Celeste’s POV

*****

"What’s up?" I spun around when Luther and I walked down the steps of the library.

He trailed hesitantly behind, his hands in his pockets and head lowered as he kicked a random pebble. Like whatever he was about to tell me was heavy.

That made me more anxious. "Luther?"

His head lifted, brows knitted as a soft breeze blew through the evening. "Celeste..."

"You didn’t call me here so we could start saying each other’s names, did you?" When I asked that, he chuckled. I rolled my eyes with a smile, walking up to him and grabbing his hands.

He stiffened.

Most of the academy, if not everyone, thought I was still exclusively dating Silas. Many labelled me a slut for dating both brothers at different points.

But at this right now? After my earlier outburst and the clips from Montecito? I no longer cared what they thought of me or my interaction with the boys.

We didn’t owe them an explanation.

"Come on, Luther," I whispered when his eyes settled on mine again. "Talk."

His breath caught for a second before he let it all out in a heavy breath. "It’s... really nothing much. Depending on how you look at it." Dear gods, was the angst necessary? "I got called by one of my pack elders. During the vacation."

I blinked once.

Oh.

That... wasn’t where I saw this conversation going.

"Long story short," he continued with a light sigh. "They want me to pick a Luna soon. Someone from a strong bloodline who can bear me heirs."

Double oh...

That wasn’t expected either.

My cheeks flushed. "Uhm... that sounds interesting." I tried sounding casual. "So... does this mean you’ll have to... find another—"

"Wait—huh?" Luther’s hands slipped out of my grip only for him to grab me instead. "Celeste, another person? Of course, not! Why would you even think that?"

I could barely maintain eye contact. "I don’t know. I mean, if I’m being honest I don’t see myself having kids yet. Or... anytime soon really," I paused. "Then being Luna—"

"That’s another thing, Cel," he interrupted, a hint of guilt in his eyes. "He specifically said the Elders weren’t happy with my recent choices of partners. You. Lysandra..."

It took me a moment to understand why the hell I’d be put under the same category as Lysandra. But when I finally realised what we both had in common—

"Hybrids," my shoulders dropped, a wry smile playing on my lips. "Wow. Even after all these years discrimination toward my kind hasn’t changed, huh?"

During the one hundred years’ war, Hybrids were actively hunted and killed by both witches and wolves alike. All around the world. Simply because of some stupid prophecy which my mother ended up fulfilling.

And also due to how unstable a hybrid’s powers could get.

Plus... another thing...

"They want pure wolf children or whatever," Luther shook his head. "But honestly, Cel? Fuck that." His hands travelled to my shoulders, rubbing them gently. "I love you. If you don’t want children now or ever, I’m fine with that. Those little urchins are a lot of work anyway."

My jaw dropped, a shuddering gasp leaving me. "Luther... I could never ask you to do that—"

"You don’t have to."

Something stirred in my stomach. A lump formed in my throat as dampness I never saw coming burned the back of my eyes. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Your bloodline," my voice cracked as I grabbed his wrists. "Your family’s history. The future of your pack. I won’t forgive myself if you give all that up for me..." Stopping for a beat, I noticed him wince.

Just for a second.

No matter how much he tried to hide it, I could tell how much that pack meant to him. How much pressure he felt taking over the legacy of his father and those before.

So, "I didn’t say I NEVER wanted children," that burn in my cheeks came again. "Just not now. We still have a long life ahead of us to plan all that."

The biggest relieved exhale broke out of his mouth. "Oh... well, okay. Because those little urchins might be annoying but it won’t hurt to have one. Or two."

I grinned, shaking my head. "So you do want them?"

"A little... yeah."

"What’s ’a little’ even supposed to mean?" I broke into a fit of laughter, burying my head on his shoulder.

He joined me, even when a few students walked out of the library’s arched entrance behind us. We didn’t care, sticking even closer despite their whispers.

After we both settled, my lips pursed. "But then your pack Elders would have to deal with their ’heir’ having witch blood. And I believe a splice of human blood somewhere in there."

Luther was unshaken. "WE would have to deal with that. Leave it to me, babe..." he pressed a kiss on my neck, fully claiming me without worrying. "... I’m quite persuasive. Those old coots will come around soon enough."

He pulled me into his arms and I wrapped mine around him as well.

For the first time in a long while... I could see a future with all my mates. And gods did it seem so bright.

.

.

Bloodoak Academy Training grounds, 9:06 PM

"Alright." Atlas spread out his arms as we walked into the open space we’d chosen for tonight’s operation. "Here we are."

The place in question was a large space. An old amphitheatre used during the school’s earlier days long before any of us enrolled here.

Probably when I was still a waddling toddler.

Now it was abandoned, the tarred ground covered with sand and some pillars that once acted as conduits for old wards, now mostly dilapidated.

I huffed a breath, eyes sweeping past every corner and edge. "This place should be perfect."

"Very." Azrael chimed, walking to my side. "It’s isolated from the rest of the academy. Perfect for any suspects to come investigate a sudden Vein surge."

"And," Atlas added, turning to face us. "I’ve placed containment wards around the place. First to make sure any Vein energy leakage doesn’t get noticed by the entire school. Then to help us capture any one or thing that shows up."

His golden eyes moved to me. "The rest will be up to you, Celeste. We’ll be hiding and waiting while you’ll need to let out just the right amount of Vein energy without losing control. My wards can help keep you calm but... are you sure you’re ready?"

Silence stretched as a howling wind blew through the old training grounds. Four pairs of eyes settled on me. My fists curled slightly but I didn’t let my hesitation show.

"Yes," I nodded, flashing a smile I hoped gave off confidence.

All I had to do was unleash the same power I’ve been trying so hard to avoid and understand all at once.

... What could possibly go wrong?

Luther studied my face for a moment longer, as if searching for the slightest crack in that confidence. When he didn’t find one, his expression softened.

He stepped forward again, placing both hands firmly on my shoulders.

"Hey," he said quietly. "Remember what this is. A test. Nothing more." His thumb brushed against my collarbone reassuringly. "If the bastard who’s been messing with us comes out tonight, great. If they don’t... we’ll try again. Either way, we’re right here."

His gaze sharpened.

"We’re one stride away from figuring this whole thing out, Cel. So don’t let the pressure get to you."

A small smile tugged at my lips. "Thanks for the motivational speech, Alpha."

"Don’t get used to it," he snorted.

Azrael stepped forward next, hands still buried in his coat pockets. The faint glow of the moon caught against his sunglasses.

"Control your breathing," he said calmly. "Like your outbursts shows, the Vein reacts strongly to emotion. Panic will only make it harder to guide."

His head tilted slightly. "And remember... you are not merely touching the Vein. It has already touched you."

That wasn’t exactly comforting, but I appreciated the effort.

Atlas approached after him, his golden eyes gleaming with focus. "My wards are stable. They’ll help regulate any excess energy. If things begin spiraling, I’ll intervene immediately."

He offered me a reassuring nod. "You’ve handled the Vein before, Celeste. Tonight you’re simply doing it on purpose."

Silas was the last to step closer.

For a brief second his expression softened in a way I hadn’t seen since... Well, since before everything got complicated between us.

"You’ve got this," he murmured. Then he gave me a small grin. "Just try not to blow up the entire amphitheatre."

I rolled my eyes, but the tension in my chest eased just a little.

"Alright," Atlas said, clapping his hands once. "Positions."

One by one they moved away, disappearing behind broken pillars, collapsed stone walls and patches of overgrown vines that had reclaimed parts of the old arena.

Soon... I was alone.

Standing in the very center of the amphitheatre.

The wind howled softly through the ruined structure as I inhaled slowly.

Then exhaled.

Again. And again.

I closed my eyes.

The Vein.

Somewhere beneath the layers of my magic, beneath the instincts of my wolf and the pulse of my heart, that strange chaotic energy waited.

Watching. Listening.

I reached for it carefully.

At first there was nothing.

Just silence.

Then—

whispers.

Faint. Wrong.

Like voices echoing through a cavern that had existed long before the world itself.

My breath hitched.

’Good,’ Atlas’ voice suddenly echoed inside my mind via telepathy. ’I can feel something stirring.’ he continued. ’It’s working. Keep going.’

My fingers curled slightly.

I remembered the feeling. The chaos.

The moments when the Vein had erupted through me before—fear, anger, confusion... emotions crashing together like a storm.

I let those memories rise.

My outburst. Montecito. The arena.

Nyx.

For a fleeting second, I swore I heard her voice again. Soft. Mocking. "Little chaos princess..."

My eyes snapped open.

I turned quickly, scanning the shadows around the amphitheatre.

Nothing.

No Nyx.

Only darkness.

But something had changed.

The shadows stretched unnaturally along the broken pillars. The night sky above seemed darker than before, the clouds slowly swallowing the moon.

A chill crept down my spine.

Then I looked down as my breath caught.

Dark sigils crawled across my arms like living ink, glowing faintly beneath my skin.

The marks of the Vein! They finally appeared.

And they were spreading...