CHAPTER 75: CHAPTER 75.

Celeste POV.

Marissa, my mom, looked at me with her big, worried eyes sparkling with unshed tears. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "Do you really think Seraphina will call back, sweetheart?" She was sitting so close to me on the couch, her hands nervously twisting the edge of her sweater, like she was holding onto hope itself.

My heart ached seeing her so anxious, her love for me and fear of what might happen all tangled up in her expression.

Earlier that day, I’d mustered up all my courage and dialed Seraphina’s number, my hands shaking a little as I pressed the call button. I needed her help, desperately, for a plan to finally bring Aria down, someone who’d caused us so much pain.

But before I could even get the words out, before I could explain how important this was, Seraphina cut me off, hanging up the phone with a sharp click that felt like a slap. It left me staring at my phone, my chest tight with frustration and a flicker of doubt.

But deep down, I knew Seraphina. I knew her heart, and I knew the one thing that could pull her back to us: her deep, unshakable love for Alpha Kael. It was like a fire that never went out, burning bright no matter what.

Now that she knew he was at the center of this, I was certain, absolutely certain, she wouldn’t be able to stay away. She’d call back. She had to. That thought gave me a tiny spark of hope, like a warm light in the middle of a stormy night.

I turned to my mom, trying to push away the nervous flutter in my stomach. "Don’t worry, Mom," I said, forcing a small smile to comfort her. "I’m positive Seraphina won’t let this chance slip through her fingers. She loves Alpha Kael too much to ignore this." My voice sounded more confident than I felt, but I needed to believe it, for both of us.

I glanced down at my phone, sitting silently on the wooden table in front of us, like it held all the answers. My fingers itched to grab it, to check if I’d missed something, but I kept my hands still, my eyes locked on the screen, waiting for it to light up.

Mom’s face softened a little, but her worry didn’t vanish. "Miss an opportunity?" she said, her voice a mix of hope and doubt.

"Oh, honey, you’re the one missing out by waiting like this. Why don’t you just go to her? Find her, talk to her face-to-face, explain everything. You know how stubborn Seraphina can be!" Her words spilled out fast, like she was trying to solve the problem herself, her hands waving in the air as she spoke.

I could feel her love for me in every word, her need to protect me, to make sure I didn’t get hurt.

But before I could respond, before I could tell her I had faith in my plan, something amazing happened. My phone screen suddenly glowed, cutting through the heavy silence in the room. The sharp, cheerful ringtone burst into the air, startling us both.

Mom’s eyes went wide, her mouth dropping open in disbelief as she stared at the phone. My heart leaped, pounding so hard I thought it might burst.

I leaned forward, my hands trembling with excitement, and there it was, Seraphina’s name flashing on the screen.

A grin spread across my face, a mix of triumph and relief washing over me like a warm wave. "See, Mom? I told you she’d call back!" I said, my voice practically bubbling with confidence now.

Seraphina and I both really, really didn’t like Aria. We wanted to stop her so badly, and we’d do anything to make it happen.

My heart felt all jumpy just thinking about it, like when you’re super excited but a little scared too.

I picked up my phone, my hands shaking a tiny bit, and held it to my ear when Seraphina called. "I thought you weren’t gonna call back," I said, my voice sneaky and low, like I was planning something big and secret. I waited, holding my breath, wondering what she’d say.

She didn’t say anything for a second, just let out a big, tired sigh, like when you’re so done with everything. It made my tummy feel all twisty, waiting for her to talk.

"Where should we meet?" she asked, her voice sharp, like she meant business. Hearing that made me feel all tingly, like I was winning a game.

I smiled big, feeling super happy. "At the pack’s tavern," I said. "Tonight at ten o’clock." It felt like I was saying something really important, like a superhero making a plan.

"Okay, I’ll be there," she said, real quick, and then, poof, she hung up! Just like that. But I wasn’t mad, not even a little, because I got what I wanted.

Seraphina was gonna help me, and Aria? Oh, she had no idea what was coming. Not today, not ever. It made me grin so big my cheeks hurt.

I put the phone down, my heart still going thump-thump super fast, when my mom scooted closer. "So? What happened?" she asked, her eyes big and shiny with worry but also super curious, like she couldn’t wait to hear.

She was holding her hands tight, like she was nervous but hoping for good news. Seeing her like that made my heart feel all warm, because I knew she loved me so much.

I turned to her, my smile soft but so happy. "It’s all set, Mom," I said. "We’re meeting up." Those words felt like magic, like everything we wanted was starting to happen.

Mom was super happy for a moment, her eyes all sparkly, but then her smile disappeared really fast. I tilted my head, confused, wondering why she got so serious all of a sudden.

"What if Seraphina says no to your plan?" she asked, her voice soft and worried. "She’s Kael’s sister, you know. What if she doesn’t want to do what you say?" Her hands were twisting together, like she was scared things might go wrong.

I put my hand on her shoulder, giving her a gentle squeeze. "Don’t worry, Mom," I said, trying to sound super sure. "I know Seraphina. She loves Kael so much, like a lot, and I can tell she’ll do anything for him." I gave her a big smile, then turned around and walked to my room to get ready.

My heart was beating fast, I was excited and a little nervous.