Celeste's POV
*****
Professor Amelia was a wolf with ashen grey hair tied into a bun that might as well be an ancient relic.
She's tall. Sharp. Always stared at the high-class parents as if they were her next business deal for the academy. All to suck up to Dean Thorne—head of the academy and a witch.
Willow and I sat at a table relatively close to the stage. There were three other empty chairs around the table, but ours had the best view of the stage.
"You still not gonna tell me what happened to you?" Willow asked for the umpteenth time, finding my right hand underneath the table.
I smiled wryly, shaking my head. "It doesn't matter. Let's just sit back and get this over with."
Turning my head to the stage again, I watched as Professor Amelia wore that practised smile she always used when she wanted to play 'good cop', tapping the mic attached to her a few times.
People were already sitting at the high table behind her. I sighted Alpha King Maddox—the Australian Alpha King and Lysandra's father.
The man seemed as bratty as his daughter, except he hid his behind a broody mask.
I scoffed, still scanning the stage and everywhere around it for my parents. They should be here by now with Caelum.
"On behalf of our Dean, I'd like to welcome you all once again." Professor Amelia stretched out her arms like she was giving an offering. "And under the light of the full moon, I pray that all who seek a mate. Who seek that missing half of their soul—finds them tonight."
Glancing around, I noticed everyone bowing their heads in response to her empty words. Even Willow whispered a silent "so shall it be".
A bitter smile stretched my lips.
As if many of these entitled wolves and hybrids won't reject their so-called "mate" the instant they find out they aren't to their taste. What's the point of a spiritual bond if they can just break it willy-nilly?
"Celeste?" A voice chimed from behind, forcing me to turn around.
My brows furrowed at first. Until I saw who it was.
"Uncle Isaiah?" A genuinely warm smile lit up my features when I saw the face of one of the best witches I knew.
Donned in a golden and black suit, he had several rings on each finger—some magical and others mere accessories. He looked like he was at least thirty but knowing witches, he was definitely much older.
"What are you doing away from Mexico City?" I queried, my smile widening when he wrapped an arm around me. "We haven't seen you since—"
"I'm here to be my dear nephew's plus one." Isaiah beamed, pulling away, hands sliding into his pockets.
I frowned.
Nephew?
It was then that I noticed someone following closely behind him. A man in his early twenties. Dark skin and enchanting golden eyes, dressed in a sharp white suit with runic symbols stitched with golden threads.
Those... Those eyes...
They flicked around the event hall like he was wondering why he was even here. And then they landed on me.
"I believe you must've heard of Atlas." Isaiah gestured casually at the boy, placing a hand on his shoulder. "He should be two years ahead of you."
Atlas? As in... Atlas Stormwood?
My lips parted for gods knows how long. "He's... He's a star student amongst the witches." My eyes darted between Isaiah and Atlas, noting the obvious skin tone distinction. "How is he your nephew?"
On the stage, Professor Amelia was still busy saying a few words... And by a few, it was probably a load of crap she's repeated each year.
Isaiah grinned slyly, walking around the table and pulling out one of the free seats. "He's my fifth cousin's son. Don't think too much about it, lass."
Atlas still had those golden eyes on me but soon moved, sitting beside his uncle without saying a word. Not even a "hi" or a disgruntled "good evening".
Rude!
"Where are your parents anyway?" Isaiah whipped his head to the stage. "I didn't see them behind the—"
"Ladies and gentle wolves!" Professor Amelia howled excitedly, her eyes fixed on an entrance beside the stage. "We're all special. But in our midst are two very important guests."
Squinting, I locked my gaze on the arched entrance. A few guards trooped through it, each wearing a familiar crimson uniform. After a couple of seconds... THEY appeared behind the guards.
And who are "they" you might ask...
Leave it to Professor Amelia to tell you.
"Please, welcome Alpha King Kaelos Bloodoak and Luna Queen Odessa Bloodoak!" The Professor gestured at the couple walking in. Aka... my parents. "Sovereigns of the North American packs and founders of our prestigious academy!"
Mom and Dad had smiles as the hall erupted in claps and cheers. Dad wore a red suit glimmering under the lights like stars, silver eyes sharp and shoulder-length black hair flowing behind him.
Mom walked beside him like a queen. Wavy blonde hair. Violet eyes. Pretty heart-shaped face that made her look more like an older sister than my mother. And a form-fitting, handless red gown to match all that elegance.
"OMG. Look, it's Caelum!" Willow could barely contain herself, tapping my lap repeatedly while pointing at my brother waltzing behind my parents.
Everyone always has their attention on the school's founders and their top student son. While the wolfless daughter—me—has always lived under their shadows.
"Is Caelum going to sit with his parents? On the high table?" A female voice echoed from a nearby seat.
"Of course, he is!" Another yelled, as if trying to get my brother's attention. "He's our school's top student. If you ask me, he deserves that seat."
"Hmph. Unlike that no good sister of his."
And there it was.
I couldn't stay a second without catching a jab about how "useless" I was.
"Cel," Willow called. I turned my gaze to her wry smile. "Ignore them."
Ignore. Of course.
Turning around, I searched for the faces of the girls gossiping about me. It didn't take long to spot them. Along with two people I didn't expect to be sitting so close.
Luther and Lysandra.
My boyfriend—sorry, ex—had an arm wrapped around Lysandra whose face seemed fine now. She's got magic after all. Healing a wound she inflicted on herself should be a piece of cake.
Silas was also seated there and had his attention on his phone.
The girls who'd been talking shit all had their eyes fixed on me. Fearless. Mocking. Eyeing me like I was trash. And Lysandra?
She had a small smirk curling her lips, leaning closer to Luther who was too busy staring at my parents on stage like he'd seen ghosts.
The bastard was probably getting a tang of guilt. Good for him...
Professor Amelia finally signalled the crowd to stop the applause, flashing my parents a smile. "Would you like to say a few words to the…?"
I couldn't see them properly from this angle but they probably shook their heads at her.
"Oh. No? That's fine." The Professor nodded with a cheery smile. "Anyway, let's move on to the next agenda for tonight. The moonlight toast!"
Atlas made a grunt, not sounding impressed at all.
I swung my head to him, exchanging a glance with Isaiah who merely gave me an awkward smile.
"If you're so displeased with our ball," Willow suddenly spoke up, grabbing a glass of wine from a server who dropped glasses for each of us. "You could always leave. You know, right?"
Dear gods...
My grip on the glass I grabbed tightened subconsciously, lips already aching to take a sip. Slowly, Atlas moved his head, golden eyes fleeting between Willow and me.
His expression remained plain. And then—
"Only the stars know why I'm here, dear Willow." He muttered, gaze locking on me now. "I don't know how to explain it but... they guided me. Like destiny itself wanted me here."
Uhh... The fuck?
My cheeks heated when he kept those golden orbs glued on me. Why was he staring at me like that?!
I blinked, glancing at Willow who gawked at him like he was nuts.
Eventually, she nodded once. "Right..."
All around the hall, servers handed glasses of wine to both students and guests in preparation for the ceremonial toast.
Murmurs and laughter rippled through the hall.
From time to time I flicked my eyes to Luther and Lysandra. I wanted to ignore them. I wanted to delete everything that happened from my head and move on.
But how do I fucking do that?
The scene of them... On my bed. Gods, I feel like walking up to that table and strangling them. Maybe actually burning Lysandra's face will make me satisfied.
Sadly, I couldn't do any of that. Not with mom and Dad present. Not when they could easily change the narrative and make me the villain.
"Hold up..." Willow's voice brought me back to reality. She'd spotted Luther and Lysandra and had her jaw slackened from shock. "Isn't that your boyfriend? And Lysandra?! What—"
"Forget about it, Willow," I mumbled, tearing my eyes from them.
"The heck do you mean by that?" She snapped, drawing a few gazes on us. "Did you guys break up? Is that why you looked so down after coming back from the bathroom?"
She went on and on, lowering her voice. However, that voice slowly drifted when a weird tingle flashed through my body.
My heart beat spiked. A faint ringing echoed through both ears. My vision blurred. And then... A foreboding feeling. Like I was being watched.
Panicking, I dropped my glass of wine and got on my feet. I didn't know why I was getting up. Instinct drove me to.
"Cel?" Willow tapped my arm, but I ignored her.
Spinning around, I searched through the sea of tables and people. It didn't take long to spot him.
And when I did, time froze. Air left my lungs in a strained gasp.
Standing only about ten meters away, like a phantom, was the mysterious man who saved my life. Two weeks ago.
He was dressed in all black attire, his long black hair falling over his shoulders. Black shades shielded his eyes but I knew he was staring at me.
The breath punched out of me.
And then—
Something inside me screamed.
Not a thought. Not a whisper. Not even my intuition.
A whole presence kicked open the door to my soul and yelled:
"LOOK!"
My knees buckled.
"Celeste?!" Willow caught my elbow, but her voice sounded distant—like someone speaking underwater.
Because suddenly—
Atlas jolted upright. His hand SLAMMED onto the table, runes on his sleeve flickering gold like they were glitching.
His golden eyes were no longer calm.
They were WIDE and feral. Like he'd just seen the cosmos split open.
"…No," he whispered like he was denying the air itself.
My head snapped instinctively toward Lysandra's table.
Luther shot to his feet as well. He knocked over his chair so hard it scraped across the marble with a screech.
His chest heaved, pupils blowing wide. And his wolf—gods, even without hearing it, I felt the growl vibrating across the room like thunder.
Silas lifted his head at the exact same moment, eyes flashing.
They weren't looking at each other.
They weren't looking at Lysandra who was screaming: "Luther?!"
They were looking at—
ME.
I stumbled back a step.
"What the hell…" My voice trembled.
Four distinct heartbeats rang in my ears. Not mine. But belonging to the four men who now stared at me like I was a buffet.
At this point, most of the crowd noticed the commotion and stared at each of us. Even Professor Amelia paused the ceremonial toast.
And me? I stood there with a realisation I didn't want to accept.
No. No... Fuck no!
I'm mated to four men?!