Chapter Twenty-Seven

Steam curled gently around Celeste, filling the luxurious shower chamber, fogging the smooth marble walls and mirrors. The warmth of the water cascaded over her tired body, soothing muscles stiffened by weeks of immobility. Yet despite the physical relief, her heart remained heavy, her spirit disconnected.

Slowly, she slid down the tiled wall, settling on the shower floor. Drawing her knees to her chest, she wrapped her arms tightly around them, allowing the hot water to pour relentlessly over her. Each droplet felt like it carried away a piece of the darkness that had settled within her, yet she knew much remained.

She closed her eyes, breathing deeply, searching within herself for that familiar spark, the presence she'd lost touch with for too long. Her wolf had always been her strength, her anchor, her companion in solitude. Now, silence echoed where once there had been warmth and connection.

"Where are you?" Celeste whispered softly, voice barely audible above the rushing water.

She waited patiently, listening inwardly for any response, any sign of her wolf’s reassuring presence. But there was only silence, a void that stretched uncomfortably.

The memories she had revisited during her long sleep still clung to her, heavy and draining. The betrayal, the loneliness, the loss, each had taken a toll, and it felt as if her wolf had retreated, wounded and uncertain, deep within herself.

"Please," she murmured, voice thick with emotion. "I need you. I'm here, waiting. I can't do this alone."

Her heart clenched painfully as silence met her plea once more, and she buried her face against her knees, the tears mingling silently with the cascading water. The sense of abandonment, of disconnection, was almost too much to bear.

Just when she felt she might drown in the silence, a gentle whisper brushed softly across her consciousness.

"I'm still here… I just need more time..."

The words were faint but clear, spoken with warmth and patience. Celeste lifted her head slowly, hope flickering to life in her heart. Yet beneath that small flicker of hope, a profound ache persisted. She still felt utterly alone, her spirit fractured and her heart raw from reliving the moments she'd spent so long trying to forget. Her mate’s betrayal, the bond she had cherished snapping violently in her chest, her heart shattered again and again with each painful memory.

It wasn't just the pain of the past; it was the agony of watching it unfold all over again, helpless to change a single outcome. The emotional wounds, old yet reopened afresh, left her feeling as broken now as she had felt then, perhaps even more so. She wasn't sure how to piece herself back together or if such a thing was even possible.

She knew she would wait for Verena, her wolf, to heal, but the question remained hauntingly unanswered—could she herself ever truly heal? Could she survive carrying this deep brokenness, the lingering feeling of abandonment?

Celeste squeezed her eyes shut, letting the hot water wash over her, mingling with silent tears. She clung desperately to that fragile thread of hope, even as the weight of uncertainty pressed heavily upon her heart.

She would wait.

She would hope.

But deep within, she wasn't sure how much longer she could bear living while feeling so shattered, so lost.

**

Weeks drifted by slowly, blending into an indistinct haze of quiet solitude. Celeste remained confined within the room, a sanctuary she barely wanted to leave. The medic was her sole visitor, allowed in occasionally to check on her physical health. Otherwise, her only interaction with the outside world came in the form of the Alpha King or Victoria leaving trays of food and other necessities at the door, respecting her need for distance and space.

Every so often, she would sense the Alpha King’s presence, feel a subtle yet undeniable pull toward the door. It was quiet, patient, gentle, but still frightening in its power. Each time he lingered, even briefly, her heart would quicken, anxiety and longing warring within her.

Could she dare to have another mate?

The questions relentlessly crowded her mind. Would he tire of her brokenness and give up on her, just as Grayson had done? Would he find someone else, someone less complicated, less damaged, to stand by his side? Would the pain of rejection, should it happen again, be something she could survive?

The fear was overwhelming, and the word 'mate' became something to dread, heavy with memories of pain and betrayal. Each passing day, Celeste grappled with her conflicting emotions, torn between the fragile hope of connection and the deep-rooted fear of suffering another devastating loss.

She hugged her knees tighter, curled protectively on the bed, eyes staring at the door she still wasn't ready to open. Yet even as she hid away, the quiet pull toward the Alpha King persisted, soft but constant.

Some days, she found herself standing just inches from the door, her hand hovering above the handle, her heart racing with uncertainty. Would opening it lead to more pain? Or would it bring the comfort and safety she longed for?

At times she heard murmured words beyond the door, Victoria’s worried voice, the Alpha King’s deep tones, gentle and reassuring. Each word stirred something inside her, made her heart ache with longing, but also made her fear stronger. The possibility of being hurt again seemed an unbearable risk.

As days turned into weeks, Celeste remained trapped by her fears and memories, caught in an exhausting cycle of yearning and retreating. The quiet presence of the Alpha King continued to tug gently at her heart, but she was not yet brave enough to take that step forward.

She wasn't ready yet, and she didn’t know if she ever would be. Yet, deep within her heart, a fragile spark of hope flickered uncertainly. Would this small ember of hope be strong enough to draw her towards the chance of a new mate, or would she bury it deep, protecting herself from ever feeling such devastating pain again?