Celeste’s POV

*****

"Meet my mates."

The silence in the room wasn’t just heavy. It was suffocating.

I found myself holding my breath, eyes darting between mom and dad after the bomb I dropped on them. Both had different physical reactions.

Mom lay back on her seat, her gaze avoiding mine. But those eyes—they were filled with deep pondering. As for dad, he was more direct, gradually moving his eyes on each of my mates.

From Silas sitting to my left. To Luther by my right. And then Atlas and finally... Azrael.

When his silver orbs pinned on Azrael, he froze. Curiosity and suspicion flickered on his face all at once, making it hard to guess what they’d say first.

Fortunately, I didn’t need to wait long.

"So..." Mom rubbed her throat. "You weren’t joking or too tipsy when you first mentioned four mates. During the Lupine mating ball."

I shook my head, noticing how her smile turned to something grim.

"Four." My father was the next to speak. "One of our children finally gets mated. And it’s... to four people?" He arched his brow. "Two wolves. One witch and..."

There was a pause too long when his eyes landed on Azrael again. This time he didn’t hide his confusion. "You’re supposed to be a witch?’

Azrael angled his head directly at my father. "Yes, sir. I’m—"

"What’s with the glasses? It’s nighttime."

I chimed. "He prefers them that way."

"Please, Celeste," my father raised a hand, his voice neutral. "Let the man speak for himself."

I pressed my lips together hard, head lowering as my father continued seamlessly:

"The question, gentleman."

"Your daughter was right, sir," Azrael didn’t sound vexed at all. "I keep these glasses on because I prefer them that way."

"Seems to me like you’re trying to hide how you look." Dad didn’t hold back for even a second. "Something wrong with your eyes?"

"Kaelos." Mom finally gave her husband a tap on the shoulder. "That’s an insensitive thing to ask."

"Insensitive?" He repeated. "He’s supposedly one of our daughter’s mates. I’m only trying to..."

Their voices trailed off in my ears as I buried my face in my hands.

Gods, how embarrassing was it to have your parents bickering in front of your mates?

’You’ve still got me and those dark sigils to tell them about,’ my wolf giggled like any of this was funny. ’So our mates are going to be in for a long treat.’

Finally, my mother’s voice rose a bit. "Sweetheart."

I lifted my head, meeting her warm smile and my father’s hesitant gaze. But deep inside that mask of hesitation, I could tell there was also deep worry.

"Are you certain of what you’re saying?" My mother questioned with doubt. "I know it’s frustrating, but we need to be sure you’re not—"

"I can feel their emotions now as we speak." I cut in, neck snapping to the men around me. "Azrael is amused and nervous all at once. Luther is overflowing with self-doubt. Silas is... cautious. And Atlas feels embarrassed for some reason."

All the men turned to me as if I’d just read out their childhood diary entries. But I didn’t care.

If they wanted proof, that was the best I could do for now.

"If it helps," Luther raised a hand awkwardly. "Alpha King. Luna Queen—the Dean found out about the bonds first. He advised we keep it secret to avoid—"

"He what?!" My parents boomed in unison, making me jerk. Then Mom groaned. "Why would Thorne make you keep something so crucial from us?"

"Our poor girl." Dad shook his head. "She’s probably been navigating this alone and confused. Who has ever heard of a Lupine having more than a single mate at once?"

I clicked my tongue, giving Luther a look. "I would’ve told them that myself." Came my disgruntled whisper before I focused on my parents. "Dean Thorne did mention that I can inform you. I–I just didn’t know how to say it."

Still, neither of them seemed relaxed. In fact, Mom looked like she was one broken secret away from teleporting to Bloodoak Academy.

Which made the next couple of things I had to say all the more difficult.

"Mom," I swallowed. "You know how you used to tell Caelum and me stories? Of how your hybrid nature only revealed itself sometime after you met Dad?"

She nodded once, eyes dimming.

Here goes...

"Since the bonds awakened, I’ve noticed a few weird things stacking up one after the other," I paused for a beat.

Then I went ahead to explain every single weird mystery that’s happened in the past couple of weeks. Or at least, most of it.

From Miss Benedicta’s death. To my possible link to Vein Beasts. To the notes and the words written on them. Then finally, the dark sigils on my arms and my wolf awakening.

Their eyes were wide for most of my revelation. But when it got to my wolf—they were ecstatic.

"Your wolf?!" My father yelled for joy. "By the moon, that’s beyond excellent news Celeste."

"I knew it." Mom got up, arms spread out as she walked to me. When she wrapped her arms around me, I could only sit silently. "I knew you wouldn’t remain wolfless forever."

For once, I wasn’t the wolfless princess. I was just their daughter.

I let them bask in the joy of my own wolf awakening for as long as they wanted. It was almost like I’d just announced graduating. Or—ugh—being pregnant.

Although at this point, I suspect they won’t be pleased hearing about a pregnancy so soon. I know I won’t.

"Ahem." Dad’s forced cough was what finally pulled Mom away from me. "While I’m glad you’ve awakened your wolf... everything you revealed can’t be swept away."

Mom’s expression became serious again. "Mmhm. Especially those dark sigils," she was about to say more when her eyes slid to my mates. Without speaking, I knew she was wondering if she could say what she wanted near them.

So I grabbed her hand. "They’ve been with me through everything I just told you guys." My tone was soft. Pleading. "You can trust them. I promise."

She bit her bottom lip, still staying quiet for a few seconds. But soon, she sighed. "Very well." Straightening her back, she seemed to trail off. "Once upon a time, those dark sigils appeared on my arms too. Linking me to the Vein."

I listened attentively.

This was it.

A shot at getting new information.

"But it goes deeper than that," she heaved. "My hybrid blood was the catalyst for unlocking my Vein connection. Before me, there have been other powerful witches in our bloodline who should’ve inherited this power. But the lack of a wolf side made it incomplete."

My brows knitted.

Other powerful witches?

"Does that mean... our bloodline was branded by someone?" I asked. "Cursed maybe?"

Mom answered. "Something like that. Yet so much more complex," she placed a hand on the table, fingers twirling slowly. "Long before me, possibly thousands of years ago... there was a witch. Our ancestor who was the first to not only access the Vein’s chaotic energy without going mad. But to also shape it to her will."

Maybe I was imagining things but I could’ve sworn Azrael shifted on his seat just then. Subtle. But enough for me to notice.

He didn’t look at me, keeping his face glued to my mother.

"There are numerous myths and legends of her true name and origins." Mom grew more solemn. "But one name she’s most feared by... is Nyx. Mother of the night and chaos."