Chapter 88 INTERRUPTED REUNION
Crane’s Pov
I knew Celestia would try to find Asher the moment she had a chance so I kept my eyes on her during the entire ceremony even while I was creating the distraction with Elder Marcus and the spilled drink.
I saw her slip away from her seat and head toward the pack house and I waited about thirty seconds before following her. I needed to make sure she was safe and that she did not get caught because if Raphael found her with Asher right now everything would fall apart.
I moved quickly through the empty hallways, my steps light and careful as I followed her scent trail, faint but unmistakable. It threaded through the sterile air like a secret, pulling me forward with growing urgency. The trail led to the back stairwell on the east side of the building, a place rarely used, half-forgotten. I eased the door open without a sound, wincing at the soft creak of its hinges, then slipped inside and began climbing the stairs, each step deliberate, heart pounding as the distance between us closed.
That is when I heard voices. Celestia's voice and a small child's voice. They were talking and I could hear crying.
I climbed faster and rounded the corner to see them. Celestia was kneeling on the stairs holding a small boy in her arms. Both of them were crying and the boy had his thin arms wrapped around Celestia's neck.
It was Asher. It had to be. He looked exactly like Celestia with the same eyes and the same face shape. He was pale and sickly looking but he was definitely her son.
This was a beautiful, aching moment. A mother reunited at last with the child who had been stolen from her five years ago, ripped away before either of them had a choice. They clung to each other, tears soaking clothes and skin, as if letting go might erase the miracle of it. Soft whispers passed between them—broken words, half-formed promises, reassurance born of grief and love. Time seemed to slow, the world narrowing to their shared sobs, their shared warmth. It was raw and imperfect and devastatingly tender, a bond reclaimed against all odds, forged not just by blood, but by years of longing and loss finally given a voice.
But this beautiful moment would turn into a catastrophe if anyone discovered them here right now. We did not have custody yet. We did not have the legal right to take Asher. If Raphael or his guards found Celestia with Asher they could accuse her of kidnapping or attempting to steal the child.
I hated to interrupt them but I had no choice.
I walked up the stairs and cleared my throat. Celestia looked up at me with tears streaming down her face. Asher looked at me too with wide scared eyes.
"We need to move. Now," I said quietly but firmly.
"Crane I just found him. I need more time," Celestia said.
"There is no more time. The ceremony is ending. People will start moving around soon. If anyone sees you here with him we lose everything," I said.
Celestia looked torn, her expression fractured by conflict she could no longer hide. She held Asher close, arms wrapped protectively around him, fingers gripping his clothes as if letting go would shatter her entirely. I could see it in the tight line of her mouth, the tremor she tried to suppress—she didn’t want to release him. But beneath that desperation was something else. Recognition. Truth. She knew I was right, and that knowledge weighed heavily on her, battling against fear, guilt, and the instinct to cling to what she had claimed as hers.
"Where is his room?" I asked.
"At the end of the medical wing hallway. Second floor," Celestia said.
"Can he walk?" I asked.
"No. He is too weak. I had to carry him here," Celestia said.
I looked at Asher and saw that he was trembling and looked exhausted. He had used all his energy to escape his room and make it to this stairwell.
"Then we carry him back together. Quickly," I said.
Celestia stood up with Asher still in her arms and we moved fast up the stairs and into the medical wing hallway. I checked around the corner first to make sure no nurses or guards were coming and then signaled for Celestia to follow me.
We rushed down the hallway to the last room and I opened the door. Celestia carried Asher inside and laid him gently on the bed.
The room was small and sterile and smelled like medicine. There were monitors and IV equipment everywhere. This was not a place for a child to live. This was a hospital room for someone who was very sick.
Celestia was tucking Asher into the bed and crying and trying to talk to him all at the same time.
"I have to go now baby but I am coming back for you. Soon. I promise," Celestia said.
"When?" Asher asked and his voice was so small and weak.
"Very soon. Maybe even today or tomorrow. The Lycan King and I are working on it. We are going to get you out of here and take you somewhere safe," Celestia said.
"I do not want you to leave," Asher said and he started crying again.
“I know, baby. I don’t want to leave either,” Celestia whispered, her voice breaking despite her effort to keep it steady. “But I have to go right now, before anyone finds out I was here.” She pulled him closer for a brief moment, pressing her forehead to his, breathing him in like she was memorizing him. “You have to keep this a secret,” she added softly, fear threading through every word. “No telling anyone you saw me. Can you do that?” Her eyes searched his face desperately, torn between love and the danger that waited beyond the door.
"Yes. I can keep a secret," Asher said.
Celestia leaned down and kissed his forehead. She was still crying and her hands were shaking as she touched his face.
"I love you so much, Asher. I have loved you every single day since you were born. And I am going to get you back. I promise," Celestia said.
"I love you too Mama," Asher said.
That word. Mama. It broke something in Celestia and she started sobbing harder. She hugged Asher one more time and I knew I had to physically pull her away or she would never leave.
I walked over and put my hand on Celestia's shoulder.
"We have to go. Right now," I said gently but firmly.
"Just one more minute," Celestia said.
"We do not have one more minute. Someone could come down this hallway any second. We need to leave before that happens," I said.
Celestia nodded and slowly pulled away from Asher. She was still holding his hand and looking at him like she was trying to memorize every detail of his face.
"I will be back. I promise," Celestia whispered to Asher.
Then she slowly released his hand, fingers lingering as if part of her resisted the separation, and I gently guided her toward the door before hesitation could undo us both. Every step felt heavy, final. We slipped out into the hallway, the quiet pressing in around us once more. I eased the door shut behind us with careful precision, the soft click echoing louder than it should have. On the other side, a chapter had closed—fragile, secret, and irreversible.
But before the door fully closed I heard Asher cry out.
"Mama! Do not leave me!" Asher called.
His voice was desperate and heartbroken. Celestia stopped walking and turned back toward the door. She looked like she was about to run back into the room.
I grabbed her arm and held her firmly.
Celestia looked at me with tears streaming down her face and I could see the battle happening inside her. Every instinct was telling her to run back to Asher but her mind knew I was right.