Chapter 19: A Mating arrangement
Chapter 19: A Mating arrangement
(Celeste’s POV)
Nina’s soft knock drew my attention from the frost–coated window. She entered without
waiting for a response, a frown curling her lips. Her gray wolf lingered close, its protective
energy radiating.
“My Lady,” she began carefully, her voice edged with unease. “Luna Victoria wishes to speak
with you in her private study. She’s waiting.”
Her words carried weight that tugged at my chest. The image of Victoria’s piercing green eyes
flashed before me—a calculated gaze that once held love but now tremored with other
motives.
My wolf stirred faintly. Her distrust matched my own. But Eleanor’s fading figure loomed in my
thoughts, her gentle smile urging me to tread carefully.
“Alright,” I said, quiet but firm. “I’ll go.”
Nina stepped aside, her eyes filling with concern. “I can come with you.”
I shook my head, forcing a small smile. “No… I don’t think that would go over well.”
Victoria’s study was warm with golden lamplight, yet the chill in the air sent shivers through
- me. She sat behind her polished oak desk, her silver–streaked auburn hair carefully pinned
back. The way her smile curved didn’t bring comfort.
“Celeste,” she greeted softly, gesturing to the chair in front of her. “Come, sit.”
I obeyed, lowering myself into the seat. My hands rested cautiously in my lap, fingers curling into my palms.
Victoria’s gaze softened, or at least it tried to. “How are you holding up, dear? Eleanor’s
condition…” She trailed off, her voice laden with worry. “It’s been hard on all of us.”
My throat tightened. “She’s resting, but her wolf…” My voice caught. “It’s slipping away.”
Victoria’s hands twitched faintly against the desk, a flash of something that might’ve been guilt darting across her face.
“She loves you dearly,” she said quietly. “More than anyone could ever imagine.”
I said nothing, unsure where this was headed. My wolf prowled restlessly, sensing the
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Chapter 19: A Mating arrangem…
undercurrent of this conversation.
After a moment, Victoria leaned forward, her tone softening further. “Celeste, I’ve been
thinking about your future.”
My wolf bristled immediately, my spine stiffening. “My future?”
“Yes.” She smiled warmly, almost motherly. It made my wolf uneasy. “You’ve endured so much
but life shouldn’t just be survival, child. You deserve… companionship. Stability. Someone to
stand beside you.”
My breath hitched. I could feel it coming–the careful pressure, the crafted manipulation.
“I’m not looking for that,” I said plainly.
“But maybe you should start.” Her gaze held steady, unyielding. “A strong mate… someone
who could offer protection and purpose…”
My wolf growled low in my chest, its energy crackling faintly against the manipulative
undertone in her words.
“This is about Scarlett,” I said, my tone sharper than intended.
“No.” She placed a hand over her heart, feigning sincerity. “This is about you, Celeste. About what’s best for you. Eleanor rests easier knowing her beloved granddaughter has a solid future
ahead. You’ve always cared so deeply for her happiness, haven’t you?”
My nails bit into my palm, the weight of her words striking too close. She was twisting reality, framing it perfectly so that I couldn’t refuse without appearing heartless.
“What are you suggesting?” I asked slowly, my voice cautious.
Victoria brightened, leaning back slightly with a small, satisfied smile. “A mating arrangement. One that aligns with the pack’s needs… and your own. I’ve already begun
discussions to ensure this match would be suitable.”
My hands trembled faintly with suppressed rage, but Eleanor’s fragile face filled my mind. Her wolf’s weak presence. Her wishes for peace.
“You think this is what Eleanor would want?” I asked softly.
“I know it is,” Victoria said firmly. “A match like this ensures your safety, your standing. And it…
resolves any lingering conflicts.”
She didn’t have to elaborate for her meaning to hit home. Clearing the path for Scarlett and Alexander. That was the true purpose here.
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My wolf whimpered softly, but I silenced her protests. This wasn’t about me. It never had been.
“I’ll consider it,” I said finally, my voice emptier than I intended.
Victoria’s smile widened, her green eyes gleaming faintly. “I knew you’d understand. You’ve always been so selfless.”
By nightfall, I found myself in Eleanor’s chambers. The healer, Sarah, stood at the bedside,
arranging vials of medicine. The faint scent of wolfsbane hung in the air, sharp and metallic.
“Is she…” I hesitated, my voice breaking.
Sarah glanced at me briefly, her expression somber. “She’s resting, but the medicine isn’t
working as well anymore. Her wolf is fading faster than we anticipated.”
I moved to sit beside Eleanor, my heart breaking as I took in her frail form. Her silver hair
gleamed faintly under the lamplight, her breathing shallow and uneven.
The sight tore at me, scraping raw wounds I hadn’t even realized still lingered.
“I’ll take care of her,” I whispered, though it wasn’t clear to whom the promise was meant. Maybe to Eleanor. Maybe to myself.
Sarah gave a faint nod before retreating to the doorway, leaving me alone with my grandmother.
I sat there quietly, watching her chest rise and fall with painful effort. My wolf curled tightly within me, her grief mixing with mine. The thought of Eleanor leaving–it was unbearable.
“You always loved Scarlett,” I whispered softly, my words barely audible. “And yet… you never stopped loving me either. Even after everything.”
My fingers trailed lightly along the edge of her blanket, my scars burning faintly.
Through the muffled sound of the closed door, my hearing caught a distant conversation. Victoria’s voice. And Lucas.
“Her presence complicates everything” Lucas growled quietly.
“She’s agreed to the arrangement,” Victoria said, her tone calm and measured. “It’s the best path for all of us.”
Best for Scarlett and Alexander. Not me.
The sharp sting of betrayal hit me, but I swallowed it quickly. For Eleanor’s sake, I wouldn’t fight. I couldn’t.
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“I’ll do it,” I whispered to the room, to Eleanor’s still form. “For you. For your peace of mind.”
My wolf whimpered faintly in protest, but I ignored her.
Two days later, Victoria escorted me to the edges of Regina Blackwood’s territory.
The towering gates loomed ahead, their intricate carvings emblazoned with the royal insignia.
My wolf shrank within me, her unease matching my own.
This place radiated power. Dominance. Danger.
Victoria’s expression was composed, unreadable as usual. But I could sense the satisfaction
radiating from her.
As we approached, a guard opened the gate, nodding respectfully toward us.
My footsteps faltered briefly as we stepped inside. The air felt heavier, colder than before. The
presence of powerful wolves filled every corner, suffocating in its intensity.
Victoria led me toward the grand hall without a word. Her silence was more unnerving than
anything she could have said.
When the doors opened, my heart clenched painfully.
Regina Blackwood sat at the head of the long room, her violet eyes gleaming like a predator
who had cornered its prey. Beside her stood Marcus.
Marcus Blackwood.
His dark hair and royal markings only enhanced the aura of cruelty that surrounded him. His
violet eyes swept over me with a gaze that sent chills down my spine.
I didn’t need to hear the words to understand my fate. My wolf cowered, her fear rippling
through me.
Victoria’s carefully laid trap finally revealed its teeth.
