The Coffee Conspiracy
1606 Words
"Mornings Should Be Illegal," she grumble.
Celeste hated mornings, and she especially hated mornings where she woke up to laughing pack members, an infuriatingly smug Alpha waiting in her kitchen, and, for reasons beyond her understanding, a framed photo of last night’s lake disaster on the packhouse wall.
Celeste stared at the picture in horror.
It was a perfectly timed shot of her mid-fall, arms flailing, just before she crashed into Hunter’s chest in the lake, and his stupid grin was crystal clear.
Logan, her Beta, strolled by with his morning coffee and a smirk. “Nice photo, huh?”
Celeste turned slowly. “Who did this?”
Logan took a leisurely sip. “Oh, the pack loves it. It’s a symbol of… unity.”
Celeste hissed. “I will burn this house down.”
Before Logan could respond, Hunter appeared with coffee.
Celeste glared. “Why are you in my house again?”
Hunter grinned. “It’s breakfast time, sweetheart. Our deal, remember?”
Celeste’s left eye twitched. “You could’ve just sent food.”
Hunter leaned against the counter. “But then I wouldn’t get to see your lovely morning scowl.”
Celeste grabbed Logan’s coffee mug and chugged the rest out of spite.
Logan gasped. “That was mine!”
Celeste slammed the empty mug down. “File a complaint.”
Hunter just laughed, but Celeste was adamant that she was going to ruin his morning.
Celeste waited until Hunter was mid-sip of his coffee before she dropped the bomb.
“So, Logan, do you remember what my uncle said last night?”
Logan, catching on immediately, smirked. “Oh, yeah! About that whole ‘Alpha wedding traditions’ thing?”
Celeste nodded dramatically. “Exactly. You know how, in the old days, when two rival Alphas were fated mates, they were required to have a...” She paused for a brief second.
“One-week honeymoon before the mating ceremony!” Logan finished her sentence, his eyes gleaming.
Hunter choked, spluttering on his coffee.
Celeste beamed. “Oh, didn’t I tell you, Hunter? Ancient pack law. It’s very serious.”
Hunter, still coughing, set his mug down. “You’re lying.”
Celeste raised an eyebrow. “Am I?”
Lisa, their ever-faithful Gamma, walked by with perfect timing. “Oh, Alpha, did you tell him about the honeymoon law?” she asked, completely straight-faced.
Hunter stared at all of them. “This can’t be real. It's a conspiracy!"
Celeste shrugged. “I mean, we could ignore tradition, but...the elders might be offended.”
Hunter’s eyes narrowed. “You’re messing with me.”
Celeste smirked. “Prove it.”
Hunter’s gaze flickered to Logan.
Logan sipped his coffee dramatically. “I dunno, man. We don’t make the rules.”
Hunter exhaled sharply. “You all deserve jail.”
Celeste grinned victoriously.
Hunter sighed. “I was going to be nice today.”
Celeste snorted. “When are you ever nice?”
Hunter grinned. “Oh, sweetheart. You just declared war.”
And that was when Celeste realized she might have made a mistake.
Later that morning, during patrol, Celeste had just finished her rounds when Logan approached, laughing.
“You’re not gonna like this,” he said, handing her a mysterious note.
Celeste unfolded it.
Dear Alpha Celeste Rivers of Silver Moon Pack:
Your Alpha has graciously accepted the honeymoon challenge! To prepare, you will be tested in the art of romance, patience, and affection.
Sincerely,
Elder Aldrin of the Nightfall Pack
Celeste froze. “…I’m going to murder him.”
Logan wheezed. “It gets better. Keep reading.”
Celeste’s eye twitched as she scanned the rest of the note.
Task One: Alpha Celeste must deliver a love letter to Alpha Hunter in front of the entire pack. Romantic poetry encouraged.
Celeste screamed into the void.
By afternoon, the entire pack was watching as Celeste stood in front of a very smug Hunter Blackwood as she held the most disgusting, flowery love letter she had ever written.
Hunter, arms crossed, waited patiently. “Whenever you’re ready, sweetheart.”
Celeste gritted her teeth and read aloud. “Oh, Hunter Blackwood, mighty Alpha of the most insufferable pack I’ve ever met…”
Hunter’s smirk widened.
Celeste powered through. “Your arrogance knows no bounds, your smile is infuriating, and your ability to annoy me is unmatched.”
The pack snickered.
Hunter’s eyes twinkled. “Go on.”
Celeste clenched the letter. “Despite all of this, my wolf adores you, and I suppose, in some twisted way, I tolerate your existence.”
Hunter placed a hand over his heart. “That’s the most romantic thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
Celeste glared. “I hope your coffee always burns your tongue.”
Hunter grinned. “Looking forward to breakfast tomorrow.”
Celeste groaned, but Hunter should have known Celeste would retaliate.
He just didn’t think she’d be so dramatic about it.
By dinner time, Celeste had taken the challenge to a whole new level.
The moment Hunter stepped into the pack’s main hall, he knew something was wrong.
Every wolf in the room stared at him.
Celeste walked to the top of the stairs, looked down, and then, she made her grand entrance, wearing a massive, red sash that read: “Future Mrs. Blackwood.”
Hunter choked on air.
Celeste grinned victoriously. “Surprise, honey.”
The pack erupted in laughter.
Hunter dragged a hand down his face. “Celeste.”
“Yes, darling?”
Hunter exhaled slowly. “I will get you back for this.”
Celeste tilted her head innocently, batting her eyelashes, and said, “But we’re fated mates, love. Why not embrace it?”
The room howled in amusement.
Hunter’s eyes darkened with challenge. “Oh, you want to play it that way?” he murmured.
Celeste smirked. “Bring it on Blackwood.”.
Moments later, Hunter crossed his arms. “Alright, let’s settle this with a bet.”
Celeste raised an eyebrow. “I’m listening.”
Hunter leaned in slightly. “If you lose, you will have to wear that sash for a whole week.”
Celeste grinned. “And if I win?”
Hunter smirked. “I’ll let you pick my punishment.”
The entire pack gasped. Celeste wouldn't pass this up for anything, and well, Lisa, always the instigator, yelled, “Make him wear a ‘Celeste’s Biggest Fan’ T-shirt!”
Logan shouted, “Make him announce your wedding on social media!”
Celeste pretended to think. “Tempting… but let’s up the stakes.”
She leaned forward. “If I win, you have to say,on camera, that I am the superior Alpha.”
Hunter snorted. “That’s not happening.”
Celeste grinned. “Scared?”
Hunter’s jaw flexed. “Fine. What’s the challenge?”
Celeste smirked. “First one to admit they want to kiss the other loses.”
Hunter froze.
The pack exploded into laughter. “OH, THIS IS GONNA BE GOOD.”
Hunter’s lips twitched. “You sure you want to play this game, sweetheart?”
Celeste tilted her head. “What’s wrong? Think you’ll cave first?”
Hunter chuckled darkly. “You have no idea what you just started.”
The next morning, Hunter played dirty.
He showed up at Celeste’s packhouse, looking like a walking thirst trap, with his black shirt, rolled-up sleeves, and smug expression.
Celeste hated him.
“Morning, sweetheart,” Hunter purred.
Celeste refused to react. “Die.”
Hunter just grinned. “Aw, is that any way to talk to your future husband?”
Celeste’s left eye twitched, grabbing Logan’s coffee again and chugging it.
Logan sighed. “I don’t even fight it anymore.”
Hunter leaned closer. “You look tense, Celeste. I could help with that.”
Celeste stabbed a fork into her plate.
Hunter smirked. "One step closer."
By mid-afternoon, Celeste was ready to ruin Hunter’s life, so she called a pack-wide meeting.
When Hunter arrived, he saw a giant banner hanging over the packhouse, and in bold letters, it read:
“Hunter Blackwood’s Application for the Position of Celeste’s Future Husband.”
Hunter stared in disbelief.
Celeste beamed. “Oh, look, you’re early for your interview!”
Hunter’s jaw clenched. “You are evil.”
Celeste patted his cheek. “Smile for the pack, honey.”
Hunter exhaled slowly, and then he snapped, grabbing Celeste’s wrist.
Celeste barely had time to react before he yanked her close, way too close.
Hunter’s voice was low, teasing. “Say it.”
Celeste’s heart pounded. “Say what?”
Hunter smirked. “That you want to kiss me.”
Celeste glared. “I’d rather eat glass.”
Hunter chuckled. “Liar.”
Celeste hated that her wolf was howling in agreement.
Hunter tilted his head slightly. “Go on. Say it, sweetheart.”
Celeste stared at him, the temptation to great. She grabbed his collar and kissed him.
Hunter’s arms wrapped around her waist, deepening the kiss before she could escape.
Celeste yelped against his lips. “THAT IS NOT WHAT I MEANT,” she mumbled.
Hunter chuckled into the kiss. “You lost, sweetheart.”
Celeste shoved him away, flustered and furious.
The pack was going feral, and Lisa yelled, “SHE KISSED HIM FIRST! HUNTER WINS!”
Celeste, still breathless, pointed at Hunter. “You cheated.”
Hunter smirked. “You gave in first.”
Celeste groaned. “I hate you.”
Hunter grinned. “You kissed me.”
Celeste stomped away. “I hope your next coffee tastes like regret.”
Hunter laughed. “See you at breakfast, sweetheart.”
Game. Set. Match.
- Writer
