Celeste's stomach twisted at the thought. She had spent years waiting for her husband, dreaming of the day he would return. But now that he was here, he was nothing like she had imagined. He was terrifying, powerful… utterly unknown to her.
Still, she had no choice. If she refused, what would become of her? She had no allies, no protection. And deep down, a small part of her—a naive, desperate part—still wanted to believe that he was the man she had once longed for.
Azrael turned slightly, and at that moment, another presence entered the room. A tall man, dressed in dark armor, bowed his head in respect before speaking.
"My Lord," the man said, his voice steady, though there was a hint of reverence—perhaps even fear—beneath it. "The carriage is ready."
Azrael didn't even glance at him. "Good."
The man, whom Celeste realized must be his Beta, cast a brief glance in her direction. His eyes held curiosity, but there was no mistaking the way he carried himself—this was a man who feared and obeyed her husband without question.
Celeste's fingers curled into the fabric of her dress, her heart pounding as she realized the weight of what was happening.
She was leaving. She was going with this man—her husband—who was more of a stranger than anyone she had ever met.
And she had no idea what awaited her beyond these walls.The carriage rocked gently as they traveled through the thickening forest. Celeste sat stiffly across from Azrael, her hands clenched in her lap. She barely dared to look at him, though his gaze never left her.
"You do not need to be afraid of me, Celeste," he murmured, his tone softer than before.
She bit her lip, unsure how to respond. He was a stranger to her—an intimidating, powerful stranger. And yet, he was her husband.
Azrael leaned forward slightly. "I would prefer if you spoke to me rather than cower in silence."
Celeste flinched at his words, guilt stirring in her chest. "I-I do not mean to be rude," she whispered hesitantly.
His lips curved slightly. "Then speak to me. Ask me anything."
She hesitated, struggling to find her voice. But before she could muster the courage to ask him anything, the carriage lurched violently.
The horses outside screamed, and the vehicle tilted sharply, nearly throwing Celeste from her seat. A deafening roar echoed through the night, followed by the unmistakable sound of metal clashing against metal.
Azrael's expression darkened instantly. "Stay here."
Before she could protest, he had already thrown the carriage door open. The moment he stepped out, darkness surged around him like a living entity, curling through the air like shadows given form.
Celeste's breath caught as monstrous figures emerged from the surrounding trees—grotesque creatures with glowing red eyes and gnarled claws. The night filled with snarls and guttural growls as they lunged toward the carriage.
Azrael moved like a phantom, his presence radiating pure power. With a flick of his hand, black energy erupted from his fingertips, slicing through the creatures like a blade through paper.
One beast managed to break past his defenses, leaping toward the carriage. Celeste shrieked, pressing herself against the seat, her heart pounding wildly.
But before the creature could reach her, Azrael was there.
His hand shot out, grabbing the beast by the throat mid-air. With a low snarl, he crushed it effortlessly, its body dissolving into nothingness.
Then, his crimson eyes flicked back to her. "You are safe, Celeste. I will not let anything touch you."
She trembled at the raw power in his voice, realizing, perhaps for the first time, that he was no ordinary man.
He was something far, far more dangerousThe carriage rocked violently as Celeste sat curled into herself, her arms wrapped tightly around her body. She had barely recovered from the monstrous attack outside when the carriage door creaked open.
Azrael stepped inside, his tall figure filling the space. His expression was unreadable, but his crimson eyes dimmed slightly as he took in her trembling form. Celeste was hunched on the floor, covering her head with her arms as though trying to disappear.
His chest tightened at the sight.
Slowly, he crouched beside her, his movements careful, deliberate. "Celeste," he said, his voice softer than she had ever heard it. "Everything is over. You are safe now."
Celeste hesitated, her breath shaky. She lifted her head just a fraction, her wide blue eyes peeking out from behind her arms. The moment her gaze met his, she stiffened. Those eyes—those burning red eyes.
Terror flooded her fragile heart, and before he could react, she buried her head against the seat, curling into herself even tighter.
Azrael's jaw clenched.
She was afraid of him.
Something in his chest twisted at the realization. He hadn't expected her to trust him immediately, but seeing her recoil from his presence—it unsettled him in a way he hadn't anticipated.
With a slow breath, he closed his eyes for a brief moment. When he opened them again, the crimson hue had faded, replaced by deep emerald green.
"Celeste," he tried again, his voice unwavering but gentler. "Look at me."
There was a long pause before she hesitantly lifted her head once more. Her teary blue eyes met his, and this time, she didn't shrink back immediately. She blinked, confused by the change in his eyes.
Azrael offered her the smallest hint of a smile. "See? You have nothing to fear. I will protect you. Always."
Celeste swallowed hard, unsure of what to believe. But one thing was certain—her husband was far more than he appeared to be, and she had no idea what world she had just been thrust into.Azrael then carried Celeste onto his lap, his arms securing her gently as though afraid she would break. But she remained rigid, trembling uncontrollably. This was beginning to make Azrael worry. He had faced countless battles, had conquered empires—but the fragile girl in his arms? He had no idea how to win her trust.