A Truce (Or Not)
1027 Words
Hunter had finally accepted the fact that Celeste Rivers was his mate, but as much as he enjoyed their war of pranks, arguments, and totally accidental public disasters, he wanted more, something real and it didnt need to include sabotage, trickery, or near-death experiences involving cake stands and territorial disputes.
Unfortunately, Celeste was Celeste, and if Hunter thought she would just accept this new, romantic shift between them without one last round of chaos, he was deeply mistaken.
"Alright," Celeste said, crossing her arms. "Let's set some ground rules."
Hunter raised an eyebrow. "Rules?"
Lisa, Celeste's Beta, nodded. "Yes. If you two are going to stop trying to destroy each other and actually act like fated mates, you need some structure."
Hunter smirked. "You make it sound like we need a babysitter."
Celeste tilted her head. "Have you met us?"
Hunter sighed. "Fair point."
Lisa pulled out a literal notepad. "First rule: No more public sabotage."
Celeste immediately looked offended. "Define sabotage."
Lisa gave her a look. "Celeste! you faked a wedding announcement."
"That was strategic."
Hunter snorted. "That was illegal."
Lisa continued. "Rule two: No more reckless bets that end in property damage."
Celeste groaned. "You're sucking the fun out of everything."
"Rule three: If you have an issue, communicate like adults instead of trying to one-up each other with increasingly elaborate pranks."
Hunter and Celeste both avoided eye contact.
Lisa sighed. "And rule four: No more bets involving kisses."
"Absolutely not," Hunter interrupted. "I'm keeping that one."
Celeste blinked.
Lisa massaged her temples. "Fine. But I am warning you both that if either of you start another pack-wide disaster, I'm staging an intervention."
"Deal," Celeste said quickly, before Lisa could add more rules.
Hunter leaned in, voice low. "You're really agreeing to this?"
Celeste smirked. "Oh, Hunter, since when have I ever played by the rules?"
Hunter suddenly felt concerned, and he had a right to.
The next day, Celeste strolled into Hunter’s training grounds like she owned the place.
"Morning, fiancé," she said, entirely too cheerful.
Hunter groaned. "Celeste?"
"Quick question," she interrupted. "Do you believe in fate?"
Hunter narrowed his eyes. "What are you up to?"
Celeste pulled out a small
"Simple," she said. "We each pull a challenge from this bag. Whoever loses has to grant the other one, no questions asked."
Hunter stared. "This is a trap."
Celeste gasped, hand on her heart. "Hunter, how dare you!"
Lisa, standing behind her, mouthed: It's a trap.
Hunter sighed. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
Celeste grinned and held out the bag. "Pick your doom."
Hunter reached in, pulling out a folded piece of paper. He unfolded it and read:
"Public Poetry Recital: Declare Your Feelings."
Hunter froze, and Celeste packed up laughing.
"Wow," she said. "Tough break."
Hunter stared at her. "You rigged this."
Celeste blinked innocently. "Me? Cheat? Never."
Lisa coughed loudly.
Hunter sighed, accepting his fate. "Fine. But if I'm doing this, you have to do the same."
Celeste hesitated. "What?"
Hunter smirked. "Yeah, sweetheart. We're both doing this."
Celeste suddenly looked very nervous, and she knew it may be difficult to get out of, but what did she expect? Did she really think that Hunter would just accept?
That afternoon, the entire town gathered for the spectacle.
Hunter, dressed in his alpha best, stood on the makeshift stage, with Celeste by his side, looking pale for once in her life.
"Go on, lovebirds!" someone shouted.
Lisa clapped aggressively. "Do it!"
Hunter cleared his throat and looked directly at Celeste. Then, in the most dramatic, deep-voiced, overly romantic way possible, he began: "Celeste Rivers, bane of my existence..."
The crowd erupted into laughter.
Celeste gasped. "Excuse me?"
Hunter smirked and continued: "Your pranks have ruined my reputation. Your sabotage has caused devastation, and yet somehow, despite all the strife, you are the chaos that gives me life."
The crowd lost it.
Celeste's face turned bright red, and she glared at him. "You are the worst."
Hunter winked. "Your turn, sweetheart."
Celeste took a deep breath, turned toward the crowd, and bolted.
Hunter blinked. "Did she just—?"
Lisa sighed. "She absolutely just ran away."
The town erupted into cheers and whistles.
Hunter, grinning like a victorious wolf, called after her. "Guess that means I win!"
Somewhere in the distance, Celeste's furious scream echoed back.
Hunter found her later, pacing behind the town hall.
She turned to look at him, her arms crossed. "That was dirty."
Hunter smirked. "So was rigging the challenge."
Celeste huffed. "I didn’t expect you to be good at poetry."
Hunter stepped closer. "I meant every word, you know."
Celeste stilled.
Hunter reached for her hand, fingers brushing. "You are the chaos that gives me life."
Celeste rolled her eyes, but her pulse betrayed her. "So what now?" she muttered.
Hunter’s grip tightened just slightly. "We stop fighting it."
Celeste hesitated, then sighed dramatically. "Fine."
Hunter arched a brow. "That’s it?"
She smirked. "Well, obviously, I’m going to get revenge first."
Hunter groaned. "Of course you are."
Celeste, grinning, leaned up and kissed him. "Consider that a warning, fiancé."
Hunter chuckled. "You really can't help yourself, can you?"
Celeste grinned. "Not even a little."
Hunter exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “You know, most mates just fall into it. No wars, no sabotage, no public poetry duels.”
Celeste tilted her head, pretending to consider. “Yeah, no, that sounds boring.”
He laughed. “Yeah. Yeah, it does.” Then he glanced down at her, more serious this time. “You scared?”
Celeste’s smirk faltered for just a second, but she covered it quickly. “Terrified.”
Hunter nodded. “Good. Me too.”
For a long moment, they just stood there, the weight of it settling in.
Then Celeste smacked his arm. “But don’t think that means I’m going easy on you.”
Hunter groaned. “You just had to ruin the moment, didn’t you?”
Celeste beamed. “Oh, fiancé, since when have I ever played by the rules?”
Hunter sighed dramatically. “Yeah, yeah. Bring it on.”
And with that, their beautifully chaotic love story continued.
- Writer
