A new home

Celeste’s POV

“Celeste? We need to talk.” My mother, Anika, said taking a seat right beside me. 

We rarely talked nowadays, yet we maintained the close mother-daughter bond we had since the beginning. I sent a text to one of my friends before turning to face her. 

“Yeah, what’s up?” I asked. Meeting her ocean-blue eyes, I couldn’t help but notice a tinge of emotion rooted deep in them. That’s when I knew that something was up. 

“Mom, are you okay?” I tossed my phone down on the couch, shifting closer to her. She nodded, clearing her throat, “Goodness me. I’m getting a little emotional here, don’t mind your little old lady.” She giggled, trying to wear down the emotion of the moment. 

“Well…” I leaned forward, “Tell me, what’s the tea?”

Mom took a shaky breath, bobbing her leg up and down as she gave a small smile. 

This meant good news.

But, the words that left her mouth next were more shocking than anything. 

“I’ve been seeing someone for a while, and….” she held her breath, “He proposed.

My eyes bulged so hard that they almost popped out of their sockets. It was as though the world stilled around me for just a moment, before my senses came rushing back to me. 

“Mom…” I breathed, taking a hold of her warm hand.

“Celeste, I’m getting married!” She squealed, tossing her auburn hair to the back. 

“Oh my God, this is huge. Why didn’t you tell me?” My brows wrinkled as I pulled her in for a tight embrace. “I’m so happy for you, Mom. You deserve all the good things and you know it.” I smiled, rubbing her back soothingly. 

“I didn’t know how to break it to you darling. I didn’t know if you’d take it the right way. But, I’m happy that you’re okay with it.” She pulled away, a big smile on her face as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. 

“No need to cry,” I sniffled, wiping the tears from her eyes. “This is the start of something new.”

“I asked you to pack because…we’re not just moving. We’re moving in with them.” She said, her voice going soft all of a sudden. 

I blinked slowly, once, twice. “Mom, don’t you think that’s too soon?” I asked, raising a brow. I wanted to make sure she was making the right decision. Not just something blindly followed through by love. 

“Not at all. It’ll be amazing. A fresh start for you as well.” She nodded, standing up and placing a few items into the big cardboard box in front of me. 

“Well,” I scratched my head nervously, “Anything that makes you happy.” 

“Great, now come help me pack. We’re leaving tomorrow.” She waved a hand, gesturing for me to help her out, and I obliged.

~~~

The next day went by in almost a blur. Mom and I quickly got into a moving truck and on the road. I couldn’t help but think to myself that this was all happening too fast—faster than I could comprehend. But at the end of the day, I didn’t have a choice. I only yearned for Mom’s happiness.

After Dad, things fell apart and she had a lot of depressive episodes. It took so many therapy visits and healing, but she got over it. So, I was happier than anything that she was ready to remarry now. 

Now, all I had to do was…readjust. If I were going to move into this new home with my step-father, that meant that I was officially leaving my life in Fairfield behind. My train of thoughts was quickly cut off when the truck hit a pothole in the road. 

No, not a pothole. It was a speed bump. I managed to look out of the window and was met with the most stunning mansion that I’d ever seen in my whole life. It stood tall, bathed in sunlight, its pristine white exterior gleaming like something out of a dream.

My mouth parted slightly. This wasn’t just wealth. It was power.

“Woah, Mom. Is he a billionaire or something?” I mumbled, as my eyes darted across the neatly mowed lawn, the big, beautifully trimmed bushes and the enormous entrance gates. 

She gave a small, knowing smile, relaxing in her seat until the truck pulled in completely. “We’re officially here.” She sighed, unbuckling her seatbelt. Before she could say anything else, I was already out of the car, my breath hitching as I turned in a slow circle.

"It’s… beautiful," I whispered, almost to myself.

I barely registered the sound of my mom closing the truck’s door as I instinctively stepped forward, my shoes crunching softly against the gravel driveway. Everything about this place seemed so intimidatingly perfect. Even the air smelled different—smoky like pinewood, crisp and fresh. The sunlight felt warmer, as if this house stood under its golden glow.

So this is my new life. My new home.

A shiver ran down my spine, but it wasn’t out of fear. It was out of the uncertainty of what lie ahead for both Mom and me. My heart raced as Mom took hold of my hand and we moved closer to the mansion.

The front doors swung open before we could reach them. A man stepped out, his presence domineering even from a distance.

 Theo Montclair.

My new stepfather.

I recognized him instantly from the few pictures my mom had shown me in the truck. Safe to say, he looked just as good in the photos as he did in real life. He was tall, broad shouldered, with a dazzling smile. His salt and pepper hair was styled neatly, as he fixed up his suit, nearing us. 

"Celeste," he said warmly, descending the steps toward us. "Welcome home."

I froze mid-step as my eyes met his gray ones. It was as if all the words in my mind vanished as I looked at him. Not until Mom nudged me from the side. 

“Celeste?” She nudged me with her elbow, her voice low, “Say something!” She hissed, just loud enough for only me to hear. 

I cleared my throat, with a small nod. “Theo. I’ve heard so much about you.” I beamed, still in a bit of awe. 

“Well, I hope they were all good things, hm?” He smiled, the dimple on his left cheek on full display. He stepped closer to Mom, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her in for a peck.

Oh, this was too soon. 

My stomach turned as he pulled away. “Come, let’s go inside.” He urged, placing a hand on the small of my back. Funny enough, he didn’t feel like the two other boyfriends that Mom had in the past. No, he was calm, radiated intelligence and elegance, and–

HE WAS AN ALPHA?

My mouth hung open as I looked up at the first painting I saw once I stepped into the house.

The painting was humongous, stretching across nearly half the wall. Rich colours like gold and red had been merged and the artistic display was beautiful, but it wasn’t just that—It was the man in the middle that made my breath catch in my throat.

Theo.

He stood in the portrait exactly as I had seen him earlier—radiating authority, tall, composed. A crest was situated behind him, carved into the frame itself. It was a howling wolf, surrounded by a full moon.

My pulse thrummed, as I shook my head slowly.

No way. This couldn’t mean….

“No…” I mumbled under my breath, trying to convince myself that it was not what I thought.

I turned around, glancing between Theo and my mother. The similarity was impeccable. There was no way that that was not Theo.

Just then, I noticed the way all the servants and house staff had quickly gathered up once he walked in with us. Their heads hung low and each step they took was calculated and swift, almost as if they didn’t want to anger him.

Theo wasn’t just rich or powerful. 

He was the Alpha of this pack.

The realization hit me like a truck. My body tensed immediately as my grip tightened on the strap of the backpack I had flung on my back earlier.

Theo must have noticed my expression because the corners of his lips tugged slightly upwards.

"You didn’t know?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

I blinked rapidly, my words spurting out like a failing engine. "No—I mean, Mom never—" I cut myself off, shooting my mother a surprised look.

She smiled sheepishly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I didn’t think it mattered," she said lightly. "Theo is just…Theo to me."

Theo chuckled. "Yes Celeste, I am the Alpha here." His voice was smooth. “I hope that won’t be a problem.”

A problem?

I shook my head quickly. “No, not at all. This is just very unexpected.

Theo’s dimple deepened again as if he found my reaction amusing. “You’ll get used to it.”

Would I?

“The boys should be here any moment from now,” Theo said, glancing down at his watch cautiously.

I hummed in confusion, darting Mom another look. I was swimming in confusion right now, and there was no shore. It was almost as if I was left out in the dark about nearly everything. There were so many things that she hadn’t told me. 

Step-siblings? Since when did that happen?

Almost as if she read my mind, she smacked her lips, “Sweetheart, I didn’t tell you, did I?” She hooked an arm onto Theo’s. 

No, Mother. No, you did not.

I shot her a deathly glare.

“Ah…” My lips parted, but before I could say another word, the entrance doors burst open. 

A chill ran down my spine as I gawked at the two men before me. 

“Celeste, meet…” Theo said, extending a hand and gesturing to them.

“Cassian and Lucien.”

The words left my lips before I could stop them, barely above a whisper. Not loud enough for Theo to hear. 

But, loud enough for one of these two men to realize that I was right where they wanted me to be.