CHAPTER 9: WAR AND DESIRE

Magnus POV

Although everything about the ceremony had ended well, I still couldn't understand the mystic energy that suddenly glowed the minute I placed the crown on Celine's head. What was so special about this girl that the moon goddess had to indicate her presence through that strong burst of energy?

While I had many questions and thoughts about the event, the recurring dreams I had concerning a veiled woman and her cryptic pronouncements of war echoed in my mind. Though weeks had passed, her words remained a chilling premonition.

Restlessness gnawed at me. I paced the confines of my study, the crimson velvet drapes filtering the morning light into blood-red stripes across the polished floor, until there was a sudden knock on the door.

"Who dares disturb my peace?" I asked angrily.

"Alpha, it's me, Celine," she said curtly, her voice barely a murmur. "I...I noticed you haven't been yourself lately after the ceremony. Could there be something in your thoughts you'd like to share with me?"

I could see the fear in her eyes as she tried to be caring towards me.

"Not entirely, my dear. I'm fine. It's just matters concerning the pack that overwhelm me sometimes," I said, trying to dust off the real reason behind my concern.

Celine crossed the room, her hand brushing mine. "We'll face them together. Remember?"

Her touch calmed the storm within me, if only momentarily. I couldn't burden her with fears that might turn out to be nothing. But fate, it seemed, had other plans. Suddenly, steel entered her voice. "There's something you need to know, Alpha. About Adrian."

I froze. "What is it?"

She moved closer, her voice low. "The doctor at Silver Line pack. I trusted him with... certain matters. He told me something. Adrian... he plans to attack. Disrupt our supply lines, stir discontent within our pack, turn our allies against us."

Fury, cold and potent, flooded my veins. Adrian, the conniving cur. He wouldn't face us head-on, not yet. He wanted to weaken us from the inside out, a cowardly tactic fit for a snake, not a leader.

"He wants to cripple us," I spat, a snarl twisting my lips. "The underhanded coward." I growled, slamming my fist on the desk. The sound echoed through the room, startling even Celine.

"Magnus," she reached out, placing a hand on my arm. "We can counter his attacks. We're stronger than he thinks."

A smile, sharp and predatory, carved itself onto my face. "When he unleashes his attack, it will be met with a storm he won't see coming. The Silver Line pack will crumble under the weight of their Alpha's treachery, and the Red Moon pack will rise stronger than ever."

Celine's expression deepened, a mixture of surprise and something akin to awe flickering across her face. For the first time since she arrived, she wasn't just the quiet Luna, but a wolf by my side, fangs bared and ready to fight.

"We expose his schemes, Celine," I said, meeting her gaze. "Let the entire Valley of Whispers hear what a viper Adrian truly is. We gather evidence, whispers of discontent from his own pack, proof of his underhanded tactics. We turn his deceit against him."

I cupped her face in my hands, the crown momentarily forgotten on the desk. "Together, my Luna, we'll not only survive, but thrive." Celine, loyal, had armed me with knowledge more valuable than gold. Adrian's underhanded tactics would be his undoing. The air crackled with unspoken promises and a shared resolve.

We spent the rest of the night refining my plan. Celine, with her knowledge of the healers' network and her past ties to the Silver Line pack, offered invaluable intel. We would use her connections to gather whispers of discontent and expose Adrian's maneuvers before they could take root.

The veiled woman's words loomed large in my mind. War seemed inevitable, but this time, we wouldn't be caught off guard. We wouldn't be scrambling to defend ourselves while the Silver Line pack chipped away at our foundations.

The fire crackled in the fireplace, casting dancing shadows on the study walls. My bones ached from the long night of planning, but a different kind of heat burned deep inside me. It wasn't the fire's warmth, but the woman sitting opposite me.

Celine, bathed in moonlight, looked incredible. Her eyes, usually cautious, held a new fire that matched the one burning in my gut. All night, we'd talked about how to beat Adrian, whispering plans back and forth. Her ideas, juicy bits of gossip about trouble in the Silver Line pack, surprised me. But the way she told them, leaning in close, her voice a breath against my ear, that's what really got to me.

When our eyes met, the air crackled with unspoken feelings. The war, a big problem coming soon, could wait a minute. Celine's hand lingered on mine when she pulled away, her fingers brushing against the rough skin on my palm from all the battles I'd fought and won. It was a touch that lasted longer than normal, a silent question hanging in the air.

I cupped her face, my thumb tracing her cheekbone. Her eyes fluttered shut as I touched her, a gasp escaping her lips. All the tension of the night exploded in a single, urgent kiss. My lips met hers in a way I'd never felt before. It started soft, a gentle touch of lips, then turned rough and wild, like a fight for control that mirrored the war brewing outside. Celine growled back, her body melting into mine, her hands digging into my back so hard it both surprised and excited me.

We pulled away, breathing hard and fast. The fire in Celine's eyes burned brighter than the moon, and the moonlight showed the blush on her cheeks. The plans we made weighed heavy on me, but the raw desire inside me demanded a different kind of fight.

"Celine," I breathed, my voice thick with desire. "We need to talk about strategy…"

A playful smile danced on her lips. "Later, Alpha," she murmured, her voice husky with a newfound confidence. "There's a different kind of battle we need to fight first."

Her words were like a spark that lit a fire inside me. With a quick movement, she took off her dress, letting it fall to the floor like a pool of silver moonlight. She stood before me, beautiful and naked in the moonlight.

I didn't waste any time. My hands, rough from years of fighting, touched the soft skin of her arm, sending shivers down my spine. A low moan escaped her lips as I kissed her neck, loving the warm feeling of her skin against mine. Every touch, every whisper in her ear, felt forbidden and exciting.

I ran my hands down her body, exploring every curve and dip. Her skin was smooth and warm under my touch, her breath quickening with every kiss. My lips traveled from her neck to her collarbone, then lower, tracing a path of fire down her body. Celine's fingers tangled in my hair, pulling me closer, urging me on.

She let out a soft moan as my mouth found her breast, my tongue circling her nipple before taking it into my mouth. Her body arched against mine, her nails digging into my shoulders. I loved the way she responded to my touch, the way her body moved with mine.

I picked her up and carried her to the bed, laying her down gently. Celine looked up at me, her eyes dark with desire. I undressed quickly, my clothes falling to the floor in a heap. Then I joined her on the bed, my body covering hers.

Our kisses became more urgent, more demanding. I could feel the heat of her body against mine, the way she moved beneath me. I kissed my way down her body, tasting every inch of her skin. When I reached the apex of her thighs, I paused, looking up at her. Celine's eyes were closed, her lips parted, her breath coming in quick gasps.

I lowered my head and kissed her there, my tongue teasing her, tasting her. She cried out, her hips lifting off the bed. I held her down, my hands gripping her hips as I pleasured her. Her moans filled the room, her body trembling beneath me.

When she finally came, it was with a shuddering gasp, her body arching off the bed. I kissed my way back up her body, capturing her lips in a fierce kiss. I could feel the heat of her arousal, the way her body responded to mine.

I positioned myself between her thighs, looking into her eyes as I entered her. She was warm and wet and tight around me, her body welcoming me. We moved together, our bodies finding a rhythm that was both familiar and new. Each thrust brought us closer to the edge, our breaths mingling, our moans filling the room.

Celine's nails dug into my back, her legs wrapping around my waist. I could feel her building towards another climax, her body tightening around me. With a final, powerful thrust, we came together, our bodies shuddering in unison.

We collapsed on the bed, our bodies tangled together. I held her close, feeling the steady beat of her heart against my chest. The war and the plans and the worries faded away, leaving only the two of us, bound together by a connection deeper than any strategy or alliance.