Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 270

Chapter 270

Celeste’s POV

The collision sent both Karl and Natalia tumbling to the cobblestones in a tangle of lima má snittom petals. Karl’s face went bright red as he scrambled to help her up, apologizing profusely while dhe traded for off her knees and laughed it off like it was nothing

My nostrils flared as I watched Karl’s hands linger on her arms. He was smiling at her. Looking at her like the was the only woman in the world.

He was supposed to look at me like that. He was supposed to be mine.

I’d spent years building this relationship, years putting up with Karl’s bookish tendencies and antwardness Years pretending I actually enjoyed listening to him ramble about whatever ancient text he’d discovered in the library.

I had done everything right, everything Mother had told me to do to secure my position as his future Lana

And now she was here.

“Celeste.” Mother’s hand touched my shoulder. “Come with me.”

I didn’t argue. The last thing I needed was to cause a scene in front of the entire pack, especially when Natalia was already drawing enough attention to herself with her little airheaded performance. I followed Mother away from the game circle toward one of the quieter food stalls at the edge of the plaza.

“You’re being too obvious with your attempts to drive her away,” Mother said quietly once we were out of earshot. Her voice was deadly calm, which was even more dangerous than if she’d been shouting at me. “Where is your tact, girl?”

“What else am I supposed to do?” I whirled to face her fully. “Mother, she’s going to steal him from me. Kari was supposed to be her betrothed before she went ‘missing‘. If she decides she wants him back now, then-”

“She won’t.” Mother’s interruption was sharp and final. “Because you’ll make sure of it. Won’t you? You are still going to marry Karl. You are still going to have his children. And those children will still be incredibly powerful. That is all that matters. Do whatever it takes–without being rash and foolish–to ensure that happens, do you understand me?”

I nodded, inhaling deeply through my nose. Out through my mouth.

Karl’s ability to absorb knowledge and skills just by observing them was rare enough on its own. Combined with my family’s natural talent for manipulation and strategy, our children would be formidable.

But only if I actually married Karl, as per the plan. I couldn’t actually do that if he was pining for Natalia.

“Now. I want you to go and do what we talked about,” Mother said, cutting my thoughts off. She slipped something out of her pocket and clutched it in her fist. “And remember: if something unfortunate happens… Well, that would be very convenient for everyone involved.”

Glancing over her shoulders to make sure we weren’t being watched, Mother opened her hand to reveal the key within. She pressed it into my palm and curled my fingers around it.

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May it back to me so I know you know what to do, Celeste,” she whispered.

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