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#Chapter 12: Look a Little Closer
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
His Secret Princess #Chapter 13: Race to the Finish
CelesteThe gym echoed with a constant symphony of footsteps, clanging weights, and stifled conversation.“Hey. Celeste.” Fiona nudged me with her elbow, breaking me out of my short-lived reverie with Matt, who had now returned to his conversation with his friends. “Come on.”I nodded and followed her, feeling my face turning a deep shade of red—both from Matt’s unexpected presence and the other people around me, who were no doubt staring at the chubby newcomer in her baggy sweatpants and men’s t-shirt.As Fiona and I walked over to the treadmills, I caught snippets of whispered conversations that seemed to have one thing in common: me."...can't believe she's here...""...does she think she can keep up?"I felt a nudge. Fiona rolled her eyes, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Sounds like you're the talk of the town. Congrats.”I sighed. “Yeah, for all the wrong reasons.”Under so-called ‘normal’ circumstances, maybe I would have listened to the advice of others who said that people i
His Secret Princess #Chapter 14: New Beginnings
CelesteThings were just beginning to look up.I was beginning to feel myself growing a little in confidence. My conversation with Fiona was flowing freely, punctuated by our laughter and the sound of the lively pop music in my ears, as we worked out together.I really was beginning to enjoy myself.“Hey,” I said to Fiona, smiling. “This whole gym thing actually isn’t that bad.”“See? I told you!” Fiona grinned. She shot me two finger guns as she backpedaled over to the water fountain.But that enjoyment, that growth in confidence, was short-lived. Because I felt a tap on my shoulder, and turned around to see none other than Sabrina.“Celeste,” she hissed, her eyes narrowed as a smirk came across her lips. “Fancy seeing you here. Trying to fit in with the gym crowd now?”Sabrina’s sneer was almost palpable, cutting through the humid air of the gym and landing squarely on me.“O-Oh, hey, Sabrina—”“Celeste,” she interrupted, the corners of her cherry-red lips twitching upward. “Do you
His Secret Princess #Chapter 15: Good Form
CelesteI could still feel the heat of Sabrina's cruel words when Matt's commanding voice filled the space.Sabrina whipped around, her haughty air momentarily faltering, replaced by an expression I had never seen on her before: uncertainty.“What was that, Matt?” Sabrina snapped, her voice trembling ever so slightly.“You heard me,” Matt said. “You’re a bully. Get out; this is no place for someone like you.”Sabrina stared up at Matt in shocked silence for a long time. She was kneeling on her yoga mat, already having returned to her workout now that she had driven me away. Slowly, she stood, placing her hands on her hips.“You’re joking,” she growled.Matt took a deep breath, his stance firm and unwavering. “This is a gym, Sabrina, a place for people to come and feel better about themselves. Not to be torn down by the likes of you.”Sabrina huffed, rolling her eyes. “Oh, come on. It was just a little harmless fun.”“I'm on duty tonight. As the part-time manager of this gym,” Matt sai
His Secret Princess #Chapter 16: Shattered Hopes
Celeste“Bye!” Fiona said, waving as she walked up the steps to her house. “See you tomorrow; and don’t forget to pack your gym clothes!”“I won’t,” I replied with a smile. I watched my friend disappear inside her house, and then headed down the street toward my own house. It wasn’t a long walk—just a few blocks.The rush of the day's accomplishments was still coursing through me when I pushed open the door to our shared home.But that high vanished the moment my gaze landed on the scene before me.“Jack!” I screamed, my voice echoing through the hallways. But I was met with only silence.Laid out in front of me was a trail of cornflower blue fabric. Each piece had been shredded and painstaking laid out in an obvious path leading up the stairs.Tears flowed freely as I slowly and shakily followed the path that had been left for me. With each step, my legs felt heavier, my soul felt more crushed.The trail disappeared under my bedroom door. A sob caught in my throat, and my hand shook
His Secret Princess #Chapter 17: Bitter Words
CelesteThe dining room was filled with the sound of conversation and laughter. None of Jack’s friends—not even Matt—was aware of my inner turmoil. I chose to keep it that way.I avoided Matt’s gaze. Although he laughed and spoke with his friends, I couldn’t unsee that sad look in his eyes.He had seen my messages already; I could only imagine what I would see when I turned on my phone later. I should have blocked him right after I hit send and saved us both the trouble.Each dish I served was met with Jack's scrutinizing eyes, his lips twisting into a smirk every time he opened his mouth to speak. But I kept my head down, pouring water into glasses and refilling dishes, focusing on the repetitive motions to distract myself from his constant jabs.Be the perfect sister, I kept thinking to myself, my body moving mechanically as though I was being operated by a remote control. Don’t feel. Just serve.“Celeste, this chicken is overcooked,” Jack hissed. He then turned to his nearest frien
His Secret Princess #Chapter 18: Plan B
CelesteThe midday sun streamed through the windows to the hallway of the lecture center, filling the corridor with a warm glow.Students bustled back and forth, some of them sitting on the benches and basking in the warmth of the sun in between classes. I was headed to my next class with no intention of doing anything after class except going home and wallowing some more over the ill fate of my beautiful blue dress.“Celeste!”Fiona’s shrill voice suddenly cut through the air, followed by the sound of her feet pounding against the tile floor. Broken from my pouting, I whipped around to see her storming toward me, holding her phone up.“You’re not coming to the gym today? Or ever?” she growled, stopping less than a foot away from me. Her phone was open to the text that I had sent her earlier that morning.I had deliberated for a long time over what to say, and finally settled for something simple: “Sorry, but I can’t come to the gym today. Or ever, actually. Sorry!”“Um… Yeah,” I said
His Secret Princess #Chapter 19: Fit for a Princess
CelesteThe rain had started as a gentle drizzle but now beat steadily against the window panes. The world outside was blurred, creating a scene of shimmering lights and hazy figures. The atmosphere felt thick with anticipation.The dress store loomed ahead, its bright sign a beacon of hope in the encroaching darkness. It stood there like an old friend, though the circumstances under which I was returning were anything but friendly.“Celeste, are you sure you want to wait outside?” Fiona asked, concern evident in her voice.“Yes. I just... I don’t want to go in there. Not after the last time. What if someone recognizes me?”Fiona sighed. “Alright, but stay close to the entrance. I’ll be in and out in a jiffy.”I nodded, pulling my hood further over my face, taking solace in the comforting darkness it provided. Fiona gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before stepping into the store.With a deep breath, I leaned against the cold brick wall beside the entrance, focusing on the rhythmic pa
His Secret Princess #Chapter 20: Lies and More Lies
CelesteWhen I arrived at home, Jack was none the wiser. I prepared dinner for us—Jack’s favorite, steak and mashed potatoes. I kept quiet as I cleaned the kitchen until it sparkled, and brought Jack an ice cold glass of beer while he sat in the living room.“You’re trying to butter me up, aren’t you?” he asked. “You’re not going to that dance, Celeste. It’s for your own good; trust me. Trust your brother.”“I trust you,” I lied, forcing a fake smile. “And I’m not trying to butter you up. I’m just… Apologizing.”Jack narrowed his eyes at me, but took the glass of beer nonetheless and muttered some words of thanks. I retreated to my room, pacing back and forth and chewing on my nails as I waited for the perfect chance. I had to wait until he was relaxed and drunk for this to work.…A couple of hours later, the house was filled with the deep thrumming of a bass line. The music was Jack’s way of signaling that he was well into his evening festivities. I popped up out of my bed and began
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His Secret Princess #Chapter 200: The Mask
EpilogueThe sounds of plates clinking together, and the low hum of chit-chat, merged into the background as I listened to Fiona describe her latest assignment. She was stuck in a geography class that she needed for distribution, and it was driving her nuts. Her professor was a mean, curmudgeonly old man, and a notoriously difficult marker.“He gave me a C–. A C–! That was not a C worthy paper.”Jack nodded. “I read it. It was pretty good.”She rounded on him. “Pretty good?”He put his hands up, a small smile on his lips. “Really pretty good?”She huffed but turned back to me. “Your brother is a pain in the ass.”I smiled. “You’re telling me.” They’d only been together for a few years, but they already bickered like an old married couple. Matt and I were actually married, but we didn’t even bicker like that. It was as endearing as it was exhausting.Matt sank into his seat beside me and slid me a cup of coffee. I threw him a grateful look. Our peacekeeping duties had kept us late the
His Secret Princess #Chapter 199: Ever After
MattThe nerves made me jittery, and I bounced my knee so hard it rattled the bench. Seth gave me a knowing look before bending over to finish tying his skates. I focused on taping my stick, letting muscle memory take over. All the guys knew what I planned to do tonight, and they kept throwing me knowing looks as I tried to stay calm.It was the last home game before playoffs started. A part of me kept thinking that I should wait, but an even greater part of me didn’t want to wait one more second. If life had taught me anything, it was that we didn’t know how much time we might have. I didn’t want to waste another second of it. I especially didn’t want to waste time just because I was afraid.“Dude, stop vibrating the bench,” our goalie James called. “I’m trying to focus.”“Sorry,” I answered. If there was one rule in hockey, it was to not mess with the goalie, especially right before a game. If he needed to focus, then I just needed to find a way to chill the fuck out.Enzo gave me a
His Secret Princess #Chapter 198: The Score
The arena was buzzing with energy as Matt got the puck and darted forward to take advantage of the breakaway. He sent the puck into the corner of the net, and I jumped to my feet. Beside me Fiona screamed so loud, heads turned in our direction. Jack cringed slightly, throwing her a bemused look.It was the first home game of the year, and Matt was giving everything he had to make sure the team got a win. Around us, the school cheered as he skated by, knocking fists with his teammates. It was his second goal of the night, his first a tricky tip in after Seth’s initial shot rebounded. It was 3-1 with only four minutes left in the third period.“He’s playing great,” Nina said from my other side as the cheering died down, and we took our seats again.“He is.” Over on the bench, Enzo stood in a dark suit, his head bent as he talked to one of his players.He and Nina were staying one more year. Even though Nina graduated in the spring, her father was giving her the year to clean up the town
His Secret Princess #Chapter 197: Family Reunion
“Are you ready for this?” Jack asked, his eyes trailing over my face, looking for any signs of fear or hesitation. I schooled my features into a blank mask. Sure, I was nervous, but he didn’t need to see that. He already hated that he’d gotten me involved. Too bad I was the only one that could do this, and I’d do anything to get the Schreibers out of our town.I took a deep breath and gazed up at the towering mansion. It was on the outskirts of town, far enough away that I’d never seen it, but still close enough for the Schreibers to cause havoc. The house seemed quiet, but I knew our grandfather lurked inside. Him and whoever survived the fight.“I’m ready,” I said, keeping my voice steady. Matt and the rest of the Peacekeepers had already surrounded the house. They were keeping their distance but staying close enough just in case we needed them. It made me feel better knowing he was out there. I knew, without a doubt, that Matt would do anything to keep me safe. Just like I’d do any
His Secret Princess #Chapter 196: Looking Forward
Jack“Hey!” Jack called, running to catch up with Fiona. She stopped walking and turned to give him a curious look. “I’ll walk you home,” he said when he reached her side.She gave him a bemused look. Technically, her place was only five minutes from campus, but that didn’t mean she should walk alone at night. Plus, he hadn’t seen her since she moved back in with her roommate, and he wanted a moment alone with her.“Alright,” she said with a shrug. “If you insist.”He smiled. “Better safe than sorry.”“Bye,” Celeste called, waving at them. She gave him a knowing smile, and he glowered at her. She clearly knew something was going on, but it wasn’t her business. They needed to figure this out for themselves.She and Matt were headed in the opposite direction, back toward the house. Matt was still haunting the halls. Everywhere Jack went, there he was. In the bathroom, when he needed to piss. In the kitchen, when he was hungry. Even in the living room at night, making out with his sister
His Secret Princess #Chapter 195: The Oath
“I promise to protect this town,” Jack said, his hand over his heart. “I promise to fight for peace, and to not rest until it is achieved. I promise to treat all life as equal. I devote myself to this cause from now until my last breath.”Nina dipped her head in acknowledgement, and Jack let his hand drop to his side. I stepped forward next and repeated the oath. It was the same words every person in this room had recited when they agreed to become a Peacekeeper. It wasn’t something to take lightly, and I didn’t plan to.“I devote myself to this cause from now until my last breath,” I said, stepping back beside my brother. Fiona stood at his other side. She took the oath first, saying the words with the utmost confidence.I locked eyes with Matt, and he gave me a proud smile, his eyes gleaming. Our friends sat around the room, and, as if given some invisible cue, they all began to hoot and clap. They stood up and slapped the three of us on the back. I got pulled into hugs, one after t
His Secret Princess #Chapter 194: Lovers
Matt closed my bedroom door behind us and leaned his crutches against the wall. He hobbled over to the bed and sank down onto the mattress with a soft groan. “Just as I remember it,” he said, jumping a little. “So soft.”Downstairs, Fiona, and Jack were rifling around in the kitchen. They offered to make us something, but neither of us were very hungry.Matt lay back and stretched his arms over his head, his shirt riding up just enough to reveal the smooth skin along his waistline. His hip bones dipped down into his cargo pants and I bit my lip, desperate to get my hands on him, but still worried about his wounds. Sure, he was up and moving around, but that didn’t mean he should be doing physical activity. I didn’t know a lot about werewolf healing, but I wasn’t willing to risk him.“I missed this room,” he continued, turning to look at me through hooded eyes.The purple bedspread brought back a flood of memories. I’d spent so much of my life in this room. I had so many memories, and
His Secret Princess #Chapter 193: Home
MattI held onto Celeste’s hand, leaning heavily on the two crutches I had propped under my opposite arm. A feeling of intense déjà vu swept through me as I watched Seth step forward and light the pyre. Around us, others did the same until dark smoke rose into the blue spring sky. I hoped this was the last funeral I ever had to go to, at least for a long while.Celeste had a blank expression on her face that worried me more than anything. Beside her, Jack and Fiona stood holding hands. Fiona was crying, and Jack had a stricken look on his face. As one, he and Celeste let go of our hands and stepped forward. They lit the last pyre.“Goodbye dad,” Celeste said, just loud enough for me to hear. My heart squeezed.Jack didn’t speak, he just lowered his gaze and stepped back beside Fiona. She immediately took his hand, but he didn’t look up from his shoes. I understood the warring emotions he was feeling. He hated his father for abandoning him, and he felt guilty that he got killed right i
His Secret Princess #Chapter 192: Shell Shock
Those of us still on our feet spent the rest of the day tending to the wounded. God, there were so many of them. Every wound I saw, every cry of pain I heard, felt like a knife to the gut. Everywhere I went, I saw pain, death, and gore.It was all too much.“Hey,” Jack said, giving me a concerned look. “Take a break if you need to.”He was still covered in blood, and I could barely stand to look at him. He’d taken a few minutes to wipe most of it off his face, but he hadn’t stopped to change his clothes. None of us had. There hadn’t been time.“I can’t.”I couldn’t get my father’s face out of my mind. Jack took me to his body shortly after the fight ended, tears in his eyes. I allowed myself to cry only for a minute before I helped him move the body to the small grassy area behind the church. That was where we were laying out the dead before we’d give them all proper funerals.There were already too many bodies out there. Seth had collapsed beside Jenna’s bloody form and hadn’t moved
