The Pack's Daughter (Aysel and Magnus) novel Chapter 221

Chapter 221

Third Person’s POV

Finished

Damon’s mind raced. If things went awry with Judy, the Thunderfang heiress, his carefully constructed position would collapse instantly. The pack politics, his budding authority, all of it rested on delicate balance and Celestine had just stirred the den.

“Aysel…” he muttered under his breath, instinctively glancing toward Aysel. She was Celestine’s sister–trusting her was the safest course. In the past… hadn’t it always been this way?

But his thought was cut short by Aysel’s sharp, incredulous gaze. Magnus’s presence beside her radiated a frigid wind, coiling in the air like a stalking wolf. Damon felt the weight of both their judgments settle like heavy fur on his shoulders. It was as if he had never truly reckoned with the pain Aysel had endured for Celestine, brushing over loyalty and blood like trivial scents on the wind.

“Hmph.” Judy’s laugh was low and sharp, teeth just visible as she sized him up. “It seems the young Alpha has not sorted out his past. I’ll take my leave.”

She was simple, but not foolish. To see the two of them tangled in the open, their scents entwined, and to still cling to him… it was absurd.

“Judy!” Damon called, voice strained.

She paused, sensing his urgency but noting the immobility of his stance. Disappointment shadowed her amber eyes as she turned, only to spin back a few steps later, claws briefly glinting, and strike his cheek with a sharp slap.

“You worthless wolf!”

Damon froze, stunned. He had only saved her–how could she blame him for protecting Celestine from collapsing? His right paw, still tender from past Moonshade Mountain expeditions, struggled to support her weight as he half–carried her, glancing helplessly at Aysel.

“No way!” came thewords from crimson lips, sharp as a fang.

dimb

Damon felt shame and frustration curl in his chest like coiled wolffire. Celestine’s breathing had stabilized slightly. With effort, she muttered for him to retrieve the white tablets from her satchel. He fed them to her, watching her form relax fractionally, her heartbeat settling under his paw.

He turned toward Aysel, ready to explain, but Celestine shook Magnus’s wrist with a quiet insistence. “Let’s go.”

Realization struck Damon. Explanation was useless. With a self–mocking snort, he supported

1/28

15:05 Mon, Dec 15 T

Chapter 221

Finished

Celestine and led her from the store, leaving a trail of confused, staring humans–and packless eyes–behind them.

The store manager and staff blinked in unison, utterly dumbfounded. Were they ghosts? How could the Alpha of the Blackwood Pack be so… unaware? Surely there were other wolves to summon aid? The chaos had been obvious. But to Damon, he alone had been the savior, the Alpha to stand firm.

Magnus, observing the scene with cold precision, muttered sincerely, tail bristling slightly: “Is he… incompetent?”

If one sought true love, one would consider Aysel’s perspective from start to finish. If one sought political gain, one would seize the hand of Judy, the alliance–mate, leaving no room for indecision. Yet Damon had done neither. He had ignored the practical choice and the heart he claimed to favor, instead entangling himself with the most troublesome, least useful wolf-

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify