Chapter Three

Chapter 3

Celeste wasn't surprised by Marcus's cruelty anymore. He'd always chosen Raven over everything else—including their dead pup's memory.

She'd expected this moment eventually. The only surprise was how little it hurt now.

"Alright," she said simply.

Marcus froze, clearly expecting tears or pleading. He'd thrown out those harsh words in anger, expecting her to fight back so he could play the victim.

But Celeste just called the pack servants to clear out the destroyed nursery. They carried every broken piece to the garden and burned it all.

Everything that had represented their future turned to ash.

"I feel terrible about staying here," Raven said, though her smile suggested otherwise. "Maybe I should find a hotel?"

"Nonsense," Marcus replied quickly. "You're family. Stay as long as you need."

He turned to Celeste. "Move your things to the guest room on the first floor. Raven can have the Luna suite."

Since Raven had "nowhere else to go" after her European adventure, Marcus offered her the Luna suite—the rooms that should have been Celeste's by right.

"Of course," Celeste agreed without hesitation. "I'll have the servants prepare it immediately."

She even personally arranged for Raven's favorite silk sheets and had the room filled with red roses, then quietly moved her own belongings to the small servant's quarters in the basement.

As she packed her few remaining possessions downstairs,Marcus appeared in the doorway.

"You're being awfully understanding about this," he said, arms crossed. "I know you're upset about Raven staying here."

He stepped closer, his voice softening slightly. "Look, about the nursery... maybe I was too harsh. When you're feeling better, we can talk about trying again. For a pup. I mean."

He reached for her, expecting the usual embrace—but she stepped away.

"I'm not upset," she said, meeting his eyes with startling clarity. "You've made your priorities clear. I respect that."

Marcus's face hardened. He wasn't used to this version of his mate—calm, distant, unaffected by his moods.

"What was that document you had me sign yesterday?" he asked suspiciously.

"A gift," Celeste replied. "For our fourth mating anniversary. You'll understand soon enough."

That seemed to satisfy him. He still thought she was just going through a phase, that she'd come crawling back once Raven got settled.

"Get some rest," he said. "Tomorrow's the pack meeting. I'll need you to handle the financial presentations."

As he moved to leave, he held out his arms for their usual goodnight embrace. But Celeste walked past him without a glance.

Something was different about her. He just couldn't figure out what.

For four years, Marcus had been decent enough to her. He'd provided for her, protected her, even showed her affection—when Raven wasn't around. There had been moments when she'd almost believed they could make it work.

But every single time Raven appeared, he abandoned her without a second thought.

Celeste had loved him. Truly. But she was tired of fighting for scraps of attention from her own mate.

At 2 AM, Celeste was ripped from sleep by claws digging into her arms. She was dragged upstairs and thrown against the wall, her healing injuries screaming in protest.

"I knew you were jealous, but poisoning Raven with wolfsbane? That's attempted murder, Celeste."

Marcus's voice was deadly calm—the tone he used before ordering executions.

Through her dazed vision, she saw Raven on the bed, writhing and gasping. Her skin was flushed, her pupils dilated, and silver burns were appearing on her arms where she'd touched the doorframe.

"I didn't poison anyone!" Celeste gasped.

"You gave me that herbal tea," Raven sobbed. "Said it would help me sleep. Now I'm burning from the inside out!"

Celeste's mind sharpened instantly. "I offered you chamomile tea from the communal pot. We all drank from it tonight—why is no one else affected?"

"And why would I poison you with wolfsbane? I'd be executed for that!"

But Raven just cried harder. "If she says I'm lying, then maybe I am. Maybe I poisoned myself just to get attention."

The manipulation was masterful. Celeste felt like she was fighting smoke.

Marcus's eyes blazed with fury. "Enough. This isn't the first time you've done something like this. You know exactly what happened four years ago."

The accusation hit like a blow.

"You really think someone with a history like yours deserves the benefit of the doubt?"

One sentence. That was all it took to convict her.

"I'll say it one more time," Celeste said through gritted teeth. "I did not drug you four years ago."

The night they'd mated, she'd found Marcus alone and drunk after Raven's departure. Someone had already slipped him something—aphrodisiac herbs mixed with alcohol.

Yes, she'd loved him. Yes, things had spiraled out of control. But she hadn't planned it.

He'd never believed her, though. In his mind, she was the calculating woman who'd trapped him into a mating bond.

"Marcus, please," Raven moaned, clawing at her burning skin. "It hurts so much. I can feel the wolfsbane eating through my wolf."

She was a talented actress, Celeste had to admit. The silver burns were real—but they were self-inflicted. Raven had clearly brushed silver powder on her skin before calling for help.

Marcus knelt beside the bed, his face twisted with worry. "I'll get the pack doctor—"

"No!" Raven grabbed his wrist. "The wolfsbane... it's affecting my wolf differently. Only an Alpha's healing saliva can neutralize it. Please, Marcus. I'm dying."

Celeste watched in disgust as Raven pulled Marcus's hand to her mouth, sucking on his fingers while maintaining eye contact with her.

"I know this is inappropriate," Raven whispered, "but I don't want to die. Please help me."

Marcus hesitated for exactly three seconds before leaning down to lick the "burns" on Raven's arm.

The moment his saliva touched her skin, Raven arched against him with a moan that had nothing to do with pain.

"Thank you," she breathed. "I can feel your strength healing me."

Celeste felt something die inside her chest—not heartbreak, but the last fragment of respect she'd held for the man she'd called mate.

"I'll be in the basement if you need me," she said quietly.

Neither of them looked at her as she left.

But as she reached the door, she heard Raven's voice, sweet as poisoned honey:

"Marcus, I'm still burning. The wolfsbane is spreading. Can you... can you help me with the burns on my chest too?”