Marina's POV

We managed to trace Celine's scent to a far extent, but we were stuck in the middle of the woods, with two open paths.

It was like a trap, where one path could lead you to your death and another to a safer place.

I shook my head, getting rid of these irrelevant thoughts and snapped my head to look at Dustin.

"What are we going to do?" I asked him, my tone frustrated and angry, seeing as he still hasn't shown any emotion, even after all the pain he felt from her own.

He shrugged and intensely gazed at the paths, his eyes narrowed and I sighed throwing my hands in the air.

"You're really pissing me off you know? At least try to care, because once we save her, you won't have to worry about her any longer." I said, my tone strong and hard, but mostly genuine because what I am saying is true.

He huffed and ran a hand through his messy hair angrily, while growling and clenching his jaw, I narrowed my eyes.

"That way." He grit out before storming off to the dark path on the left, and with one glance at the other path, I started following behind him.

2 hours later..

We stopped in the middle of the woods again as I panted and growled in frustration, my blood boiling in anger.

"Why is this hard?!" I yelled out while gripping my hair and shaking my head.

We need to find her and save her, Goddess knows what she's going through right now.

"I don't think were on safe grounds right now, we need to mask our scents." Dustin said, his tone alpha like, making me inwardly roll my eyes.

He only got the alpha roll because he is a male, who has alpha like abilities whereas I am a female, but I possess abilities that are stronger then any alpha but weaker then royal blood.

So instead of strangling him, I turned his way and nodded, he sighed and we took in a deep breath, thinking of our scents and a barrier in front of it, blocking it from escaping our bodies.

"Done." I breathed out, he sniffed the air and nodded, agreeing, I mirrored him and when I sniffed the air, his scent was long gone, I smiled and nodded as well.

"So, where are we going now?" I asked him, while looking at my surroundings with pursed lips.

Everything was filled with tree's, bushes and broken branches, I heard Dustin growl lowly, alert like.

I flinched and turned my attention back to his, he was staring straight forward as if he was stuck in a trance, with his eyes wide open.

My brows furrowed as I looked at exactly what he was staring at, my body stiffened.

It was the Red Diamond Castle.

"D-do you think?" I stammered for more words as both of our gazes stayed fixated on the castle that was peaking through a bunch of leaves and branches that were being blow away by the wind.

It stood out like a sore thumb, even though it was pretty far away, covered by some fog that gave the scene a medieval look.

"I don't know." He grit out, while rubbing the back of his neck, I sighed and shook my head.

That pack is the strongest and most dangerous pack, we come in second but most people don't know that.

The blood diamond pack.

I felt a shiver crawl up and down my spine, that pack is royal, lead by Rodrick and Diana Diamond, and heir to that pack is Axel Diamond, there was once story of a daughter but it stopped once other packs realized, they would die ruthlessly if they continued assuming.

"A-are we going t-to-"

"No." He interrupted me suddenly, I gasped and spun to my side to face him, my eyes shifted into a glare as I continued staring at his side profile.

"What do you mean-no?!" I asked him angrily, my face laced with disbelief as I scoffed and shook my head, he turned to face me with a blank expression.

"That's what I mean." He said while shrugging and turning to face the castle again, I growled lowly.

"Why?" I asked, keeping my gaze on the castle and not on him anymore, seeing as his face was getting me even angrier.

"Why would she even be here? In a Royal Pack? She can't even be in a low rank pack, she isn't worthy of the attention of high ranks. What would a bunch of Royals want with her?" He asked, his tone laced with disgust and amusement, I bit my lip and shook my head.

"You really don't learn do you Dustin?" I asked him, while staring at him once again but this time in pity.

He chuckled dryly and smirked before turning to me and shrugging.

"What do you mean?" He asked this time, his brows furrowed while his lips stayed in a smirk, I rubbed the back of my neck and sighed.

"Don't you remember Amalia?" I asked him in a small voice, knowing how he reacted to the mention of her.

I watched as his smirk fell and his body stiffened, his face got harder while his eyes narrowed, I watched as he got angrier.

"Never mention her, ever again." He ordered, his voice deep and dark, whereas his eyes mirrored his tone, they got as black as coal making me regret mentioning her, but deep down I knew I had to.

"Face it Dustin, Amalia is dead, and you made one mistake, you can't afford to make another." I replied, my voice strong and truthful as our gazes locked, swiftly his hands clenched and unclenched, I knew he was trying his hardest not to react violently towards me.

"Marina-stop." He grit out, his words breathless yet still remained dull, his eyes lifeless whereas his body was as hard as a rock with his chest puffing in and out.

"Just don't repeat things Dustin, don't." I whispered, my words sounded like a beg for his right actions, whereas my eyes weren't soft, they remained narrowed as they glared at him and his stiff posture.

"Let's go." He demanded before stomping away abruptly, I scoffed and turned to see where he was going, and my questions were answered when I saw him walking down the path which lead to the castle.

I followed him quickly and I couldn't help but feel hopeful for his future.

•
•
•

Celine's POV

"We missed you so much princess." My mom said through her smiling lips as she tightened her hold on my hand, I used my other hand to swipe a fallen tear from under my eye.

"I really missed you guys too, and from what I remembered, I was heartbroken when I was taken away." I explained as I averted my gaze from her's to my brothers, his eyes were brimmed with tears but he held them back, I smiled softly his way.

"I missed you sis." He said, his voice small as he placed a large hand on my shoulder, rubbing it reassuringly, I nodded his way, kind of telling him that I missed him too.

"D-Does that pack know that you've found me?" I asked, snapping my gaze to my fathers, who towered over me from my side, he was smiling at all of us lovingly, his eyes held a proud twinkle.

"They are all going to be aware of this by tomorrow, we will hold a ceremony for you." He said with a large grin whereas I felt like I got punched in the gut as my breath got caught in my throat, suddenly I started coughing.

My father gasped and my brother lowered his hand to my back, hitting it once to help me out, my mom rubbed my hand, and somehow I felt safe.

I coughed one more time and cleared my throat, they all stared at me curiously and with concern.

"I-I-I." I stammered for words as my heart started speeding up nervously, I felt as if a panic attack was going to hit me any moment now.

I quickly pulled my hand from my mothers and used it to cover my mouth with the other one, bile rose up my throat once again.

Her eyes widened, my brother pulled away to look at me in worry and my father tensed beside me.

"What's wrong princess?" My mom asked, her words caring and concerned as she let her eyes roam my face.

I shook my head and swallowed down the bile that was crawling up my throat like a spider, and I never tasted something so disgusting.

My mother sighed in relief and my brother shook his head, they were glad to see nothing wrong but clearly they couldn't tell that something was eating me up inside, except my father who remained stiff beside me as his concern filled eyes burned holes in my side profile.

"I'm just very surprised to be here and to be introduced to a pack where i'll be treated nicely." I explained calmly, holding my breath and trying my hardest to breath normally without it being labored.

They all smiled and nodded, whereas my father knew more, he understood more and I knew we would be talking about this later.

And for some reason, I wanted to talk to him and finally feel protected for once.