Chapter 25
Celeste
The sound of the front door slamming open jolted me from my restless thoughts. I looked up just as Vigo and Liam came striding in, Sterling between them. They looked worn but triumphant. Vigo held up several flash drives, his grin sharp with victory.
“Got it,” he said, and I felt the tension in my chest loosen for the first time in days.
I rose from my seat, heart caught between relief and lingering resentment. “You got into his office safe?”
“Damn right we did,” Liam said, his voice rough, almost pleading. “We had to make it right, Celeste. We had to prove to you we’re still yours.”
Sterling set the flash drives on the table, but his eyes stayed on me, steady and searching. “I didn’t find too much on paper, but at least we have something. I’ll spend the day searching for evidence.”
I pressed my hand to my chest, overwhelmed. They’d risked everything to get this. For me. For us.
“Celeste…” Vigo’s voice softened, losing that unshakable confidence he almost always wore. “I know we broke your trust. I know we doubted when we should have stood by you. But I’m begging you now, is there any way you would consider forgiving us?”
Liam stepped closer, his green eyes rimmed with exhaustion but burning with sincerity. “I was wrong. I’m sorry. I can’t bear the fact that you decided to seek help from another pack. It kills me.”
I drew in a slow breath, trying to steady myself. My instinct was to fold into their arms, to let the smell and touch of them swallow my anger. But the wound was still fresh. “I’m not with Pack Valence,” I admitted quietly. “I never was. That was a lie born out of desperation.”
Their relief was immediate. They both exhaled, their shoulders sagging as they took in my words. Then, their faces showed hope, as if I’d just handed them their lives back. But I shook my head. “That doesn’t mean we’re fine. You broke something between us. Trust doesn’t mend overnight.”
Silence followed and they looked at each other, then me, nodding as they accepted this small gesture between us, a way to rebuild, one small step at a time.
“No matter how long it takes, we will earn your trust back, Celeste.” Vigo said, his dark undereye circles even more apparent as he looked down at me. I knew it was eating them alive to be rejected - but I’d felt it so much more than them, and they needed to understand how it felt.
But even though we made progress, I still felt the deep ache in my body where Dante should be. Despite all that happened, I still missed him, craved his presence. It was an ache that wouldn’t go away. I had to get my mind off of him.
I let the others rest while I made my way across the courtyard toward the main house. The night air was cool against my skin, but my mind was heavy with everything that had just unraveled. By the time I reached the porch, I’d already rehearsed what I needed to say.
The door opened before I could knock. Nikolai filled the frame, his expression softening the moment he saw me.
“Celeste,” he greeted, stepping aside so I could enter. “How are things holding up?”
I exhaled, glancing around the familiar space before meeting his eyes. “Worse than I thought. My uncle won’t stop until he’s cornered, and anyone near me is a target.”
Julian appeared from the kitchen, his brow furrowed with concern. “You’re saying it’s not safe here anymore.”
I nodded. “I think you should take your pack and leave town for a while. Just until this comes to a head. If you stay, you’ll be dragged into a war that isn’t yours to fight.”
Nikolai’s jaw tightened. “We don’t scare easy, Celeste. You know that. We won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I know,” I cut in gently. “And I’ll never forget what you did for me.
But if you stay, you’ll be in Gideon’s line of fire.
He’s ruthless, and he won’t hesitate to use you against me.
Sterling, Vigo and Liam can protect me I can’t-” My voice cracked, and I steadied myself.
“I can’t let you risk anything for my war. ”
Julian crossed the room and took my hand, squeezing it firmly. “You’re family to us, you know that. But if this is what you need…” He looked at Nikolai, who gave a reluctant nod.
“We’ll go,” Nikolai said finally, his voice low. “But not forever. When this is over, we’ll be back.”
Emotion swelled in my chest as I gave them a faint smile. “That’s all I ask. Thank you, for everything. Stay safe until then.”
As I turned to leave, Nikolai’s voice followed me, steady and sure. “You’re not alone, Celeste. No matter what your uncle throws at you, remember that.”
I carried those words with me back across the courtyard, trying to hold onto any strength I could against the storm I knew was coming.