Mated in the shadows

The accusation

3.

A month had passed since the induction night, and Celeste was relieved. No one had called her in, and Kael hadn’t even looked her way since. She assumed he didn’t remember. That thought alone brought her peace—along with the fact that her bond with Bonnie had only grown stronger.

Despite Bonnie being a rank higher than her, Celeste had always admired how close they’d become. She never understood why someone of Bonnie’s status would befriend her, but she wasn’t about to question it. She was simply grateful.

The day was calm. Celeste wandered through the garden, feeling light and at ease for the first time in weeks. But that peace shattered when a call went out: all Omegas were to report to Alpha Kael’s manor immediately.

Her heart skipped.

She walked to the manor with a lump in her throat. As she stepped inside, the air was cold—just like Kael. The room was filled with the other Omegas, and there he was, standing tall in front of the fire, his expression unreadable, his presence magnetic and terrifying. When his golden eyes locked with hers, her stomach dropped.

Did he remember?

“Why are we here?” she whispered under her breath.

Kael cleared his throat. “It has come to our notice that someone has been stealing from the camp.”

Celeste exhaled quietly. At least this wasn’t about that night.

Murmurs broke out among the Omegas, confusion and concern buzzing through the air. Kael raised a hand, silencing them.

“I have every reason to believe the culprit is among you right now,” he continued. “Maggi, come forward. Tell us what you saw.”

Celeste blinked. Maggi?

A small, pale girl with timid eyes stepped forward. She looked straight at Celeste.

“I was walking near the food store,” Maggi said. “And I saw her—Celeste—stealing food and giving it to a man.”

A stunned silence filled the room.

Celeste let out a short, mocking laugh. “Me? Are you serious?”

Kael’s sharp gaze didn’t waver.

“I didn’t steal anything,” Celeste snapped. “She’s lying! I don’t even talk to anyone but Bonnie. What ‘gentleman’ is she talking about?”

Kael’s face hardened. “You will be punished as all thieves are punished.”

“No!” Celeste stepped forward, her voice cracking slightly. “I swear to the Moon Goddess, I would never steal from this clan—not now, not ever. Please believe me.”

“Guards!” Kael barked, unmoved.

But just as the guards stepped forward, a voice rang out.

“She didn’t do it!”

All eyes turned to Bonnie, who pushed through the crowd and stood beside Celeste protectively.

“Alpha Kael, she didn’t do it,” Bonnie said again, boldly. “It was Maggi. She’s trying to frame my friend.”

---

Kael’s voice was stern. “Bonnie, you know better than to interrupt me.”

Celeste looked from Bonnie to Maggi. The younger girl was trembling, clearly shaken under the weight of Bonnie’s piercing stare.

“Maggi,” Kael said, his voice calm but firm, “I’ll ask again. Did you see her taking the food?”

Maggi's lips quivered. She couldn’t even lift her gaze.

“No… no, I didn’t see anyone take it,” she whispered.

The room grew silent as she began to cry. “I was caught up in the moment. I didn’t know what I was doing when I pointed to Celeste.”

Kael went silent, his gaze unreadable.

Celeste stood frozen, still trying to process why this little girl had tried to frame her. What could she possibly gain from it?

Kael’s voice finally came, low and cold. “Well... you’ll suffer the consequences, Maggi.”

Then louder, he said, “You may all leave.”