"What's going on here?"
After returning to the Rez from the intense conversation with the Cullen family, the tension was high as they returned to the packhouse. However, their emotions soon turned to panic when they saw Seth still asleep on the couch alone. Just as their wolves were about to take control, from the corner of Jared's eye he caught a flicker of movement at the entrance of the woods.
A collective of sighs of relief escaped the boy's lips as they walked toward their imprint, their own eyes widened in shock as they saw her cuddling into Paul's side.
"I'm giving Paul a hug." Celeste mumbles, tightening her grip on his waist, unwilling to let the comforting warmth disappear.
She knew there were a lot of questions that needed answered, especially how easy it seemed for her body to relax around them. However, for the first time in a long time, her mind was quiet and calm, so for now she decided to embrace the silence and get her answers another day.
"What the..." Seth yawns as he walks out of the house with the rest of the pack, his lips turning to a frown as he notices how close Celeste is to Paul. "Why are you being so nice to him?" He questions slightly confused.
"Didn't Sam tell you to leave?" Embry states crossing his arms over his chest, glaring at the back of Paul's head.
"Better get going, hot head," Leah remarks with a smirk, narrowing her eyes at the boy.
"GUYS STOP" Sam growls out through the mind links "He didn't do anything wrong, so quit the comments." He snarls out.
"What are you talking about? He literally admitted to calling her a whore." Quill rolls his eyes at his Alpha.
"SHUT UP" Celeste screamed out in frustration and protectiveness; she couldn't believe how easily they had turned on him. Almost like they had given up on him and now he was the enemy.
"Celeste" Jake opens his mouth to speak, but seeing his imprint shake her head he decides to keep his mouth closed and keep quiet.
This wasn't how he expected his morning to turn out, he knew this whole situation was crazy and a mess which is why he understood where his pack mates were coming from because they didn't know what had actually happened yet. Their wolves would have been anxious and unpredictable and in this moment, Paul was a threat to their imprint.
Nevertheless, he knew that even though he and Paul would often argue and disagree he knew the shifter didn't deserve this. It could have been any of them that was targeted, even Jared was lucky he was only used one time.
"He made a mistake," Celeste whispers shaking her head. "He didn't want to say it and doesn't know why he did." She confesses.
"It's fine," Paul mutters, avoiding eye contact with his pack he had never been so vulnerable in front of them before and he knew if he looked at them, he would break down. He wouldn't class his dad as a parent, he didn't care enough to be given that title.
His true and real family was the pack, and now because of something he couldn't explain he might have lost it all.
"No" Celeste shakes her head "They can't act like this; I forgive him because I know what it's like to be blamed for something I know I didn't do." She admits biting the inside of her cheek, before nervously intertwining her fingers with his.
"She's right" Sam speaks up, clearing his throat "We all need to talk and set a few things straight, but first I want to apologize Paul, and no matter how bad things may get. The packhouse will always be open to you alright." He assured firmly.
"What?" Paul says stunned, a small smile covering his lips as he felt Celeste squeeze his hand.
"You guys have some serious explaining to do." Paul mutters through the mind link.
"Why don't we go inside and talk? Hmm?" Jake suggests with a raised eyebrow, causing everyone to nod in agreement.
It was clear that the upcoming conversation was going to be intense and difficult for everyone to process which is why it would be best to back to the pack's house.
However, there was also the nagging possibility that Jace could be watching them right now and he didn't like how exposed they were with only him, Sam, and Jared knowing the truth and they still didn't fully know how his gift worked on people and he didn't want to take any chances with Celeste being with them.
"Actually, I was wondering if I could go home?" she asks shyly looking at the ground.
A wave of embracement washed over her as she realized what she just asked. It was crazy that something so simple as asking to go home made her fear instantly come back to her when she had pretty much just scolded the group for their behaviour towards Paul.
"Hey," Jacob walks towards his best friend, lifting her chin up with his finger. "Don't overthink, you don't have to ask. If you want to go home, then you can go home. Okay?" he stresses out, he knew it was automatic the way her body stiffened and how she curled into herself like she was waiting for something to happen.
This was going to be a long process for her to gain her own independence without fearing punishment, but to him that didn't matter, his little moon was back and that was better than any dream he could ever imagine.
Celeste let out a sigh of relief at his words, she didn't want to offend anyone by wanting to go home. Honestly, she would stay at the packhouse forever if she could but even though it was only a night she needed her father and the reassurance and comfort his presence could give.
"Thank you" She mutters, letting go of Paul before wrapping her arms around Jake's waist, a soft smile appearing on her lips as she felt him press a tender kiss to her forehead.
"Seth? Why don't you take..." Sam begins to speak.
"...Yeah. I'll take her." Seth rapidly nods his head with excitement in his eyes.
After a bunch of heartfelt goodbyes, added gentle forehead kisses and promises to come back soon. They made their way towards Jake's truck which he let them use before leaving the rez and driving back to her home.
As the distance between the Rez and Celeste began to widen, her heart began to ache which grew the further apart she was. The sensation was terrible, almost like she was leaving something behind and it was causing her to feel guilty somehow.
Seth could sense something was wrong with his imprint, she was naturally quiet however this was a different kind of silence that hung around her. "Are you okay?" he questions glancing towards her before looking back at the road.
"Hmm?"
"Celeste" Seth calls out her name, "Are you okay?" he asks again, not wanting to leave his imprint upset about something.
"I don't know" Celeste mumbles looking outside her window, "It's hard to explain." it was the same feeling she felt when she saw Paul's tears.
"Oh, why don't you say the first thing that comes to mind and go from there," Seth suggests as he turns left onto her road, his wolf was whimpering at the thought of leaving his imprint alone, she had her father with her, but he was still processing all the news and after all still human.
"I feel incomplete." She blurts out before covering her mouth with her hands.
Parking the car in front of her house, Seth turns towards his imprint his eyes filled with understanding. Gently reaching out and took her hand in his being careful not to trigger any negative memories with his actions.
"Are you scared of that?" He questions knowing she was feeling the distance of the imprint bond which would only get worse once he had left to.
"No" Celeste replies "Not scared just confused." Her gaze shifting between their conjoined hands and his face.
"Good" Seth grins, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I promise things will make sense soon beautiful." He tries to reassure his imprint.
Celeste finds her mind drifting into a hazy state from his actions. Her eyes involuntarily wandering down to his lips, a hint of longing lingering in her gaze.
"Celeste?"
Jumping out of her daze, Celeste cheeks flush as she becomes aware of her own thoughts. She quickly unfastens her seatbelt and opens the car door and rush out with a quick "goodbye" from over her shoulder.
Steeping into her home, she gently closes the front door behind her. A sigh escapes her lips from the intense moment that just occurred before walking towards the kitchen.
"Papa?" She calls out when she notices the living room is empty and the tv was turned out. Her footsteps falter as she steps into the kitchen freezing into her spot at the scene in front of her.
A naked Caius making toast.
Her eyes widening in disbelief as she sees Caius entire ass exposed to her. She didn't really expect her father and him would go this far so quickly after one night but she assumed that their date clearly went well.
However now she had to decide what to do to get out of this situation and also what to call him. He was an actually king, was there a certain name she had to address him as or could she decide for herself.
"Uhh Mister King Caius" she winces as she blurts out his name, wishing she could go back in time and stayed at the pack house.
"Celeste?"
Caius was shocked when he heard Celeste's voice, he hadn't heard the door open or her footsteps as he was making breakfast for his mate. Surely he should have noticed her coming in with his earring abilities. Charlie didn't mention her being home so soon either which is why he didn't bother with his clothing.
"Toast?" He awkwardly offers pointing to the plate beside him with a weak smile.
———
Hope you enjoyed this chapter
Btw Seth is a year older in this book