The Alpha's Regret

Chapter 5: Celeste's Plan

Celeste paced her hotel suite, her manicured nails digging into her palms hard enough to draw blood.

Children. Jaxon had children.

Two perfect little heirs with ice-blue eyes and Steele bloodlines running through their veins. The son and daughter she was supposed to give him. The legacy that should have been hers to create.

But no. That b***h Aria had beaten her to it.

Celeste stopped in front of the mirror, studying her reflection. She was beautiful—objectively, undeniably beautiful. Emerald eyes, auburn hair that fell in perfect waves, a figure that made males trip over themselves. She'd worked hard to maintain this appearance, especially after her "resurrection."

And yet, Jaxon had looked at Aria tonight like she was the only woman in the world.

Even after three years. Even with Celeste right there beside him.

Her phone buzzed. A text from one of her contacts in Silver Moon Pack: The whole pack is talking. Alpha's secret heirs? This changes everything.

Yes. It changed everything.

Celeste threw her phone on the bed and resumed pacing. She needed to think. Needed to plan.

Three years. Three years of careful manipulation, of positioning herself as the perfect mate, of slowly poisoning Jaxon's marriage from the inside. Three years of playing the tragic returned love, the victim who'd survived unspeakable horrors.

All of it wasted because Aria had been pregnant.

"How did I miss it?" Celeste hissed to herself.

She'd been so careful. The fake fertility reports she'd paid Dr. Morrison to create had been flawless. The hormone suppressants she'd been slipping into Aria's morning tea should have prevented pregnancy entirely.

Should have.

But somehow, Aria had conceived anyway. Must have been right before Celeste returned, before she'd had access to Aria's food and drinks.

A timing issue. A mistake that was now threatening to destroy everything.

Celeste's phone rang. She glanced at the screen—Dr. Morrison. Speak of the devil.

"What?"

"Miss Celeste." The pack doctor's voice was nervous. "I... I heard about tonight. The children. Is it true?"

"Obviously."

"But the reports—I made sure they were convincing. How could she have—"

"She got pregnant before you started treating her, you idiot." Celeste fought to keep her voice down. Hotel walls were thin. "The question now is what we're going to do about it."

Silence on the other end. Then, carefully, "What do you mean, 'do about it'?"

"I mean those children are a problem. A complication. They make Jaxon look at his ex-wife with longing instead of indifference. They give him a reason to question everything—including how Aria suddenly became 'infertile' after I returned."

"Miss Celeste, I don't think I can—"

"I'm not asking you to do anything yet." Celeste softened her tone, slipping into the sweet, helpless voice that usually worked on males. "I just need information. Medical records. Anything that might... help us understand the situation better."

"The children's medical records?"

"And Aria's. Particularly anything related to her pregnancy and the period before it."

Dr. Morrison hesitated. "That's highly illegal. If I'm caught accessing another pack's medical databases—"

"You won't be caught. You're smarter than that." Celeste injected warmth into her voice. "Besides, you owe me. Or did you forget who paid for your daughter's college tuition? Who made sure that gambling debt of yours disappeared?"

Then silence . She could practically hear him sweating.

"I'll see what I can do," he said finally.

"Good. And Doctor? Don't make me remind you what happens if you develop a conscience." She hung up before he could respond.

One piece in motion. But she needed more.

Celeste pulled out her second phone—the one Jaxon didn't know about—and scrolled through her contacts. There. Sebastian Cole. Alpha of the Mountain Ridge Pack and a male she'd had... history with during her "captivity."

She typed quickly: Need information on Derek Reed and Aria Winters. Willing to pay generously.

The response came within minutes: What kind of information?

Everything. Weaknesses. Secrets. Anything I can use.

This about the Alpha's bastards?

Celeste's jaw clenched. They're not bastards. They're complications. Can you help or not?

For the right price, I can help with anything. But Celeste... if you're planning what I think you're planning, you're playing a dangerous game.

I've been playing dangerous games my whole life. That's how I'm still alive.

Fair enough. I'll be in touch.

Celeste set down the phone and moved to the mini bar, pouring herself a generous glass of wine. Her hands were steady now.

She'd worked too hard to lose now. Had endured too much to let Aria Winters waltz back into Jaxon's life and reclaim everything.

The truth was, Celeste had never really died in that rogue attack five years ago. She'd staged it. Faked her death with the help of Sebastian's pack to escape an arranged mating she didn't want.

For five years, she'd lived free. Traveled. Enjoyed life without the burden of being an Alpha's mate.

But then she'd heard about Jaxon's marriage. Heard that he'd moved on. Mated with some nobody from a minor pack. And something in her had snapped.

Jaxon Steele had been hers first. They'd been together since they were teenagers. He'd promised her forever, right up until she "died."

She should have been his Luna. Should have been the one wearing his mark. Should have been the mother of his heirs.

Instead, Aria had stolen that future.

So Celeste had come back. Spun a tragic tale of captivity and survival that would make Jaxon feel guilty for moving on. Slowly inserted herself back into his life. Made Aria look weak and broken in comparison.

The fertility scheme had been genius, really. A few fake test results, some carefully administered suppressants, and suddenly Aria was "infertile." The perfect excuse for Jaxon to divorce her and take Celeste back.

It had worked beautifully. Jaxon had chosen her. Had signed those divorce papers. Had let Aria go without a fight.

But Aria had been pregnant. And now those children were walking proof that everything—the diagnosis, the divorce, the entire foundation of Jaxon's relationship with Celeste—was built on lies.

If Jaxon ever found out the truth...

No. He wouldn't find out. Because Celeste was going to make sure of it.

Her phone buzzed again. Another message from Sebastian: Found something interesting. Derek Reed has been funding medical research. Specifically, werewolf fertility treatments. Any idea why?

Celeste's mind raced. Fertility research. Aria ran a fertility clinic. Derek was funding research.

What if Derek wasn't just dating Aria for love? What if he wanted something from her? Access to her research? Her medical breakthrough?

This could be useful.

She typed back: Keep digging. I want to know everything about Derek Reed's business interests and his relationship with Dr. Winters.

You got it. But Celeste? Word of advice—whatever you're planning, be careful. Those twins have a lot of people protecting them now. Not just Aria and Derek. Jaxon's going to be watching them like a hawk.

I'm always careful.

She set down the phone and returned to the mirror, looking her reflection again.

She'd played the innocent victim for three years. The tragic lost love who'd miraculously returned. Sweet, fragile Celeste who needed Jaxon's protection.

But that act was getting old. And those children were a threat she couldn't afford to ignore.

If the twins disappeared... if something unfortunate happened to them... Jaxon would be devastated. But he'd also be free. No heirs tying him to his ex-wife. No constant reminder of his "mistake."

And Celeste could be there to comfort him. To help him move on. To finally give him the heirs he actually wanted—heirs that would bind him to her permanently.

She just needed to be smart about it. Patient. Careful.

The twins were three years old. Fragile. Vulnerable. Children had accidents all the time. Got sick. Wandered off. Wolves were dangerous creatures, after all. So many things could go wrong with little pups who hadn't fully shifted yet.

Celeste smiled at her reflection, and for just a moment, her mask slipped. The sweet, tragic victim disappeared, replaced by something cold and calculating.

She'd lost Jaxon once when she faked her death. She wasn't going to lose him again.

Even if she had to eliminate the competition.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. She smoothed her expression back into worried innocence before answering.

Jaxon stood in the hallway, looking exhausted. His hair was disheveled like he'd been running his hands through it. His eyes were red-rimmed.

"Jax?" Celeste softened her voice, made it concerned. "Are you okay? I've been so worried—"

"I can't stay," he said, cutting her off. "I just came to tell you I'm leaving early tomorrow. Going back to Silver Moon to talk to my lawyers."

"Your lawyers?"

"Why?"

"I'm filing for paternity rights. Custody. Whatever it takes to be part of my children's lives."

There it was. The confirmation of her worst fears.

"Jax, are you sure that's wise?" Celeste touched his arm gently. "Those children don't know you. Aria's made a life without you. Maybe it's better to just... let them go?"

His eyes snapped to hers, and the coldness there made her step back.

"Let them go?

"Those are my children, Celeste. My son and daughter. I'm not letting them go."

"I just meant—they seem happy. With Derek. With their mother. Is it fair to disrupt their lives because you suddenly want to play father?"

"Play father?" Jaxon's jaw clenched. "I am their father. And I'm going to prove it."

"Even if it hurts them?"

"I would never hurt them."

"Not intentionally. But Jax, think about this rationally. You're talking about filing for custody of children who don't want you, whose mother hates you, who have another male acting as their father. This is going to turn into a war. Those kids are going to be caught in the middle. Is that really what you want?"

She watched him waver. For a moment, doubt flickered across his face.

"I don't have a choice. They're mine."

"You always have a choice."

"Not about this." He stepped back. "I should go. I have an early meeting."

"Jax, wait—" Celeste caught his hand. "What about us? About our relationship? Does that just... end because Aria had your children?"

He looked down at their joined hands. "I don't know."

"You don't know?" Celeste fought to keep her voice steady. "After three years together, you don't know?"

"Three years ago, I chose you over Aria. I thought I was doing the right thing. But tonight..." He pulled his hand away. "Tonight I saw what that choice cost. I saw my children looking at me like a stranger. I saw Aria, successful and happy without me. And I realized I didn't make the right choice at all. I made the easy one."

"So I was the easy choice?"

"That's what you're saying?"

"I'm saying I need to focus on my children right now. Everything else is secondary."

"Including me."

"Including you."

He left without another word, leaving Celeste standing in her doorway, trembling with rage.

Secondary. She was secondary to his bastard children and his pathetic ex-wife.

No.

Absolutely not.

Celeste closed the door and returned to her phone. Time to accelerate her plans.

She pulled up Sebastian's number and typed: Change of plans. I don't just need information. I need help making a problem disappear.

What kind of problem?

The kind that has two small faces and ice-blue eyes.

A long pause. Then: You're serious.

Deadly serious. Can you help or not?

This is going to cost you. A lot.

Name your price.

I'll let you know. But Celeste... once you start down this road, there's no going back.

I crossed that bridge three years ago when I faked my death. I'm not afraid of dark roads.

She hit send and smiled.

Jaxon thought he could just push her aside? Thought he could abandon her for his precious heirs?

He was about to learn a very painful lesson.

Celeste Monroe didn't lose.

And she definitely didn't lose to Aria f*****g Winters.

Those children were a complication. Complications could be eliminated.

And once they were gone, Jaxon would have no reason to go back to his ex-wife. No heirs tying him to his past. No constant reminder of his "mistake."

He'd be devastated at first. But Celeste would be there to comfort him. To help him heal. To give him new heirs—ones that were truly his, without the taint of Aria's bloodline.

All she needed was patience. Planning. And the willingness to do what was necessary.

Celeste had all three in spades.