Celeste followed Lyra back inside, her heart beating against her ribs. The ballroom felt overwhelming now, packed with curious eyes that tracked her every move. The ceiling lights seemed too bright, the music too loud. "What did Seraphina tell him?" Celeste whispered, fingers shaking as she clutched Lyra's arm. "Nothing good," Lyra mumbled. "Look." At the middle of the room stood Orion, his face a mask of cold fury. Beside him, Seraphina wore a winning smile, her hand possessively wrapped around his arm. Magnus Blackwood watched from nearby, satisfaction shining in his golden eyes. Celeste's father approached her, gripping her arm. "What have you done?" he hissed, his voice low enough that only she could hear. "Nothing," she answered, confusion washing over her. "Father, what's happening?" Before he could answer, Magnus raised his hand. The music stopped. Silence fell over the crowd. "Friends," Magnus announced, his voice booming across the hall.
"Tonight was meant to be a party, and indeed, it shall be! My son has made a move that will strengthen both our packs." Celeste felt the pull in her chest twist painfully. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. Magnus gestured toward Orion. "My son, would you like to share your news?" Orion stepped forward, his dark eyes finding Celeste in the crowd. For a split second, something flashed across his face—doubt?
Regret?
But it vanished as quickly as it came. "Tonight," Orion started, his voice deep and commanding, "I have found my mate." Whispers exploded around the room. Everyone had seen him dancing with Celeste, had watched their connection. "Seraphina Nightshade," he added, "will be my Luna." Gasps filled the air. Celeste felt the floor drop beneath her feet. This couldn't be happening. Not after what they'd shared on the dance floor. Not after feeling the mate bond snap into place between them. "But that's impossible," someone whispered nearby. "We all saw him with the younger sister." Orion's jaw clenched as he raised Seraphina's hand to his lips. "I choose Seraphina. She is worthy of being my Luna." The unspoken meaning hung in the air: unlike Celeste. "No," Celeste whispered, the word slipping before she could stop it. Heads turned. Eyes widened. Seraphina's smile got sharper. "Did you have something to say, sister?" Seraphina asked, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. Celeste felt a surge of power rising within her, reacting to her distress.
The lights flickered.
A glass shattered somewhere in the room. "Control yourself," her father warned under his breath. But the pain was too much. The mate bond was being severed right before her eyes, torn apart by Orion's refusal. It felt like her chest was being ripped open. "You can't do this," Celeste said, louder now. She stepped forward, violet eyes locked on Orion's gray ones. "You know what we are to each other. You felt it too." Murmurs spread through the crowd. Magnus's face darkened. Orion's face hardened like stone. "I felt nothing. You are nothing to me." Each word cut deeper than the last. Tears burned behind Celeste's eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "You're lying," she declared, taking another step closer. "Enough!" Orion snapped, his words echoing through the hall. "I have made my choice. Seraphina will be my Luna, not some freak who's been hidden away her entire life." Laughter arose from several guests. Celeste froze, shame washing over her in waves. "Freak? Is that what you think I am?" she asked, her voice breaking. "What else would you call someone with unnatural powers?" Orion replied coldly. "Your own family kept you locked up for years. There must be a reason." Seraphina stepped forward, green eyes glinting with hatred. "Oh sister, did you really think an Alpha like Orion would want someone like you? Someone dangerous? Unpredictable?" She turned to the crowd. "My poor sister has been ill for years. It's why she's been away. She suffers from... fantasies." More whispers. More laughing. Celeste felt her power surging, eager to lash out, to make them all pay for their cruelty. "Stop this," Lyra begged, gripping her hand. "They're trying to provoke you." Magnus stepped forward, standing between Celeste and the newly announced couple.
"Perhaps it's best if Miss Nightshade retires for the evening. She seems... sick." "I'm not unwell," Celeste said through gritted teeth. "Guards," Magnus called, snapping his fingers. Two large men appeared at his side. "Please escort Miss Nightshade to her quarters." "Don't touch me," Celeste warned as they neared. The crystal cups on nearby tables began to vibrate. The chandelier moved slightly. Orion's eyes narrowed. "Control your sister," he told Celeste's father, "before she hurts someone." "Celeste," her father begged, "go with them. Now." The deception in his voice was the final straw. Her own father, siding with those who insulted her. "Fine," she whispered, backing away. "I'll go." As the guards led her toward the door, she got one last glimpse of Orion and Seraphina. Her sister was beaming, triumphant.
But Orion... for just a moment, his mask slipped. Pain flashed across his features as he watched her leave. Then his face toughened once more, and he turned away. Outside the hall, Celeste yanked her arm free from the guards. "I know the way," she snapped, rushing down the hallway toward her room. Lyra caught up with her, face flushed with anger. "This was planned. All of it." "Why?" Celeste asked, tears finally spilling over. "Why would they do this to me?" "I don't know," Lyra admitted. "But I'm going to find out." They reached Celeste's room. Inside, she fell onto her bed, the pain of rejection crushing her chest. "He's my mate," she whispered. "How could he choose her?" Lyra walked the floor.
"Something's not right. The way he looked at you when you were dancing... that was real. Then Seraphina whispered something to him and everything changed." Celeste sat up, wiping her tears. "What could she possibly have said to turn him against me so completely?" "I don't know," Lyra said, going to the window. "But—" She stopped suddenly, peering into the darkness. "What is it?" Celeste asked. "There's someone in the garden," Lyra whispered. "Seraphina. She's meeting someone." Celeste joined her at the window. Through the moonlight, she could see her sister's golden hair gleaming as she spoke quickly with a hooded figure. "Who is that?" Celeste wondered. "I can't tell, but—" Lyra gasped. "Celeste, look!" The hooded figure gave Seraphina a small vial filled with glowing blue liquid. "What is that?" Celeste breathed. "Nothing good," Lyra replied grimly. "Whatever game they're playing, it just got more dangerous." A knock sounded at the door, making them both jump. Celeste turned away from the window. "Who is it?" she called. "It's Martha," came the reply. The door opened, and the old cleaner stepped in, her face ashen. "Miss Celeste, you need to come quickly."
"Why? What's happened?" Celeste asked. Martha's hands shook. "It's your sister. She's been found in the maze garden." "But she's right outside," Celeste said, turning back to the window. But the yard below was empty now. Both Seraphina and the mysterious figure had disappeared. "That's impossible," Martha maintained. "Because she's been found dead."