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1165 Words
Celestia woke up feeling fresh and well-rested. The sunlight coming through the window made the room warm and calm.
She stayed still for a moment, thinking about what happened last night—the glowing lanterns, the music, the river, and that special moment she had with Kieran.
Her hand slowly touched her lips. Her heart beat faster, and her cheeks felt warm.
“We really did kiss,” she whispered, a shy smile forming on her face.
It felt like a dream, but it was real. They kissed under the sky full of lanterns, and it was something she would never forget. It made her feel happy, safe, and a little bit nervous, too.
Celestia sat and leaned her back against the headboard of the bed. Her fingers gently brushing the edge of the blanket. She couldn’t stop thinking about Kieran. He was kind, always careful with his words, and treated her with respect. Every time he looked at her, she felt her heart flutter. In his arms, she felt safe—like nothing in the world could hurt her.
“If this is love,” she whispered to herself. “Then I think I’m starting to fall for him,” she added.
But her smile faded. The thought of the Nightmare Wolf came rushing back, and with it, the fear of what might happen next. That fear made her unsure. How could she let herself fall in love when danger still followed her?
With a deep breath, Celestia stood up and fixed her hair. She stepped out of the room and walked toward the living room. There, she found Dwayne sitting on the couch and Flint leaning against the wall, arms crossed.
“Good morning,” Celestia greeted softly. Both of them looked at her and gave a small nod.
“Dwayne, where’s Aunt Adelaide?” she asked.
“She didn’t come back last night,” Dwayne said.
“And Kieran?” she asked again, trying to hide the worry in her voice.
“He left early,” Dwayne answered. “Jeremiah asked for his help with something,” he added.
“Oh, alright,” she said. Celestia nodded slowly. Everyone seemed to have something to do—except her.
“Can we talk?” Flint asked out of nowhere. Dwayne stood up straighter, eyes sharp. Kieran had warned him to be careful around Flint since they still didn’t know much about him.
“Is it okay?” Celestia asked, looking at Dwayne. He gave her a nod.
“As long as I can still see you both, my lady,” Dwayne said firmly.
Celestia smiled a little and walked ahead. Flint followed behind her until they reached a quiet spot just outside the house.
“What is it?” Celestia asked.
“I just wanted to say sorry again for what I did... and to give you this,” Flint said, reaching into his pocket.
He handed her a small box. Celestia opened it slowly and gasped softly. Inside was a beautiful pair of moon-shaped earrings.
“To match your necklace that I almost stole,” Flint said with a shy smile. Celestia grinned, touched by the gift.
“Thank you, Flint, you didn't have to. I didn’t know you had this sweet side,” she said, clearly surprised. Flint chuckled, scratching the back of his neck.
“Don’t get used to it,” he said. “It’s also my way of saying thank you for letting me join your journey,” he added.
“You’re welcome, but please don’t steal again,” Celestia said, making Flint chuckle.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kieran was walking with Jeremiah along a dirt path, visiting local farmers and fishermen near the edge of the city.
“I should be heading back,” Kieran said, glancing at the sky. He already missed his mate. After what happened at the festival, he felt he should be by her side. A small smile appeared on his face at the thought of her.
Jeremiah noticed and scoffed.
“You look like a fool,” Jeremiah said, shaking his head, earning a glare from the young Alpha. “We’ll leave in a bit. I promised these people I’d check on their harvest and help out if needed,” he added.
They stopped at a small farm where an old man greeted them warmly. Kieran stood beside Jeremiah as he asked about the crops and promised help from the city. Watching Jeremiah in action reminded Kieran what being a true leader meant—not just strength or title, but caring for the people who depended on them.
“You do this every day?” Kieran asked.
“Not every day,” Jeremiah replied as they walked toward a fisherman’s house. “But I always do this during harvest season,” he added.
“The North has come so far,” Kieran said, looking around.
“Indeed,” Jeremiah nodded. “But there are still a few places that need help. Doing this alone can be tiring, but I can’t just leave the people. They need to see that someone cares,” he added.
He greeted every person they passed, smiling and shaking hands.
“How are you and Celestia?” Jeremiah asked, glancing at Kieran, who smiled at the mention of her name.
“We’re doing fine. Our relationship has grown a lot,” Kieran said.
“That’s good,” Jeremiah said and gave his back a friendly pat.
“Anyway, Jeremiah,” Kieran said with a curious look. “What’s with you and Adelaide?” he asked. Jeremiah laughed and shook his head.
“Adelaide?” he repeated. “She was the love I couldn’t have,” he added.
Kieran raised a brow, clearly surprised.
“I saw her years ago while she was on a mission here in the North,” Jeremiah continued. “I was a rebel back then—angry at the Governor for how people were treated. Adelaide was different. Strong. Brave. And so beautiful. It felt like I was under a spell.”
Kieran listened closely.
“I got close to her, became her friend… and I fell in love,” Jeremiah said quietly. “But I knew the prophecy. I knew if anything happened between us, she could be banished from her coven. I didn’t want that for her. So I let her go and chose a different path for myself,” he added. Kieran blinked, surprised.
“I didn’t know you had that kind of history with her,” he said. Jeremiah gave a small smile.
“I understand why she’s mad at me. I couldn’t fight for what I felt,” Jeremiah said.
The two men stood in silence for a moment as the wind blew softly around them.
“Let’s go,” Jeremiah said. “We still have people to see before heading back,” he added.
And with that, the two continued to walk on.
- Writer
