Celeste’s POV

*****

Bloodoak Pack, Spiritual House, 7:06 PM

The Pack’s spiritual house. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

A place teeming with decades of history. During the numerous stories my parents told Caelum and me, they’d mentioned how they used to come here seeking advice from the then Spiritual leader.

Although the light of the moon was dull tonight due to clouds, the compound still had this subtle silver glow. The gates were wide open to all, a few maids in white gowns tending to plants and giggling around the fountain.

I took a deep breath. "Home. It’s been a while since I came here."

The maids saw me and immediately greeted me but all I could do was nod and wave. I really wasn’t in the mood for being social. Not after my conversation with Atlas.

That’s why I was here.

It offered peace. Mental clarity. And... if I were lucky...

"Celeste!" the voice of a woman broke through the serenity, coming from the building’s entrance.

A knowing smile played on the corner of my lips before I even turned my head.

Coming out of the building was a woman who seemed to be in her twenties. She had curly ginger hair and freckles that glistened like constellations under the moonlight.

If anyone looked close enough they’d notice a small silver glow surrounding her and her handless white dress. They’d also be in for the shock of their lives when they find out the woman was technically a ghost.

"Aunt Caroline," I braced myself as she wrapped her arms around me like I was twelve again. "Looking dashing as always."

She chuckled as we pulled away from each other. "Oh, stop it. This is... surprising." Her hazel eyes took me in. "I didn’t think we’d see you for another three months at least. What happened? Do your parents know you’re back?"

My mouth parted to speak when another voice chirped behind her.

"Honey, who’s—is that our little starlight?"

I couldn’t hide my blush as we turned in time to see a woman donned in a black dress with gorgeous black hair to match jogging toward us.

Aunt Regina. Caroline’s wife.

Once she got beside Caroline, she gave me the brightest smile. "Look at you, darling. Did you grow taller these past few weeks or what?"

"Her cheeks are so full too." Caroline pinched my face, applying force one wouldn’t expect from a ghost. "We’re so happy to see you, Celeste."

Seeing them sparked memories from my childhood that gave me comfort: Aunt Caroline tutoring me on werewolf spirituality. Then Regina sneaking me cookies when she wasn’t looking.

Gods, if only times were so simple these days.

"I haven’t been so happy," the words came out broken. "I don’t... I don’t know if my mom already told you guys about all that’s been happening in my life. The Vein. The multiple mates... my friend—"

"She filled us in on enough," Caroline placed a hand on my shoulder. "She told us she might need to bring you back here to properly grieve your friend. We just didn’t expect it would be so soon."

I sniffled, my eyes wandering away from them. My chest felt heavy, throat throbbing like I’d swallowed a log. "... I miss her. So much already too."

"Oh, baby." Regina gave way for Caroline to pull me into her arms again. "I know you do. Trust me... I do. But as someone who’s been to the afterlife, I want you to know she’s at peace now."

I laughed, a dry, bitter sound. "I want her here. She... she wasn’t supposed to die. I wasn’t supposed to lose her so soon." Then a thought crossed my mind.

One that made my wolf speak for once. ’Girl—don’t even think about it.’

Of course, I didn’t listen. "My mom... she was able to bring you back." I sniffed back the tears, staring into Caroline’s eyes. "When you died. What if—"

"Absolutely not." Caroline shook her head with knitted brows. "Celeste, no. What your mother did was desperate. She didn’t turn back time or resurrect me."

"Then I can." I persisted. "The Vein is this vast well of chaotic magic. I’m connected to it. What if I can... use it to bring back Willow?"

It was Regina’s turn to reprimand me. "Darling, you do not want to be messing with the Vein. It can consume you. Like it’s done to several witches before and almost did to your mother."

Caroline’s grip on my shoulders tightened, her expression softening but no less firm. "And even if you could, Celeste... you’d be bringing her back wrong."

The words hit harder than any slap.

Regina nodded beside her, crossing her arms. "Some things aren’t meant to be undone. Not because we don’t want them to be... but because the cost is never what we expect."

Silence settled between us after that.

I swallowed, my gaze dropping to the stone path beneath my feet. The faint silver glow of the compound no longer felt as comforting as it did when I arrived.

"I hate that you’re right," I muttered.

Caroline’s fingers brushed my cheek gently. "We know."

Regina sighed softly before her lips curved into a small, hopeful smile. "Why don’t you come inside, hm? We’ll make you some hot chocolate. Sit you down, let you breathe a little."

For a split second, I almost said yes.

Almost.

But something in me had already shifted into clarity.

"I can’t," I shook my head slowly, stepping back from them. "I... I think I got what I came here for."

Both women exchanged a glance.

Caroline tilted her head. "And what exactly was that, Celeste?"

I hesitated. Then exhaled. "...Perspective."

Regina hummed softly, though the worry in her eyes didn’t fade. "Just... don’t go doing anything you’ll regret, alright?"

Her words lingered. Heavy.

A warning I’d heard too many times in the past few weeks.

This time, however—

"I won’t," I said. And for once, I meant it.

At least, I thought I did.

Caroline studied me for a moment longer before pulling me into one last hug. "You’re stronger than you think, Celeste."

Regina joined in, wrapping her arms around both of us. "And you’re not alone. No matter how much it feels like it."

That almost broke me again.

Almost.

But I held it together this time.

When I finally pulled away, I gave them both a small nod before turning toward the gate. Each step felt heavier than the last.

But I didn’t stop.

As I stepped out of the compound, the cool evening air wrapped around me. Different. My hand slipped into my pocket, pulling out my phone.

For a moment, I just stared at the screen.

Then—

I unlocked it and opened my messages. And scrolled.

His name stared back at me.

Azrael.

My thumb hovered over the screen, my chest tightening with something I didn’t want to name.

"This is just for information," I whispered to myself. "That’s all."

Nyx.

The Vein.

The truth behind everything.

That’s what I needed. That’s why I was doing this.

Not because of the way his voice sounded when he called me ’little miss’. Not because of the way he looked at me. Not because of the way it felt when he held me...

I clenched my jaw. Then typed: "We need to talk."

I stared at the message for a second before hitting send.

The moment it went through, my heart betrayed me—skipping in my chest like it had a mind of its own.

I slipped the phone back into my pocket quickly, like I could hide the feeling along with it.

"...Yeah," I muttered, continuing down the path. "Just information."

But deep down, I knew that wasn’t entirely true.