Alpha's Regret After Putting Me In Jail novel Chapter 46

Chapter 46: No Harm

Chapter 46: No Harm

(Celeste’s POV)

The morning light seeped into my quarters, faint and cold. Every muscle in my body felt like

lead.

My arms and back screamed from the silver burns Lucas had left behind the day before.

But worse than the physical pain was Marcus’s voice, still lingering in my head.

His words were smooth and sharp at the same time. “After the ceremony, we’ll leave for the Northern territory. You’ll love it there, Celeste. Cold and quiet. You’ll have all the silence you

need to think about your new life.”

The Northern territories weren’t a home. They were barren, harsh. Isolated. How easy would it

be for him to bury me there, forgotten like the snow itself?

I shook the fear off and stood slowly, staring at my reflection in the small mirror. The scars on my neck peeked from under my shirt. They burned–not from the physical injury, but from the

memories.

The faint scent of violets mixed with honey reached me too late to prepare myself. Scarlett

walked in without knocking, her presence as unwelcome as ever.

“Celeste!” she exclaimed, dragging out my name with mock cheer. Her emerald eyes gleamed,

and her sickly sweet smile filled the small room like perfume gone rotten.

She glided closer, holding onto the edges of her gown as though it would make her look softer, more delicate. “How are you feeling, sister? Oh, I imagine yesterday must have been so

overwhelming for you.”

My body stiffened at the word “sister.” My wolf curled inward, wary and quiet. I clenched my

jaw and let the word hang between us.

“Overwhelming,” I repeated flatly, offering her nothing more.

Scarlett’s grin only widened. “It’s good news, isn’t it? Marcus is such a strong mate. Anyone

would be thrilled to have his protection. And the Northern territory!”

Her voice lifted with false excitement, forcing herself to sound impressed. “You’ll love it there

-so peaceful, so removed from… everything!”

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Chapter 46: No Harm

Her eyes sparkled. It was subtle, and others might mistake it for happiness. But I wasn’t

fooled. Scarlett was fishing–for compliments, for control, for my surrender.

“Interesting how you know so much about his plans,” I said, tilting my head. My voice was

calm, but inside, my wolf growled softly.

Scarlett’s eyes flickered just for a second, but she recovered. Her lips curled sweetly. “Oh,

Marcus didn’t say much to me, but I hear things. It’s hard not to with so many whispers about

yesterday!”

Whispers. Or deliberate plotting? The realization clicked in my mind.

“You told him,” I said. My voice was quiet but sharp enough to break her airy pretense. “You

told Marcus I’d be at the temple yesterday, didn’t you?”

The pretense in her smile slipped, but only slightly. She quickly widened her eyes, leaning

toward me as though she misheard me.

“Wh–what?” she stammered, her voice rising just enough to seem offended. “I would never-

why would you think that?”

“Don’t,” I cut her off. My tone had turned to steel. “Don’t bother denying it. You arranged it,

Scarlett. You knew exactly where Marcus would find me. And what? You wanted him to…

what? Show off? Secure his claim in front of everyone? Tell me!”

Her wolf faltered now. She glanced toward the door as though someone might come to her

rescue. She brought trembling hands to her chest, her emerald eyes glistening with tears.

“I just thought,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I just wanted to-” She paused, swallowing

hard as though summoning courage to speak through her fake distress. “I thought if he saw

you there at the temple–then maybe… Maybe he’d see how deeply connected you are! Isn’t

that what every mate wants?”

“Forcing a spectacle out of me isn’t connection,” I spat. My heartbeat thundered in my ears.

“Say the truth, Scarlett. You didn’t do this for me.”

Tears spilled freely now, painting her pale cheeks a delicate pink. She clutched the fabric of

her gown tighter. “I just wanted to make things easier for you!” she whimpered. “I thought it

was what you needed. I swear, Celeste, I wasn’t trying to―”

I stopped her with a glare. Any pity I might have felt was drowned by the wave of bitterness

swelling in my chest.

The faint sound of measured footsteps echoed down the hallway. I didn’t need to guess who.

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Chapter 46: No Harm

Within moments, Victoria swept into the room. Her scent of fresh lavender came with her

maternal presence–a presence I used to find comfort in but now only found irritating.

“What is going on?” she asked, her green eyes darting first to Scarlett, then to me. She

stepped closer to Scarlett immediately.

Her hand rose to Scarlett’s damp cheek, brushing away the tears with all the care of a

dedicated mother. “Scarlett, dear,” she murmured softly. “Why are you crying? Are you alright?”

She didn’t spare me a glance.

Scarlett sniffled theatrically, immediately leaning into Victoria’s comforting touch. “I was–1 was just trying to help, Mother. I wanted to make things better for Celeste. But now she’s so…

so upset with me!”

Victoria’s green eyes darkened as they finally lifted to meet mine. Her wolf whined audibly, a

sound that was meant to coax submission.

“Was this necessary, Celeste?” she asked, her voice low but tinted with disappointment. ”

Scarlett meant no harm.”

“No harm?” I repeated, the bitterness in me boiling over. “Really, Victoria? She plotted with Marcus and turned me into public theater during the temple ceremony, and you call it ‘meant

no harm‘?”

Victoria flinched at the harshness of my voice but quickly straightened. “Your sister made a

mistake. A practical one. But she did this with your best interest in mind.”

“Sister,” I repeated softly. The word stuck in my chest like a thorn.

My wolf snarled softly beneath the surface, her pain echoing through me. “Interesting how quickly you protect ‘mistakes‘ when it’s Scarlett, isn’t it?”

Victoria froze for a moment, but I didn’t let up.