Chapter 26
Celia
After a life filled with nothing but pain and hardships, my woll is Imally here. My inner wolf’s growls pick at the corners of my mind. Her embrace is warm and welcoming, almost as if we have been separated for the entirety of our lives.
There is something childlike about her, though. Her howls and barks sound like that of a puppy rather than a full fledged adult wolf like others my age would have.
Is her mental age due to her being freshly bom in my mind? Or does it have to do with the constant struggle we have been through the past years of my life?
That’s okay, though! We will grow together and leam from each other.
I look up from the dressing room floor and meet my own eyes in the mirror. The color of my irises are more vibrant, almost with a glimmering hue now that my wolf has awakened. I lean in to inspect it closer.
Itt
my head back and forth, the dressing room light catching my Irises at just the right angle that makes my eyes glow. My eyes are red from crying, cheeks puffy from the hot tears, but the vibrant hues pop out despite my ragged appearance.
I take a step back, a gasp escaping my lips. Something like this has never happened to me before! It’s all so new and thrilling, exhilarating, even!
My focus tums back to my appearance. In the back of my mind, my newly awakened wolf barks and nips at me.
My wolf’s focus is scattered and energetic, giving me a slight headache and tingle at the base of my hairline. I clear my throat and rub my temples, slowing inhaling and exhaling to manage the budding pain.
“Okay, okay,” I breathe out, my eyes closed, “let’s calm down.”
My wolf’s grows and howls slowly quiet but remain in the depths of my mind. The slight ache behind my eyes slowly vanishes as she calms down. I shift in my spot, lingering questions running in my mind.
The recent interaction I had with Soren left me feeling so empty inside, discarded and broken. There is now a hollow space in my chest where my heart once was, that space now being filled with my wolf’s presence.
I can barely get the words out of my mouth. They feel ridiculous to even say, that the question that makes my tongue taste so certain impossibility that I will never face in life.
bitter is a
He denied it so quickly. He even told me that his heart belongs to Bianca, that I was just her substitute until she was able to come back. And now that she is, he does not need me anymore.
Soren’s mate may not be me nor will be mare be one picked out by fate itself. He has picked his mate for himself, finding that love within Bianca and nobody else.
It does not mean that I can just ignore the question. My wolf should know the answer to this question. She is my wolf, after all
“Is Soren my fated mate?”
My mind immediately goes silent. The once lively and bubbly wolf that was once running wiki around in my consciousness has disappeared.
From the distance, I can hear a whimper, a low sound that emits from the wall’s mind.
My woll’s voice is quiet, almost like she is unsure of the answer herself. I suck in a beatise waiting for any addition to the two words she spoke
To me.
Be he is.
My wolf falls silent once again.
Right. I am nothing to him. Not even my wolf can define what my relationship is to the Alpha King,
Even after our years together, despite it being a contracted relationship, he has managed other evade any positive feelings towards me. Soren has truly come out of our contracted relationship unscathed and, quite frankly, better off than where he began.
He has his chosen mate back in his life, Bianca fulfilling the duties of the place that I was unable to. It’s a sad truth that I must come to accept.
-25 Bonun
It is a choice that he has made for himself, one that does not involve me anymore.
my head and focus on
I’m stopping stupid for even thinking that I had a chance with him. What was I even thinking? I need to get out of my reality instead of the daydreams of Soren and I that occupy my mind.
it means that I leave his pack like he wants me to. No.
I must let go of Soren. He needs to go out and live his life while I go live mine, even if it me
that I will be contracted to do for him.
by eyes and let out a frustrated sigh. I pinch the bridge of my nose, forehead slowly connecting with the dressing room’s mirror in
I close my
front of me.
There is a gentle knock at the door. I don’t even turn around to address them, remaining in my frustrated silence.
“Celia?” Ethan’s voice is quiet from the other side of the door. “Are you okay?”
My heart aches at the sound of my name on his lips. At least one person here cares about me, right?
“I–I’m fine,” Leall back, pulling away from the dressing room’s mirror. I reach behind me and unzip the dress, letting it fall to the floor.
1step away and grab my clothes, quickly changing into them so I can get out of the dress that reminds me of Soren rejecting me and forcing me out of his pack. I sniffle and wipe away my tears, finally opening up the dressing room door.
1 look up at Erhan, trying my best to blink away the forming tears. He frowns down at me, reaching out to push hair out of my face. “Your relationship with Soren,” he sighs, biting his lip.
1stay silent, unable to speak on the matter out of fear that I’ll end up a crying mess on the floor all over again. I swallow a lump that forms in my throat and turn away from him, dipping to the side.
Just as I’m about to leave his close proximity, Ethan grabs my hand, pulling me back to him. His face flashes through a variety of emotions. Happiness, confusion, sorrow, and annoyance all flash cross his face before he settles on something more calm, more resolved. His lips twitch and he leans forward before shaking his head and pulling away.
“Erhan?” I quite ask. “Is everything okay? You’re acting a little weird.”
“1…” Ethan slowly inhales before letting all of the air out of his lungs
I reach out and pat his shoulder, hoping that he can find some comfort and reassurance, that I am a safe space that he can open bad that Soren destroyed our afternoon out with Lily, The least I can do is help him feel better, right?
“I really like you Celia,” his voice is low. My eyes widen, my hand moving to cover my mouth. “I’ve liked you for a long time.”
He has? Was Lily right before when she mentioned it to me?
“Will you go to the engagement party with me?” Ethan asks
up to. I feel
