43. Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Celeste
We were far beyond the city now, the skyline a distant blur behind us. The road wound closer to the mountains, and the air turned crisp and clean, untouched by the exhaust of the city. The car slowed, and the pack opened the door, with Liam helping me out into the twilight.
A narrow path ahead was lit with soft, glowing lanterns, leading toward a romantic setup nestled in a clearing.
“Where are we?” I asked, breath catching in my throat as I stepped onto the path. Liam, still holding my hand, gave it a gentle squeeze.
“You’ll see,” he said, a grin tugging at his lips.
Just a month ago, I would’ve assumed they were leading me into a trap. Some type of PR stunt or ambush. But not tonight. Tonight, I didn’t feel an ounce of fear. Somewhere along the way, without realizing it, I had started to trust them. And my trust normally didn’t come easy.
“We thought… dinner under the stars might suffice,” Vigo said behind me, his voice casual, but the glint in his eye gave him away.
As we stepped closer, I gasped.
A table was set beneath a cluster of trees, soft lanterns and fairy lights twinkling above, strung like constellations between the branches. There was a small fire pit, giving us just enough warmth. Under the darkening sky, it felt like this was the only place on earth. Just us. No cameras, no curated moments. Just something real.
Dante spread out a tablecloth and began setting up from a large picnic basket. I couldn’t help but marvel at how gracefully his thick, muscular arms moved as he pulled out cured meats, fresh bread, juicy fruits, and decadent chocolates. A thermos of hot chocolate steamed in the cool air. The rich scent of it made me feel at home.
“Here, we have complete privacy,” Dante said as he poured the drink into small ceramic mugs. “No one to perform for. Just us, and a whole sky full of stars.”
Liam settled beside me and asked quietly, “Celeste, what do you want? Ultimately.”
I looked up at the beginning starlight before answering. “I want to keep my legacy alive. I want Harringday to evolve, not just survive. I want to change the landscape for omegas… and all designations, really. But especially omegas.” I paused. “You know how things are in our Province.”
Liam nodded solemnly.
“And I want support for those changes. Like what you did when you backed me with the board members.” I looked between them. “That meant more than I can say.”
I took a deep breath. “As much influence as I have, it’s still hard. People see my designation and stop listening. They think I’m either too emotional or not capable.”
I felt Liam give me a small gesture of comfort, his thumb brushing the inside of my wrist. “And what about… relationships? Family?” he asked, voice softer now.
I hesitated, the truth weighing on my tongue.
“I always thought relationships like that weren’t for someone like me. Too many packs only saw my name. My company. A shortcut to more power. But I wanted something real. A bond, with people who believed in me, and not just what I could offer.” I swallowed, looking up at the sky. “I want that. And I think… maybe it’s not impossible anymore.”
A silence fell over us, but it wasn’t awkward. It was full of meaning. Stars blinked overhead, timeless and quiet.
Vigo’s voice broke the stillness. “So, what do you do when you’re not changing the world?” he asked with a playful glint. “Any scandalous hobbies we should know about?”
I laughed, enjoying how private we could be out here. “I read. You know I’m active on social media too, when I have time. And I collect antique perfume bottles,” I admitted, a little shy.
He nodded, thoughtful. “Perfume bottles. That’s… actually perfect.”
I tilted my head. “And what about you?”
He leaned back, grinning. “I work on my cars.” he said, and when I raised an eyebrow, he added, “A pretty typical guy hobby. But still.”
That made me laugh again. “Okay, now I have to take a ride in your car.”
Vigo grinned, giving me a devilish look that made me grateful I’d taken an extra suppressant. “I’d love that. We can christen it. Maybe like how you did after the orchestra.” My face heated, and I swatted at him as he laughed.
Liam interrupted, pointing skyward. “Wait, look. A shooting star.”
We all looked up in time to see it streak across the dark velvet of the sky, disappearing as quickly as it came.
“Alright,” Vigo said, nudging me gently. “If you had one wish, what would it be?”
I hesitated. Then, looking at each of them in turn, I whispered, “To turn back time. I wish my family had done things… differently.”
The air shifted. A glance passed between them - silent, loaded. I wished I could read minds because whatever they weren’t saying was as loud as the fire crackling beside us.
Dante leaned in, his voice quiet but intent. “What do you mean by that?”
I sighed. “You know what I mean. As much as I hated how much you all were against me, and my family’s company, I understand why. Harringday hasn’t always done things the right way. It’s like my uncle says… “ no one gets ahead in the Eastern Province by being a good person .” My mouth twisted bitterly. “I wanted to prove him wrong. I thought if I took over, I could change things. Make Harringday into something new. Use that power to create real impact.” I let out a small, ironic laugh. “But it’s so much harder than I thought.”
A beat of silence.
I let out a small, ironic laugh. “You guys can run leaps and bounds over what I’ve accomplished in that regard. I admire it.” I admitted, letting out the secret I’d been holding inside.
The words hung between us.
No one spoke right away. But then, Liam reached for his jacket and draped it over my shoulders, his fingers lingering at the nape of my neck. Vigo, without a word, adjusted a blanket around me, as if tucking me into the safety of this moment.
“We didn’t know you felt that way,” Liam finally said. His voice was quiet, thoughtful. “We always thought you wanted to keep things the way they were. That you were just another Harringday.” He shook his head. “But after seeing what you’re up against, how much you’re fighting just to make the smallest change… I don’t think I could have lasted as long as you.”
He exhaled, then met my gaze, his deep green eyes blazing at me with admiration. “Celeste, you’re stronger than you realize.”
Something inside me cracked, then settled into place. No one had ever said that to me before. Not like this. Not in a way that made me believe it. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel like I had to perform. I didn’t have to be Celeste Harringday, the public figure, the CEO, the omega who always had something to prove.
I could just exist. Here, beneath the stars, with them. And for tonight, that was enough.
Dante broke the silence, his whole demeanor somehow softer, more human. “So, do you want to see the universe?”
I looked at where he pointed, and saw a dome outlined in the moonlight. I gasped as I realized that they had brought me to a planetarium.