The Forgotten Mate

Chapter 5: Celeste's POV

I didn’t want to do it.

That was the hardest part. I didn’t want to get rid of the baby. But what choice did I have? If Miss Hudgins ever found out, she’d turn her back on me just like my adoptive parents did. The thought haunted me—her kindness expiring, just like theirs had. And the worst part? I’d never even seen Orthon again after that night. Not until today.

I remember that rickety old hospital. The smell of bleach mixed with something foul. The creaking of the bed beneath me. It wasn’t clean, it wasn’t safe, but it was all I could afford. The doctor didn’t ask many questions. They never do in places like that.

I told myself it was the only option. I had no money, no support, and no future if I kept the baby. But the decision didn’t come without a cost. The abortion didn’t just take the baby—it took away my ability to have children at all. Something broke inside me that day, and I’ve never been the same.

For weeks after, I was hollow. Depressed but pretending otherwise. I put on a good face in front of Ryker. He couldn’t know. If he found out, he would think I’d betrayed him.

Maybe, in a way, I did. Maybe that’s why the goddess allowed him to reject me. Karma. For that one night of weakness, for not being strong enough to say no. But it wasn’t my fault. I never asked for any of it. The whole pack knows General Orthon hates women. Most people thought he was gay, and some still do. So when I woke up next to him in that dingy hotel, you can imagine my shock.

Now he’s here. One of my trainers. I’ve already told myself to stay far away from him, to avoid any kind of interaction. But Becky isn’t helping.

“I have such a crush on him,” she whispers as we sit waiting for the orientation to start. “I wonder what his p***s size is.”

I sigh, forcing a smile. “You really don’t want to know.” I’ve seen it, and trust me, it’s nothing to write home about.

The speaker, a tall, stern-looking man with a booming voice, interrupts my thoughts. He stands in front of the group and begins to speak.

“Welcome to the Lucidin Training Camp. Over the next four months, you will be pushed to your limits. This camp was founded with one goal in mind: to create the strongest, most disciplined warriors across the packs. Our values are simple—strength, loyalty, and honor. But don’t think for a second this will be easy. You’ll be tested physically, mentally, and emotionally.”

His eyes scan the group, lingering on a few of the recruits. “By the end of this program, not all of you will make it. But those who do will have earned the respect and recognition of their packs. You’ll be graded each week and ranked on a leaderboard based on your performance in all aspects of training—combat, strategy, endurance, and leadership.”

He steps aside, gesturing to the panel of trainers behind him. “Now, let me introduce the trainers. First, from the Niagrah Pack, we have General Orthon, Head Trainer.”

Of course. My heart skips a beat as Orthon steps forward. He looks the same—handsome, young, far too composed for someone in his forties. I avert my eyes and focus on the ground, doing everything I can to stay invisible.

“Next, we have Senior Trainer Elowen from the Riverwood Pack.”

A tall woman with broad shoulders steps forward, her hair tied back tightly. She nods curtly but says nothing.

“From the Daggerfall Pack, we have Trainer Kellan.”

A man with dark eyes and a deep scar across his face steps up. His presence is gloomy, and I make a mental note to avoid him too.

“Trainer Harvin from the Shadowmoon Pack.”

A lanky guy with a wiry build raises a hand, flashing a grin. He looks more mischievous than dangerous.

“Senior Trainer Amara from the Blackridge Pack.”

Another woman steps forward. Her face is unreadable and she stands confidently. I can tell she’s not one to mess with.

“And finally, Trainer Maxon from the Emberflame Pack.”

The last trainer steps forward, a stocky man with a thick beard. He nods to the group with a serious expression.

The speech ends, and the crowd begins to disperse. But before I can get away, a girl beside me trips, scattering her belongings across the ground. Instinctively, I help her up and hand her the things she dropped.

“Thank you,” she mumbles, her face flushed with embarrassment. She hurries back to her seat, and I watch her go, feeling a strange sense of empathy for her.

©©©

After the orientation, Becky and I spend the rest of the day in the courtyard, talking about nothing in particular. Training starts tomorrow, and I can feel the tension rising in the air.

“I want to be the best,” Becky says suddenly, her eyes bright with determination. “I want to prove I’m worth something. What about you?”

I hesitate. What do I want? “I’m not sure,” I admit. “I just… need to find something. Something more than this.”

She nods, but I can tell she doesn’t fully understand. How could she?

By afternoon, there’s a commotion in the courtyard. A group of girls giggles and whispers near the gate. Becky and I glance over, and my heart sinks when I see why.

Cain. He’s standing by his car, waiting for me, and I feel a wave of embarrassment wash over me. It’s like I’m a child being picked up after school.

Becky’s eyes widen. “How do you know the Beta of the Niagrah pack?”

I’m relieved that most of the recruits here aren’t from my pack, so they don’t know about Ryker’s public rejection. “He’s just… helping me,” I say vaguely.

I quickly say goodbye to Becky and make my way to Cain. As I walk, I notice someone else. Chip. He’s alone this time, walking into the camp with a hood pulled over his face. Our eyes meet again, and this time, something happens.

Images flood my mind. Not memories, not exactly. It’s like flashes of something else—something beyond me. The future? A vision? I don’t know what it is, but it makes my stomach ache.

I quickly look away, trying to shake off the feeling as I approach Cain.

“How did it go?” he asks as I slide into the car.

I snap myself back to the present. “You shouldn’t have come.”

He smiles, pulling away from the camp. “I just didn’t want you to get lost. After a week, I’ll stop picking you up once you know the way. It’s a long drive.”

But my mind isn’t on the drive. It’s on this Chip guy. Who the hell is he?