002: NOTHING HAPPENED BETWEEN US

~Elara~

She’s Celeste, Kael’s dying first love.

I didn't know about her existence until six months ago.

“Her wolf bond is shattered, Elara,” Kael told me one night when I demanded to know why he was paying her so much attention. “Her mate left her, and it’s taking time to heal. I have to be there for her. You know I'm the only one who can help her heal. It’s just for a year. One year will be enough for her to go back to normal.”

“I’m your mate, your wife. I’m carrying your child, Kael,” I had protested. “Surely she can’t be more important than us.”

“She’s the Beta’s daughter. If I toss her to the side, it will only cause a rift in the Pack. I can’t let that happen.”

So I learned my place.

“Elara.” Her chirpy voice fills the hospital hallway, causing me to freeze in my tracks. “What are you doing here?”

“I had an appointment,” I mutter, instantly hating how defeated I sound. 

Celeste’s eyes drop to my bump for a second before darting back to my face. She laces her arm with my husband’s, batting her lashes with feigned concern. “Oh no… I told you not to stay with me today. You should have accompanied your wife to her appointment."

I hold back a scoff. She’s way too good at pretending to be a saint, and Kael doesn’t see it. 

“It’s fine,” Kael says, his arm tightening around her shoulders. “You needed me today.

“I’m so sorry, Elara,” she continues, pressing a hand to her chest. “Kael has misplaced priorities, but I will talk some sense into him. This will never happen again.”

“Elara understands, Celeste. Besides, she’s stronger than you think. There’s no reason for me to follow her to every appointment.”

Kael’s words are like tiny knives being thrust into my heart repeatedly. I look at him, hoping he’d see the pain I feel, but he doesn’t meet my eyes.

Celeste takes a step towards me, her smirk widening. “About the meal you made earlier…”

My spine stiffens. She lets out an awkward laugh, shaking her head. “I didn’t want to say anything at first, because I know how much pride you take in those herbal mixtures of yours. But the doctors here were a little concerned.”

The ‘herbal mixture’ was perfect. A result of years of medical research. Wolves stronger than Celeste have only good things to say about it. But to Celeste, it’s just another weapon to humiliate me and make me seem less useful in Kael’s eyes.

“Since I started taking that stew of yours, my symptoms have worsened,” she continues smoothly. “I think it's best if you leave medical matters to professionals, Elara. I know you’re trying to help, but maybe the best way you can help is to not do anything at all.”

“If it’s that bad, then don’t take it anymore,” I blurt out without thinking. 

A few days earlier, Celeste had drunk the soup I’d made for Kael. After that, she insisted that I make it for her every day. I refused at first. The result was Celeste ending up in the hospital again, and I was forced to apologize to her.

I spent years studying medicine, learning dosages, interactions, how the body heals and how it breaks. I would have been a practicing professional if Kael didn’t promise that being his Luna was more worth it. There’s no way I’m going to let her talk down on my skills.

Celeste recoils, completely taken aback by my outburst. Despite the fact that my nerves are rising over the top, I hold her gaze. When she sees that I have no intention to back down, she glances at Kael for support.

A quiet exhale escapes his lips. “Elara won’t give you anything unsafe, Celeste. She’s careful about what she prepares.”

Annoyance flickers across her face, an indication that she doesn’t find Kael’s defence of me acceptable. “If you say so, Kael," she says dismissively.

Then she smiles, curling her fingers into his jacket, her eyes on me. “Don’t you think you owe me something?” she asks in a sweet voice. “It’s my birthday today. You prepared a gift, right?”

A bitter chuckle escapes my lips. She’s not only a conniving snake, she’s also audacious. She watches my expression, tilting her head to the side. “Don’t tell me you didn’t get me anything. One would think you hate me because your husband is showing me more attention than he shows you.”

“Celeste.” Kael pulls her to himself, trying to intervene. “Elara has been busy with getting things ready for her baby. I’m sure she didn't mean to forget your birthday.”

Her baby? Isn’t this baby his any more?

Celeste nods with a plastic smile. “I understand. But she has to make it up to me. Elara, you should come to my birthday party.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I say quickly. I have no intentions to honor her invitation. Going to that party is synonymous to walking into a trap. “It’s been a long day,” I add. “I'd like to stay home and rest.”

“Elara,” Celeste whines. Her eyes turn watery as they dart between Kael and I. “Are you still upset about Kael spending the night with me last month?”

My fingers scrunch up the papers in my hands, my jaw hanging open. Kael avoids my gaze. He told me he was working late that night. He said there was a pack emergency he had to handle. Who could have thought that he spent the night with her?

“Nothing happened between us, Elara," Celeste goes on. “My shattered bond was acting up, and he stayed to help me get through the night. That’s all.”

Before I can speak, Kael grabs my arm and pulls me away from her. His grip is firm, nails digging into my skin. “Don’t do this,” he whispers harshly once we’re out of earshot. “Not here.”

“Do what?” I snap. “Aren’t you done making a fool of me, Kael?”

“She wanted me to stay with her, Elara.”

“Are you going to keep doing everything she wants? If she wants my position as Luna, as your wife, will you give her that too?”

Half of me expects him to instantly deny it, but he goes silent. That’s all the answer I need. All the air is knocked out of my lungs as realisation dawns on me.

I have lost him. Completely.

“You heard her. Nothing happened that night.” His grip on my arm softens. “You have to attend that party, Elara. Celeste will be consumed by guilt if you don’t. You know that stress is bad for her condition.”

Her condition is all he cares about. He can’t be bothered about mine. He doesn’t care that I'm carrying his baby. Or that the more Celeste stays in this pack, the more my position and respect as Luna slips away.

Maybe that’s what he wants.

Celeste is watching us closely, shifting her weight from one foot to another like she’s afraid Kael might slip away. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell Kael about today’s test results, but she's way too close. I don’t want her to hear a word of it, so I step back. 

“Fine, I’ll attend the party.” I press my fingers against my forehead. “But you need to come with me now. There’s something you need to know right now”

Kael frowned and finally agreed. 

“Really?” she exclaims excitedly after knowing I will come, scooting towards us. “I’m so glad you’ll be able to attend. You’re the human luna, the party won’t feel complete without you.”

I smiled without any emotion and ended the conversation. I want to leave with Kael as soon as possible.

Kael had a driver take Celeste home. He said a few words to comfort her. This time, he didn’t change his mind, not when she clung to him and even cried.

I got into his car with him quickly. My hands were already shaking as I pulled the report out, ready to give it to him.

“Kael, doctor-”

He spoke first.

“There’ll be a mating ceremony between Celeste and me. Soon.”