CHAPTER 73: CHAPTER 73

Celeste POV.

I kept thinking about how Alpha Kael stopped me at the pack. I was so scared because he grabbed my neck, and I thought I might die. Thank the moon goddess, I had already planned what to say to save myself.

I stumbled into my mother’s house, my boots dragging on the wooden floor, my green dress torn, my dark hair messy, my neck sore from Kael’s grip.

My heart pounded, my chest tight, my tears falling, my wolf, Lila, whining, her fear sharp. The air was warm, the room small, the smell of herbs strong, the table cluttered with jars and clothes.

My mother sat by the fire, her gray hair loose, her eyes narrowing as she saw me, her face hard. I collapsed into a chair, my hands shaking, my voice breaking.

"Kael almost killed me," I said, my tears hot, my heart racing, my anger at Aria, my twin sister, burning.

"He grabbed my neck, lifted me up, and threw me down." My voice shook, my fear loud, my hate for Aria stronger, wishing she’d died in the river, her body sinking, her breath gone.

Mother’s eyes widened, her hands clenching, her voice sharp. "What happened?" she asked, leaning forward, her face angry, her eyes burning.

I told her everything, how I went shopping with Aria for the Lunar Festival, how I left her with Torin, saying our mother was sick, how the car crashed into the river, how Kael pulled Aria out, blaming me.

My heart raced, my anger hot, my tears falling, Lila growling, her hate for Aria matching mine.

"I wish she’d died," I said, my voice low, my eyes meeting Mother’s, my heart heavy with hate. "If Aria was gone, I could be Luna, Kael’s Luna, like I deserve."

Mother’s face twisted, her eyes fierce, her hands slamming the table. "She should’ve drowned," she said, her voice cold, her anger loud. "You’re the true Luna, Celeste. Aria stole your place." Her words fueled me, my heart pounding, my hate growing, my dream of being Luna, of having power, of standing above Aria, burning.

We sat there, our anger shared, our voices low, the fire crackling, the room warm, my neck aching, my heart set on destroying Aria, on taking what was mine.

Mother leaned back, her eyes narrowing, her voice soft but sharp. "What about Alpha Nicholas?" she asked, her hands folding, her face curious.

My heart jumped, my cheeks warming, a blush spreading, my thoughts on Nicholas, his dark eyes, his strong hands, his promises. I smiled, my voice soft, my heart racing.

"He’s coming to the Lunar Festival," I said, my eyes bright, my hands twisting in my lap. "We’ll meet, talk, plan." My heart swelled, my love for Nicholas real, unlike my fake feelings for Kael.

I didn’t love Kael, never did, just wanted his title, his pack, to help Nicholas take it, to be his Luna, to rule beside him.

My heart pounded, my dream of standing with Nicholas, of crushing Aria, driving me. "I’ll do anything for him," I said, my voice firm, my eyes meeting Mother’s, my love for Nicholas fierce, Lila purring, her warmth steady.

Mother nodded, her smile sly, her eyes glinting. "Good," she said, her voice low, her hands clenching. "We need to destroy Aria, make sure she never takes your place." Her words were sharp, my heart racing, my hate for Aria burning, my mind spinning with ways to hurt her, to ruin her.

Mother’s eyes narrowed, her voice dropping. "I wish we could find someone close to Kael to help destroy Aria," she said, her words slow, her face serious.

My heart jumped, my mind clicking, a spark igniting, my eyes widening, my breath catching.

"Seraphina," I said, my voice quick, my heart pounding, my hands trembling. I’d been watching her, her red dress, her blonde hair, her angry eyes, her love for Kael, her foster brother, clear.

She hated Aria, her slap in Aria’s room proof, her jealousy loud. I knew she knew something, maybe about Aria’s role as Luna Celeste, her secrets, her weaknesses.

My heart raced, my plan forming, my hate for Aria fueling me. "Seraphina can help," I said, my voice firm, my eyes meeting Mother’s, her smile growing, her nod slow.

"She’s perfect," Mother said, her voice sly, her hands rubbing together, the fire casting shadows on her face. "She wants Kael. Use that." My heart pounded, my excitement rising, my plan clear, get Seraphina to join me, to spill what she knows to the entire pack. I could tell her more too, to destroy Aria, to clear my path to Nicholas, to the Luna title.

I grabbed my phone, my hands shaking, my fingers quick, finding Seraphina’s number, my heart racing, my breath short, Lila growling, her strength urging me on.

I called, the phone ringing, my heart pounding, my eyes on the fire, my hope high. Seraphina answered, her voice sharp, her anger clear.

"Who is this?" She asked.

"Someone who wants to help you... Aria...the maid" I lied, wanting to clear my doubts if she actually knew our real identity.

She scoffed, "What do you want, Celeste?" she snapped, her tone cold, her hate loud. My heart jumped, my voice calm, my words careful. She knew. Good.

"Meet me," I said, my voice low, my hands gripping the phone. "We need to talk about something important." My heart raced, my plan hanging on her, my hate for Aria pushing me.

She stayed silent, her breath heavy, her anger clear.

"No," she said, her voice hard, her words quick. "I’m not meeting you." My heart sank, my anger flaring, my plan slipping, but I leaned forward, my voice sly, my words sharp.

"It’s about getting Alpha Kael," I said, my heart pounding, knowing her love for him, her jealousy of Aria, her foster brother’s heart, her obsession.

"We can help each other." My voice was firm, my eyes narrowing, my hope rising, Lila purring, her excitement matching mine.

Just then, Seraphina’s voice exploded, her yell loud, her anger hot.

"Don’t call me again!" she shouted, her words sharp, her hate clear, the call ending, the silence heavy.

My heart stopped as my hand dropped, my phone, making it clatter on the table.

"Urrgghh!!" my anger boiled as my plan stalled, my hate for Aria burning brighter.