Chapter 65 CHAPTER 65

Chapter 65 CHAPTER 65
CELIA'S POV

I stormed out of that room with my blood boiling. Xavier acting all high and mighty, exposing Krystal like that? It pissed me off. He saved his own ass so clean, throwing her under the bus to look good in front of everyone. Especially me.

“Asshole,” I muttered under my breath, fists tight at my sides. But then a laugh bubbled up in my chest. Yeah, it sucked that he got away easy, but Krystal’s reputation was trashed now. Everyone saw her naked, legs spread, fresh from getting fucked by those school boys and the guard. Xavier got cuckolded hard. I could already picture him walking around school with people whispering behind his back. The big alpha who couldn’t even keep his side piece loyal.

I stopped in the hallway and let the laugh out for real, low and satisfied. “Serves you right, Xavier. Bet that stings, doesn’t it? Your little slut riding another dick while you thought you owned her.”

The sound of my own laugh felt good. Twisted, but good. My body still hummed from all the tension tonight — nipples tight under my dress, that warm ache between my legs that always showed up when I was around them. Even when I hated them. Especially when I hated them.

The wedding party kept going outside. Music floated through the mansion, lights sparkling in the garden. I slipped back in quietly, pretending everything was fine. Mom looked so happy on the dance floor with Alpha Hale, her new husband. She glowed. Really glowed. For the first time in forever, she had that real smile I barely remembered.

I watched them for a bit, leaning against a wall. “You finally got what you wanted, Mom,” I whispered to myself. “Married to a strong alpha. Big house. New family. I’m glad for you. I really am.”

But inside, my chest felt heavy. Tired. I couldn’t shake the thoughts about myself. The brothers. The mate bond pulling at me like a rope I couldn’t cut. Jasper’s kiss still lingered on my lips from before. Xavier’s rough voice calling me “baby” earlier. Even now, angry at him, my stupid body reacted. Thighs pressing together, imagining him shoving me against the wall, growling dirty things while his hand slipped under my dress.

“Fuck,” I breathed, cheeks hot. “Why do they do this to me?”

I didn’t stay long. The party noise got too much. My head hurt, my heart hurt, and my body felt too aware of everything. I slipped away early, heading up to my room while the music still played downstairs. The bed looked so good when I closed the door behind me. I kicked off my heels, peeled off the silver dress, and crawled under the covers in just my panties.

Lying there in the dark, I couldn’t stop thinking about myself. About how Mom got her happy ending tonight, but mine was still a mess. Five alpha stepbrothers who used to bully me, tried to kill me, now wanted to claim me as their mate. The way they looked at me earlier — hungry, possessive, teasing. Jasper’s arm around me, Kaiden’s hand on my waist, all of them promising things with their eyes.

I rolled over, pressing my face into the pillow. “I hate you all,” I whispered, but my hand slid down my stomach on its own, brushing over my panties. Wet. Of course I was wet. “But fuck… I can’t stop thinking about you either.”

My fingers moved slow, teasing myself while memories flashed — Xavier’s angry eyes on me, Jasper pulling me close, the heat in their stares. I bit my lip hard, breathing fast. Anger and want mixed up until I didn’t know which was which.

Downstairs the wedding kept going. Mom was finally married to the man she wanted. Good for her. But me? I was tired. So damn tired of fighting this pull, of playing games, of wanting the same guys who broke me.

I closed my eyes, fingers still moving between my legs, chasing that shaky feeling. “Just for tonight,” I told myself. “Then I’ll figure everything out tomorrow.”
My body felt warm and loose, but my mind wouldn’t shut up. All the bullying, the pushing, the almost dying… it twisted me up inside. I used to be quiet, scared, always looking down. Now? I laughed when Krystal got fucked in front of everyone. I set her up without blinking.

If I hadn’t almost died falling off that roof, I would never have this crazy side. Tasting death changed everything. It made me hate them all so much it burned. The brothers, Krystal, even Mom sometimes. I hated how weak I used to be.

“Fuck all of you,” I whispered into the pillow, voice rough. Tears stung my eyes but I didn’t let them fall. “You made me like this. Now watch what I do with it.”

My eyes got heavy after a while. The party noise downstairs faded. I pulled the blanket higher and finally fell asleep, still angry, still wet, still thinking about their hands on me even though I wanted to kill them.

Something woke me up later. The room was dark, only moonlight coming through the window. I felt eyes on me. I turned my head slow and saw him — Jasper — sitting in the chair by the bed, watching me sleep. His elbows rested on his knees, eyes dark and intense. He didn’t even try to hide it.

I scoffed, sitting up and pulling the blanket to my chest. My voice came out sharp. “What the hell are you doing here? Creeping on me while I sleep? Real classy, Jasper.”

He didn’t look sorry. A small smirk tugged at his lips. “Couldn’t sleep. Wanted to make sure you were okay after everything tonight.”

“Bullshit.” I glared at him, heart beating faster. Even now, half-naked under the blanket, I felt that pull. His eyes dropped to my bare shoulders, then back up. Heat crawled over my skin. “If your dad wasn’t around, you and your brothers would’ve killed me ten times already. Don’t act like you care now.”

Jasper leaned forward, voice low and rough. “We do care, Celia. More than you know. That mate shit… it’s messing with all of us. Especially me.”

I laughed, bitter. “Mate? Please. You tried to drown me. Xavier let Krystal set me up. You all watched me fall and did nothing. Now you sit here staring at my tits while I sleep? Fuck off.”

He stood up slow, tall and strong in the moonlight. My breath caught even though I hated it. “Keep talking like that and I might do more than stare, baby.”

The words sent a shiver straight between my legs. I squeezed my thighs together under the blanket. “Try it. See what happens.”

Jasper’s eyes darkened more, but he stepped back. “Get some rest. We’ve got that errand with you tomorrow.”

He left quietly, closing the door behind him. I flopped back on the bed, face hot, body aching. “Asshole,” I muttered, but my hand pressed between my legs again for a second before I stopped. I hated how much I wanted them. Hated it so much it made me angry all over again.

Morning came too fast. Sunlight hit my face and I dragged myself up. My body felt sore from everything yesterday. I washed up quick, threw on jeans and a simple top that showed just a little cleavage — enough to tease if they looked. I brushed my hair, looked in the mirror, and took a deep breath.

“Time to go play nice for Mom,” I said to myself. “Pickup errand. With them. Great.”

Downstairs, the brothers were already waiting by the cars. All five of them. Xavier looked tired but his eyes locked on me the second I stepped out. Jasper smirked like he remembered last night. Kaiden grinned, Zaxer watched me with that jealous heat, Ryker stayed quiet but his stare burned.

“Ready?” Xavier asked, voice rough.

I shrugged, keeping my face blank even though my heart raced. “Let’s just get this over with. Mom wants her stuff. I don’t want to be stuck with you idiots any longer than I have to.”

Kaiden stepped closer, voice teasing. “Aw, come on, Celia. We’ll be good. Real good. Just you and us in the car for hours…”

I felt that familiar twist — anger and want mixing together. My nipples tightened under my top. “Touch me and I’ll make you regret it, Kaiden.”

Zaxer chuckled low. “We like when you fight back.”

I rolled my eyes but climbed into the big SUV anyway. They piled in after me, close, their scents everywhere. Strong. Male. Making my head spin.