Chapter 36: Jealousy Returns

The camp had grown beyond anything Lena had imagined.

Thirty-seven hybrids now called it home. Wolves and vampires lived side by side in numbers that would have seemed impossible just months ago. Children—hybrid children, wolf children, even a few vampire children—played together in the gardens.

But peace, Lena was learning, was fragile.

It started small.

A new vampire had arrived with Lyra's group—a striking woman named Celeste with pale skin, dark hair, and eyes that lingered on Caspian a moment too long. At first, Lena thought nothing of it. Caspian was ancient, powerful, beautiful. Of course others would notice.

But then Celeste started finding reasons to be near him.

Training sessions where she "accidentally" ended up as his partner. Evening fires where she sat just a little too close. Conversations that lasted a little too long.

Lena watched. Said nothing. Told herself she was imagining things.

---

"You're not imagining things."

Mira's voice came from beside her. They stood at the edge of the training grounds, watching Caspian demonstrate a fighting technique to a group of young vampires. Celeste was front and center, her eyes fixed on him with an intensity that made Lena's stomach clench.

"What do you mean?" Lena kept her voice casual.

"I mean she's interested in him. And she's not being subtle about it." Mira looked at Lena. "Are you going to do something?"

"Like what? Tell her to back off? I'm not—" Lena stopped. "I'm not that person."

"What person?"

"The jealous girlfriend. The possessive mate." Lena's voice was quiet. "Caspian chose me. I have to trust that."

Mira nodded slowly. "Trust is good. But so is communication. Have you talked to him about it?"

Lena hadn't. And she knew she should.

---

That night, she tried.

They lay together in their cabin, Kael already asleep, Caspian reading by candlelight. Lena stared at the ceiling, gathering courage.

"Caspian?"

He looked up. "Yes?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Anything." He set down his book, giving her his full attention.

Lena hesitated. Then: "Celeste. The new vampire. She seems... interested in you."

Caspian's expression didn't change. "She's been friendly. That's all."

"Friendly?" Lena's voice came out sharper than she intended. "She looks at you like you're the only person in the room."

"Lena." Caspian's voice was gentle. "I haven't encouraged her. I'm not interested. There's only you. There's only ever been you."

Lena wanted to believe him. She really did. But the image of Celeste's eyes on him, her body too close, her smiles too warm—it burned.

"I know." She forced a smile. "I'm sorry. I'm being silly."

"You're being human." He kissed her forehead. "It's one of the things I love about you."

---

But the doubts didn't go away.

Over the next days, Lena found herself watching. Noticing things she hadn't noticed before. The way Celeste found excuses to touch Caspian's arm during conversations. The way she laughed at his jokes—jokes that weren't even funny. The way she positioned herself between him and others, creating a small bubble of intimacy.

Kael noticed too.

"She's circling," he said one evening, his golden eyes troubled. "Like a wolf eyeing prey."

"She's not a wolf. She's a vampire."

"Same principle." He pulled Lena close. "Caspian doesn't see it. Men are blind to that kind of thing. But I see it."

"What should I do?"

"Talk to him again. Make him understand." Kael's voice was firm. "He loves you, Lena. He'd never do anything to hurt you. But he might not realize how this looks, how it *feels*."

Lena nodded. He was right. She needed to be clearer.

---

The next day, she found Caspian alone by the river.

"Can we talk?"

He looked up, concern flickering in his red eyes. "Of course. What's wrong?"

Lena sat beside him, gathering her thoughts. "Celeste."

Caspian's expression tightened. "Again?"

"Again." Lena met his eyes. "I know you think I'm being paranoid. But she's... she's everywhere you are. Always touching you, always close, always *there*. It's making me uncomfortable."

"Lena, I've told you—"

"I know what you've told me. And I believe you." Her voice cracked. "But it doesn't change how it feels. Watching her circle you. Watching her try to insert herself into every moment we have."

Caspian was quiet for a long moment. Then: "I didn't realize it was that bad."

"It is." Lena's eyes filled with tears. "I trust you. I do. But I don't trust her. And I don't know how to handle that."

He pulled her into his arms. "I'm sorry. I should have noticed. Should have set clearer boundaries." He pulled back, meeting her eyes. "I'll talk to her. Tonight."

"Thank you." Lena leaned against him. "I hate feeling like this. Jealous. Insecure. It's not who I want to be."

"It's who you are when you love someone." His voice was soft. "It's not a weakness, Lena. It's proof that this matters."

---

That evening, Caspian spoke to Celeste.

Lena didn't hear the conversation—she respected their privacy. But she saw the aftermath. Celeste's stiff shoulders, her cold nod, the way she avoided Caspian for the rest of the night.

"She's not happy," Kael observed.

"Good." Lena's voice was quiet. "Maybe now she'll back off."

But something in Celeste's eyes when she glanced at Lena made her uneasy. It wasn't defeat she saw there. It was something else.

Something that looked like waiting.

---

The next morning, Lena woke alone.

Kael was already gone—alpha duties. But Caspian's side of the bed was empty too. Cold.

She dressed quickly, telling herself not to panic. There were a hundred reasons he might have risen early. Training. Meetings. Patrol.

She found him by the river.

With Celeste.

They weren't touching. Weren't even close. But they were talking—intently, privately—and Celeste's face was wet with tears.

Lena's heart stopped.

She turned and walked away before they could see her.

---

Hours later, Caspian found her in their cabin.

"You're avoiding me." It wasn't a question.

"I saw you. This morning. With her."

Caspian's face paled. "Lena, it's not what you think."

"Then what is it?" Her voice shook. "Because from where I was standing, it looked like you were comforting her. Privately. Without telling me."

"She came to me. Apologizing. Crying." Caspian moved closer, reaching for her. "She said she'd been inappropriate, that she was sorry, that she'd leave if that's what I wanted."

"And you believed her?"

"I believed she was sincere." His red eyes held hers. "Lena, I love you. Only you. Always you. Nothing she said or did changed that."

Lena wanted to believe him. Wanted to let it go. But the image of them together, intimate, private—it burned.

"I need some time," she whispered. "To think."

"Lena—"

"Please." She stepped back. "Just... give me tonight."

She left before he could respond.

---

She spent the night with Mira, staring at the ceiling, saying nothing.

"You know he loves you, right?" Mira's voice came through the darkness. "Anyone can see it."

"I know." Lena's voice was hollow. "But knowing and feeling are different."

Mira was quiet for a moment. Then: "When I was alone, I used to imagine what love would feel like. Safe. Certain. *Easy*. But watching you—" She hesitated. "It doesn't look easy."

"It's not." Lena laughed bitterly. "It's the hardest thing I've ever done."

"Then why do it?"

Lena thought about it. About Kael's warmth, Caspian's cool, the way they completed her. About the family they'd built, the home they'd created, the *love* that had transformed everyone around them.

"Because it's worth it." Her voice softened. "Because he's worth it. They both are."

Mira reached over and squeezed her hand. "Then go talk to him. Really talk. Don't let this fester."

Lena nodded slowly. "Tomorrow. I'll talk to him tomorrow."

---

Dawn came gray and cold.

Lena walked back to their cabin, rehearsing what she'd say. But when she opened the door, Caspian was already waiting—pale, exhausted, *terrified*.

"Lena." His voice cracked. "I thought—when you didn't come back—"

"I needed space." She moved closer. "Not to punish you. To think."

"And now?"

"Now I'm done thinking." She reached for him. "I'm sorry I ran. I'm sorry I doubted. I know you love me. I know you'd never—"

He kissed her—fierce, desperate, *relieved*. "Never," he breathed against her lips. "Never."

They held each other as the sun rose, wounds slowly healing.

But in the back of Lena's mind, a question lingered.

What if Celeste wasn't done? What if this was just the beginning?