Chapter 166 Healing Sessions
Jolie pov
"I don't know if I can do this." She looks at me with terrified eyes. "If every healing session is this painful"
"They won't all be." I assure her. "Today was intense because we were breaking through major blockages. Future sessions will be gentler. We'll work on smaller sections, give your brain time to adjust between treatments."
"How often?" She asks.
"Twice a week, if you're willing." I suggest. "That gives you time to process between sessions while maintaining steady progress."
"Twice a week of feeling like this?" She sounds daunted.
"Twice a week of becoming more yourself." I correct. "Yes, it's painful. But it's also liberating, you are reclaiming pieces of yourself that the Academy stole. That's worth some temporary discomfort."
She considers this, wiping her face. "Okay. Twice a week. I can do that."
"You sure?" I ask. "I know it's hard"
"I'm sure." She straightens her spine. "Because even though this hurts, it's better than being empty. I'd rather feel too much than nothing at all."
"That's the attitude that will get you through this." I stand, offering my hand. "Come on. Let's get you some tea and let you rest. Your brain needs recovery time after that work."
As we walk toward the main building, Cass emerges from the medical bay. He spots us and his face lights up."Celeste! How'd the session go?"
Over the past two weeks, Cass and Celeste have formed an unlikely friendship. He helps her navigate new emotions, she helps him process the trauma of capture and blessed silver torture. They've been spending a lot of time together.
"Intense." She manages a smile despite her red eyes. "But good. I think."
"You look exhausted." He moves closer, concern clear in his expression. "Want some company? I was just making lunch."
"That sounds nice." She glances at me. "If I'm allowed breaks between processing emotional trauma?"
"Breaks are mandatory." I assure her. "Go. Eat. Spend time with Cass, let your brain rest."
They walk away together, Cass's hand gently guiding her toward the kitchen. I watch them go, noticing how comfortable they are with each other. How Celeste's posture relaxes around him. How Cass's protective instincts soften into something gentler.
"They're good for each other." Luna appears beside me. "She's learning to feel. He's learning to be gentle with someone fragile. It's sweet."
"It is." I agree. "Though I worry about her getting hurt. She's just learning to experience emotions. A romantic relationship might be too much too soon."
"Maybe." Luna considers. "Or maybe it's exactly what she needs. A chance to experience connection in its purest form to learn what healthy affection feels like."
"As long as Cass understands she's vulnerable right now"
"He does." Luna cuts me off. "I've talked to him. He knows she's healing. He's being careful, respectful, letting her set the pace. If anything develops beyond friendship, it'll be because she's ready."
"Good." I watch them disappear into the kitchen. "She deserves something good after everything she survived."
"So do you." Luna turns to me. "How are you holding up? That looked like intense healing work."
"It was." I lean against the building. "Her neural pathways are severely damaged. It's going to take months to rebuild them fully. Maybe longer."
"Can you handle that?" Luna asks carefully. "Twice-weekly sessions for months while also managing pack integration and planning facility raids?"
"I have to." I say simply. "She's not the only Academy graduate who needs healing. If I can develop a technique that works for her, I can teach it to other healers. Create a protocol for helping conditioned wolves recover."
"That's ambitious." Luna observes.
"So is rebuilding wolf society." I counter. "But someone has to do it."
We walk back toward the command center, discussing logistics for next week's training sessions. As we pass the kitchen, I hear laughter inside. Celeste's laugh. Genuine, unguarded laughter.
I peek through the window and see her and Cass cooking together. He's teaching her how to make something, she's messing it up, and they're both laughing about it. A few weeks ago, she couldn't feel joy. Now she's laughing over burnt food.
Later that evening, I'm in our cabin reviewing Doc's notes on neurological healing when Ryder bursts through the door looking flustered.
"We have a situation." He says.
"What kind of situation?" I close the notebook.
"The awkward kind." He runs a hand through his hair. "Knox was doing evening patrols and heard... noises... coming from one of the new cabins. Went to investigate, thinking someone was in trouble."
"And?" I prompt.
"And he walked in on Celeste and Cass. Together. Very together."
I blink. "How together?"
"Extremely together." His face flushes. "Knox backed out immediately but now he's freaking out because Celeste is supposed to be in recovery and he's worried Cass is taking advantage"
"Knox needs to mind his own business." I stand. "But I should probably check on them. Make sure Celeste is okay."
"That's what I figured." He follows me out. "Though maybe knock this time?"
We walk to the cabin Knox indicated. Sure enough, I can hear voices inside. Not distressed voices. Happy voices.
I knock firmly. "Celeste? It's Jolie. Can we talk?"
Shuffling sounds. Whispered conversation. Then Celeste opens the door, wrapped in a sheet, hair mussed, looking embarrassed but not upset.
"Knox told you." She says.
"Knox was concerned." I keep my voice neutral. "Can I come in?"
She steps aside. Inside, Cass is pulling on clothes, looking equally embarrassed.
"Before you say anything" He starts.
"I'm not here to judge." I interrupt. "I'm here to make sure Celeste is okay. That this is what she wants and not something she felt pressured into."
"I wanted this." Celeste says firmly. "I asked him. Multiple times. Because I wanted to know what intimacy feels like when you can actually feel it instead of just performing it."
"And?" I ask gently.
Her smile is radiant. "It's incredible. Everything is incredible when you can actually feel it. The touching, the connection, the vulnerability. I didn't know—I'd forgotten" Tears form. "I'd forgotten what it's like to want someone and be wanted back."
"That's beautiful." I mean it. "But you're also in a vulnerable place right now, still learning to process emotions. I need to know you're being careful with your heart."
"I am." She looks at Cass with something like wonder. "He's patient with me. When I get overwhelmed, he slows down. When I don't understand something, he explains. He treats me like a person, not like I'm broken."
"You're not broken." Cass says quietly. "You're healing. There's a difference."
"See?" Celeste looks back at me. "He gets it. He understands I'm learning and he's helping me learn in ways that feel safe."
I study them both. Cass's protective posture, Celeste's genuine happiness. This isn't manipulation or taking advantage. This is two wolves helping each other heal through connection.
"Okay." I decide. "But you talk to me if anything feels wrong or overwhelming. And Cass, you remember she's still learning to regulate emotions. What feels good today might trigger something tomorrow, you need to be prepared for that."
"I know." He nods seriously. "We're taking it slow. Communication first, always."
"Good." I move toward the door, then pause. "And maybe lock your door next time. Knox nearly had a heart attack."
They both laugh, the sound filling the cabin with warmth. As Ryder and I walk back toward our cabin, he shakes his head.
"A few weeks ago she was emotionally empty. Now she's having sex. That's fast healing."
"Physical intimacy can be part of emotional healing." I point out. "As long as it's consensual and healthy, which this appears to be."
"You're not worried?" He asks.
"A little." I admit. "But more hopeful than worried. She's experiencing connection in multiple forms—friendship with Marina and Cara, mentorship with me, romance with Cass. Each relationship teaches her something different about being human. That's healthy diversification of emotional bonds."
"When did you become a therapist?" He teases.
"When I became Luna to traumatized wolves." I lean against him. "I'm learning as I go. Making it up half the time. Hoping I don't mess anyone up worse than they already are."
"You're doing fine." He kisses the top of my head. "Celeste is healing. The pack is integrating. Knox and Cass are recovered. Everything is actually working out."
"For now." I look up at the stars. "But we still have facility raids planned. Still have Council remnants to deal with. Still have hundreds of Academy graduates who need help. This is just the beginning."
"Then we're off to a good start." He pulls me closer.