His Luna, Her Choice

Chapter Three

CELESTES POV

The sunlight seemed harsh instead of warm. Frowning at it, I wondered for the millionth time what my brother could possibly be up to.

Violet hadn't been wrong in calling him a coward, hiding like this. He was. But using my children? That went beyond cowardice. It was downright blasphemous. So many lives taken, more destroyed... for what? Revenge? Hatred? Both?

"She is restless again, Mother."

I turned, a soft smile lighting my face at Hala.

"Again? How many times now?"

"Ten, including tonight."

"Hmm..." Raising my arm, I waved my hand in front of me. The air shimmered, distorted, and took shape in a matter of seconds.

Before me, I could now see Violet's sleeping form. Her mate lay comfortably next to her, unaware of her distress. That in itself was alarming. Her mouth was turned down into a deep frown, her eyebrows pinched down. She tossed one way, and then another.

"Perhaps you should go, Hala. Try to comfort her."

"I have tried. I cannot."

I peered at Violet's wolf again. "You cannot?"

She let out a low whine. "It feels odd, Mother. As if I cannot reach her... Like a block. Or a wall. I tried to push past it, but it was strong. I cannot reach her."

Remorse and guilt came from her, but I beckoned her forward. Placing my hand on her head, I ran my fingers through her fur. "It is not your fault Hala. But go back anyway. I will see what I can do for her."

"Thank you, Mother."

I did not watch her leave, but I felt her absence. For a while, I stared at the image in front of me.

Why could Jasper not feel his mate's fear? She was clearly afraid. He should have woken up long before now to comfort her.

After a few more minutes, I centered myself and reached for Violet with the intention of bringing her to me, and out of whatever nightmare she was having.

And then I hit a wall.

My eyes flew open, jaw dropping. The block Hala had described?

Taking a step back, I closed my eyes and tried again. And again. And again, and again until, if I could sweat, I would have. My teeth were grinding with the effort, and my hands fisted by my sides. Eventually, I let out a scream that shook the ground under my feet.

In the portal to Violet's room, I saw she was now crying silently, but steadily, in her sleep.

"Enough!" I snapped. Waving my hand once more, I blinked against the bright light. And then I found myself standing in her room, invisible, but present. Rushing to her bedside, I placed my hand on her forehead.

"Shh, child. Wake up." I whispered.

"Rude, to wake someone in the middle of the night."

I didn't jump. I didn't scream. But I did turn my head.

In the chair beside the sofa sat my brother. His golden hair was short, cropped on the sides, almost seeming to shine against his perfectly sun-kissed skin. He was shirtless, as usual, with a faint golden aura around him. His molten eyes appraised me almost with a playful expression...Or a challenging one. He looked exactly the same as I remembered. But different somehow too.

"Phoebus." My voice held a chill that took some of the warmth out of the room.

"It's been a long time sister. You look well."

I straightened. "What are you doing here?"

"I need a reason to be here?"

"Don't play games with me, Phoebus!" I snapped. I gestured to Violet. "What have you done to her?"

His face was innocent. "Me? What makes you think I did anything?"

"Because I can't reach her!"

He got to his feet lightly, eyes never leaving mine. The entire time he approached me, he held my stare. My brother was tall, tall enough that I had to crane my neck back to look at him.

"Perhaps it's nothing to do with me, Celeste. Maybe you can't reach her because she doesn't want to talk to you."

I bristled. "Violet loves me. She is devoted to me. You have done something, and I want to know what!"

He sighed. "There it is. Devoted to you, huh? Like a dog to their master?"

"You know that's-"

"Not what you meant?" He stepped around me, gazing down at Violet. "Is that not what she is though? Why else would you make her other half a wolf? An animal that is renowned for being loyal? Admit it, sister. You get off on manipulating the mortals you call children. You thrive on their so called loyalty to you."

"You don't know what you're talking about, Phoebus." I hissed.

"Don't I?" He turned his gaze back to me, eyes flaming. "I wonder what happens to the ones who are no longer devoted to you? Oh, that's right. You shun them."

His implication had my backup. I had to remember that we were in the mortal world, and while we were not visible to them, it would be visible and fairly catastrophic if I threw him into a wall right now. Or worse. A fight amongst Gods could destroy the whole pack.

"I think you should leave." I said.

"You seem to be confused sister. This isn't your world, and I have as much right to be here as you do. I'm not banned from this realm."

"Then leave here." I waved my hand around the room.

"I think I'll stay." His attention fell back to Violet. He reached a hand out, stroking her hair. "She is quite beautiful when she sleeps. Even when her dreams are not pleasant."

The way he looked at her had me stepping forward, intent on putting myself between them, a shield. He stepped back almost too willingly, a smirk on his face.

"You will stay away from her." I demanded lowly. "You will, Phoebus, or I swear-"

"You're too late, Celeste." He cut me off. "She doesn't know it yet, but Violet will come to me. I've already begun to play my hand."

"By doing what? Invading her dreams? Or are you referring to her brother?"

Surprise flashed in his eyes momentarily, but he quickly covered it. I stepped forward, forcing him to take another step away from her.

"I don't know what you did," I said, "But I know that Yvon is not Garrett's mate. I did not pair them. Yet, somehow, they have a mate bond."

"Did you intend to give him a second chance mate?"

"I had not decided." I admitted. If anything, I hadn't decided who would be just right for Garrett. I certainly didn't think it was Yvon.

"Yvon was my gift to the boy." He smiled, bright and wickedly. "After all, he's been listening to me a lot more than you these days. I thought a gift appropriate."

My arm shouts out, grabbing Phoebus by the bicep. His face fell flat at the contact, and changed to downright fury when I teleported us to an open field, far from the packhouse and Silver Moon. He threw me off, the faint golden glow around him beginning to brighten. Quickly, I clapped my hands together and placed them on the grass.

The Earth groaned as it shot up between us, just in time to shield me from his attack. Dirt rained down on us as the wall exploded. My eyes widened in shock as I realized Phoebus was right behind his failed assault, right in front of me. My arms came up, but I was too late. Our bodies collided, the sound as loud as a thunderclap. I hit the ground, his hand around my neck.

"When will you realize you can't beat me?" He spat.

"Stay away from them. All of them." I hissed back.

"No." His hand tightened, not to kill, but to threaten. "Garrett is already mine. You've lost him. Violet will be mine too. You lose Celeste."

"I haven't lost yet."

"You have. Already, she is beyond your reach. How long until she turns from you?"

"She won't!" I struggled under him. "She will never let you destroy everything! Her pack, her family! She won't let you destroy everything she loves!"

The look on his face scared me. More than his threats, more than the fact that he could kill me right here, right now. He leaned down to me, so close I could see the fine golden swirls in his eyes.

"Who said I was going to destroy everything? No, I plan to offer her something much better than that."

For the first time in centuries, my insides went cold, and I froze.

The next time I blinked, Phoebus was gone and I was alone in the clearing. I sat up, eyes darting around in search of him. But I knew he was no longer here.

Waving a slightly shaking hand, I ended back in Violet's room, reassured that he hadn't come back here either.

Her face was relaxed now, her breathing evened out and she seemed to be sleeping peacefully. I nodded to myself, but my mind was working hard on trying to decipher my brother's words.

I did not believe Garrett was lost to me, not yet anyway.

"But checking in on him and that mate of his might be a good idea." I said to myself.

Raising my arm, I took one last look at Violet. And stopped. Head tilting to the side, I lowered my arm. Then I ran to her side, my bottom lip quivering.

"No..."

Slowly, I reached out to touch the hair that had turned a brilliant, golden colour, shining in contrast with the rest of her midnight black. As my fingertips made contact, though, I was shot with a bolt of what I could only assume felt like being electrocuted.

A scream echoed around the room as I yanked my hand back, falling on deaf ears to all but me. I cradled my stinging hand, staring at Violet and wondering if I had lost already after all.