Celeste’s POV
“What are you doing here?” I asked, confused.
“Are you going to let me in?” he asked.
I swallowed. “I’m… sure…yes.”
Stepping aside, I made way for him. He walked in like he owned the room. I had never expected him to come here.
What the freaking hell did he want?
His eyes scanned every inch of my room, and I became scared.
“Not bad,” he said, nodding.
“Huh?”
“You kept the room clean,” he added.
Was that him mocking me? Or was I just too serious?
“Kaidën,” I called hesitantly. I flinched when his cold gaze snapped to mine. “Um, I mean Alpha Kaidën. What do you want? Did I do something wrong?”
“No,” he answered and looked at me. "I wanted to see you."
This time, I was confused and held my breath.
My eyes widened. Me?
“Breathe, Celeste. I'm not here to kill you,” he continued.
His gaze roamed over me like I was an object under inspection. I suddenly felt too exposed in my thin nightshirt, my skin still bearing the marks of Elena’s earlier assault.
“How badly do you want to leave here?” he asked.
Was that a trick question? Or was he really offering me a way out?
“A lot,” I answered. “The room’s pretty small.”
He smiled at that, an amused, almost condescending smirk. Like I had just said something cute.
“Then you wouldn’t mind moving to the omega’s quarters, would you?” he asked.
“You’d do that?” I asked, surprised.
“Yes,” he said, coming closer to me. "If you're ready to do whatever I say."
“I’ll do anything,” I said, desperately.
“Will you now?” His voice dropped, the amusement in his tone unsettling.
Something about his sudden generosity felt wrong. Kaidën was never this chatty, never this attentive. It made my stomach twist.
“Yes,” I forced out.
He leaned in, his breath brushing my ear. “If you want it so badly, then beg me.”
I stiffened. “What?”
He smirked, pulling back just enough to see my reaction.
I hesitated for half a second, then swallowed my pride. “Please,” I whispered. “Take me out of here. I’ll do anything.”
The omega quarters had actual rooms, not just cramped storage spaces with mattresses on the floor. It would give me privacy, a break from relentless work. And if the others knew Kaïdën had placed me there, maybe they’d stop picking on me. At least publicly.
“Sure,” he answered easily.
Relief washed over me. “Really?” I gasped, grabbing his arm before I could stop myself.
“Thank you so much, Alpha.”
His eyes flickered down to where my fingers clutched his sleeve. I released him immediately, heat rushing to my face.
His expression darkened as his gaze lifted, locking onto mine. I quickly looked away.
He stepped closer, and I took a step back each time he moved. “Do I make you uncomfortable?” he asked calmly.
I quickly shook my head. “N-No.”
He moved again. I instinctively stepped back. He followed.
I kept retreating until my back hit the door.
Kaïdën leaned in, his hands bracing against the doorframe on either side of me. My pulse roared in my ears.
“Are you sure about that?” he murmured.
“Y…yes,” I whispered.
“Then look at me.”
I forced my eyes up, my lashes fluttering as they met his. He smiled.
“There. That’s better,” he mused.
I had nowhere to run. His face was barely inches away from mine, his dark eyes unreadable.
My heart pounded as he leaned even closer.
What is he going to do?
“I’ve helped you,” he murmured. “Now I’ll need something in return.”
My throat tightened. “What’s that?”
His gaze dipped to my lips.
I shivered.
“Uhh…” I stammered.
“Be mine,” he said simply.
I blinked. “Yours?”
Was he asking me out? Did he finally notice me? Don't be fooled by him, Celeste. He's a player.
No. Kaidën never cared for love.
He had omega and beta she-wolves willing to throw themselves at his feet. They practically worshipped him.
Was this a joke? He didn't think I would be like the other she-wolves, did he?
Stupid bastard!
“I want you, Celeste,” he said, his voice like silk over steel. “Be my mistress.”
My stomach dropped.
Mistress.
Not his mate. Not his woman.
His plaything.
I clenched my fists.
“I can give you protection,” he continued. “No one would dare lay a hand on you.”
Jerk. Pervert. Let's see how you like it when I send your ass to hell.
I shoved him back, angrily. He wasn't affected and barely stepped back. But I was happy with the surprised look on his face. He had thought I would give in.
“No, thanks,” I spat. “I’d rather die than be your toy.”
I shuddered, hearing him laugh.
"You believe you have an option, don't you?" he inquired.
"Yes, I do. I am not your property."
He stepped closer and grabbed my wrist. His hold tightened cruelly, like steel.
I tried to pull away by yelling. "You're hurting me, stop!"
"Celeste, you're weak," he sneered. “Don’t forget, you don’t even have a wolf. You should be grateful I consider you good enough to be in my bed!”
His bed?
My breathing increased and I fumed.
Everything he said hurt like hell and I winced as his grip tightened.
“You belong to me,” he said. “Every part of you.”
A shudder ran down my spine.
Kaidën had never been violent toward me before.
I struggled against his hold, but it was useless. His strength easily overpowered mine.
Then, without warning, he flung me onto the mattress after spinning me around.
He dropped to his knees and followed me as I gasped and stumbled back. I hastily felt about, for anything I could use as a weapon.
He watched me and said, "You have to be faster than that."
"Please don't do this, Kaidën," I pleaded.
He took hold of my ankle and dragged me onto the bed.
My wrists were pinched over my head by his hand while his body hovered over me.
“I own you,” he murmured.
I gritted my teeth. “No, you don’t!”
He chuckled. “You’re stubborn. I like that.”
I twisted beneath him, but his grip held firm.
“I’d like to see how long you can hold up,” he mused.
“You’re a sick pervert!” I spat.
His smirk deepened.
His fingers trailed along my jaw, tilting my face up.
“Go to hell,” I snarled.
“You’re already there, sweetheart,” he murmured.
Then…
BZZZT.
His phone vibrated in his pocket.
He exhaled sharply, his patience visibly thinning. Without looking, he yanked the device out and answered it.
“What?” he snapped.
He listened, taking his other hand off me.
Then his expression darkened.
“Alpha Killian is here,” the voice on the other end informed him.
Kaidën’s jaw tightened.
“Now?” he growled.
“Yes, boss,” the voice answered.
His fingers flexed at his sides before he exhaled through his nose, clearly annoyed.
“Fine. I’ll be there,” he bit out.
He hung up, putting the phone back into his pocket.
“Clean yourself up,” he ordered. “You’ll be serving the men at the meeting.”
He turned to the door but hesitated.
“Oh,” he added, smirking slightly. “And make sure you don’t mess up. ”
“One more thing,” he said, turning to me. “Make sure you’re in my bed after the meeting.”
I turned pale, panting softly. He smiled walking closer to me and whispered. “You smell so nice.”
I shook, praying the ground would open and swallow me completely.
He seemed to enjoy me panicking as his smirk widened.
“You won’t be getting out of it next time,” he said casually.
Then he walked out, leaving me frozen.
My body trembled with rage and fear as the door clicked shut behind him.
I had just made the strongest man in the pack angry at me.
KILLIAN'S POVI watched Celeste keenly while she unknowingly continued to play with her nails. She was nervous and had come in here not just to be with me but to ask something, something that was definitely eating at her. I was dying to pry the worry off her and solve her problem right here. But I didn’t, reminding myself that it was far better to let her speak at her own pace. It probably took her a lot of confidence to get here to begin with. Forcing her to talk when she wasn't ready will only make her even more nervous. “She will tell me when she is ready.” I reminded myself multiple times as I continued to work on my computer. I got so lost in my job that time slowly faded away, and the worry shifted to the back of my mind. I could still feel it weighing me down, but I was too occupied to think about it. Then, without warning, Celeste spoke. “Killian?” Her voice sounded like a squeal, like a mouse caught in the middle of a catastrophe. I raised my head slowly to stare at her,
CELESTE’S POVI thought that after the situation with Malthus, nothing could ever move me like this letter. Then came my marriage, which proved me wrong to the core. Then I thought I had had the last shock, and nothing else could beat that. But then I was sent a letter by my father to announce that he was alive. It sounded ridiculous to me. What the heck was I supposed to do with that piece of information?My father? He was alive? He had been, all this while. He heard about how I was being treated and followed my life story with complete dedication, but not once did he intervene to ease my worries. Not once did he think of telling me he was alive when I had cried myself to sleep a thousand times, hugging his pillow out of loneliness.If all those times weren’t perfect enough to show himself, then why now? Why would he spring up from wherever he was hiding all of a sudden and try to make an appearance in my life after I have sacrificed everything to smoothen my ride? Was he waiting for
KILLIAN’S POV“A postcard?” I muttered before Celeste, curiosity already tugging at me. You don’t just wake up every day and get sent postcards; people don’t even use them anymore. They’re considered abandoned and old-fashioned. That’s why it caught my attention so quickly.“I believe you should open it then.”Probably noticing how curious I was, Celeste handed it over, letting me take the first look. I collected the box from her, mostly because whatever it contained might not be safe for her to open.She came to stand above me, her face pressed against my shoulder as she waited. There was no address, no name. That should have been the first red flag, but I went ahead and tore the cover paper aside.It took a while before I reached the actual content of a letter. Who would go through the trouble of sending a postcard just to deliver a letter? My confusion grew into suspicion with every passing second, and by the time I opened it and began reading, I knew my instincts had been right al
CELESTE’S POVThe first thing that rang through my head the minute I opened my eyes—even before I could make sense of my surroundings, was the fact that I was married.A freaking married lady!What on earth was I supposed to do with that piece of information? I pressed my face into the pillow and punched it hard in an attempt to stop myself from screaming instead.Oh no, I can’t believe I actually let this happen. I was married, for Goddess’ sake! How was I supposed to process that?“If I didn’t know better, I would have said the concussion you had a month back might have gone deeper than we assumed.”I froze when I heard Killian’s voice above me. I thought he had left the room. The memory of what happened last night flooded my head, and I was a hot mess even before I raised my head to stare into his eyes.“Go away!!” I mumbled into the pillow, sounding so grumpy it was pathetic.“Come on, Mrs. Killian, what could possibly be wrong with you the morning after your wedding?” His hand br
KILLIAN’S POV“Ahh… the almighty Killian, I dreamt of this moment.” I twirled around to face Alpha Damian of the Full Moon pack. His petite figure was well hidden behind the bodies of his guards; his infamous seven guards meant to protect him. He never traveled anywhere without them.“Seeing me again after so long or attending my wedding? You need to be specific.” I joked as I shoved my hand forward to meet his halfway.“I would say both, but I am more stunned by the wedding. I would have never assumed. No one would have.” He sounded giddy, like a little child in a candy store.“Where is the fun in having a predictable life, Damian? You should have known me by now.” I shook his hand firmly.“I do… oh, I do… trust me. But marriage? Even for you, that is too feral. Still, I am not complaining. Enjoy the moment, they say, right men?” The men around him all nodded in agreement, even though he made little to no sense.I nodded respectfully and attempted to move away to the next guest, but
CELESTE’S POVAnytime reality hit me, I struggled—and it always managed to knock the breath out of me no matter how many times I remembered. It felt surreal.Me? Getting married? I never thought marriage and I would ever be in the same sentence. I had never once in my life paused to think about it. Not even after discovering my mate.Now, standing before the long floor-length mirror, staring at how perfectly the wedding dress fit me, reality hit like a raging tornado, a gut-wrenching one at that.“Why are you crying?” Flora’s voice came from behind me. I hadn’t even realized tears had gathered in my eyes until she pointed it out.“I’m… actually getting married, aren’t I?” My voice sounded as anxious as I felt. Flora only chuckled knowingly and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.“The day I married Victor…” I tried hard not to flinch at the mention of his name. Though her mate had met his end, Flora stayed loyal to the pack and continued serving the kingdom. She had expressed her