Celeste’s POV

*****

Beach house, 10:15 Am

"Well, well..." Luther whistled when I walked into the living room. "Look who’s already up and about after barely escaping death."

He’d been standing while speaking to Silas who sat on a sofa with his tablet on. Both seemed like they were in the middle of some important discussion.

Probably pack business.

Sometimes I forgot they actually ran a whole pack and business while simultaneously pursuing supernatural education.

"You’re just in time," Luther went on as I drew closer to him, unaware of what I was about to do. "We’d just set the dining table and the sauce Atlas made tasted divine. You—"

Without letting him finish, I grabbed his collar, pulling him down until our lips collided. His eyes were wide with shock, his hands suspended mid-air.

That was only for two seconds.

He kissed me back, slinging an arm around my waist. He pressed me against his chest, letting me feel his bare muscles underneath.

But then—I didn’t let myself lose control, pulling away with a smirk. "Did that feel different at all?"

The man was gobsmacked, blinking like he’d been kissed by a ghost. "I–I... you... What?"

’What was your goal there?’ my wolf asked with a laugh. ’You might’ve given the poor man a factory reset. And made the others jealous.’

At the mention of ’others’ my eyes slid to Silas sitting behind Luther. The Beta gawked at me but stayed quiet.

"I don’t know what I just walked into," Atlas’ baritone echoed from the dining room behind me, making all heads swing there, "but when am I next?"

He had a teasing grin, golden eyes darting between Luther and me as he placed a tray on the dining table. Azrael trailed behind him from the kitchen, holding a bottle of wine.

They were all here.

Perfect.

"You’ll understand why I did that soon enough," I winked at Luther before clearing my throat. "Can we all gather at the dining table? I want to share a few things."

As I waltzed to the dining table, each step dripping with confidence, all four of them followed my movements. The kiss with Luther may have awakened something I couldn’t deal with.

Not right now anyway.

When I sat, they did the same one by one, Azrael being the last to sit after staring intensely beneath his sunglasses.

Luther—who sat a couple of chairs to my right—coughed. "So what’s the news? You’re pregnant?"

I smiled sarcastically. "Not anytime soon, thank the gods."

"What do you mean by ’thank the gods’?" He pushed like I’d said something harsh. "I... I mean it’s your choice but then children won’t be bad. Not exactly now but maybe in five or three years—"

The table shook slightly. Luther jolted, glaring at Silas who sat beside him.

"Silence, Luther," Azrael rubbed the bridge of his nose, keeping his head pointed at me. "Little miss... what is it you wanted to share?"

I stared a little longer than necessary, my chest tightening with the thought that he’d probably never feel open enough to share all of himself with me.

Yet here I was about to do just that.

Hurray for the truth, I guess.

"Well," I swept my eyes past the food before us, struggling not to get distracted. "I think I’ll have to start from the hybrid trial."

After a little pause, I continued. "I fainted back then. But before that, I heard a voice in my head. The best way to explain it is like a second identity or consciousness—but still ’me’ to some extent."

Luther and Silas exchanged confused glances, the latter arching a brow seconds after. "Hm?"

’Be more specific...’ my wolf urged.

"I’m saying at that point I thought it was my wolf awakening," I blurted without thinking, hands curling on the table. "Then this morning—after last night—I was woken up by that same voice. Except this time it was much clearer and I can finally confirm it’s indeed my wolf."

Silence.

Each of them either exchanged looks or stared at me as if their minds hadn’t processed what I just said.

Atlas was the first to speak. "Have you noticed any other symptoms aside from this voice? Heightened senses? More possessive instincts?"

My mouth opened when Luther scoffed:

"I believe the actual wolves here should be the ones asking her questions."

"Oh, sorry, Luther. I assumed your brain was still foggy from that kiss to say anything coherent." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Jealous?"

"Guys!" I slammed a hand on the table. "Come on, I thought we were way past meaningless arguments?"

That silenced both of them.

Silas took the wheel. "Atlas’ questions are correct though. So...?"

I lowered my chin. "Yes. My senses have been magnified. Other than all that though..." A simple lift of my index finger on the table made an apple levitate. I twisted it, causing the apple to split in half. "... My magic increased too."

Atlas peered at me like one of those mad scientists. "Remarkable," he watched the apple halves fall from the opposite end of the table. "Are you suggesting all this still links back to the bond effects we had this morning?"

My confidence almost disappeared completely.

We’d gotten to the main revelation. And after getting so far, there was no use hiding it from them.

"Right before I fainted this morning," I began, watching Atlas’ brows furrow, "I saw these... dark sigils across my arms. They pulsed with magic that wasn’t quite mine and felt... wrong."

The sound of glass scraping against the table made my head turn in the direction it came from.

Azrael.

He shifted uncomfortably on his seat, expression staying controlled. "D–Dark sigils?"

"Yes," I didn’t hold back. "They burned and at a point felt like they were in my blood. Even now I still feel like they’re just waiting to sprout out again."

The air tightened.

Not dramatically. Not with thunder or shattered glass.

Just... heavier.

Azrael’s fingers tightened around the stem of his wine glass before he set it down with deliberate care. "Then we really shouldn’t brush this aside," he said evenly. "Whatever this is—we treat it seriously. No assumptions. No underestimating."

Silas nodded once, jaw locked. "If those... sigils mean someone or something marked you, this can get dangerous really fast."

Atlas’ golden eyes darkened with thought. "And we need to find out who or what."

Even Luther didn’t joke.

And just like that—there it was.

The exact thing I’d been afraid of.

Not the sigils. Not the magic.

But this.

The shift.

Life definitely wasn’t going to be smooth sailing from here on out.