Chapter 34

Soren

With Celia so close to me, I could feel my body be drawn to her. An invisible force that pushes me to get closer to her, to close the space that separates. Us in the back of my mind there is a tingle that is an unpleasant, but rather something inviting and alluring.

When she leaves my field of vision, I can't help but feel a chill that crashes over my body, shocking me back to life yet keeping me cemented in place. She disappears within the group and evades my gaze.

“Sir?” Healer Anderson asks, stepping froward and away from the group. “Is there something you need? Do you need our assistance?”

"No, that will not be necessary,” I breathe out. My eyes scanned the crowd and glaze over the familiar faces that Bianca has showed me throughout the last few weeks.

I only recognize one face in particular, though.

Celia's familiar eyes poke out from behind one of the she-wolf Healers that Bianca is friends with. I suck in a breath. She divert her gaze from mine, yet another time that she has thrown my way ever since we parted ways.

“that will be all, thank you. Please take your leave. I need to be alone with my mother,” I quickly form the excuse.

The healers look to each other before they turned back to me. They nod, bowing their heads as a sign of respect, something that I could care less about. One by one, they turn around and face the opposite direction, heading towards the single dock that sits along the sandy shores of the lake.

Only two remain. Bianca and Celia stare at me, eyes attentive and filled with unanswered questions. Celia turns to Bianca and quickly straightens her posture. In one fluid movement, Celia walks towards the docks and catches up with the rest of the group.

“Why are you acting like this? What did she do to you?” Bianca asks, her sharping questioning.

I know that later tonight, when she makes herself at home, that I will be subjected to her bombardment of questions and unresolved anger. there is no escape from this fate.

“Go home, Bianca. I need some time for myself. I hope you can understand that.”

Before she can retort and refuse my wish to be alone, I turn on my heel and enter the villa once again, locking the door behind me. I let out a huff of air, relief spreading throughout my body.

My mind goes back to Celia in the way she instantly cured my headache. There was no dull ache behind my eyes, nor was there any sharp pain that resembled someone poking into my brain with a long syringe.

It all happened so fast. I am not even sure what happened myself or what she did to me.

Did she inject me with something? Did she put something in the air that made me hallucinate what I felt? No...the only answer could be a mindlink, something that she has brought up before when Healer Anderson asked for ideas the last time they were here.

Oh, Celia…what have you done to me?

It couldn't possibly be a fated mate bond. Her mindlink with me was that of healing rather than love and affection. Even during the days of our contract together, I have never felt like that before. So what changed?

This whole ordeal leaves me with more questions and answers. As the alpha King, I am supposed to be all knowing, forever informed of the world that revolves around me. But with Celia, it is also confusing. I don't know what to do or what to think.

With Celia, there is no North star. There is no guiding star in the night sky that will lead me home. I'm perpetually stuck within the darkness, of the confines of her confusion and misdirection.

Celia

I watch as the former Luna's Lake house fade out of you, becoming smaller and smaller than farther away we get. The boat rocks against the waves and it easily matches the unsteady feeling that settles into my heart and chest.

I can't help but look at healer Anderson. Perhaps he will have the answers to the questions that I am looking to ask. He is very informative and knows what to do in times like these.

However, when he looks my way, I can't help but turn the other direction, staring at the ripples that break the peacefulness of the lake.

Is there any way to make my mind as comb as the body of water that surrounds me? Or while I forever be damned to hold the weight of a bond to a man that doesn't even want me?

“Is everything okay?” Lily asks me, nudging her arm into mine. I turn to her and smile, weakly nodding as an attempt to hide the turmoil that churns within me. She raises an eyebrow and leans in, her face just mere inches from mine. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I am very sure, thank you for asking, though,” I sweetly smile at her. She looks me up and down, knowing that I am hiding something from her. Thankfully, though, she remains quiet and nods, leaning back into the edge of the boat.

A part of me wishes that I can confide in my friend about what I'm going through, but healer Anderson and my grandmother's warnings prevent me from doing so.

How can I be sure to trust her? What if she is only friends with me because among the other noble wolves, she is deemed less than them, which is why she is friends with me, a woman with no rank?

The thought makes me sad. I wish my parents were here. They would know what to do, how to navigate a tricky situation like this. Then again, they aren't here. They were taken away from me, taken away from this world way too soon.

As soon as the boat reaches the opposite shore and we disembark the boat, I noticed a familiar figure that stands just a couple feet away where the cars are parked. Ethan smiles at me, giving me a small wave. I wave back and return his smile, stepping off the boat with ease.

“Celia,” Healer Anderson looks down at me, “what did you talk about with the king?”

“He asked me about my idea I had the last time we were here,” I suck in a breath, hoping that he believes me rather than digging deeper into the subject.

“You know you can talk to me about it right?” He presses on. I nod and pass off the bag of medicine to him. “Okay, good. Enjoy the rest of your day, Celia. I will see you soon.”

“You too, Healer Anderson,” I bow my head.

I turn to face Ethan and his car. I cross the distance and place my hands behind my back. He pushes off of his car and meet me halfway.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, flattening out the wrinkles that formed on my shirt.

“I thought that since this is your first royal banquet that we could prepare together, you know, seeing how you're my date now. I can't have you embarrassing me can I?” Ethan teases with a chuckle.

“I am not that bad,” I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest.

“S sure, whatever you say,” the man smiles at me. He knocks his head in the direction of the car, “shall we?”