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Celeste bit her lip. “Yes, but what you went through is still important. And if your brother gets a little better…that’s a pack of three, isn’t it?” She frowned. “Is that something you miss, having a more…completepack?”
That was hard to say. “In a sense,” I said slowly. “I certainly don’t miss being attacked left and right because my father or brother was the reigning Lunar Lord and someone else had their eye on the title. I don’t miss the scheming and plotting. But…” I frowned, looking away from Celeste and at the sky. All I could see were the clouds drifting lazily around us. Celeste had the window seat, and I couldn’t look out at the world below without leaning over her. For a moment, it felt like we were part of the heavens ourselves.
“But wolves are pack animals,” Celeste said quietly, drawing my attention back to her. “Youare a pack animal. I know you don’t mind having our friends at Isla Lobo as much as you pretend to.” When I looked back, she was clearly trying not to grin.
I rolled my eyes. “They are not my friends,” I protested, but it sounded weak even to my ears.
“Then what are they? They aren’t just your allies,” Celeste pointed out.
My frown deepened. I opened my mouth to argue, but found I didn’t have a better word to describe them. “Piers and Gilbert are vampires,” I said instead, shaking my head. “They can’t be part of a shifter pack, even if they wanted to. Could you even imagine what Piers would say if you ever dared suggest it?”
Celeste laughed, her silver eyes sparkling. “Good grief,” she snickered. “His delicate sensibilities!” Her impersonation of his accent was terrible, but it did the job, and I found myself snickering alongside her.
The mood sufficiently lightened, I turned my hand upward so we were palm to palm, our fingers gently laced together. “Perhaps finding new members for the Celestial Pack is something we might consider,” I finally said, “but that will be a moot point if we don’t succeed during the eclipse. And as we would be re-founding the pack, so to speak, I think there would be room for you to lay out your responsibilities as you saw fit.”
Celeste nodded, looking thoughtful. “That doesn’t sound so bad,” she said. “And carrying on the history of the pack really doesn’t sound bad, either. History was a pretty important part of my studies, you know.” She laughed to herself. “I’m sure I can think of some other things, though.” She turned back to me, still smiling. “I think I could make this work.”
“I know you can,” I rumbled in reply.
Once we arrived in Antarctica, I went over last-minute details with Walter. Val invited Celeste outside to coach her through setting up the weather shield. They’d kick up enough wind to send snow flying around my facility, but the real reason was to keep prying eyes away. The storm wouldn’t protect us as much as the suggestion of the bad weather would. Any scientists stationed at the nearby facility would have to be mad to venture over.
It felt like I’d done this thousands of times, but I still found myself more distracted than usual. Ever since Celeste’s wolf had fully woken, I could sense…I could sensemoreof her. I had no other way to describe it. Our bond had obviously strengthened, even if no claiming had occurred.
If I can feel more of her, she must be able to sense me, too. Will my wolf’s madness influence her?
It wasn’t a problem I’d had to consider the last time we’d been in Antarctica. Then, we’d had no idea that Celeste was a shifter. Her wolf had still been slumbering.
Great. Yet another risk for me to manage.
Sometimes, it felt like that’s all I did—manage risks. I turned to Walter, cutting him off.
“My wolf may cause Celeste to shift,” I said abruptly.
To his credit, Walter didn’t even blink, taking my lack of focus in stride.
“I see,” he said, studying me for a moment. We’d informed him earlier about Celeste’s unknown heritage, but hadn’t dropped other details. Frankly, we didn’t have any other details to give. “Will she be running with you?”
“Absolutely not,” I snapped, growling at the way my wolf fought and bristled within me. “I cannot be trusted in that state, even with her. Even if she’s a wolf. I must stay away from her, no matter what.” After what my wolf tried to do last time—
I’d never forgive myself if I caused her any harm.
“Of course,” Walter said, nodding sagely. “If Celeste shifts, with or without meaning to, we will make sure she stays safe and secure within the facility. I will inform Val as soon as she’s done with the charms.”
I frowned and looked around the small bunker. Suddenly, it felt more like a tin can than a quiet refuge. I knew Walter was trying his best, but…
What if Celeste feels the effects of the curse?Pain could be shared through a bond, but I didn’t want her to endure any of it.
As if my concerns had summoned her, Celeste and Val suddenly walked through the door, apparently finished with their chore. Celeste saw my face and approached me right away. “What’s wrong?” she asked, looking me up and down.
My frown deepened.Do I look worried, or can she feel it?Both scenarios weren’t good. It meant my control was slipping even further. I was running out of time before I had to get as far away from her as I could.
I turned to her, about to explain my concern, when my wolf surged forward, brimming with power. I felt hot all over, like I’d started running a fever. I never sweat, but I could feel my skin growing damp as heat radiated from my body. Before I could stop myself, I was unbuttoning my top, trying to strip my many layers.
As I looked back at Celeste, I realized she looked just as flushed as I did. She wiped her brow, not meeting my eyes. “Did it get really hot in here?” she asked, looking from Walter to Val as she fanned her skin. She reached for her sweater and pulled it over her head.
Shit.
I’d just shared that little taste of moon sickness with her. Clearly, my control was further gone than I’d realized. The horror was enough to quench my wolf for a moment, and I took the opportunity to shove him back down. His smugness made my stomach turn over, and I forced a wall between us, no matter how temporary. I wouldn’t keep feeding him.
