Chapter 5 Empty

Chapter 5 – Caleb’s POV

The packhouse had never felt this empty.

Celeste had been living here for weeks, waiting for our mating ceremony, but instead of feeling excited, I felt… nothing.

No connection. No bond. Just regret.

I sat in my office, staring at the papers on my desk, but I wasn’t reading them. My mind kept drifting back, to her.

To Annie.

She should have been the one sitting here, not Celeste.

I clenched my fists. Why did I only realize it now?

Celeste’s laughter rang from the hallway, high-pitched and fake. She was probably showing off again.

She spent her days wandering the packhouse, admiring the luxury, touching things like they belonged to her already. It was never about me. It was never about the pack.

It was about the title.

She wanted to be Luna.

That’s what mattered to her.

And I had been stupid enough to think she was the better choice.

The Truth Hits Hard

A knock came at my office door, and before I could answer, Celeste walked in.

She always walked in without permission. Annie never did that.

I clenched my jaw as she smiled, flipping her golden hair over her shoulder. “Caleb,” she said, her voice sweet but empty, “I was thinking… after the mating ceremony, we should redecorate the packhouse.”

I frowned. “Redecorate?”

She nodded. “Yes. The old Luna’s decorations are so outdated. We need something that suits my status.”

Her status.

I stared at her, my stomach twisting.

Annie never cared about status. She had fought for this pack. She had trained, bled, and given everything to protect our land.

And I had thrown her away.

For this?

Celeste kept talking. “I want something elegant. Maybe a new chandelier, new furniture. And, of course, we need to update the dining hall. After all, the Luna’s table should be more—”

“You’re not Luna yet.”

My voice came out sharper than I intended, and Celeste’s face stiffened for a moment before she forced a smile.

“I will be soon,” she said, lifting her chin. “And when that happens, everyone will have to respect me.”

Respect.

Annie never had to ask for it. She earned it. Warriors bowed their heads to her because they knew her strength. Pack members looked up to her because she protected them.

Celeste, on the other hand, waited for a crown to become important.

I let out a slow breath, running my fingers through my hair. "Celeste, do you even care about the pack?"

She blinked. "What sort of question is this? Of course, I do."

"Really?" I leaned forward. "What's the name of the head warrior's son?"

She hesitated.

I gritted my teeth. "And what about the young omega girl who shifted for the first time? Do you happen to know her name?"

Celeste crossed her arms. "Caleb, why are you interrogating me like this?"

"Because you don't know."

She rolled her eyes. "That's not my responsibility! That's what the pack warriors and caretakers are for. A Luna doesn't need to know everything. She has to command with dignity and—

I got up so quickly my chair scraped the floor. "A Luna must defend her pack."

Celeste winced at the sudden bluntness in my tone. But I didn't care.

"A Luna doesn't sit on a throne and gaze into a mirror," I said, moving closer. "She fights. She stays with her pack when it's tough. She sacrifices herself."

Celeste's lips opened, and for the first time, I saw something flicker in her eyes—doubt.

Maybe she was finally accepting that she wasn't cut out for this.

Or maybe she was simply accepting the fact that I was starting to get to the bottom of things.

Her face flashed back into one of annoyance. "Caleb, I don't know why you're behaving this way. Everything is going as it should."

As it should?

I wanted to laugh.

I let the best thing that ever walked away.

Why?

Why was I with some one who had no interest in this pack, who didn't care about me, but rather what she had to gain for being with me?

I clamped my jaws together and forced the lump back down my throat, turning to walk away. "I have things to do."

Celeste glared at me. "So that's it? You're going to just push me away?"

I didn't speak.

Because I was afraid of what I'd say.

Afraid that I'd tell her the truth.

That I'd made a mistake.

That I wanted Annie back.

Annie…

I'd tried not to think of her for so long, but now she was all I could think of.

I could still picture her standing at the border, her piercing eyes scanning the trees, always on the lookout, always ready. She didn't care about jewels or titles.

She cared about loyalty.

She cared about duty.

And I'd let her go.

I tightened my fists, nails biting into my palms.