Chapter 71 CHAPTER 71

Chapter 71 CHAPTER 71
CELIA'S POV

I shut the door to my room and leaned against it, breathing hard like I’d just run another mile through the woods. My legs still felt shaky. My whole body ached in places I didn’t even know could ache. I couldn’t believe what I let happen last night. I gave myself to Jasper like some desperate girl in heat. First time ever and I lost complete control. Embarrassment burned my face so hot I pressed my hands to my cheeks.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” I muttered, sliding down until I sat on the floor. “You let him fuck you until you passed out. You moaned his name like you needed it. God, Celia, what the hell?”

I remembered every second. His hands gripping my hips, the way he thrust deep and rough, the sounds I made when I came so hard my vision went white. I painted—came so many times I couldn’t even count. And now I was sore between my legs, sticky with him, marked all over my neck and breasts. I couldn’t believe I gave myself away to him like that. To Jasper. The same guy who once tried to drown me. My stepbrother. My mate.

I crawled over to the bed and flopped down on my back, too tired to even change clothes. Every muscle screamed for rest. My eyes felt heavy. But I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I didn’t want to admit the truth. It wasn’t just him losing control. It was me. My heat hit right when we started kissing. Female werewolves in heat drive male werewolves crazy. It’s like a drug. Mates especially can’t fight it. I knew that. I’d read about it. But I still blamed him in my head.

“You asshole,” I whispered to the empty room, even though he wasn’t here. “You should’ve stopped. You should’ve had self-control.”

But deep down I knew the truth. My body had betrayed me. The second our lips touched, the heat rushed through me like fire. It made me wet, made me grind against him, made me beg without words. It was my fault for starting that kiss. My fault for not pulling away when I felt the first wave. And now I was lying here sore and satisfied and hating myself for it.

I rolled onto my side, hugging a pillow tight to my chest. My nipples were still sensitive, brushing against the fabric every time I breathed. A little shiver ran through me just remembering how his mouth felt on them. How he’d sucked and bitten until I cried out. How he’d flipped me over and taken me from behind like he owned me.

“Stop it,” I told myself, squeezing my thighs together. The ache there flared up again, half pain, half want. “It was survival. That’s all. You were cold. He was hurt. Heat just… happened.”

I closed my eyes, trying to push the memories away. But they kept coming—his low growl in my ear, the way he said “mine” while he was buried inside me, the way my body answered him like it had been waiting for him all along. I hated how good it felt. I hated that I came so hard I passed out. And I really hated that part of me was glad it happened. Glad the heat was finally dealt with. For the first time.

I’d never gone through a full heat before. Never let it take over like that. Now it was gone. Resolved. My body felt calm for the first time in days. No more burning under my skin. No more random waves of need. Just… relief. And soreness. And this confusing mix of shame and something warmer I didn’t want to name.

I pulled the blanket over me, curling up smaller. “You better keep your mouth shut about it, Jasper,” I whispered. “If you tell anyone, I swear I’ll kill you myself.”

But even as I said it, a tiny smile tugged at my lips. I was glad. Glad I didn’t have to fight the heat anymore. Glad it was over. Glad I could finally rest without my body turning against me.

I drifted off like that, tired and sore and still smelling like him on my skin.

I squeezed my eyes shut for a second, face burning. “Stop thinking about it,” I muttered to myself. But my thighs still ached, and that low throb between my legs wouldn’t go away completely.

I dragged myself out of bed, pulled on fresh clothes, and went looking for Mom. The wedding was finally over. The mansion felt quieter now, like everything had settled. I didn’t want to stay here another minute. I was done wasting time in this place with the brothers breathing down my neck. School was waiting. Normal life. Or whatever counted as normal for me.

Mom was in the sitting room, flipping through some papers. She looked up and smiled when she saw me. “Celia, honey. Come sit. How are you feeling after everything?”

I sat on the edge of the couch, keeping space between us. “Tired. But okay. Wedding’s done. I think it’s time I head back to school. I don’t want to stay here any longer than I have to.”

She reached over and touched my hand. Her voice got soft. “I know you’ve been through a lot. But… could you try to forgive the boys? They’re your mates, your stepbrothers now. They’ve changed. They want to protect you. It would mean everything to me if you could find it in your heart to forgive them.”

Anger rushed up so fast I almost laughed. “Forgive them? Mom, are you serious right now?” My voice came out sharper than I meant. “They bullied me, tried to kill me, pushed me off a roof. And now you’re asking me to forgive them just because they’re family? If they really wanted forgiveness, they should come ask me themselves. Not you pushing it on me like this. It only makes me want to forgive them less.”

She looked hurt. “Celia, I’m just trying to help. We’re all one family now—”

“No,” I cut her off, standing up fast. My hands shook. “You always take their side. Even after everything they did. I would’ve thought about forgiving them if they actually showed they were sorry. But you making me do it? That just makes it worse. I won’t forgive them. Not like this.”

I turned and walked out before she could say anything else. My chest felt tight, anger and hurt mixing together. I hated how she always chose the new family over me. I pushed open the door and stepped into the hallway, head down, trying to calm my breathing.

I didn’t see him until it was too late.

I bumped straight into Jasper’s chest. Hard. His scent hit me — that warm, alpha smell that still made my body react even after last night. My nipples tightened under my shirt. I stepped back fast, trying to ignore the heat crawling up my neck.

He caught my arm gently but firm, pulling me back before I could walk away. His fingers felt hot on my skin. “Celia, wait.”

I wanted to ignore him. I really did. But his touch sent little sparks straight between my legs, reminding me exactly how he felt inside me. I looked up at him, heart racing, and tried to pull free. But he didn’t let go.