Chapter 51
Celeste
As I walked out of the nesting room - hastily put together for my emergency heat - I found I didn't mind that it wasn’t exactly how I wanted it. In fact, nothing could possibly upset me at this point. I finally, for the first time since I lost my parents, felt like I was home.
These men, impossible, unlikely, and occasionally infuriating, had somehow been perfect for me.
Each of them taught me something, helped solidify a piece of me.
Liam was smart, ethical and a true leader.
Vigo helped me take life less seriously, lifting my mood and keeping me on my toes.
Dante was my true mirror, someone who had been through so much but sacrificed everything to come back to me.
And Sterling, my secret hero, who waited and wanted nothing more than for me to be safe. And now, we were complete.
I hummed as I walked out to join Liam, hugging Sterling as we strolled down the hall.
My cheerful hum came to a halt the instant I saw the screen.
There was a live feed of Pack Lockwood’s house, with a helicopter circling and police cars lined outside like a silent army.
A team of officers stood waiting, their faces grim with purpose.
I froze, my mouth dropping open as I watched the reporter.
“We’re coming to you live from just outside the Lockwood estate, where for the fourth day, police have been on the lookout for the former Harringday employee at the center of a shocking scandal involving multiple crimes.
” The police, and media, were waiting until my heat was done - waiting to arrest one of my men.
“Sterling,” I whispered, my voice breaking.
The headline at the bottom of the screen was merciless: Harringday Beta Implicated in Fraud and Forgery - Arrest Imminent.
My body went cold. My uncle’s schemes. My name on documents I never signed. Sterling - the one who’d stood by me, calmed me, guided me - was now branded a conspirator. My chest heaved, panic clawing up my throat, but Sterling’s hand found mine, steady and warm.
“Celeste,” he said softly, with that infuriating calm he always carried, “it’s all right.”
“All right?” I choked out, tears burning. “They’re here for you. They think -”
“They think the truth they were given.” His thumb brushed over my knuckles.
“I did things for your uncle, things I’m not proud of.
This was always going to catch up to me.
” His eyes, steady as stone, met mine. “I’ll face it.
And I’ll make it right. I did do the crimes, and I need to pay for it.
And if I hadn’t met you, who knows how far gone I’d be. ”
“No,” I whispered fiercely, shaking my head. “Not after everything we’ve been through. Not after- ”
He smiled, that quiet, devastating smile that had soothed me, despite everything. “You’ve already saved me, Celeste. The rest is on me.”
The others gathered close, the bond between us all thrumming with grief and pride.
Dante clasped Sterling’s shoulder, jaw tight.
“Stay strong, brother. We’ve got your back.
” I teared up at his words. The only person I’d ever heard Dante call brother was Elijah, who was now somewhere in a jail cell.
Dante would be in pain for a long time over the betrayal.
But somehow, we’d gained something even better.
“Just… try to get out quick. Celeste looks better with all of us around her.” Vigo added, his grip firm, his eyes burning with a rare softness.
Liam huffed, blinking too fast, then shoved Sterling lightly. “We’ll get the best lawyers for you. Don’t let them break you, you hear me?”
Sterling smirked, the picture of maddening calm. “Break me? Please. I’ll be lucky if they even spell my name right on the paperwork.”
That earned him a few snorts, even as tension strangled the air. He gave each of us a nod, then rolled his shoulders like he was heading into a board meeting instead of a police escort.
“Thanks, really,” he said, voice steady. “Don’t get too comfortable without me - I plan on being back before you know it. Someone’s got to keep you boys in line.”
With that, he strode toward the door, hands raised, stepping straight into the blaze of flashing lights and reporters’ shouts as though he were walking onto a red carpet. We followed, silent shadows at his back, and I heard the reporter now from the TV as she spotted him.
“Looks like the heat is over and the suspect is surrendering willingly.” Sterling kept his hands up, walking out toward the police.
But I couldn’t stand to see him go. Not like this.
I ran toward him, not caring that I was only wearing a scant robe.
The police shouted warnings over a loudspeaker as I pushed past the threshold.
“Ma’am! Stay back!”
But I didn’t stop. Not when they were about to take him from me, when I only just found him.
I ran, heart hammering, and when I reached him, I threw my arms around his neck.
He barely had time to draw breath before I kissed him - deeply, desperately, pouring every ounce of love and defiance I had into him.
Cameras flashed all around us, and the helicopter flew overhead, the cameraman angling for the best shot as the wind blew my hair back and away from me. Reporters gasped.
Somewhere behind me, inside the house, a live broadcast carried a voice filled with incredulous awe:
“It looks like Celeste Harringday has just kissed the wanted assistant in front of police, delaying his arrest... oh my God, is that… is that a bonding mark on her neck?”
The words rippled into the world as I clung to Sterling, my fresh bite marks bared for the world to see. Our pack decided to bond during my heat, keeping us locked together forever, no matter what happened.
The police finally pulled me away, holding me back as they handcuffed Sterling, who gave me a huge smile as he was led away. The reporter kept speaking, awed at the recent development.
“To all the viewers out there, it seems that Celeste Harringday has indeed finally bonded with a pack!”