“I’m not saying I won’t speak to her, or that we won’t find way to help you,” I continue, softening my tone.” But she hasn’t even been free for twenty–four hours. Give her space. Let her find her footing. We will figure this out, Joseph. She’s not going to die tomorrow, and this isn’t something we can rush.”
He exhales deeply, nodding, his lips pressing into a thin line. “You’re right,” he concedes. “The whole point of this mission was to search for answers. I’ll give her the space she needs and trust you to ask when the time is right.”
+25 BONUS
A faint, tired smile touches his lips before he turns and walks out of the room, his footsteps fading into the corridor beyond. I let out a breath, feeling the tension ease lightly. Celine deserves better than to be thrust into the chaos she was born into.
“Your Majesty,” a voice calls softly, breakding through my thoughts. I turn to see one of the soldiers standing in the doorway to the kitchen, holding a tray of food. The faint warmth of roasted meat and herbs fills the air, momentarily pushing aside the lingering metallic tang of the battlefield.
1 nod, taking the plate from him. “Thank you.”
Carrying the meal, 1 ascend the stairs to the room where Celine rests. The old wooden staircase creaks under my weight, the sound echoing faintly in the quiet house. The pack house itself feels oppressive, its dark wood- paneled walls and heavy furniture casting a sense of foreboding. Despite the high ceilings and grand design, it lacks warmth a stark reminder of the cruelty that once ruled here.
Opening the door quietly, I step into the room. The soft glow of a bedside lamp bathes the space in a warm, golden light. Celine is sitting on the bed, wrapped in a blanket, her gaze distant. Her eyes meet mine as I approach, and I hand her the plate before settling into a chair near her.
“You said you never felt your wolf, right?” I ask, watching her closely.
She nods, setting the plate on her lap. “I was told I wasn’t born with one,” she replies simply, her voice tinged. with an old sadness that she seems resigned to.
I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “Are you sure the woman you knew as your mother really was?” I press gently, watching her reaction.
Her brow furrows, and she pauses mid–bite. “She’s the only one I ever knew,” she says slowly, her tone uncertain. “But now that I think about it… I don’t remember anyone else, I was hidden away. I didn’t go to school. I wasn’t allowed outside. I guess it’s possible she lied to me.” She shrugs one shoulder, though the flicker of doubt in her eyes suggests this possibility has never occurred to her before.
The pieces begin to align in my mind, though I keep my expression neutral. If she truly is the Queen Goddess, her, existence would have been a treasure to many–something to protect, not hide. The woman who raised her… it doesn’t add up.
Sitting back, I carefully guide the conversation, asking her questions about her past, piecing together fragments of her life. As she talks, I notice the way her shoulders tense at certain memories, the way her gaze flickers away when emotions threaten to overwhelm her. She’s been through more than I can imagine, and I won’t burden her further–not yet.
I keep the most important truths to myself for now. Her magic, the suppression of her wolf, the significance of her lineage–I hold it all back. Celine is fragile, not weak, but raw and unprepared. She needs to process one step
at a time.
As she continues to eat, her voice grows steadier, the small comfort of food and a safe space allowing her to relax, even if only slightly. For now, that’s enough. She has time. We have time. And I’ll make sure no one takes that from her again.
#25 BONUS
Needing Him
Needing Him
Celine
I place the plate down on the nightstand, my thoughts swirling as I process Sebastian’s questions and my own. hesitant answers. The room feels warmer now, though the heavy stone walls and dark wooden beams retain a weight that’s hard to ignore. Outside the windows, the faint glow of sunlight filters through tattered curtains, casting soft patterns on the floor. The bed beneath me is surprisingly comfortable, the blankets thick and warm, though they do little to ease the tension in my body.
The questions he asked me linger in my mind, but one stands out among the rest–the possibility that the woman I called “Mum” might not have been my mother. Sebastian seems to think she wasn’t, though he hasn’t outright said it. Why would anyone take me? Why raise me if not out of love? The uncertainty gnaws at me, but I don’t dare
voice it.
Before I can fully untangle my thoughts, Sebastian’s voice draws me back. His tone is quiet, almost hesitant, and his words catch me off guard.
“I know what’s happened to you, Celine, so I won’t touch you. Not until you’re ready and you agree.”
I stare at him, stunned. It’s not often that a male, especially one with a mate bond, can resist his instincts. I’ve seen what happens when wolves take control–how primal and uncontrollable it can be. Are dragons the same? The thought flickers through my mind, and I can’t help but wonder if his restraint is part of his nature or simply a testament to his will.
I expected him to take what he wanted. In some dark part of me, I was ready for that. Prepared to deal with it, endure it. The fact that he doesn’t surprises me more than I want to admit.
Shifting slightly, I slide closer to him on the bed, the mattress dipping beneath my weight. The air between us feels heavy, charged with unspoken words. “What do you know about the Queen Goddess?” I ask, my voice quieter than I intended.
Sebastian watches me for a moment before answering. “The Queen Goddess is the highest being of all. Do you know about the Moon Goddess?”
I nod, leaning forward slightly. “She bestows werewolves with their wolves, but also curses and blessings,” I reply. Even 1, with my sheltered upbringing, know that much.
“Exactly,” he says. “But she’s not the only one. There’s Mother Earth, the Sea Goddess, Askilouna–the Goddess of Dragons. Each of them has dominion over their own species. The Queen Goddess, however, is higher than them all. She is said to be the creator of every species and every goddess.”
His words hang in the air like a storm cloud, and my heart races. That can’t be me. It’s impossible. Dolton must have been mistaken. The idea is too vast, too incomprehensible to accept.
Sebastian must see the doubt in my face because his expression softens. “Don’t worry, Celine. There’s no rush to accept whatever it entails,” he says gently, his hands reaching for mine.
The moment his fingers touch my skin, images flash through my mind. They’re vivid and raw, like memories that aren’t my own. A woman lies in bed, her face pale and drawn, her stomach swollen with pregnancy. She looks sick, deathly ill, and her labored breathing fills my ears.
“Celine.”
Sebastian’s hands grip my face, pulling me back to the present. His voice is steady, but his golden eyes are filled with concern. “What happened?”
My mouth opens to explain, but the words catch in my throat. No. I can’t. My mother–if she was even my mother
1/2
+125 BONUS
had warned me never to share my visions with anyone. She said they would exploit them, that I’d lose myself if 1 let them control me. For years, I pushed them away, ignored them until they finally stopped. But now, they’re back, clawing at my mind,
“Celine,” he says again, quieter this time. His hands are warm against my skin, grounding me. Without thinking, I move closer to him, placing my hand over his and leaning my head to the side. His touch calms me in a way I can’t explain. My breathing slows, and the tension in my chest cases.
My body trembles under his hands, and I find myself shifting closer, slowly climbing onto his lap. He doesn’t say anything, doesn’t push me away or pull me closer. He waits, letting me find my place
