Chapter 13
Fifteen Years Later
I smiled as I watched Celeste practice her archery in the afternoon sun, her dark hair catching the light as she drew back the bowstring with perfect form. At fifteen, she had grown into everything Alaric and I had dreamed she would become–kind, strong, intelligent, and radiating the quiet confidence that came from being truly loved.
“Mom, did you see that?” Celeste called out, grinning as her arrow hit dead center. “I think I’m finally getting better than Dad at this.”
“Don’t let him hear you say that,” I laughed, walking over to embrace my daughter. “Ilis ego might not survive it.”
These past fifteen years in the Blood Moon Pack territory had been nothing short of miraculous. After everything I’d endured, I’d never imagined I could be this happy, this whole. When Reed Jackson had invited Alaric to serve as Moon Priest for his pack, we’d jumped at the chance for a fresh start in a new territory.
Celeste had grown up here, flourishing under the love and stability Alaric and I provided. She was everything we could have hoped for in a daughter–compassionate, brave, and beautiful inside and out. In our eyes, she was the most wonderful she–wolf in the world.
Alaric appeared from the direction of the pack house, his face lighting up as he saw us together under the old oak tree. After all these years, he still looked at me like I hung the stars, and his love for Celeste was fierce and protective–she was his daughter in every way that mattered.
“How are my favorite ladies doing?” he called out as he approached.
“Just enjoying the afternoon,” I replied, leaning into his embrace as he settled beside us. “How did things go
with Reed?”
“All settled for the full moon ceremony next week,” he said, then turned to Celeste with a mischievous grin. “And speaking of ceremonies, someone’s sixteenth birthday is tomorrow.”
I watched as a shadow crossed Celeste’s face at the mention of her upcoming birthday, and I recognized the anxiety there. She’d been growing more nervous as the day approached, though she tried to hide it from us..
“I think I’ll head inside and work on some homework,” Celeste said, standing up and brushing grass off her jeans.
As she walked toward the house, Alaric and I exchanged concerned glances. Our daughter was worried about finding her mate, and given some of the young wolves in this pack–particularly Reed’s son Xander–I couldn’t entirely blame her.
*Celeste’s POV✶
As I walked toward our house, I couldn’t shake the thoughts that had been plaguing me for weeks. What if my mate didn’t want me? What if he was cruel, or unfaithful, or simply indifferent?
I paused at my bedroom window, looking out at the pack territory I’d grown up in. Somewhere out there was the person the Moon Goddess had chosen for me. Tomorrow, on my sixteenth birthday, I would finally be able to sense him
I just prayed he would be nothing like Xander Jackson, the boy who had been breaking hearts since we were children, the boy who had once been my friend but now seemed to take pleasure in hurting others.
Tomorrow would change everything. I could only
