20
1694 Words
CELESTE
“We know little about you, Luna Celeste. We only know what the world has whispered.” Elder Alaric’s voice rumbled through the silence.
I opened my mouth, but Ingrid continued. “We don’t care about your past. But know this, our Alpha has bled for this pack. He has buried his kin to build it. We will not allow anyone, not even you, to hurt him.”
“Even as his mate,” Fen added bluntly.
The rest of them nodded in unison. The unity was impressive.
I let the silence settle before meeting Ingrid’s eyes squarely. “That’s fair,” I said softly, then louder, clearer. “But allow me to return the favor.”
Knox straightened beside me.
“I’ve been hurt enough to know what betrayal feels like. So I’ll say this once—don’t get in my way, don’t try to hurt me, and don’t even think about hurting him. Because I don’t forgive easily. So if you’re warning me, you’d better warn your Alpha, too. After all, I’m your Luna now.”
For a second, there was dead silence.
“Well,” Elder Mirella said, her voice rich and amused, “looks like our Alpha’s finally met his match.”
Ingrid’s lips twitched—not quite a smile, but something close. “Duly noted, Luna.”
Knox chuckled, low and deep. “It seems my council, too, has met its match.”
Alaric grunted. “Gladly. The pack’s been dull lately.”
The tension broke slightly, laughter returning to the edges of the room.
“I am going to let this slide only once.” Knox suddenly declared. “But don’t ever speak to my mate like that again.”
The entire room went still. I turned to him sharply, but he wasn’t looking at me; he was staring down the table, eyes gleaming with warning.
“Wait. Mate?” Jasper repeated.
Sloane whistled low. “You mean she’s your fated mate?”
Knox cursed under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck. “I didn’t mean to—”
“No wonder,” Sloane said, grinning. “I knew something was off. You’ve been… different.”
Alaric laughed so hard the table shook. “The mighty Alpha of Grey Storm, undone by fate!”
Matthias nodded in mock solemnity. “Truly, the Moon Goddess has a cruel sense of humor.”
Torin nodded. “The Moon Goddess herself had to shove a mate into your lap for you to stop brooding.”
“I’m not brooding,” Knox said flatly, though the muscle in his jaw jumped.
Alaric snorted. “You’re always brooding.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t take him seriously,” I muttered. “I don’t believe in that nonsense.”
Knox’s gaze flicked toward me, unreadable. His mouth opened slightly, like he wanted to argue, but he closed it again, saying nothing.
The entire Council turned toward me with those same coy, mischievous smiles that made me want to groan.
“Oh, she will,” Mirella said lightly. “Give it time.”
Sloane tilted her head, her eyes glinting with mischief. “I see why he brought you here so soon. Couldn’t risk any unmated wolves catching your scent.”
That made Knox growl.
Jasper raised his hands, laughing. “Alright, alright, we’ll stop before he tears out someone’s throat.”
“Please do,” Knox said through gritted teeth.
The elders chuckled among themselves as Mirella finally stood, signaling the meeting’s end. “That’s enough for one day. Go,” she told Knox, waving her hand. “Take your mate home before you start a blood feud in our council room.”
Knox exhaled roughly, clearly done with all of it.
As we walked out, I could still hear Jasper’s voice behind us, teasing, “Enjoy your honeymoon, Alpha. Try not to come back until you’ve actually smiled.”
Knox didn’t respond, but the muscle in his jaw ticked dangerously. I had to bite back a laugh.
The walk back to the car was silent. Every few steps, I glanced sideways at him, but his face was unreadable as always. He didn’t look embarrassed or regretful. When the doors shut and the engine hummed to life, I finally exhaled.
“So?” Knox asked, eyes fixed ahead. “What do you think of my people?”
I scoffed. “You mean your Council of comedians?”
His lips twitched. “You didn’t answer my question.”
I turned my gaze out the window. “They’re loyal,” I said quietly. “A little too loyal, if you ask me.”
“That’s a problem?” He hummed thoughtfully. “You’re avoiding the real answer. You liked them.”
I snapped my head toward him. “I didn’t—”
He smirked. “You did. I could see it. You almost smiled.”
“I did not smile,” I said, crossing my arms.
“You did,” he said again, softer this time, as if the thought amused him deeply. “And I liked it.”
I looked away, heat crawling up my neck. “You imagine things, Alpha.”
He chuckled under his breath. “Only when they’re worth imagining.”
I hated that my stomach fluttered.
When we finally pulled up to the manor, it dawned on me that everything about it screamed romance: roses climbing the trellis, lanterns lit along the walkway. I wanted to groan.
Knox got out first, coming around to open my door like a gentleman. “Welcome once again to your temporary prison,” he said dryly.
I blinked. “You read my mind.”
He gave me a small, knowing smirk. “I built it. Of course I did.”
My heart stuttered as I followed him inside. Every corner was perfect. The last time I was here, I’d been too sick to really look at, and last night was a mess, but right now, I was wowed.
He walked ahead of me, hands in his pockets. “It used to be a ruin,” he said casually. “I restored it myself, years ago. Every inch of it. I thought it might make a good retreat someday.”
“For what? Your victims?” I muttered under my breath.
His lips curved slightly, but he didn’t answer.
When we reached the main hall, he stopped and handed me a key.
“What’s this?” I asked suspiciously.
“The master key,” he said. “It opens everything. Every room, every door, every gate. What’s mine is yours, Celeste. You can walk anywhere you please.”
I stared at it as he winked and then walked away.
The next few days blurred together. By the fourth morning, I couldn’t stand the stillness anymore.
“I want to start training,” I told him as he entered the hall, a towel draped over his shoulder.
He stopped midstep. “Training?”
“Yes. You said you’d train me. I’m well now.”
He raised a brow. “You were poisoned just a month ago.”
“Which means I’ve had three weeks of rest,” I countered. “I’m ready. You said you’d help me. Or was that a lie?”
“Fine. Let’s see what you’ve got, sweetheart.” He said lightly, shedding his shirt.
My brain short-circuited.
“Eyes up, Celeste,” he said, voice full of amusement. “Unless you’re planning to surrender already.”
I scowled. “You wish.”
He gestured. “Come at me.”
The spar stretched on for what felt like hours. Sweat clung to my skin, my breath came ragged, and he hadn’t even broken a sweat. Every time I missed a strike, he corrected my form by stepping in close, adjusting my stance with his hands. It was distracting. When I went for a punch again, he caught my wrist, but this time, I twisted and nearly got him. A slip. A turn. My foot slid. Before I could hit the ground, his arm was around my waist, pulling me against him.
For a second, everything stopped. The world shrank to the sound of our breathing, the heat between us.
I shoved him away roughly. “Don’t,” I snapped. “Don’t touch me.”
His brows furrowed for a second before he calmly said, “Training’s over for today.”
I wanted to scream at him for being gentle, but he wasn’t giving me the chance.
Later, over dinner, he surprised me by asking, “Tell me about your revenge. What do you want to do?”
“That was fast,” I said, arching a brow. “Weren’t you the one insisting I rest?”
“You asked for the fight,” he replied. “Resting doesn’t mean we don’t plan.”
I tilted my head, a teasing smile curving my lips. “I want it slow,” I said. “Not hits and immediate spectacle. I want Robb, Mila, and every traitor who played a part to suffer. I want them to live long enough to regret crossing me. They need to unravel. Humiliation works better than violence at first. We’ll steal his allies, expose his deals, drain him of options, and ruin his reputation.”
“I love the way you think,” he smirked. “Consider it done.”
Unnerved by his praise, I reached for my glass, but my fingers brushed his instead. I froze as his eyes locked with mine. Neither of us moved. My pulse kicked hard against my throat.
Slowly, Knox turned his hand, caught my fingers in his, and didn’t let go. For a long, suspended moment, he watched me. Then he brought her hand to his lip and kissed my knuckles.
My breath caught in my chest.
He reached over, slowly wiped a stray drop of sauce from the corner of my mouth with his thumb, and then put it to his lips.
I swallowed. Every nerve in my body was on fire.
“Delicious,” he said simply, eyes glinting with amusement as he stood. “Dinner’s over.”
- Writer
