Chapter 92: A Pack Sister’s Awakening
Chapter 92: A Pack Sister’s Awakening
(Celeste’s POV)
Diana’s golden wolf sat quiet but alert, her sharp eyes fixed on me. Her pale fingers twisted the hospital blanket resting across her lap. She looked different from the usual confident, mocking Beta sister of Alexander. Stripped of her earlier bravado, she gave off an air of
hesitation mixed with something else. Fear? Or something more?
“Why did you accept Marcus’s mate claim?”
The bluntness of her words struck me. For a moment, I almost faltered. Not because the question caught me off guard, but because of how genuine it sounded. There wasn’t the usual sarcasm or bite to her tone. Just blunt honesty.
I paused, keeping my face calm. “It wasn’t a choice,” I said quietly, my voice lacking emotion. ” The Alpha King’s decree left no room for that.”
Diana’s golden wolf bristled slightly at my response, ears twitching faintly as if she heard something unsaid. Her fingers tightened their grip on the blanket.
“My brother warned you.”
The soft words still carried weight. My back stiffened at the mention of Alexander.
“He warned you about Marcus,” Diana continued, her voice firm now. “Didn’t he?”
My chest ached faintly at her persistence. My silver–scarred wolf stirred in some forgotten corner of my mind, whining gently before curling back into its shell.
“Alexander made his position clear,” I replied, forcing my voice to stay flat. No emotion. Just resignation. “He made his choice.”
The unspoken words, and it wasn’t me, hung heavy in the air.
Diana leaned forward slightly, her golden eyes narrowing. “You think the pack envies you, don’t
you?”
A bitter smile tugged at my lips. “Shouldn’t they? From prisoner to a soon–to–be royal Luna. Isn’t that every wolf’s dream?”
Her laugh was short, almost mocking, but there was no malice to it. “Dream? Celeste, they
pity you.”
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The bluntness of her words hit harder than I expected. I searched her face but found no sign of
mockery. Only a strange understanding that tugged at the corners of her expression.
“You spent years in Moon Shadow Prison,” she continued, her wolf’s aura growing sharper.
“Now everyone sees you at Marcus’s side and shivers–not with envy, but pity. They know what
Marcus is capable of.”
I forced myself to keep my expression neutral, though my fingers clenched tightly behind my
back. She was right, wasn’t she? For all the whispers about my so–called “elevation,” most of
the pack knew better.
“You should listen to me,” she said suddenly, her voice rising slightly. “Never go with him to the
hunting grounds in the Northern Territory. Ever.”
The urgency in her voice gave me pause.
“Why?” I asked sharply, my violet eyes fixing on her.
Her wolf bristled again, growling softly. “Just don’t,” she snapped. “Everything else, you might
survive. But not the Northern Grounds.”
Before I could press her further, the sound of approaching footsteps reached the room. Diana straightened immediately, her golden wolf retreating inward as her usual guarded expression
returned.
I didn’t need to turn to know who had entered. The overwhelming honeysuckle scent, overly sickly–sweet, filled the air first, followed closely by the sharp edge of Lucas’s russet wolf.
“Diana!” Scarlett’s delicate voice rang out as she hurried across the room, emerald eyes shining with false concern. “Oh, I’ve been so worried!”
Scarlett dropped gracefully to her knees beside Diana’s bed, her fingers reaching out but never quite touching her. She had perfected the art of appearing thoughtful without actually giving
comfort.
“How are you?” she asked, her voice trembling just enough to seem genuine. “Does it still hurt? Do you need anything? Please, let me help you!”
She tilted her head just so, her auburn hair catching the light perfectly, her perpetual performance in full swing.
“You must come stay in my private wing,” Scarlett said, her words now laced with urgency. “I can’t bear to think of you being here all alone! It’s not safe, and after the lake-”
“Scarlett is right,” Lucas cut in, taking his place at Scarlett’s side. His emerald–tinged green
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eyes met Diana’s directly. “You’re not in any condition to be alone, Diana. Whatever you need, Scarlett will provide.”
Diana’s golden wolf stiffened as if sensing something more in their words. Slowly, she pulled her blankets closer to herself, physically creating more distance between her and Scarlett.
“Thank you for your concern,” she said evenly, her voice almost cold. “But I prefer to remain here. It is… comfortable enough.”
Scarlett froze, the word “thank you” not spoken with sisterly warmth but distant formalities. Her emerald eyes darted to Lucas briefly, panic flashing across her face before she smoothed it into practiced concern.
“Diana.” Scarlett’s lip quivered just slightly, adding to her already fragile expression. She leaned closer, her wolf projecting an almost unbearable sweetness. “Why are you speaking
like this? What did I do? You’re my sister-”
The formal wall that Diana had constructed remained intact. “Miss Morrison,” she began, her
voice sharp and firm, “I can assure you, I am fine as I am. Your concerns, while appreciated,
are unnecessary.”
Miss Morrison.
The title might as well have been a slap. Scarlett flinched visibly at the words, her emerald eyes shimmering with tearful confusion.
Lucas’s wolf stirred beside her. His brows furrowed, his eyes filled with brewing frustration
tinged with confusion. “Diana, do not be ungrateful. Scarlett only wants to help.”
Diana’s golden wolf flared faintly before retreating again, but her tone remained unchanged. “I
have not asked for–nor do I need–any help from Miss Morrison.”
The words were deliberately clipped, each syllable carrying unspoken resentment.
Scarlett turned her wide, tear–filled eyes toward me now, practically pleading. Her trembling
voice rang out. “Celeste… why? What have you done? What lies have you told her? You’ve poisoned her against me!”
Ah. There it was. The victim card. Scarlett always played it so well, radiant tears perfectly poised to gather sympathy.
“Poisoned?” I repeated faintly, my lips curving into a mockery of a smile. “That’s an awfully
strong assumption.”
“You must have!” Scarlett insisted. Her hands clutched at her chest, her entire aura trembling
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with carefully–crafted victimhood. “What else could explain Diana’s sudden coldness? She’s
always treated me like a true sister until now!”
Diana’s wolf surged faintly, though it settled quickly. But she didn’t jump to Scarlett’s defense.
“What changed,” Scarlett added, now turning towards Diana dramatically. “What has she said
to you? Please, tell me, Diana! I can fix whatever you’ve misunderstood!”
My violet eyes bore into Scarlett’s trembling form, the faint smile on my lips unmoving. Her performance was predictable. Exhausting, almost.
“Perhaps this change has to do with Moon Lake,” I suggested lightly.
Scarlett stilled, her wolf’s aura suddenly vulnerable, like a pup caught stealing. The sweet
scent wafting around her turned sour beneath its saccharine surface, betraying her unease.
“I was protecting Diana’s reputation!” Scarlett’s voice rose defensively, turning sharply to me.
“You know what pack law decrees! Unmated males cannot-”
“My life matters more than pack reputation,” Diana interjected sharply.
Her hands, previously clutching the blankets nervously, now gripped them with quiet
determination. Her golden eyes, slightly dim from exhaustion, still burned with defiance.
“You stopped Alexander and Lucas from saving me,” Diana continued, her tone unwavering.”
Both of them could’ve reached me far quicker than Celeste. But instead, you-”
“I begged Celeste to save you!” Scarlett cried. “I dared not send Alexander or Lucas into sacred
waters! The risk-”
Her sobs came suddenly, jagged and raw, as if the mere mention of the event had broken her spirit. She carefully placed her hand over her heart for added effect.
“My begging was loud. Everyone heard me!”
I laughed softly, and it wasn’t kind.
“Did they?” I asked, my voice filled with amusement. My violet eyes burned into Scarlett’s
trembling form, drinking in every ounce of her falsehood. “Is that how you remember it?”
The tension in the room thickened. Scarlett’s carefully controlled breaths hitched faintly.
Lucas shifted, his wolf bristling visibly at my mockery.
But Diana wasn’t done. Not yet.
“Strange,” Diana said slowly, her tone like iron. “I don’t recall hearing you ask Celeste for help.”
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Scarlett froze, her emerald eyes widening as her wolf whimpered softly.
Diana’s gaze sharpened, golden flames lighting behind her exhaustion. “Did I miss something while drowning?”
