Chapter 6

Celest’s POV

I needed to get away from him. From this place.

Gathering my courage, I took a deep breath and faced him. "I want to work again."

Magnus, who had been leaning against the armrest of the couch with a glass of whiskey in his hand, arched an eyebrow. A slow, mocking smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Work?"

"Yes," I said, trying to relax the fear creeping up my spine. "I have to pay you back."

He chuckled, obviously mocking my words. "Pay me back? With what? A golf caddie’s salary?"

"I don’t care how long it takes," I insisted. "I will repay every cent of my brother’s medical bills."

Magnus set his glass down on the table with a soft clink. He rose up, showing off his towering height, then walked towards me.

"And what makes you think I’d let you leave?" he asked, more like warned.

I swallowed hard. "Because it’s my debt, not yours."

His smirk widened. "You still don’t understand, do you?" He took a step forward, closing the space between us. "You think you can negotiate with me? What courage."

My fists clenched at my sides, nails digging into my palms. "I have no choice. My brother’s life depends on it. I need five million dollars to save him."

Magnus paused. His expression was blank now. "Five million." He repeated the number, as if tasting it on his tongue.

I nodded. "If I work hard enough—"

He cut in again with a dry laugh. "Work?" He tilted his head. "You think you can earn that much money in this lifetime?"

I was embarrassed, but I shouldn't be right now. I needed a solution. "Then tell me what I have to do."

His eyes popped. The temperature in the room seemed to drop.

"There is one thing," he murmured. I noticed his voice change into something milder.

I hoped whatever it was made sense. "What?"

Magnus leaned in, his lips a breath away from my ear. "If you sacrifice yourself to me, I’ll spare you the five million dollars."

I froze.

His words were like electricity through me.

I jerked away from him in response, shaking my head violently. "No. I would rather make a deal with the devil than a lust-driven werewolf like you."

Magnus’s smirk vanished. His eyes were beginning to darken.

"Then prepare to suffer," he said simply.

My breath hitched. "You’re a monster," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"Correction," he murmured, his fingers brushing against my cheek before gripping my chin. "A lust-driven werewolf, wasn’t that what you called me?"

I trembled at the sight of his eyes.

"You—" I tried to speak, but the words caught in my throat.

Without warning, Magnus’s grip tightened, and he pulled me against him. His strength was triple times my own, making it impossible for me to move.

"You’re trembling," he noted, his voice almost amused. "Afraid?"

I glared at him, refusing to let him see me panicking. "Disgusted," I spat.

"Liar." he barked.

His arms caged me in. "Tell me, Celest," he murmured, his lips brushing against my temple. "If you truly find me repulsive, why do I hear your heart racing?"

I clenched my jaw. "Because I hate you."

He chuckled. "Hate?" His fingers traced the side of my neck, lingering where my pulse throbbed violently. "Perhaps."

His grip grew tighter. "But what I hate—" His voice dropped to reveal cold fury. "—is being lied to."

I stiffened.

Before I could react, Magnus’s hand slid lower, resting against my abdomen. My breath hitched and I prayed silently.

My cycle. I had lied to him earlier that I was on my menstrual flow.

But now, he knew.

"You thought I wouldn’t notice?" he whispered against my ear. "That you could lie to me?"

Panic shot through me like ice.

"Magnus—"

But I didn’t get the chance to finish.

Because in the next instant, he snapped.

His hands grabbed my dress and tore it in one drag. My breasts dangled out like bells from a Christmas tree. It excited him and he made for it instantly.

His tongue caressed my nipple as he took the right breast into his mouth. It tickled at first, but started to do more than that as he continued.

It was hard to explain the feeling, so I just grabbed the nearest support I could — his head.

He took it as a go-ahead and brought out his best game. I wriggled and turned, pleading in my head for him to go on.

It was as though he heard me, grabbing and squeezing my left breast with his spare hand. His tongue traveled down my stomach, suckled on my navel before he arrived at my inner thighs.

He didn't have the time to take the red lace panties I had on, so he ripped it off. I was too shy, probably a little scared to look at him, but when I did, I swore I saw a wild smirk.

Gently, he rolled his index finger down my legs and up again till he got to my clit. Slowly, he put the finger inside of me and teased my walls.

I let out a low moan, trying to compose myself. But he increased the pace of his finger, put in another and I lost control.

My gasps doubled, as I clung to the sheets for solace. He was hitting all the spots right and my juice poured in response.

He stopped at some point, satisfied with the good work he's done. Then, stepped back and dropped his trousers.

A naked god right in front of me.

His cock stood erect, ready to devour this eager prey.

He tapped at the entrance of my pussy and pushed in before I granted permission.

“Hold unto me,” I heard him say.

It sounded like a command and I obeyed without questions.

The first thrust was slow and deep, but that was the last I could time.

The next set was out of rhythm, rocking my walls from all sides. It was like he was punishing me for lying to me.

I cried out at intervals and when my shouts grew louder, he placed a hand over my mouth. Every inch of him was going in and out of me with a pace that gave me little time to breathe.

He placed my legs on his shoulders, giving him more space to fill inside of me. Throughout, his eyes were fixed on me, watching my squirms and reaction to the painful pleasure he was dishing.

My hands found their way to his chest and I was allowed to roam his rocky frame. He seemed to like it, but couldn't afford to let me have control.

With one hand, he pinned both of mine to the bed, and choked me with the other. His pace didn't drop, and my body was liking every bit of it.

I had only one choice. I wrapped my legs around his back. Then, keeping my gaze on his glowing colored eyes, I basked in the euphoria.

***

The days blurred and passed like regular evenings.

Every attempt I made to escape was met with swift consequences. The first time, I had tried to sneak past the guards at night, slipping into the hallway while Magnus was out. I barely made it to the main door before an iron grip closed around my wrist.

"You never learn," he had said before he dragged me back and locked me in the room.

That night, he didn’t touch me, didn’t say another word. He simply sat there, watching as I squirmed out of fear. To him, that dread was punishment enough.

The second time, I made the mistake of using one of the maids as a messenger. I gave her a note in the hopes that she would send word to Estel. The maid never returned, and hours later, Magnus appeared at my door, holding the crumpled note between his fingers.

"You really are persistent," he mused. Then, slowly, he tore the paper apart, letting the shreds fall to the ground. "But your tactics are sloppy."

That night, my punishment was harsher.

It wasn’t physical—not in the way I feared—but it was just as cruel. He forced me to sit beside him for hours. His fingers idly traced my wrist and although his touch didn't hurt, it kept me awake all night.

"You will learn obedience," he had whispered. "One way or another."

By the third time, I knew I had to change my approach.

I had to make him think I had given up.

So I started playing the part of the obedient captive.

I no longer resisted when he demanded I sit beside him during meals. I stopped flinching at his touch, stopped glaring at him every chance I got. I answered when spoken to, kept my voice soft and responded promptly.

At first, Magnus was suspicious. His eyes would watch me night and day, waiting for me to slip. But as the days passed, I saw the change. He grew less guarded.

Then, one evening, as we sat during dinner, he set his fork down.

"You've been unusually well-behaved," he observed.

I lowered my gaze, pretending to fidget with the hem of my sleeve. "I realized there’s no point in fighting you," I murmured.

He didn't respond immediately. Then, slowly, he leaned forward, elbows resting on the table as he studied me.

"Is that so?"

I nodded. "I just… I just want to see my brother again."

"Interesting," he murmured. He leaned back, crossing his arms. "Well, since you’ve been a good girl, I suppose I can reward you."

My fingers curled into my lap. "Reward?"

He smirked. "I’ll allow you to leave the house for work."

For a split second, my heart got elated—but then his next words struck.

"But make no mistake, Celest," he warned. "If you even think about running, I will find you. And when I do…"

He leaned closer, his fingers tilting my chin up so our eyes met.

"You won’t like the punishment."

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to nod. "I understand."

Magnus studied me for a moment longer before releasing my chin.

"Good," he said, standing. "You start tomorrow. Straight to work and back. No friends. No visitations. No escape. Else…”

He said nothing else and walked out the door.