Chapter 52
Celeste
The doors opened, and for once, the cameras weren’t allowed past them. I stood just outside the barrier, arms folded tight against my chest, trying to hold myself together.
And then there he was. Sterling.
My breath hitched as he stepped through the doors, the small duffel slung over his shoulder.
He looked leaner, shadows under his eyes, but the calm in his gaze hadn’t changed.
The moment our eyes met, my composure shattered, and I ran toward him.
His bag fell to the ground as I threw myself into his arms, feeling him lift me as I wrapped my legs around his waist, loving his low rumble as he laughed into my neck.
His warmth, his scent, the steadiness of him felt like a warm blanket wrapped around me, and he was finally mine again.
“You’re out,” I whispered, pressing my face against his neck as he finally lowered me down.
Sterling’s lips brushed the top of my head. “Told you I wouldn’t be gone long.”
“Four months was long,” I said fiercely, pulling back to look at him. “Too long.”
Four months. It wasn’t forever, but it had felt like it. Every day without Sterling had been a day missing a piece of myself, but at least since we were bonded, he could feel me every second, and I could feel him. Also, I visited him every single day.
He had a fairly brief trial, which took only two months.
He hadn’t fought the sentence. Instead, he’d faced it head-on, shoulders squared, determined to account for what he’d done under my uncle’s command.
I admired him for that - a man who decided to do the right thing.
Luckily, due to my uncle’s threats and the evidence that Gideon would murder people who defied him, Sterling got a very light sentence.
Four months in minimum security, and probation.
It also helped that he was now part of one of the most powerful packs in the province - part of Pack Lockwood, which also now included me.
Sterling looked at me, the corner of his mouth lifting as he smiled. “You used the time well. Harringday looks nothing like it did when I left.”
He was right. Since his arrest, many things had transpired. My uncle was tried and found guilty of a litany of charges, and put away for life. In fact, there was so much that he’d done, that we were still finding evidence of more crimes as we did a deep dive of all the shadow deals he’d made.
Now that the world had its eyes on Harringday, I was able to do an overhaul, letting go of half the board who also faced charges of conspiracy with my uncle.
I’d interviewed countless employees, implemented new policies, and was finally able to make the decisions without a sexist board or a manipulative uncle holding me back.
And, I’d finally been able to make the Designation Rights doctrine company wide, something I’d always wanted.
Between Harringday and Manticore, our new vision was paving progress that would rewrite the future for the entire Eastern Province.
“Yes, changes are certainly being made. And we’re doing things the right way.” I said, looking at my handsome beta with pride.
“That’s my omega,” he said softly.
I pulled him closer and kissed him. For a moment it was just the two of us, our hearts pressed together, finally whole again.
When we broke apart, the pack was there.
Liam welcomed Sterling with a huge hug, Vigo slapped his back and laughed, and even Dante welcomed him with ease, his eyes softer than I’d ever seen them.
We walked toward the car, the press keeping a respectable distance as we left the gates.
They had been extra careful about approaching me and my pack once it came to light that they’d been fed false stories about me for years.
I was sure my threats of massive lawsuits about that also had something to do with their change in tune.
Once we were driving home, all together, I let out a sigh of relief. We were whole again. Sterling let out a slow breath, his arms still tight around me. “So, what else did I miss?”
“Everything,” Vigo said, his voice dry, though I caught the warmth beneath it. “You missed everything. Now don’t do it again.”
Sterling laughed, and I looked at his face, so grateful to have him here with me again. “Well, for starters, we are finally done helping Pack Valence rebuild the guesthouse.” Vigo offered.
I cringed at the thought. Pack Valence had been warned, but they came home to the carnage of the attempted hit on us after we told them it was safe to return.
We’d paid for a remodel, of course. I was sure they would be mad at me forever, but they met with me privately after the world found out the truth about what happened to me and my pack.
Nikolai had laughed at how embarrassed I was that their guest house was the location of a failed hit job.
“Don’t worry, Celeste. All it did was give us some time to think about what’s really important.
” He’d said, pulling Julian close to him.
“We’ve been living our lives scared of what our families will think.
Life is too short to be in hiding.” He said, while his pack looked at Julian with such love that it made me tear up.
The memory made me feel some type of way as we drove down the road, getting closer to home.
Liam piped up as we drove. “Well, I know Celeste has been keeping you updated, but in case you didn’t hear, we’ve put Gideon away for life.
Elijah will spend the next twenty-five years locked up where he can never touch us again.
The province is ours to rebuild. And now that you’re out, we can get some real work done. ”
Dante thought Sterling should also know that we got justice for the assistant who came before him. “They cleared Arnault’s name after he was gone. Gave his family a reward for his bravery. Strange, isn’t it? How the world only sees the hero when it’s too late."
I looked at Dante as we drove. “Dante and I are making a trip to Arkala next week. We have a lot to work on there with the transition of rights.” I said, and he smiled at me in a way that made my heart flutter.
I thought it was only right to give the mining operation at Arkala to the people who lived there, releasing it from Harringday’s contracts.
There was too much pain, too much hurt to ever keep it under Harringday’s control for another moment.
That was only the tip of the iceberg in trying to right the wrongs of my uncle, but with Dante at my side, I was going to do everything possible to fix what I could.
“And I’m looking forward to showing you where I grew up.” Dante added. He’d been looking healthier than ever these past few months, the weight of the world finally off his shoulders. We’d been healing, talking through our lives and working past our trauma, and we’d made so many strides.
Sterling smiled as we pulled into the Pack Lockwood compound, where we’d set up a room for him.
I decided to live here while I did a full renovation of my family compound.
First, because I finally had control of it, now that my uncle was not in the picture.
Second, I needed to wipe the slate clean.
There were too many memories associated with it now, and I needed a fresh start.
We stepped out together, looking at the house that was now our home. “So, what next?” Vigo asked, rubbing his hands together.
Sterling stretched out, and I noticed he’s bulked up since he’d been locked up. At least he used his time well. “First up on my list is a nice, long, hot shower.” He said, and I curled my arm around him.
“Care if I join?” I asked, my core heating at the thought of him naked. It had been far too long without him. Sterling looked at me, his eyes hungry.
“I’d be honored.” He said, and I started up the stairs with him, into our new life. I felt the bonds of our pack thrumming strong, complete. Sterling was back, and with him, we were whole.
And nothing would break us apart again.