Celeste’s POV

*****

Faculty council hall, 9:12 AM

Hearing my mother’s voice while the council was about to pass judgment on me was one of the best feelings imaginable.

I spun around after her resounding declaration, watching as she waltzed toward us with a serious expression.

"L–Luna Queen Odessa," the bearded wolf council member from earlier stuttered. "With all due respect, this is academy business. We can handle—"

"It’s MY family’s business." My mother snapped when she got beside the rest of the group, voice defiant. "And last I checked, my husband and I founded this school. Once upon a time, I was Dean of this institution. So if anything I deserve to interfere more than anyone."

Those words shut the male wolf up instantly, his head lowering in shame.

Then my mother’s neck whipped to me, eyes softening. "Honey, are you okay?"

Obviously, I wasn’t.

But with her here? I managed to nod in response, unable to hide the grateful smile playing on my lips.

"Luna Queen," Dean Thorne’s tone was more hesitant now. "I take it this means you’re somehow aware of your daughter’s actions earlier."

A frown creased between my brows.

Yeah... it was weird how she came here right when I was about to be passed judgment.

Too curious, I glanced at Caelum. "Did you text mom before we got here?"

He mouthed a "no" adding further to my confusion. How was her timing so perfect?

"Yes, I’m aware," Mom nodded once. "Which is why I’m highly disappointed in you, Thorne. She’s my daughter. I entrusted you to keep her safe within these academy walls."

The Dean’s composed expression cracked. "That’s what I’m doing, Ma’am—"

"Is it?" My mother scoffed. "Attempting to ban her from using her magic. Something she’s barely had all her life and only just got. That’s your version of protection?"

Now I was torn between looking at my mother and the Dean.

Entrusted him to keep me safe?

’I know, right?’ my wolf sighed. ’What a terrible job he’s done so far.’

"Another outburst like the ones she’s been having will make her more of a target," the Dean countered. "Besides, you’re aware of her special nature. The mate bonds and whatnot."

My eyes widened as they flicked to Caelum.

Of course, my brother seemed confused, blinking first at Mom before pivoting to me.

In all the ways I imagined revealing the bonds with the boys to him, it casually being blurted by the Dean was not on my bingo card.

Not to mention the two council members other than Professor Amelia also seemed lost on what he was talking about. As well as Professor Varrick.

"Better a target than a prisoner," my mother harrumphed. "I’ve been there. I’ve had my power seen as nothing but chaotic and in some cases... evil." There was a hint of pain in her voice.

For just a heartbeat.

Then she straightened. "Celeste will not go through what I did. I’ll make sure of that whether any of you like it or not." She grabbed my hand out of nowhere, pulling me with her to the exit.

No more words, no goodbyes. Just a dramatic exit.

The others quickly followed behind us.

.

.

Caelum caught up with me first once we stepped out of the council hall, his long strides easily closing the distance.

"Hold on," he said, grabbing my elbow gently. "Back up for a second."

I sighed.

Of course, he would.

His silver eyes searched my face, confusion written all over them. "What did the Dean mean by mate bonds?"

Right.

That.

I rubbed the back of my neck, glancing briefly at the others trailing behind us. Luther and Silas were murmuring to each other while Azrael walked in silence beside Atlas, his sunglasses in place like the morning hadn’t been complete chaos.

"Well..." I exhaled slowly. "You remember the Lupine mating ball?"

Caelum frowned. "The one where you publicly told everyone you had four mates?"

"Yeah."

"You made it seem like it was a bluff."

I winced. "Turns out it wasn’t."

Silence.

My brother blinked once. Then twice.

"...What?"

"I wasn’t lying that night," I admitted, shrugging helplessly. "I’m actually mated to four people."

His brain visibly stalled.

"And those four people," I continued awkwardly, gesturing vaguely behind me, "are Luther, Silas, Azrael and Atlas."

Caelum slowly turned his head.

His gaze landed on the four men walking several paces behind us.

Then back to me.

Then back to them again.

For once in his life, my brother was completely speechless.

It was honestly impressive.

Before he could attempt forming words again, my mother’s hand suddenly tightened around mine.

"Celeste," Odessa said quietly.

Her tone wasn’t angry.

But it was serious.

She gently steered me a few steps away from the group, giving us a pocket of privacy in the corridor.

The others seemed to understand the cue immediately. Luther started explaining something to Caelum while Willow hovered nearby with curiosity practically vibrating off her.

Mom looked at me carefully.

"Now," she said softly. "Tell me what happened back there."

I hesitated.

Because explaining it out loud somehow made it feel more real.

"It... felt wrong," I admitted slowly. "Like something inside me just snapped."

Her brows knit together. "What do you mean?"

I swallowed.

"The Vein," I said. "I felt it again. But stronger this time. Like it was... pushing."

Mom’s expression darkened. "That shouldn’t be happening so quickly."

"I know."

She studied me for a long moment. "Is there anything else you haven’t told me?"

I hesitated again.

Then sighed.

"Yeah."

Her eyes sharpened.

"I’ve been seeing someone," I admitted.

Mom’s eyebrow lifted. "Seeing?"

"Not like that," I groaned. "More like... hallucinating."

That definitely got her attention.

"Who?"

I rubbed my temples.

"Nyx."

The name seemed to freeze the air around us.

Mom’s entire body went still.

"Twice now," I added quietly. "Once in my dream... and once during the fight."

Odessa’s lips pressed into a thin line. "That’s not a good sign."

"No kidding."

Before she could question me further, footsteps approached.

Atlas.

He stopped beside us, slightly out of breath like he’d jogged to catch up.

"There’s something you should both hear," he said.

Mom turned to him. "And what would that be?"

Atlas hesitated briefly.

"The reason I was late to class today."

My stomach tightened.

He glanced at me, then continued. "I attempted a necromancy ritual."

Mom blinked. "You did what?"

"I tried contacting the spirit of the cleaner who was murdered yesterday."

More confusion flashed on my mother’s face.

"The dead cleaner?" She repeated slowly. "What dead cleaner?"

Atlas frowned. "The one found in the Dean’s office last night."

Shock crossed her face. "There was a murder in the academy and no one informed me?"

Yeah... That part was new to her.

Atlas continued carefully. "I managed to reach the spirit for a moment."

Both of us stared at him now.

"And?" I asked.

His expression turned grim. "She said something before she was dragged back."

Odessa folded her arms. "What did she say?"

Atlas exhaled slowly. "She said... ’She’s fooled us all.’"

Silence followed. A long one.

Mom’s eyes darkened as the implication settled in.

"A woman," she murmured.

Atlas nodded, muttering. "Which means whoever killed her might not even be the Dean."

My spine prickled.

Because if Atlas was right...

Then someone else inside Bloodoak Academy had been playing all of us from the beginning.