The Alpha’s Second Chance

This is my fault

Celeste’s

“Celeste, I want to reject our bond.”

His voice is cold, and it sends a chill through me. Yet, here I am, sitting in stunned silence, my eyes fixed on the marble floor as if trying to understand what’s happening. My brain refuses to process the words.

“Celeste,” he calls again, more forcefully this time. I blink, struggling to process his words. Then, like a sudden slap to the face, reality crashes over me. I spring to my feet so abruptly that the chair topples over, the sound echoing through the room.

“W-what do you mean?” I ask, hoping this is some cruel joke, but I know Lucian doesn’t joke. This is real. He wants to reject me.

“You heard me,” he replies flatly. “Today has been long enough, so let’s not drag this out.” He rubs his forehead and sighs, staring at me with those emotionless eyes.

“But why? This is so sudden, Lucian!” I speak louder now, my voice trembling. I knew he didn’t love me, but rejection? I can’t understand. I can’t process this.

H–he can't reject me, I can't lose him.

“It’s because of Liora, isn’t it?” I cry, my voice cracking as I try to meet his cold gaze. “I saw you with her today. If it’s because of her, I don’t mind—just please don’t reject—”

“It is because of her,” he interrupts harshly. “I want to make Liora my Luna now that she’s back. She’s a better fit than you.” His words hit me like a physical blow, and I’m left speechless, unable to form a response.

Tears blur my vision as I struggle to breathe. Liora returned a month ago, and we were all so happy to have her back. She apologized for leaving, said she’d learned her lesson, and we forgave her. But that’s when Lucian began to pull away from me. He found fault in everything I did, and now, he doesn’t even want to touch me.

Touch me? He wants to reject me.

I should have known this was coming. It’s always been about her—the perfect Liora, who isn’t wolf-less like me.

“So you want to reject me... because of my sister?” My voice cracks with hurt and disbelief. “You want to throw away everything we’ve been through because of someone who wasn’t even there when you needed her?” I clench my fists, my anger and pain pouring out. “After everything, this is how you repay me? Please... this can’t be real. Let this be a joke.”

“Watch your tone, Celeste,” he cuts me off, his voice darkening. “I am still your Alpha, don’t forget who you’re speaking to.” He steps closer, his presence suffocating, backing me against the wall.

I can smell his scent—the woods, the strength—but it doesn’t bring comfort anymore. His grip on my chin forces me to meet his cold gray eyes.

“Tomorrow, you will sign the divorce papers. The rejection ceremony will be in three days, and I expect you to be there. Don’t try anything foolish, or I will make you regret it.”

His words are final, cutting through me like a blade. He walks out of the study without another glance, leaving me crumpled on the floor, tears streaming down my face, the door still slightly ajar and a suffocating ache that seems to want to consume me.

_____

My eyes are swollen, and I feel weak and exhausted, all the strength I once had drained from my body. It's no surprise when I collapse the moment I try to rise from the bed. I groan in pain as my knees scrape against the floor, but this small pain is nothing compared to the ache in my heart.

Taking a deep breath, I steady myself and make my way to the vanity. Staring at my reflection, I attempt to hide the dark circles with makeup, but it’s futile—my eyes are too puffy from crying all night.

Lucian didn’t come to the bedroom last night, and although I know who he was with, I’m oddly relieved—I needed the space for myself. I still can't fully process his words from yesterday. Lucian is going to reject me. Just the thought makes the room spin.

I rise from the bed and walk out of the bedroom, knowing today is the day I have to sign the divorce papers.

Laughter echoes through the hallway as I step out. As I descend the stairs, I’m greeted by the sight of my father, mother, and Liora seated in the living room. They’re lively, deep in conversation, with maids bustling around, serving them. None of them have noticed me yet.

My heart clenches painfully as I watch. My parents haven’t visited since I married Lucian, and they’ve never smiled at me the way they are now. But that isn’t why I’m holding back tears. I’m used to this—the way they’ve always preferred and loved my younger sister more than me, a treatment that began the moment I turned eighteen and didn’t have a wolf.

What truly breaks me is knowing I’m about to be rejected because of Liora, and they’re all pretending nothing is happening.

It takes a few minutes for my mother to finally notice me. Her smile freezes when our eyes meet, but she quickly forces it back into place.

"Ah, Elara is here. Come here, child," she says, beckoning me over. But I don’t move.

My gaze shifts to her—to the woman who looks like me. Wavy blonde hair, petite and slender—the ideal girl any man would want. Even though we share the same features, next to her, I seem so plain.

Liora smiles gracefully, setting her cup down on the table. “Sister, why are you just standing there?” she asks, her voice gentle and soothing. But I don’t reply. My feet won’t move. No—I refuse to move.

“Is that how you greet your parents? Stop standing there and come over,” my father says, his gaze as cold and commanding as I remember.

“Don’t talk to her like that, honey. She’s probably tired,” my mother says with a laugh, standing up to wrap her arms around me and gently guide me to sit with them.

“Look, we’re all a complete family now,” she jokes, trying to lighten the mood. “I remember when you two were little, and now look at how much you’ve both grown.”

“Mother, you’re teasing us,” Liora laughs, and my parents join in.

This feels like a dream. Seeing them together like this seems unreal. Don’t they know? They must have heard… So why are they acting like nothing is wrong?

“Do you know?” My voice is barely above a whisper, but it’s loud enough to make them fall silent and look at me. “Did you know that Lucian wants to reject me so Liora can be Luna?” My mother looks away, and my father frowns as the room falls into an uncomfortable silence.

They know.

“Celeste—I hoped you would understand,” my mother says gently, her tone steady as she smiles. “It was Alpha Lucian who wanted your sister. She never wanted to hurt you, and you knew how much they loved each other before you came into the picture.”

I stare at her, unable to speak. So, just because she didn’t want to hurt me, everything should be fine? Just because Lucian wants her, nothing else matters?

“Do you hear what you’re saying? My husband wants to reject me just so he can be with my younger sister, and it’s okay just because they love each other?!” My lips quiver as I try to hold back the tears. “What about me, Mother? Why do I have to understand?”

A look of guilt flashes in my mother’s eyes. She opens her mouth to speak, but Liora starts crying.

“It’s all my fault, Celeste. Please don’t be angry with me. I never wanted to hurt you.”

Mother wraps her arms around Liora, comforting her—like I’m not the one who needs comforting. Like I’m not the one about to be rejected and cast aside.

“Look at how you’re making your sister cry.”

My mother turns to face me, her once warm eyes now cold and unfeeling. “Your sister just returned after being away, and now you’re fighting with her because of a man.”

“And even if we know, do you think we can do anything about it? You should apologize to your sister. She’s been worried about you, but who knew how selfish you are?”

“Don’t make a scene out of this, Celeste. I’m warning you,” my father says, his tone sharp and dismissive. “If you can’t keep your husband, that’s on you. Don’t blame anyone else.” He scoffs, his eyes filled with cold indifference as he looks at me.

I want to laugh. All they care about is Liora. I shouldn’t be surprised. Father and Mother have always favored Liora more. She gets the best of everything, and yet I’ve never complained—not once, because I’ve always believed it was my fault for disappointing them.

Even when they dragged me to the altar to marry Lucian, I thought it was my fault that Liora ran away. “You didn’t watch your sister, and that’s why she ran away. Now you’ll marry the Alpha in her place,” Father had told me, while Mother dressed me, saying I had to take responsibility—that all of this was for my own good.

Now… is this my fault too?

I clench my fists and watch as Liora sheds her fake tears. Anger courses through my veins, and I glare at her. “Drop the pretense, Liora. You ran away five years ago, and now that you’re back, you want to take Lucian from me.” I know her. She can deceive everyone, but not me.

“Celeste, it’s not—”

“Stop being dramatic!” Father yells. “Your sister should have been Luna, not you. Do you think a wolfless female can truly be Luna?”

“Stop acting like this, Celeste. Apologize and make up with your sister.”

Their words cut me deep, and I feel the tears I’ve been holding back finally fall. I stand up, trying to leave, not wanting them to see me completely break down.

But before I can take three steps, Liora grabs my hand. I try to pull away, but she holds me tighter, crying.

“Please forgive me, Celeste. Believe me, I will never hurt you. I can leave the pack if you want me to, so please don’t be upset.”

“Let go of me.” Her grip tightens, almost leaving a bruise.

“Please forgive me,” she pleads, and before I can comprehend what’s happening, the moment I pull my hand from her grip, she falls to the ground with a thud.

Mother screams and rushes to her, checking to see if she’s okay. “Why would you push your sister like that when she’s only apologizing?”

“I—I didn’t,” I stammer, watching in horror as Father glares at me.

He moves toward me, his hand stretched out to strike me—something he’s done countless times when things like this happen. I close my eyes, bracing myself for the sharp sting across my cheek, but it never comes.

As I slowly open my eyes, I see him—Lucian, standing protectively in front of me.