CHAPTER 82: CHAPTER 82

Celeste’s POV.

I stood in the dim glow of the pack house garden, the moonlight casting long shadows across the stone path. My heart pounded like a drum in my chest, and my hands fidgeted with the hem of my dress.

The air smelled of sweet jasmine and damp earth, but it did little to calm my nerves. I was waiting for Alpha Nicholas, and every rustle of leaves made me jump, worried someone might see us.

Our plan to take over the Shadow Claw Pack was a secret, one that could destroy everything if anyone found out.

The crunch of boots on gravel made me spin around. There he was, Alpha Nicholas, tall and broad, his dark hair catching the silver light.

His eyes, usually warm when he looked at me, were hard tonight, like storm clouds ready to burst.

I forced a smile, but my stomach twisted. I knew he’d ask about Alpha Kael, and I had nothing good to tell him.

"Celeste," he said, his voice low and sharp, like a blade cutting through the quiet. He stepped closer, his shadow swallowing mine. "Tell me you’ve made progress with Kael. Tell me you’ve got him wrapped around your finger."

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. My fingers twisted tighter into my dress. "I... I tried, Nicholas. I swear. But he’s so cold, so distant. He barely looks at me." My voice shook, and I hated how small it sounded.

Nicholas’s face darkened. His jaw tightened, and his hands curled into fists. "Tried?" he snapped, stepping so close I could feel the heat radiating from him. "You tried? Celeste, we don’t have time for trying! You were supposed to seduce him, make him trust you, make him weak! The Shadow Claw Pack is ripe for the taking, and you’re telling me you’ve done nothing?"

I flinched, my cheeks burning with shame. I wanted to look away, but his eyes pinned me in place. "I’m sorry," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I got suspended from the pack house. Kael found out I was the maid helping my silly sister prepare for the festival."

"Well, I tried killing her too but it didn’t work. He suspected even though I lied, and he banned me for two weeks. But I promise, Alpha Nicholas, once I’m back, I’ll get to him. I’ll make him want me. I’ll make him trust me."

He laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. It was cold, bitter, like ice cracking underfoot. "You think I believe that? You think I trust you to pull this off now?" He turned away, pacing a few steps, his boots grinding against the gravel. "You’re wasting my time, Celeste. I put my faith in you, and you’ve given me nothing but excuses."

My chest ached, like someone had squeezed my heart too tight. I couldn’t lose him, not just the plan, but him.

I stepped forward, my hand reaching out to grab his arm. "Nicholas, please," I said, my voice trembling. "I won’t fail you again. I swear it."

He stopped, his back still to me, but I could see the tension in his shoulders. I tugged gently, pulling him to face me.

His eyes were still stormy, but there was something else there too, something softer, just for a moment. Before I could think, I leaned in and pressed my lips to his.

The kiss was desperate, my hands gripping his shirt, trying to hold onto him, to make him believe me. His lips were warm, but stiff at first, like he wasn’t sure. Then he softened, his hand lifting to cup my face.

He pulled back, just enough to look at me. A small smile curved his lips, and my heart fluttered.

He brushed a strand of hair from my face, his fingers gentle against my cheek. "You’re lucky I care about you, Celeste," he said softly. "Do this right, and when we take the pack, I’ll make you my wife. We’ll rule together."

My breath caught. His wife. The words wrapped around me like a warm blanket, and I smiled, my eyes stinging with tears. "I won’t let you down," I whispered, leaning in to kiss him again. This time, he kissed me back, his arms pulling me close, our breaths mingling in the cool night air.

A sharp gasp sliced through the quiet, like a knife cutting the moment in two. My heart stopped. Nicholas froze, his hands tightening on my arms.

The sound came from the shadows, near the tall stone pillars that lined the garden. Someone was there. Someone had seen us.

"Who’s there?" Nicholas growled, his voice low and dangerous. He pushed me behind him, his body tense, ready to fight.

My hands shook as I clutched the back of his shirt, my eyes darting to the pillars. The moonlight barely reached them, leaving pools of darkness where anyone could hide.

If someone overheard us, our plan was ruined. The Shadow Claw Pack would never fall, and Kael would have our heads.

"Show yourself!" I called, trying to sound brave, but my voice wobbled. I stepped out from behind Nicholas, my heart racing as I scanned the shadows.

The garden was silent, except for the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze. I took a step toward the pillars, my slippers soft against the stone path. "Come out, or we’ll find you!"

Nicholas grabbed my arm, pulling me back. "Stay close," he muttered, his eyes narrowing as he moved toward the pillars.

We checked behind the first one, nothing. Just shadows and cobwebs. The second was empty too, but my stomach churned. Someone was here. I could feel it, like eyes burning into my back.

We reached the last pillar, Nicholas’s hand on his dagger, ready to strike. I held my breath, my hands clammy.

Just as he stepped forward, a voice echoed behind us, smooth and cold as ice. "Looking for someone?"

I spun around, my heart leaping into my throat. Nicholas cursed under his breath, his hand tightening on his dagger.

There, standing in the moonlight, was Alpha Kael. His tall frame loomed over us, his dark eyes blazing with anger. His face was like stone, but the fury in his gaze made my knees weak.

He crossed his arms, his broad shoulders blocking the path back to the pack house. The lunar festival was happening inside, music and laughter drifting faintly through the air, but out here, it felt like the world had stopped.

"Aria," Alpha Kael said, his voice sharp enough to cut. "Care to explain why you’re in my pack house when I suspended you for two weeks?" His eyes flicked to Nicholas, then back to me, and I swear I saw a spark of betrayal in them.

My mouth opened, but no words came out. My mind raced, scrambling for an excuse, but my tongue felt heavy, useless. I glanced at Nicholas, hoping he’d say something, anything, to save us.

Nicholas stepped forward, his chin high, his voice steady. "I called her here, Kael," he said. "I needed to discuss some... business between our packs."

Kael’s brow arched, his lips curling into a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. "This late? During the lunar festival? And with a maid? Pack business." His tone dripped with suspicion, and he took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. "What kind of business requires sneaking around my pack house in the dead of night?"

Nicholas opened his mouth to respond, but Kael raised a hand, cutting him off. "Enough," he snapped, his eyes locking onto me. "Aria, get out of my pack house. Now."

My heart sank. I felt like a child caught stealing sweets, my face burning with shame. Nicholas grabbed my hand, his grip tight, almost painful. "She’s not going anywhere," he said, his voice low, challenging.

Kael laughed, a harsh, bitter sound that echoed in the garden. "Oh, I see," he said, his eyes narrowing as he looked between us. "Seems you two are more than just a maid and an external Alpha from the Fang Pack." His words were like a slap, sharp and stinging.

He tilted his head, his gaze piercing through me. "Care to explain that, Aria?"

I yanked my hand free from Nicholas, my chest tight with panic. "It’s not what you think!" I blurted, my voice high and desperate. "I just met Alpha Nicholas tonight. We’re not... we’re not together or anything. I swear, Alpha Kael, I’m loyal to you and the Shadow Claw Pack."

Kael snorted, his eyes cold and unbelieving. "Loyal," he repeated, the word dripping with sarcasm. He turned to Nicholas, his posture stiff, his voice like steel. "And you," he said, pointing a finger at him. "Stay away from my pack and my staff. You have no business here, Nicholas. Don’t test me."

Without another word, Kael turned and walked away, his boots echoing on the stone path. I stood there, frozen, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst.

Nicholas’s hand brushed mine, but I pulled away, my mind spinning. Our plan was hanging by a thread, and Kael’s anger was a storm waiting to break.

I had to fix this, somehow.