2. New Ruler

Celestine’s POV

I can’t help but be amused at how Benedict reacts when he sees Alpha Cadmus. The latter is infamous for his tyranny, as he never hesitates to kill if he feels like it.

"Why are you here, Alpha Cadmus?" Benedict stutters as he takes a few steps back. Fear is evident in his eyes. He must be wondering why the Tyrant appeared at his party.

In fact, it was I who invited Alpha Cadmus. I did it before the divorce when I still had the right as the pack’s Luna.

"Why?" Alpha Cadmus smirks as he brushes his hair up with his fingers. "Of course, because she called for me." He grabs me by the shoulder and pulls me to his chest. His scarlet eyes meet my blue ones. "I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but did you just give me an order, hm?" Alpha Cadmus sniffs my hair with delight as if it has the most fascinating scent in the world. "Sweet," he whispers before nibbling on my earlobe.

"Celestine! I know you’re looking down at me as the Alpha of a weaker pack, but to think you’re actually having an affair with another man, divorcing you was the right choice. Shame on you!" Benedict points his finger at me as he grits his teeth in anger.

Oh, what the hell? After what he has done to me, he still has the guts to blame me for something I haven’t done.

"This imbecile," Alpha Cadmus mutters while grinning. He looks very sexy when he does that, but for one who knows the meaning behind his grin, it’s a sign to get away from him in an instant.

"I told you not to make a mess," I remind him in a quiet voice. "Just do what we agreed to, and we’re good to go. Don’t take any unnecessary action that will hinder us from leaving this place."

The Alpha groans before ruffling my hair. "Let’s do what you want this time," he agrees.

This time? I know it’s dangerous to make a deal with the devil, but I’m paying him the price he demanded. He should listen to me until everything is settled.

"Don’t get me wrong, sweet angel. I’m only doing this because we had a deal," Alpha Cadmus smirks. "You still have to pay me later, so don’t get too full of yourself," he adds, squishing my waist.

I smile back at him. "Don’t worry. It’s not like I have high expectations of you. You will get what you want once we’re done here." I push him away and walk to where Benedict and Beatrice are.

"That pendant." I stare at the pendant Beatrice is wearing. "Give it back to me. It doesn’t belong to you nor to the Alpha of the Wildfangs pack."

Beatrice isn’t pleased by what I said. She clutches at the pendant and clings to Benedict like a leech. Boy, how awkward she looks when acting weak despite looking like a hyena instead of a wolf!

"Didn’t you hear Luna’s order?" Alpha Cadmus walks from behind me to snatch the pendant from Beatrice’s neck, giving her a good fright.

"Ah!" Beatrice’s high-pitch voice echoes through the hall as she starts sobbing in Benedict’s arms.

"The Luna?" Benedict glares at me. "You vixen! How dare you seduce the Alpha of a higher pack while being married to me!?"

"I didn’t do such a thing, Benedict." I take the pendant from Alpha Cadmus and examine it. "To tell you the truth, it was the Alpha who wanted me, not the other way around."

Alpha Cadmus shakes his head with an evil grin. He always looks like a villain, but even so, it is undeniable how good-looking he is, no matter what expression he wears on his face.

"The Alpha of the Shadow Howlers Pack, Lorenzo Smith, has passed away. As the closest ally of the said pack, I am conveying the Alpha’s obituary here and now."

Just as expected, it surprises everyone to hear the news Alpha Cadmus has brought.

Lorenzo Smith, my late father, was known as the most cruel Alpha in history. He was so cruel as to abuse the people in his pack, including his children. To make sure his children wouldn’t turn on him in the future, he killed his sons one after another, leaving only his daughter, which is me. However, my existence is also a thorn in his side. He sent me to marry Benedict and handed all my rights to him.

I’m not sure if Benedict is just an idiot, or maybe he never expected my father to kick the bucket so early. If he hadn’t divorced me, my right to rule the Shadow Howlers Pack would have been his. I’m glad he doesn’t use his brain as much as others do.

"If that’s true, will the pack’s Beta be the new Alpha?" Benedict asks.

He still doesn’t get it. Although it is normal for a Beta to succeed in the Alpha’s position when the latter becomes vacant, in a higher pack, blood relations are a must. Whoever is blood-related to the previous Alpha is regarded as the heir to the position. Thanks to my father, who sent me to a faraway place thinking he’d get nothing out of killing me, I’m alive until today while he’s buried six feet below the ground. And many thanks to my ex-husband, Benedict Alberts, for divorcing me. It’s like giving me back my rights, including the right to rule my pack.

"No," Alpha Cadmus replies. "There’s someone else who’s most fitted for the position as the next ruler."

"Impossible!" Benedict’s eyes widen. "If so, who is the next ruler of the Shadow Howlers Pack?"

Alpha Cadmus grins. "According to your betrothal, everything that your wife owns and inherits will automatically belong to you, her husband. That doesn’t only mean her property, but also her title." He tilts his head as he continues to grin. "That means the next ruler would have been you."

"Is what you're saying true?"  Benedict falls to his knees in utter shock.

"Alpha!" Beatrice slumps down to his side in tears. She must be regretting it as well.

"How unfortunate," Alpha Cadmus comments before bursting into laughter. "Haha! Just another day and you would have become the Alpha of a great pack, but you decided to divorce her before I could convey the Alpha’s obituary. Now, the title can no longer be yours."

Benedict clenches his fist while looking up at me. "The next Alpha of Shadow Howlers... Are you saying it’s going to be Celestine?"

Alpha Cadmus laughs harder. "Yes! You finally understand. Ah, I’m worried it will take me forever to explain the details to you." He faces the people present at the party with a mocking smile. "From here on, Celestine Smith is the new Alpha of the Shadow Howlers Pack," Alpha Cadmus announces. He turns to glare at Benedict and Beatrice. "If you understand what I just said, you better bow your head to her now. Otherwise, I will do the honor to teach you how to bow."

"Impossible." Benedict shakes his head in disbelief. "This is impossible!"

"Haha! It’s already happening, Benedict." I look at him coldly the same way he did to me, despite seeing his people harassing me.

"You can’t be the Alpha of the Shadow Howlers Pack! Just a few minutes ago, you were the Luna of the Wild Fangs Pack!" Benedict yells at me, something he always did in the past. The difference between then and now is that I’m not the one who’s frustrated this time.

"Oh? Are you saying you'd rather stay married to me instead of taking another woman by your side?" I glance over at Beatrice and laugh as Alpha Cadmus did. "Poor soul. If that’s the case, I pity her and the child she carries. To think you wanted us to divorce so you could make her your Luna... You’re not just going to abandon her now, are you?"

"Alpha..." Beatrice tightens her grip on Benedict’s arm, looking daggers at me.

"Now, why don’t you prepare a car for me to leave? You don’t want me here, do you? If so, I want you to prepare a car and everything that originally belongs to me." I hold the pendant up and smirk at them. "When I say everything, I mean every bit of my stuff you took and handed to someone else."

Benedict’s face turns pale. "What?!"

"Don’t pretend to be deaf, Benedict. It’s you who wanted this divorce. Now that we’re no longer married, what’s mine is no longer yours."

"Unbelievable! How can you be so heartless, Celestine?"

Me? Heartless?

I sigh as I give Alpha Caleb a cue. He knows what to do with Benedict as part of our deal. Now that everyone is aware of who I am, there’s no reason for me to stay in this place anymore.

"Watch your language, Benedict Alberts. My patience with you is running thin," Alpha Cadmus warns him. "If you make another unsightly move, I can’t promise you’ll live until sunrise."

A smile lingers on my lips when Benedict chooses to keep his mouth shut. It’s a boring reaction, but all of this is making me tired.

"It should be enough for now. Revenge can wait until later," I mumble before leaving the banquet hall as Alpha Cadmus escorts me.

"Did I do well?" Alpha Cadmus asks with an expectant look in his eyes.

Smiling, I reply. "Very well."

His grin becomes wider as he holds me by the shoulders. He looks insanely handsome, but the more I stare at his eyes, the more I clearly perceive danger.

"Is that so?" He leans his face on me. "Does it mean I can claim my reward now?"

My body shivers at his sudden approach. I know it will come to this, though I didn’t expect he'd ask for it right after the divorce. After all, this man will probably not do anything unless he gets something in return.

"Isn’t it too early?" I look at his eyes blankly. "We can’t possibly do it here, can we?"

Alpha Cadmus pauses for a bit, then nods his head. "You’re right. Let’s do it based on your preference," he says, smacking his lips on mine. "How about you come to my hotel room tonight? I’ve booked the penthouse in Gardenia."

I try not to say anything I’ll regret, just like when I agreed to make a deal with this Psycho. If I have other choices, I will not even consider asking for his help. However, my options are limited. And giving him what he wants is the price I have to pay for this deal. He can have my body, but from hereon, I will have my freedom.

"I understand. I’ll see you tonight," I say before getting inside the car waiting for me.