Chapter 74 CHAPTER 74

Chapter 74 CHAPTER 74
CELIA'S POV

I sat there frozen on the garden bench, lips still tingling from Kaiden’s kiss. My heart hammered so loud I could hear it in my ears. What the hell just happened? One second we were talking about forgiveness, the next his mouth was on mine, hot and sure, like he’d been dying to do it. My cheeks burned. I felt shy as hell, like some little girl who didn’t know what to do with herself. My nipples tightened under my shirt and heat pooled low in my belly even though I was mad.

I pulled away fast, shoving his chest. “Kaiden… what are you doing? Don’t do that again.”

He didn’t look sorry. His eyes stayed dark and hungry, a little smirk tugging at his lips. “Sorry, baby. Couldn’t help it. You looked too damn cute sitting there all angry and pretty.” He leaned in a tiny bit, voice dropping low. “I promise I’ll do it legitimately next time. No sneaking up on you. I’ll make sure you want it first.”

My face got even hotter. I crossed my arms tight, trying to hide how my body reacted to his words. “Legitimately? You think that makes it okay? You can’t just kiss me out of nowhere like that.”

He shrugged, still too close, his thigh brushing mine. “I like you, Celia. For real. Not the old bully shit. The real you. The one who fights back and saves our asses even when she hates us.”

I stared at him, mind spinning. What was wrong with their heads? First Jasper almost dying and fucking me senseless, then Xavier with his big apology hug, now Kaiden kissing me like it was the most normal thing in the world. All of them suddenly acting like they couldn’t get enough of me. It made no sense. I was supposed to be getting revenge, not feeling all shy and warm because one of them kissed me.

“Something’s seriously wrong with all of you,” I muttered, standing up quick. My legs felt shaky. “Just… stay away from me with that stuff.”

He didn’t stop me when I walked away, but I felt his eyes on my back the whole way to the house. My lips still buzzed. I touched them without thinking and yanked my hand down fast. Idiot.

That night I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, replaying the kiss over and over. The way his mouth felt, rough and sweet at the same time. The way my body lit up like it remembered Jasper and wanted more. I rolled over, burying my face in the pillow. “This is so stupid,” I whispered. “You’re supposed to hate them. You promised revenge. Why does one kiss make you feel like this?”

I was confused and shy and a little excited, and I hated all of it. Sleep took forever to come.

The next day came too fast. I dragged my bag downstairs, ready to leave for school. I didn’t want to stay here anymore. The mansion felt too full of them, their scents, their eyes on me. I needed normal. Or at least school normal.

Mom and Alpha Hale were waiting in the hallway. Mom looked worried, touching my arm. “Celia, honey… you’re going back with the boys. They’ll drive you. It’s safer that way, especially after what happened with the rogues.”

I stopped. “What? No. I can go by myself. I don’t need—”

Alpha Hale shook his head, voice firm but kind. “No arguments, Celia. You’re still in danger. The brothers will protect you. We’re not taking any chances after the attack. You go with them.”

I looked between them, frustration bubbling up. My cheeks warmed again thinking about Kaiden’s kiss, Xavier’s hug, Jasper’s hands all over me in the cave. Going with them meant more of this confusion. More teasing touches and promises I didn’t know how to handle.

But I nodded anyway. “Fine. Whatever.”

I stood there in the hallway, bag slung over my shoulder, staring at Mom and Alpha Hale like they’d just told me I had to walk barefoot through fire. Go with the brothers. Again. My stomach twisted. I knew they still hadn’t figured out shit about those rogues—who sent them, how they found me, why the hell they wanted me so bad. The pendant felt warm against my chest, like a reminder. Fine. I’d go with them. Safer that way. But I wasn’t happy about it. Not one bit.

I turned away from Mom without saying anything, pretending I didn’t hear her soft sigh. I didn’t want to look at her. Didn’t want to talk. She always picked their side. Always.

“Celia, wait,” she called, voice gentle but firm. She stepped closer and touched my arm, pulling me to the side, away from Alpha Hale. “Come here for a second, honey. Just us.”

I wanted to yank my arm away and keep walking. But I stopped. My chest felt tight. “What?”

She looked at me with those sad eyes that always made me feel guilty. “Don’t be mad at me, please. I know I’ve let you down before. But I promise, from now on I’ll believe you. No more taking their side without hearing you out. You’re my daughter. I love you.”

I stared at her, anger bubbling up hot and fast. My cheeks burned. “You don’t need to believe me now, Mom. I don’t need it anymore. And I won’t be coming back here. Not after the wedding. Not ever if I can help it.”

Her face crumpled. I saw the hurt flash in her eyes, the way her shoulders dropped. She looked so small suddenly, standing there in her fancy new dress. Part of me wanted to hug her. The bigger part—the angry, hurt part—felt a sharp satisfaction mixed with guilt. I hated making her sad. But I was sad too. She’d chosen them so many times. Pushed me to forgive, to stay, to play nice. I was done.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, voice cracking. “I really am. Please don’t leave like this.”

I swallowed hard. My throat felt thick. “I have to. The brothers are waiting. Rogues are still out there and nobody knows why they came for me. I’ll be safer with them than pretending everything’s fine here.”

She reached for my hand but I stepped back. I couldn’t do this. Not now. My eyes stung but I blinked it away fast. “Goodbye, Mom.”

I turned and walked out the front door before she could say anything else. The brothers were already by the cars—Xavier leaning against one, Jasper watching me with that soft look that made my stomach flip, Kaiden grinning like he remembered our kiss last night, the others loading my bag. Their eyes all found me at once. Heat crawled up my neck. I could still feel Kaiden’s mouth on mine, Xavier’s arms around me, Jasper’s hands everywhere in that cave. My body remembered too well.

I climbed into the back seat without looking back at the mansion. Mom stood in the doorway, watching. I saw her wipe her eyes. My chest ached. I was unhappy too—really unhappy. Angry at her, angry at myself for caring, angry at the stupid mate pull that made me want to run back and hug her even while I hated how she made me feel small.

The car door shut. Xavier slid behind the wheel. “You good, baby?”

I didn’t answer. I just stared straight ahead, jaw tight, trying to ignore the way Kaiden’s knee brushed mine when he sat next to me. The engine started. We pulled away. I didn’t look back.