CELINE'S POV

The van ride back was filled with Seraphina's nonstop scolding.

"Celine! What were you thinking? You could've gotten us in so much trouble," she hissed beside me, her arms crossed tightly against her chest.

I barely heard her. My mind was elsewhere-stuck in the moment when Tristan, the Alpha heir, had turned around, his piercing gaze locking onto mine before he had me pinned against the cold wall, his body pressing firmly against me. My skin still tingled where his hands had gripped me, my heart still raced from the sheer intensity of it all.

Tristan was my mate.

And what had I done?

Like the socially awkward disaster that I was, instead of staying to talk to him, I shoved him away and bolted like a frightened rabbit.

"Sera-I get it. I'm sorry, okay?" I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended.

She flinched slightly before nodding, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Fine."

A moment of silence stretched between us before she muttered, "I know this is hard on you too, having to give up everything because of me."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "It's not that. Our parents are definitely hiding something from us. They want us to give up our lives because of this precious secret they refuse to share."

She frowned. "Why would you think that?"

"Isn't it obvious? They suddenly want us to cut short our school time to be at the packhouse for some kind of training. Why now? Especially right after we shifted?"

She hesitated. "It must be something else."

She didn't sound convinced, though. I knew she wanted to believe our parents had good intentions. But I wasn't buying it.

But none of that mattered now.

Because my life had just changed in a way I never expected.

Tristan was my mate. And I had no idea if he would let me pursue my dreams, leave the packhouse, or even continue my studies outside the pack.

Tomorrow, I would have to face him again.

And I don't even know what to say to him.

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The moment Seraphina and I stepped into the house, our mother's voice echoed through the hall.

"Straight to your rooms after dinner," she ordered, leaving no room for argument.

Dinner was a quiet affair. The tension in the air was suffocating, thick with unspoken words and secrets they weren't willing to share. Seraphina and I exchanged glances, communicating silently. Not now. Our parents were quieter than usual and neither I nor Sera had the guts to questioned them.

As soon as I entered my room, I sighed in relief, shutting the door behind me. For the first time that day, I felt like I could finally breathe.

I didn't know why I was hiding the fact that I had found my mate, but something deep inside me was stopping me from telling the truth. It wasn't fear, nor was it shame. It was something else-something unfamiliar that clawed at my chest, whispering that it wasn't time yet.

Shaking the thoughts away, I decided to focus on something else. I pulled out my books, determined to distract myself by studying. But as I flipped through the pages, I felt a strange sensation crawl up my spine, like I was being watched.

I turned my head sharply toward the window.

And there he was.

Tristan.

Standing outside my window, gazing at me longingly.

My heart skipped a beat, then raced wildly in my chest.

He followed us.

The moonlight bathed him in silver, accentuating the sharpness of his jawline and the intensity in his dark eyes. His expression was unreadable, but there was something possessive about the way he looked at me, like he had been waiting for this moment all night.

Without thinking, I rushed to the window, fumbling with the latch. The last thing I needed was for someone to see him standing outside my room like this.

As soon as I swung the window open, a cool gust of air rushed into my room, but it did little to soothe the fire burning beneath my skin. "What are you doing here?" I whispered harshly, my voice barely above a breath.

Tristan didn't answer. He didn't need to.

In one swift, effortless motion, he climbed inside, landing with the grace of a predator. The moment he straightened to his full height, the space between us shrank into nothingness. His scent-rich, woodsy, and undeniably intoxicating-swirled around me, sending my senses into overdrive. My heart pounded, but whether in fear or something far more dangerous, I couldn't tell.

His gaze held mine, intense and searching. "You ran away. You pushed me."

His voice, deep and edged with something raw, sent shivers racing down my spine. He wasn't just angry. He was hurt. The realization sent a pang through my chest.

"I-I didn't mean to-"

"I don't like it when my mate runs away from me," he murmured, his tone quieter this time, almost vulnerable. But there was something else there too, something dark and possessive lurking beneath the softness.

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way my body reacted to his presence. "I wasn't running away," I said quickly. "I was just-caught off guard. That's all."

Tristan didn't move, but his gaze roamed my face as if searching for the truth in my words. Then, he took a step closer, his body heat mingling with mine, making the air between us thick with tension.

"I don't believe you." His voice was softer now, but no less intense.

I opened my mouth to argue, but before I could say anything, he reached out and tucked a stray strand of my hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering against my skin. My breath hitched.

"I-I am sorry," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes darkening. "Your scent..." His breath was warm against my skin as he leaned in closer, inhaling deeply. "It's so... addicting."

My pulse thundered as his lips hovered dangerously close to my neck, his breath fanning against my skin. I hesitantly placed my hands on his firm chest, feeling the powerful muscles tighten beneath my touch. He was warm-so incredibly warm, and it sent a shock of awareness through me.

"Yours too," I admitted softly, my voice betraying me.

His expression shifted, something flickering behind his eyes at my confession. For the briefest moment, I thought I saw relief. But then it was gone, replaced by something else-something deeper, more primal.

"Then why did you run away, mate?" he asked again, his voice barely above a whisper, yet the weight of his words pressed heavily against me. There was an unmistakable sadness in them, and my heart clenched painfully.

I made him feel unwanted.

"I-I didn't run away from you," I rushed to say, desperate to make him understand. "My sister, your father's orders, the time crunch... I was overwhelmed. It wasn't about you, Tristan."

His name felt foreign yet familiar on my lips, and something in his gaze flickered at the sound of it.

But before I could say anything else, his arms wrapped around me, pulling me flush against him in one swift movement. A gasp left my lips as I found myself pressed against the firm planes of his body. His grip was strong, secure, yet careful, as if he was holding something fragile.

"Tristan-" I started, but my voice faltered when I felt his nose brush along the curve of my neck, sending another wave of shivers through me.

"Do you have any idea what it did to me when you ran?" His voice was a husky whisper against my skin, making my knees weak. "My wolf-he went feral. The moment you pushed me away, I wanted nothing more than to chase you down and claim you."

His words sent a jolt of panic and something else-something warm and dangerous-through me. "T-Tristan, this is too fast-"

He pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, his own swirling with emotions I couldn't quite decipher. "I know," he admitted, surprising me. "But tell me you feel this too. Tell me I'm not the only one losing control here."

I opened my mouth, but no words came. Because he was right. I wasn't unaffected. My entire body was betraying me, drawn to him in a way that defied logic. But I couldn't just let myself fall-not when so much was uncertain.

"Tristan... I don't know what to do," I whispered, and for the first time, my voice cracked. "I am just not even sure if I wanted a mate before meeting you. It's just my dreams-"

"Your dreams are now my dreams just like you, I am not shallow, just don't run away from me. Ever." He said and hope ignited inside me.

Does that he would let me fulfil them.

"I won't, I promise," I said.

But before he could respond, a sudden sound from downstairs made me stiffen.

Tristan's eyes darkened instantly, and he stepped back. "I should go."

I nodded, feeling an unfamiliar ache settle in my chest at the thought of him leaving. "Be careful."

His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before he turned and moved toward the window. Just as he was about to slip out, he glanced back. "I meant what I said, Celine. Don't run next time."

And then he was gone, leaving me alone with a heart that was now completely out of my control.

CELINE'S POV

Tristan's words kept echoing in my head long after he had left me.

"Your dreams are mine, and I am not narrow-minded."

I pressed a trembling hand against my chest, a foolish grin spreading across my face in the silence of my room. My heart felt lighter than it had in years, as though a weight I hadn't even realized I was carrying had suddenly been lifted. All my life I had felt like I was... in the background. Unseen. Unheard. The quieter twin, the one who dreamed too big, who dared to want something different. And yet, in a single night, that changed.

For the first time, I wasn't alone with those dreams. For the first time, someone looked at me and didn't laugh or dismiss me. Tristan listened. Tristan believed. He didn't see my wish of becoming a doctor as foolish or selfish-he saw it as possible. He saw me. And in that moment, he wasn't just my mate. He was my anchor, my shield, my safe place. The one who made me feel like my dreams mattered, like I mattered.

Now, I think I understand. I understand why Seraphina had been so eager to find her mate, why she spoke about it with such longing. The other half of your soul-that's what everyone called it. But now that I had found mine, I finally knew what it meant. To have someone who could look into you and know your deepest needs, to want to share your burdens without being asked. Someone who would never expect you to shrink yourself to fit in, but would make space for you to grow.

My chest swelled with excitement, almost to the point of bursting. I couldn't keep this inside any longer. I needed to tell Seraphina. She would understand, wouldn't she? She'd be happy for me-she had to be.

Maybe she'd even laugh with me about how fate had decided to pair me first, when she had always been the one waiting with more anticipation. But this wasn't something I could control. I hadn't chosen it. Fate had. Surely Seraphina would see that.

I hugged myself, warmth curling in my chest.

With my heart racing, I pushed the door open and padded down the hall, ready to share my happiness. But as I turned the corner, the sound of hushed voices stopped me. My parents' low tones carried through the air, mixed with Seraphina's broken sniffles.

"I don't understand... why?" she whispered, her voice cracking.

My father's reply was softer, almost pained. "It's complicated, Seraphina. You'll understand in time."

I froze in place, my smile faltering. My sister sat between them, her eyes shimmering with tears. The sight made my heart ache. But when her gaze flicked up and landed on me, something shifted. She hastily wiped her tears, straightened her shoulders, and in her eyes... there was no sadness anymore. Only a sharpness, a flicker of something like hatred that I had never seen before.

I took a tentative step forward, my voice soft but urgent. "Sera-"

She shot up so quickly her chair scraped against the floor, the sharp sound making me flinch. Without sparing me a glance, she turned her back, shoulders trembling as though she was trying to hide the evidence of her tears. My lips parted, but the words caught in my throat.

That was when I noticed my mother's eyes on me. The look she gave me was unlike anything I'd seen from her before-part pity, part warning, and something else I couldn't quite name. A silent plea for me not to push, not to pry. It chilled me in a way I didn't expect.

My heart squeezed uncomfortably in my chest. "Is something wrong, Dad? Why was Seraphina crying?" I asked, my voice fragile, desperate for some sort of explanation. But the silence that followed was louder than any answer. No one looked at me. My father kept his gaze fixed on the table, jaw tight, his hands clasped together as though holding something back. My mother's eyes softened but stayed downcast, as if she couldn't bear to meet mine.

I swallowed hard, confusion burning through me. "Why won't anyone tell me what's happening?"

Finally, my father's voice cut through the air, low and firm, but not unkind. "Celine, it would be best if you stop meddling in your sister's affairs."

The words stung. They felt like a door slamming shut in my face. I blinked, struggling to understand. Meddling? I hadn't done anything. I just wanted to help.

I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood, forcing back the protest rising in my throat. If no one wanted to tell me, then what could I do? I turned away slowly, retreating into the shadows of the hallway. The weight of unspoken truths pressed heavily on my chest, wrapping around me like a suffocating cloak. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if the house itself had grown colder, more distant.

Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. And the worst part was... everyone knew it but me.

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The next morning, Seraphina and I walked side by side to school, but it didn't feel like it. Her silence was louder than any words. She didn't glance at me, didn't smile the way she usually did when we shared inside jokes along the way. The coldness coming off her was unbearable.

"Did I... do something wrong?" I whispered as we neared the gates.

She didn't even look at me. "No." The single word was sharp, clipped, final. Then she walked away, leaving me standing there, staring after her, hollow inside.

For the first time in my life, I felt truly alone-even with my twin just a few steps ahead of me.

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Later that afternoon, at the packhouse, Seraphina threw herself into training with the other wolves. I lingered on the sidelines, pretending to watch but feeling utterly invisible. My chest ached with a loneliness that burned deeper than before. Everyone's attention was on Seraphina-the strong one, the chosen one. And me? I was just... there.

I needed Tristan.

I slipped quietly into the halls of the packhouse, keeping my footsteps light. The air inside felt heavy with secrets, but I didn't care. My heart led me. I just wanted to see him, even for a moment.

Suddenly, a hand shot out from the shadows, pulling me into a dim, empty room. I gasped, but before I could cry out, his familiar scent washed over me and I relaxed.

"Tristan," I whispered.

He smirked, his eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. "You scared?"

"I thought-"

"I like meeting you like this," he cut me off, his tone lower, almost playful. "It feels like we're doing something forbidden, even though we're not."

My lips parted, my heartbeat stumbling. His words shouldn't thrill me the way they did, but they did. They made me feel alive, like I was part of some secret world only he and I shared. For a while, we stayed there, close enough that I could hear the steady rhythm of his breath, his fingers brushing mine in quiet reassurance. In that stolen moment, the loneliness faded.

But when I finally stepped out into the hallway, smoothing down my clothes and forcing a casual smile, my world shattered again.

Seraphina stood there.

Her arms were crossed, her expression unreadable, but her eyes-oh, her eyes were blazing. She had seen.

And in that instant, I knew whatever was already wrong between us had just grown into something far, far worse.