Applause erupted around the fire. Cheers rose from mouths that had once avoided my gaze. The same people who hadn’t dared comfort me now lifted their hands in praise as if I were some holy martyr.
And Kael? He stayed rooted beside her. Not a single word in my defense. He didn’t stop her—only nodded, silently validating her performance.
Then Celeste shifted slightly, angling herself toward him. Her voice softened, reverent.
“Our Alpha’s wisdom is unmatched,” she said, eyes warm and far too familiar as they settled on Kael. “With him leading us, I have no doubt my child will grow strong and noble, just like his father—who treats all of us like family.”
Kael’s lips curled into a smile. He reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. That simple gesture lit a fire inside me. I let out a sharp, bitter sound that sliced through the celebration.
“How lovely,” I said, my tone sharp as shattered glass. “If you believe in sacrifice so deeply, Celeste, then perhaps it’s your turn. Why not send your son to the Blood Moon Pack next? Wouldn’t that be the ultimate show of motherly love?”
Her face faltered. The mask cracked. She tried to compose herself, but her voice trembled.
“Lyra… are you angry with me?” she asked softly. “I only meant to admire your strength. The way you've managed to keep going after… everything.”
I tilted my head slightly, my lips curving into a smile that never reached my eyes.
“Well, if you want to admire me properly, maybe you should go through the same agony. Maybe then, you'd understand what it's like.”
“That’s enough, Lyra,” Kael said suddenly, his voice tense with warning.
He wasn’t standing next to me. He wasn’t defending us. He was protecting her.
“She’s been through more than you think,” he added, as if trying to excuse her. “Let’s not be harsh.”
I stared at him, stunned at the audacity.
“Oh, so I haven’t been through enough?” I asked, my voice rising with fury. “Who was the one who had her child taken away, Kael? Who’s the one mourning while you pretend this is normal?”
He didn’t answer. He didn’t even meet my eyes. And Celeste? She smiled again. She reached forward, brushing my arm gently—mockingly.
“You’ve always been so resilient,” she whispered. “I truly hope you come to see why Kael made the choices he did.”
That was it.