Alpha Begged Me to Stay

The following day, Celes made her way to the Healer’s quarters, her heart both heavy and hopeful as she prepared to give her answer to Old Sage. The path seemed shorter than usual, her steps light with anticipation. When she arrived, Sage was already seated at his desk, surrounded by the familiar aroma of herbs and old parchment. The room, a sanctuary of wisdom and healing, felt like a second home to her.

Comfortable

Nostalgic.

“Good morning, Celes,” Sage greeted, looking up from his notes. His sharp eyes softened as he saw her.

“Good morning, Sage,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

"What brought you here? Have you decided now?"

Celes looked at him for a moment, before taking a deep breath.

“I have. I've been thinking about this for the past couple days, and..." she sighed, "I wanted to thank you for the opportunity you’ve given me. I will take your offer. I’m eager to learn and help in any way I can.”

Sage’s rare smile was a balm to her nerves. “I’m glad to hear that you and Andros have considered my invitation,” he said, his tone warm.

Celes felt a pang of guilt but did not correct him about the omission of her husband’s approval. She simply accepted his response and sat down to begin her studies.

"So, where do I start?"

Without wasting any time, Sage handed her a stack of books filled with medical knowledge and herbal remedies. The ancient texts were dense with information, but Celes dove into them with a fervor she hadn’t felt in years. Each page opened up new worlds of possibility, and she lost herself in the intricate details of healing arts and the lore of ancient wolf remedies. The hours slipped away unnoticed as she absorbed every piece of knowledge she could.

By the time she returned home, the evening had settled into darkness. The house was quiet, but Andros’s presence was palpable. He greeted her with a sharp edge in his voice, demanding to know where she had been and why there was no dinner prepared.

Celes stood momentarily stunned by the abruptness of his accusation but said nothing. Her silence was a quiet rebellion against his demands.

She moved to the kitchen to prepare a simple meal, her hands moving mechanically as she tried to ignore the tension between them. They ate in silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavily in the air.

Andros, perhaps sensing her discontent, offered to wash the dishes, a rare gesture that felt more like an obligation than an act of kindness. Celes accepted the offer with a muted nod, her mind already drifting back to the solace she had found in her studies.

At least, I have something to look forward to.

That night, as they lay in bed, Celes was roused from sleep by Andros’s groans of discomfort. He complained of a stomachache, his voice tinged with melodramatic pain.

Still half-asleep, Celes mumbled, "You should find something for yourself."

Andros turned to her, his face contorted with hurt and betrayal. "You used to care," he said quietly, his eyes searching hers for a hint of the woman who once went out of her way to look after him.

Celes, struggling to keep her eyes open, sighed. "Andros, it's late. I'm tired."

His expression hardened, the distance between them growing more palpable in the dim light. "I see," he whispered, turning away from her.

Celes watched his back for a moment, the weight of their strained relationship settling heavily on her chest. She closed her eyes, feeling the guilt of her silent reproach as she tried to drift back to sleep. But flood of memories came rushing back to her—a time when she had been caught in the rain, desperate to bring him medicine to soothe his stomachache.

It was raining heavily.

I arrived at the Consul’s office, drenched and disheveled, my hair plastered to my face and clothes clinging uncomfortably to my skin. The sentinels and scouts, including Andros’s own Gamma and Delta, turned to me with mocking laughter.

“What are you doing here, Celes? Looking for a place to dry off?”

"C'mon, she's the Beta's mate?"

"Scrawny look suits you, doll."

Ignoring them, I pushed forward, my heart pounding. I found Andros at his desk, papers strewn around him.

“Andros,” I panted, holding out the medicine, “I brought this for you.”

He looked up, his expression icy. “What are you doing here?” he demanded, his tone laced with irritation.

“I heard you were sick."

His eyes flicked over my rain-soaked form with disdain. “You look like a drowned rat."

That erupted laughter from his own men.

As if embarrassed, he yanked my wrist and dragged me outside. When we were out of the room, he hissed.

"You’re embarrasing me, Celes. Don’t ever come to my office again.”

Now, lying in bed beside him, the memory of that day stung anew. The humiliation, the cold dismissal—it all came rushing back, a painful reminder of the disdain he had shown her. She had been drenched and humiliated, her sincere effort ignored and ridiculed.

Shaking off the painful recollection, Celes rose from the bed and prepared a mixture of herbal tea and an ointment for Andros’s stomachache. The process was familiar and comforting, a connection to her mother’s teachings and the promise of a new beginning under Old Sage’s mentorship.

"Here, drink this. It will help."

As she handed the remedies to Andros, he looked at her with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

“Where did you learn this?” he asked, taking the cup of tea and sniffing it cautiously. “This is the first time you’ve done something like this.”

Celes shrugged. “Sage taught me.”