Chapter 69 THE INVITATION
Celestia’s Pov
I was having breakfast with Lucian when a servant brought in the mail and there was this fancy envelope with gold writing on it. I knew what it was before I even opened it.
"What is that?" Lucian asked.
"An invitation I think," I said and I opened it.
It was exactly what I thought. A formal invitation to Medea’s blessing ceremony, sealed with tradition and ceremony. The words were all pretty and polite, carefully chosen to sound respectful, even generous, but I could read between the lines. They wanted me there as a spectator, nothing more—to sit quietly and watch her be honored for carrying Raphael’s heir, while no such grace or celebration had ever been offered to me when I was pregnant with Asher. The contrast burned sharper the longer I stared at the page.
"Let me see that," Lucian said and I handed it to him.
He read it and his face got hard.
"You're not going," Lucian said.
"Yes I am," I said.
"Celestia this is clearly meant to humiliate you. They want you to sit there and watch them celebrate what they stole from you," Lucian said.
"I know what they want. But I want to go anyway," I said.
"Why would you put yourself through that?" Lucian asked.
“Because something doesn’t feel right about this whole thing,” I said quietly, meeting his gaze without flinching. “There’s an uneasiness I can’t shake, like I’m missing a piece that everyone else can see but me. I need to be there, to see it with my own eyes, to understand what’s really going on instead of relying on half-truths and carefully chosen explanations.”
Lucian put down the invitation and looked at me.
"What do you mean something doesn't feel right?" Lucian asked.
"The timeline. When she announced the pregnancy and how she's been acting. None of it adds up," I said.
"You think she's lying about being pregnant?" Lucian asked.
"I don't know. Maybe. Or maybe something else is going on. But I need to see this ceremony," I said.
"Even if you're right we can't prove anything by just watching," Lucian said.
"I know. But my instincts are telling me something is wrong and I've learned to trust my instincts," I said.
Lucian was quiet for a minute and he was thinking about it.
“If you really want to go, then I’ll come with you,” Lucian said after a moment, his tone resigned but firm. “But we’re bringing heavy security.” His eyes hardened with resolve as he spoke, already thinking several steps ahead. “I won’t risk anything happening to you—not there, not anywhere. If you’re walking into this, you won’t be doing it unprotected.”
"I don't need an army following me around," I said.
"Yes you do. You're going into hostile territory. The last time you were at that pack house they threw you out and exiled you. I'm not taking any chances with your safety," Lucian said.
"Fine. Bring whoever you want," I said.
"And you stay close to me the entire time. No wandering off," Lucian said.
I looked at him and I knew he was trying to protect me, but he didn’t understand. His concern came from a place of loyalty and fear, and I appreciated that more than he realized. Still, there was something deeper driving me, something I hadn’t said out loud. I had another reason for wanting to go to this ceremony, and it had nothing to do with Medea—nothing I was ready to explain yet.
"Lucian there's something else," I said.
"What?" Lucian asked.
"Asher is at that pack house. This ceremony gets me close to him. Close enough to maybe see him or at least let him know I'm there," I said.
Lucian's face changed when I said that.
"That's what this is really about isn't it?" Lucian asked.
"Partly yes. I want to expose whatever Medea is hiding but I also want to be near my son. Even if I can't talk to him I want him to know I didn't forget about him," I said.
“Celestia, I understand that,” Lucian said, his voice low and measured, “but you have to be careful. If Raphael catches you trying to contact Asher, he could use it against you in the custody case.” He rubbed a hand over his jaw, frustration clear in his expression. “He’s already looking for any excuse to paint you as reckless or unstable. One wrong move could give him exactly the leverage he needs.”
"There is no custody case yet. We don't have enough evidence to file one," I said.
"Not yet. But we're close. My investigators are getting closer every day to proving Eclipse paid Dr. Lake to lie. Once we have that you can file for custody and actually win," Lucian said.
"And how long is that going to take? Another month? Two months? A year? My son is in that house right now being raised by people who don't love him. I can't just sit here and do nothing," I said.
Lucian reached across the table and took my hand.
"I know this is hard. But you have to trust the process. We're doing everything we can," Lucian said.
"I do trust you. But I also need to do this. Please," I said.
Lucian sighed and squeezed my hand.
"Okay. We'll go to the ceremony. But you have to promise me you'll be smart about it. No taking risks that could hurt your case later," Lucian said.
"I promise," I said.
"And if I say we need to leave we leave immediately. No arguments," Lucian said.
"Deal," I said.
After breakfast I went to my room and pulled out the invitation again. I read it over and over, trying to figure out what was bothering me so much about this whole situation. The paper felt heavier in my hands than it should have, the elegant lettering almost mocking my growing unease. Everything about it seemed normal on the surface, yet my instincts refused to settle. A dull pressure formed behind my eyes, warning me that accepting it might change more than I was prepared for, whether I liked it or not.
Medea announced her pregnancy right after I showed up at Brazen Pack. Right after she was supposed to apologize to me for throwing me in that cell. The timing was too convenient.
And then there was the way she collapsed during that confrontation. It felt staged like she was trying to avoid taking responsibility for what she did.
Plus from what I remembered about being pregnant Medea didn't look pregnant at all. No belly. No glow. Nothing.
I knew I could be wrong. Maybe I was just seeing what I wanted to see because I didn't want her to have a happy ending after everything she did to me.
But my gut was telling me something was off and I learned a long time ago to listen to my gut.
There was a knock on my door and Crane came in.
"I heard you're planning to attend the blessing ceremony," Crane said.
"News travels fast," I said.
"Lucian told me. He wants me to be part of your security detail," Crane said.
"Of course he does," I said.
"He's right to be worried. Going back there is dangerous," Crane said.
"I know. But I have to do this," I said.
"Because of Asher," Crane said and it wasn't a question.
"Yes," I said.
Crane sat down in the chair across from me.
"I understand why you want to see him. But you need to be prepared for what you might see. He's been sick for a long time. He might not look like you remember," Crane said.
"I know. But he's still my son. And I need him to know I'm fighting for him," I said.
"Then we'll make sure you get that chance. But safely," Crane said.
"Thank you Crane," I said.