Chapter 38

Soren

I have been able to see Celia almost every single day after my mother woke up form her coma. She is helping heal me, curing me of my mystery ailment, while my time and energy has been dedicated to my mother. After her and Healer Anderson check in on my mother, she turns her attention to me, easing away the pain that hides within the depths of my brain.

I spend much of much of my time by my mother’s bedside, often helping feed her and make for sure that she is healthy in her days fresh out of a coma. Bianca aided me in this time of need as well. I suspect that it has to do with the comment my mother made about Celia being a fantastic daughter-in-law but I keep my mouth shut, not wishing to upset Bianca more than I already have.

When my mother began to settle in and feel comfortable, I moved her back home and waited for her to feel comfortable before I had my Beta call Celia to come visit for one final session together.

The wait for her to come to my mansion has me feeling a bubbling anticipation inside my chest. There is a hint of excitement as well as nervousness from within the anticipation. I know that this will be our last and final meeting before my engagement banquet with Bianca, the day that I will say my vows and dedicate my life to her.

A piece of me wishes that it was Celia instead of Bianca at the altar, that my vows will be directed towards her instead of the daughter of a Lycan Duke.

I know, though, that our lives will never know peace if we are to join in marriage. Our contract was enough time for us to spend together and once Bianca has come back into my life, Celia has been nothing but a nuisance and has caused problems without even being there.

It is best that I keep her out of my life. She knows this too.

The door to my bedroom opens. Celia enters alone, having the routes inside my mansion memorized during our five years together. She bows within the doorframe before fully entering.

She wears a simple outfit today; a pair of dress pants matched with a blouse. It is drastically different than what she wore during our time together.

Then again, I did tell her what to wear. She was my doll to use and I dressed her up like the woman I love. She was Bianca’s substitute, after all, so it would be weird if she continued to dress like her.

“Your Highness,” Celia greets. I nod my head at her and move towards a plush chair in the room, one that I always sit in while she works at the kinks in my mind.

Ever since we agreed to part ways after my wedding to Bianca, things have been straight forward between us. We barely speak, only opening our mouths to get past polite formalities and when we need to speak, and our eyes rarely meet.

Our interactions have become reminiscent of transactions. She works because I have paid her to do so. There are no hidden motives beneath our actions nor are we trying to save the shattered fragments of our past relationship.

This is just another contract between us. Nothing more, nothing less.

“How has your pain been today?” Celia asks. She takes her spot behind me. I feel her fingers make themselves at home in my hair, a familiar feeling from our healing sessions and contracted time together.

“It has been better today,” I respond with a sigh. I immediately relax into the chair, closing my eyes. The pain inside my skull has already begun to subside, slowly slipping away just by Celia’s mere presence. “I would say that it is at a six or seven today.”

“That is still fairly high,” there is a hint of sadness and guilt inside Celia’s voice. It makes my heart ache. I have to tell myself to stop in order for my body to calm down.

“I have felt worse,” I quip, “this is nothing.”

“And yet it is still painful and higher on the pain scale,” Celia mutters under her breath.

Celia is right. She almost always is. I just can’t bring myself to deny or refute her claims, not having the time or energy to fight back or bicker with her.

I clear my throat and feel the warm sensation flood my mind. It is like a warm blanket, something that makes me feel so safe and comfortable. Or maybe this is what a life without chronic pain feels like. Perhaps this feeling that Celia bestows upon me is normal.

“It is your banquet tonight,” Celia’s voice fills in the silence. She breaks free from our normal routine but it makes me feel complete and utter dread. “I bet your excitement for tonight is what helped you feel bette today.”

“Excitement?” I scoff, unable to hold it back in. Celia’s fingers soften against my scalp, her gentle and soothing massages stopping.

I wonder if her heart is pounding inside her chest like mine is. I wonder if she is thinking about the unspoken spark between us, something that I have felt within every interaction despite my grievances held towards her.

Celia clears her throat and begins to massage my head again. The aching feeling begins to dissipate, my wolf howling from relief, his quiet barks no longer tormenting me with flashes of pain and agony.

“My mother is excited to see you tonight,” I try my best to fill in the awkwardness between us. Besides, if she gets to break our routine, then I get to as well. Celia hums in response. “Be sure to greet her as soon as you arrive.”

“I will,” Celia responds.

A few seconds pass and I can feel the headache fully disappear. The constant ringing in my ears has fallen silent and I can feel the emptiness of the space where a dull pressure usually sat.

“Feeling better?” Celia quietly asks, her voice just barely over that of a whisper. I do not immediately respond, instead choosing to watch as she leaves my close proximity, gathering her belongings.

“Yes,” I cooly respond, “I do feel better.” A ‘thank you’ hangs on the tip of my tongue but I do not speak it into existence.

“Good,” Celia nods. She enters my field of vision, barely glancing my way as she digs through her belongings. When she’s done, her phone now in her hand, she looks in my direction. “Is there anything else you need form me?”

I remain silent, unsure on how to answer her question. My eyes move up and down her body, observing her movements and ticks that give away exactly what it is that she is thinking. She shifts back and forth on her feet, picking at the skin around her fingernails.

“This is our last meeting,” I inform her. She meekly nods. “Are you…” my voice trails off, unable to find the proper words.

Am I saying goodbye? Is this for good? Will I truly be happy now that she will be gone and out of my life?

“I will abide by the contract, Soren,” Celia’s voice is defeated yet firm. “After tonight, you will never see me again.”

A sharp pain shoots through my heart yet my face remains stoic. I stand and nod, slowly approaching her. We say nothing to each other. I enter her close proximity and do nothing. Her eyes burn into mine. After a minute, she takes a step away, bottom lip trembling.

“I’ll…I’ll get going now,” Celia breathes out. Before I can say anything, she turns and disappears out of my sight.