Chapter 22 Celeste
Celeste's POV
My eyes had been fixed on my laptop since this morning. By the time dinner rolled around, I finally realized how dry they were. I shut my eyes and leaned back in my chair.
I enjoyed my job. Well, I didn’t really have a choice anyway. Whatever. I wasn’t in the mood to think too hard about my life.
"So many people want to kill their business rivals." I glanced at my laptop and shook my head.
"Why don't they challenge their business rivals to a fight? Let their wolves handle it; they must be sure their wolves will win."
I understood why people hired us to kill their business rivals or anyone they wanted dead. They weren't confident their wolves would win in a fight, and no one wanted to die in such a stupid and shameful way.
"Yeah, because those cowards don't trust their wolf, we still exist in this world and, of course, we earn a lot of money to support ourselves."
But still, I was confused as to why they would spend so much money to see someone they hated so much die a horrible death.
“Okay. Time to tell them.”
I went back to my laptop, looking over the document one last time before sending it to the head warrior. He would be the one to decide who handled the mission.
The Black Birds Group was the number one rogue assassin organization. For the last twenty years, we had never failed a kill. Every client we had was satisfied with our work.
“They’d rather kill than gather information.” I scoffed as I read the head warrior’s reply email.
I emailed the finance department to check if all the down payments had come in. My eyes widened when I saw how much we earned from killing three werewolves.
We received plenty of assassination requests, but we didn’t accept all of them. I had to make sure my members wouldn't get into trouble afterward.
“Come in.” I looked at the door when Beta Dylan knocked and called out to me.
Beta Dylan always brought a file whenever he came to my office. “You can read it and sign it tomorrow. You need some rest. You’ve been working hard.”
I smiled at him. “Thank you for caring about me, Beta.”
“My pleasure.” Beta Dylan smiled faintly and nodded. “If you’re sick, everything will be delayed.”
I raised an eyebrow. "You can take over my work until I get better," I said with a bitter smile. "You're just as important as I am."
I was actually taking a jab at him—he loved making decisions without checking in with me, even though his signature mattered just as much as mine. But either he didn’t pick up on it, or he pretended not to. Hard to tell with him.
"We have half an hour before dinner," he said, grabbing a chair, placing it in front of my desk, and sitting there, his eyes fixed on mine.
"Okay," I agreed. "Tell me. I'll listen."
"It's about the virus-creating organization," Beta Dylan said. He rested his elbows on my desk and propped his chin up.
“Has the team investigating them found any new information about them?” I asked. Sometimes their reports came in late, and Beta Dylan, who was monitoring them, couldn’t resist telling me.
“No new updates.” Beta Dylan shook his head. “Sometimes I wonder how their brains work. Why would they make a virus meant to infect children? If I were them, I’d burn the rogue clan to the ground.”
That wicked smile of his was honestly disturbing. If our people agreed to let him join the assassination mission, he’d ditch his Beta duties without hesitation.
“You’re crueler than them,” I responded lazily. “You should be asking why they’re smarter than us. They’re just a group of werewolves and rogues who were abandoned and left their homeland,” I said to Dylan.
“We’ll find them.” Beta Dylan nodded optimistically. “No one can hide themselves and their secrets from us.”
“Yes, you’re right.” We were all hoping we’d be the first to find them, because we’d definitely make a lot of money off Alpha Romeo and his friends.
I frowned, seeing Beta Dylan staring at me intently, as if he were reading my thoughts.
“What are you trying to say?” I knew him well enough, even though he was a bit hard to read.
“Have you ever thought about what would happen if Alpha Eiden found out where you and your two sons live?” Beta Dylan told me what he had been worrying about.
"What if he goes to the home address listed on Liam’s kindergarten documents?” Beta Dylan tilted his head. “And boom—he’ll be confused when he finds out that you and your two sons never lived there."
Honestly, I often thought about that before I went to bed, but somehow my gut told me I didn’t need to worry.
“I don’t think he’s interested in visiting my house,” I said, a hint of doubt in my chest. “He just wants Liam to stay over.”
Beta Dylan looked at me incredulously and shook his head. "Why do you always think he is good? You never let yourself suspect him."
I grimaced. “Even if I were suspicious of him, I wouldn’t tell anyone.”
“I’m relieved to hear that,” he said. Then he asked another question. “I was wondering if you’ve changed your mind.” He stared at me blankly. “Are you going to help him get rid of the nightmares haunting him?”
“No,” I answered quickly without a second thought. I was confident that he would never know my current identity.
“That’s great.” Beta Dylan gave me two thumbs up proudly.
"You must always remember that he rejected you for his girlfriend." Beta Dylan smiled sarcastically. "Ironically, the woman he chose cheated on him, and it seems the Moon Goddess has cursed him; he won't find a second mate."
"You shouldn't say things like that," I rebuked him. "The Moon Goddess isn't that evil. We shouldn't think badly of her."
Beta Dylan fell silent at my words. I hoped he would beg the Moon Goddess for forgiveness.
"Don't fall in love with him." A few minutes later, Beta Dylan said something strange and unreasonable. "I'm worried you'll fall in love with him after seeing him so often."
I don't know why he had such thoughts. After Benedict's death, I never considered opening my heart to a man. But if the Moon Goddess were to grant me a second mate, I would accept that fate.
"I'll never fall in love with him." I wasn't even given the chance to love him back then. All Alpha Eiden did was leave a scar on my heart.
“Really? Are you serious?” Beta Dylan raised an eyebrow. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Yeah, I hope you don’t change your mind.”
I was not that kind of person.
"You done talking?" I didn't wait for a response. "Go home. Work hours are over."
“You’re right.” Beta Dylan stood up and walked toward the door, saying, “See you tomorrow, Alpha.”
“Yes,” I said, reading the message from Alpha Eiden. He was asking about Liam.
I’m pretty good at reading people. Alpha Eiden truly wants to build a bond with Liam. He’s good with Levi, too.
I was honestly moved. Who would've guessed he’d be such a good father?
However, it made me wonder what would happen if Liam chose to live with his biological father’s pack.
Oh no, I remembered Levi saying he liked Alpha Eiden. I was worried he'd forget his biological father.