia should be—in their beds. Again, they weren’t so delicate with their words.Celia blocked them out, focusing instead on Marcel. She hated to admit that his confidence in her was the reason why she was just a tiny bit okay with being locked in a cage and fighting the man some distance across from her.Marcel was in the arena, moving about. She couldn’t see him
Her Mate Is The Villain CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Night seemed to approach too quickly. When it came, Celia would be fighting Hassan, the human monster. She wasn’t exactly excited about it.Celia and the others were in the room Marcel had paid for at the Inn. Lobo was pacing back and forth the room’s length, Zeeb was drawing something on the floorboard with a claw, Celia was sitting beside Duncan by the door, Indra was silently doing nothing by herself in a corner, Marcel was calmly reading a book on the bed, and Layla had slowly worked her way into sitting beside him, looking at the book but definitely not understanding any of the words written.Everyone was a little on edge. Wolves were not the kind of creatures that liked being cramped together in one room for hours.“You’re nervous,” Duncan said, though it sounded like he was asking.“No. I mean yes, just a bit.”“You’ll be fine. Just one punch and that human will be knocked out.”“No he won’t,” Marcel said without looking up from his book. “You’re greatly overestimating the pow
Her Mate Is The Villain CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The Inn of Marcel’s choosing had two floors, and the one room he had paid for was on the upper floor. It had a soft bed of foam that could fit two people, a lamp that sat on a bedside stool, a window that looked down at a dirty alley, and not much else.The Alpha promptly took off his shoes and laid on the bed, his hands between his head and pillow. “You can all make yourself comfortable on the floor. You’re used to it anyway.”True. The pallets they slept on were barely different from sleeping on the floor, and even then most Weres would prefer sleeping on dirt or the cold wooden floor of their cabins.“No one goes out for any reason,” Marcel declared, eyes shut, the other males quickly claiming territories in the small room.Celia noticed Duncan’s amber eyes suggest the small space he left open by the door, far from the bed and Marcel. She smiled thankfully, but took position in the center of the room. If Layla felt like joining Marcel on the bed, she didn’t act on that feeling.Mar
Her Mate Is The Villain CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“I will lose,” Celia said, deadpan.“No you won’t, little Omega. Despite how weak you are, you are still more powerful than any human in the room.”Her jaw stiffened at being called weak. “You just all but stated a moment ago that any of us would have trouble against the other skilled participants. Considering I’m so weak, why not up your chances and compete yourself?”“She’s right,” Duncan said. “This is a male’s job. I could fight instead, since you’re not up for it.” His words might have come out a little irreverent.Marcel watched the male in silence for a few uncomfortable moments, then finally said, “Did you notice your previous Alpha is dead and the previously highest ranking werewolf in your pack is missing an arm?” No response. “Keep pissing me off and I can guarantee you’ll meet one of those fates, if not one more horrific. I could take off both your arms. You’d be two–legged even in your four–legged form. Let's see you go on runs.”Celia shuddered at the thought. To Duncan’
Her Mate Is The Villain CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Explaining that they would understand what he meant when they saw it, Marcel led the group out of the forest edge, and into a human settlement.It was Celia’s first time being in a place inhabited by the other species, but not her first time encountering humans. She had once encountered them with her father at a very young age. It had not been pleasant.The settlement was big. Too big. She reckoned she could only see everything if she had a bird’s eye view. Flaming lanterns hung from lines that were tied from one wooden pole to another, illuminating the part of the settlement they were at. Humans milled about, some dressed in clothes much finer than Marcel’s, and others dressed in clothes as shabby as the rest of Celia’s group.They conversed and spared them nothing but a glance as they moved about. Cabins flanked the roads, and other structures that seemed less for living and more for business.Like the one Celia immediately swiveled her head to find. The aroma of intertwined and hea
Her Mate Is The Villain CHAPTER TWELVE
Werewolves liked to live deep in forested areas because humans never went that far for fear of animals that were too dangerous, or more importantly, for fear of encountering a werewolf.For this reason, the nearest human settlement was nearly a day’s run in wolf form, and longer if they went on two legs. Marcel was a bit frustrated when the group had to stop later after noon to rest by a slow–moving stream.The group, which numbered seven, included himself, Celia, Indra, Duncan, Lobo, Zeeb, and Layla, making four males and three females.Marcel had clearly been holding back for their sake. Celia thought he could cover the journey in some hours if he wanted to. She, on the other hand, had been struggling to keep up with everyone.She was slumped against a tree in human form, dreading the entire day and how much she had to exert herself. The others were certainly worn out from the running so far, but they could keep going once Marcel gave the order to continue.Celia thought she might d
Her Mate Is The Villain CHAPTER ELEVEN
Marcel began walking away. “Why would I divulge my reasons to you?”Celia followed him, wondering that as well. “Because maybe a good reason would make you seem less like a power–hungry maniac.”Marcel smirked. “Maybe I am a power–hungry maniac.”This bastard is playing with me. “If that were true, I imagine you’d have been making us build a castle like the humans do.”“You know, little Omega, that’s a good idea.”“It’s Celia, and I’m being serious here. Or at least I’m trying to be.”Marcel stopped and fixed her in place with his eyes. “My reasons are mine, and you must fancy yourself special if you think I’d confide in you. Is it supposed to be some privilege of being my mate?”“I’m not your mate. I’m just a member of the council.”His brows shot up in surprise. “Won’t force the issue then? None of that ‘fate binds us’ crap that the old ones won’t shut up about?”“None of it. In fact, you couldn’t want this ‘mate’ thing over as much as I do, so I hope you weren’t joking about breaki
Her Mate Is The Villain CHAPTER TEN
“I swear by the moon, mother, that he is the most infuriating male I’ve ever known!” Celia whined as she paced the length of her cabin. Her mother was doing that thing again where she stared at the moon like it was the only thing in existence. She was listening though, because she asked, “I take it the meeting this morning went well?” Celia looked dryly at her mother, and even though Sheeva’s eyes were on the moon, she smirked. Her mother had been out of the settlement for most of the day with a few others, so they only had time to give account of their day now. “He’s a nightmare,” Celia said. “He’s an enigma,” her mother added…or countered. Celia frowned. “You hate him, right? You don’t sound like you hate him. Everyone else does.” “I definitely hate him. He thinks he can break your bond, which is stupid and hurtful, but it is as sure as the moon’s light that he will not break it.” “That’s unfortunate. I’ve found myself rooting for him recently,” Celia said, and her mother turn
Her Mate Is The Villain CHAPTER NINE
Celia had been battling the idea that she could be Luna of the Knox settlement, but after Atlas’ words, the battle was lost. She had to accept that whether or not Marcel rejected her as his mate—the feeling was mutual—she was Luna of the pack.The next morning, she found herself sitting at a round table in the Alpha’s cabin—a cabin that had once belonged to Nicholas. If she had been told two days ago that she would occupy one of the seats that made decisions for the pack, she would have laughed hard.Yet this was her reality.The table was silent, its seats occupied by Atlas, Jon and Indra. Oh, and Celia. A minute later, Marcel walked out from a room, stretching and yawning as he did. His hair was a mess, his eyes weary, and still that face might charm anyone.“Are meetings always going to be this early?” he asked tiredly as he slipped into a seat.“You can leave if you don’t like it,” Jon, who was sitting across from Marcel dared to say, causing the spectators of that exchange to sti
