CHAPTER FIVE

Yeah, right.

Celia, Luna? That was about as ridiculous as someone telling her she could touch the moon. She was born weak, ‘fated’ to be alone or be mated to another weak wolf whose strength still far surpassed hers.

The last part hadn’t quite turned out that way, but the first part was etched in her being. She was weak—an Omega—and she had never heard of someone like her becoming a Luna.

Her mother was wrong, and that was rare. Celia slept on the information, and when she woke a few hours later, she decided to go about her day as usual.

Except things weren’t going to be as they were. The pack had a new Alpha. Celia could tell Marcel wasn’t in the area—she wasn’t sure how she knew as it was a faint feeling—but her nose often caught the scent of Marcel’s subdued Alphas, lurking about.

It must be the same for the pack. Alphas had strong scents.

At the crack of dawn, she set out of her cabin. She would go about her duties like nothing had changed, and everyone else would be wise enough to do the same. She doubted anyone was bold enough to hold a Moon Rite for Nicholas. Moon Rites were similar to what humans called burials, except after the wolf was beneath the dirt, the pack gathered in their were forms and howled.

As Celia approached the large lodge where most pups spent their nights, she kept a weary gaze on the male who was sitting on a log closeby. Darius, Alpha of the Flora settlement. He was eating raspberries, his bronze skin given a sheen by the dawning sun, his light–brown eyes watching her as she approached.

His presence so close to the pups’ lodge was not reassuring. Celia ignored him, as best an Omega could ignore an Alpha, her head ducked. She was about to push the double doors of the lodge open.

“Celia,” someone called from behind.

Celia turned, meeting Ilana’s approach. The dark–haired thirty–something year old female was maternal in every sense of the word. Caring for the pups was a pack’s collective duty, but Ilana easily monopolized it.

“Morning, Ilana.”

Ilana’s eyes drifted briefly to Darius, showing resentment before turning back to Celia. “What are you doing?”

“I was going to gather and wash the pups’ tunics before they wake and it's harder to get them to stay put.”

“Don’t worry. I can handle it, and the mothers will be here soon.”

Celia couldn’t help the confused frown that formed. “But…I always do this.”

“I’m telling you not to worry.” Ilana’s gaze was hard, but then her eyes quickly fell and she walked past Celia, going into the cabin and shutting the doors.

Celia stood for a long moment, shocked and staring at the doors.

“They’ll never admit it until you make them,” Darius suddenly said, reminding her he had been there the whole time.

Celia shifted on her feet. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He chuckled softly. “Guess you won’t be admitting anything either.”

Celia walked off without a response. So, her plan to start the day normally hadn’t worked out, but that was fine. Her next stop was Jon and Indra’s cabin. Indra was wounded badly after halting her Beta male’s reckless attempt to kill Marcel. Celia figured she should make herself useful to the pair somehow.

Before she would open the door, someone else did from inside. A blonde female, Layla, blanched as soon as she saw Celia. She ducked her head, muttered a greeting that was more courteous than she had ever let out, then hurried off.

Not wanting to think what that meant, Celia stepped into the Betas’ cabin. It was dark, but for the light that creaked through the shut windows. Indra was sleeping on her straw pallet, and Jon was sitting against the wall closeby.

A threatening growl rumbled from his chest. “What the hell are you doing in here?”

Ah, there it is. The normal I’m used to.

“I thought maybe there was something I could do to help. Is Indra okay?”

“Get out,” Jon snarled, lifting to his feet. “Out of my sight, and out of this settlement.” His eyes glowed a furious blue, and Celia warily conceded a step back. “And if you want to help, take your scum mate with you.”

Indra shifted and mumbled, “Jon…”

Jon instantly fell by her side. “I’m here,” he said, a hand on her arm. He whirled and snapped at Celia. “Get the hell out!”

Celia obeyed, scurrying out of the cabin as quickly as Layla had. That hadn’t gone well either, but she wasn’t surprised. It was Jon after all. She had more trouble dealing with the stares that met her as she traversed the settlement.

Males and females were watching her. They saw her. She was always mostly invisible, and when she was seen, it was with disgusted or pitiful eyes. Now, it was like they were seeing someone new, and they were trying to decide what to make of her.

It was strange. Uncomfortable. She found herself leaving the settlement, breaking through the surrounding foliage and aimlessly moving about the forest.

Her mind was abuzz. She could act ignorant, but the contrast between yesterday and today was stark. It wasn’t just that Nicholas had died, or that the settlement was now run by the ruthless Alpha that had killed him, or that the ruthless Alpha was Celia’s mate.

Oh…heavens.

Celia tried to focus on gathering herbs and fruits. She didn’t stray too far, or she might risk encountering a human. There were many dangers from meeting a human. Death was one of those dangers.

She was crouched and plucking some nettles when she heard—no, she felt him. She jumped and whipped around.

Standing a few feet from her was a black wolf that stood at her height, its blood–red eyes fixed on her.

Without a doubt, Celia knew it was Marcel.