LOGINCHAPTER 49Celeste POVEverything happened too fast.One second Darius was standing there‚ shouting at the doctor‚ and the next his body gave out completely. He collapsed hard onto the floor‚ the sound echoing through the room and freezing everyone in place.For a moment‚ I forgot how to breathe.Fear rushed through me before I could stop it.“Alpha!” the doctor shouted‚ rushing forward.My hands tightened against the chair. I almost stood up immediately‚ almost moved toward him without thinking‚ but I forced myself to stay where I was.This wasn’t my concern.It shouldn’t be.Doctors surrounded him quickly‚ checking his pulse‚ calling for assistance‚ their voices overlapping in urgency.“He’s unconscious.”“Get a stretcher!”“Move carefully.”My chest felt tight as I watched them lift him. His face looked pale‚ nothing like the cold and powerful Alpha everyone feared. For the first time in years‚ he looked… fragile.And I hated that it affected me.I hated that my heart reacted at al
Chapter 48Darius POVCeleste sat calmly in the chair while the doctor prepared the equipment beside her. She didn't look tense or confused. Instead‚ she slowly lifted her arm and extended her hand toward him without hesitation‚ as if this were something ordinary and not a situation that could change bring out her lies.“Go ahead‚” she said softly. “Draw it.”Her voice was steady. There was no fear in it.She even let out a small chuckle under her breath‚ like this was nothing more than a minor inconvenience that she wanted finished quickly.I frowned immediately.Something felt wrong.If she were Celeste… if she truly was Celeste like I had convinced myself‚ she would have fought this. She would have questioned me. She would have demanded explanations or refused outright. She hated hospitals. She hated needles. She hated blood test. But this woman did none of that.She didn’t hesitate.She looked almost amused.The doctor glanced at me nervously. “Alpha…?”“Do it‚” I said‚ though my
CHAPTER 47 DARIUS POV “…I heard Alpha Darius locked his late wife away.” What? I was standing a few steps away‚ looking at a painting I’d already seen twice‚ when I heard my name in the mouths of some women. My head snapped slightly in their direction. “Used her as a blood bank‚” another voice whispered. “That’s what people are saying now.” My chest tightened. I turned fully this time. “What did you just say?” They froze. Three women stood there‚ glasses in their hands‚ faces pale‚ like they’d been caught stealing. “I asked you a question‚” I said calmly. Too calmly. “Repeat it.” One of them swallowed. “Alpha… it’s… it’s just— we didn’t mean—” “Who said it?” I interrupted. “Now.” They exchanged glances. “No one important‚” another said quickly. “Just rumors.” I stepped closer‚ lowering my voice. “Do you know what happens to people who spread lies about the Alpha?” One of them flinched. “We—we didn’t start it.” “I didn’t ask who started it‚” I said ev
CHAPTER 46 CELESTE POVMy blood was still boiling with the after effect of standing in front of Darius...But on the outside‚ I was calm‚ and composed.And I was proud of myself.Proud that I had walked away with my head high.I moved toward the table where the drinks were laid out‚ picked up a glass‚ and took a slow sip‚ letting the coldness slide down my throat when I heard a group of women talking.“That’s him‚” one woman whispered.“Alpha Darius‚” another said softly.“Poor him‚” the second woman continued‚ her voice filled with sympathy. “I heard he never recovered after her death.”“Yes‚” the first replied. “So devoted. Two years and he hasn’t moved on. Some men don’t love like that.”I stared into my glass and smiled faintly.Devoted.The word tasted bitter.“I also heard he refused to remove her name from the pack records‚” someone else added. “Imagine loving someone that much.”Another voice joined in. “Tragic‚ really. Losing his wife like that. People say he was never the s
CHAPTER 45DARIUS POVShe was leaving.No.I couldn’t let her leave like that.I stepped in front of her before I even realized what I was doing‚ my body reacting faster than my thoughts that knew I was already crossing too many lines.“Excuse me‚” she said calmly‚ stopping short.“I’m not done‚” I said‚ my voice coming out rougher than I intended. “You can’t just walk away.”She tilted her head slightly‚ studying me the way someone looks at a stranger who’s suddenly behaving strangely. “I can‚” she replied evenly. “And I am.”People nearby slowed. I felt it immediately‚ the shift in the room and the way attention turned toward us.“You’re making a scene‚” she added‚ “Again.”My chest tightened. “Just—just wait.”She let out a soft sigh‚ like she was humoring a child who wouldn’t stop asking questions. “What now?”My eyes dropped to her neck.That small‚ dark mole.The one my Beta had pointed out.The one Celeste never had.My hand moved before my mind could catch up.“Don’t touch me‚
CHAPTER 44 CELESTE POVI knew he was going to come up to me.I felt it even before I heard his voice‚ that familiar pressure crawling up my spine‚ but this time‚ I didn’t turn around immediately.“Celeste‚” he called again.I didn’t answer.He walked closer. “Excuse me.”I finished what I was saying to the person beside me‚ smiled politely‚ nodded‚ then slowly turned around‚ like I had all the time in the world.“Yes?” I said calmly.His face drained of color.For a moment‚ he just stared at me‚ like his mind couldn’t catch up with what his eyes were seeing.“Celeste‚” he said hoarsely. “Baby… you’re alive.”I smiled.“I think you have the wrong person‚” I replied evenly. “My name is Sienna.”“No‚” he said quickly‚ stepping closer. “Don’t pretend‚ baby. I know it’s you.”I looked him over‚ from his face to his clothes‚ then back up again‚ like I was studying a stranger who had interrupted my evening.“I’m sorry‚” I said calmly. “Have we met?”His jaw tightened. “Stop lying‚ baby. It’







