I turned slowly.
Aunt Celeste stood there in the doorway, her sunglasses on, even though she was indoors now.
Her red dress shimmered like fire-pretty, but not the warm kind.
Her lipstick was perfect. Her hair was perfect. Everything about her was perfect.
Except her smile.
She didn’t have one.
“Hi, Aunt Celeste,” I said, trying to sound polite like Mom taught me. It was especially hard with Aunt Celeste. “Do you want a cookie? Grandma and I just made them. They’re chocolate chip.”
She didn’t answer right away. She just looked at me, then at the cookies, and then back at me.
Then she pushed her sunglasses into her hair, and I had to hold in a gasp.
I’d never seen such…what was that? Anger? Hate?
No one had ever looked at me like that-except Aunt Celeste, back in OTS, when I invited her to Mom’s party.
And she looked at me like that now.
Except it was so much worse this time.
When she finally spoke, her voice was smooth, but not gentle. “Cookies,” she repeated, like the word tasted bad. “You’re offering me cookies?
“Yeah” I lifted the tray a bit higher, though my hands shook a little. I wanted Mom and Grandma to hurry back downstairs. “Mom says sweets can make you feel better when you’re sad.”
Aunt Celeste’s lips twitched into a smile that wasn’t…quite. “Oh, is that what your Mom said?”
I nodded, smiling even though I didn’t like the way she said ‘Mom’. “You can have one if you want. They’re really good. I put extra chocolate in-
But before I could finish, her hand shot out, fast and sharp, and the tray went flying.
The cookies hit the floor, shattering into pieces. Chocolate smudged the rug. The tray clattered so loud my ears rang.
I just stood there, frozen, my hands empty, and I felt the way I felt when I invited her to Mom’s party and she cursed at me: stupid.
Aunt Celeste didn’t even look at the mess. She was breathing hard, her shoulders trembling like she was cold, though the house wasn’t.
Her perfume filled the air-jasmine and something bitter underneath.
I started, but my throat felt tight, and my eyes stung.
Then I heard footsteps from upstairs.
Moms appeared at the top of the stairs, her face pale. Grandma followed behind her, eyes wide.
The moment Mom saw the mess, her worried expression changed.
Her eyes locked on hunt Celeste, and I swear the air got colder. This time, I was the one shivering
“Ind you just Mom’s vince was low, dangerous. She didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t have to.
Celeste turned slowly, raising an eyebrow like nothing had happened. “It was an accident,” she said, like she was bored.
“An accident? Mom stepped closer and stood in front of me, blocking my view of Aunt Celeste. “You call knocking a tray out of a child’s hands an accident?
I peered around Mom to see Aunt Celeste crossing her arms, her lips curling into that not-smile. “Oops”
I heard Mom’s teeth grind together. She was shaking, but I think it was from anger, not fear. I rarely saw her like this. I hated seeing her like this.
“If you ever touch my son again,” she said quietly and coldly, “I will tear your throat out.”
There was a heartbeat of silence where I didn’t breathe.
Then Aunt Celeste laughed.
It was a sharp, high sound that made me want to cover my ears.
“Really, Sera? And how exactly do you plan to do that? With your weak little human nails?” She scoffed. “You couldn’t even scratch a lottery ticket, let alone claw anyone’s throat out.”
That hit something deep. I could feel it. Mom flinched-just barely-but then she straightened.
I wanted to jump to Mom’s defense, to tell Aunt Celeste that she had an amazing wolf. But I’d promised to keep the secret. I told Mom she could trust me. I pressed my lips together tightly.
“I don’t need claws to protect what’s mine,” Mom declared.
“Please,” Aunt Celeste sneered, “because you lucked your way to first position, you think your worthless ass can-“
“That’s enough!”
Grandma stepped into view, and I flinched.
I’d never heard her sound like that before. It wasn’t a yell; it was worse. It was the sound of authority, of something powerful and wild.
I recognized it immediately: her wolf.
“Mom-“Celeste started, but shut up when Grandma’s eyes flashed gold.
“You will not speak to your sister like that in this house,” Grandma growled, looking and sounding nothing like the frail woman I had baked cookies with.
For the first time, Aunt Celeste looked unsure. Her chin lifted, but her voice shook a little when she spoke. “So that’s how it is now? Even my mother’s wolf takes her side?
Grandma’s gaze softened slightly, but her voice stayed firm. “It’s not about sides, Celeste. It’s about right and wrong,” hun! Celeste shook her head, tears starting to build but not fall. “No. It’s always been about Sera, hasn’t it? You’re all so quick to jump to her side. She ruins my life, and yet plays the victim. And now, because she won the stupid Trials, you’re welcoming her back with open
Mom didn’t say anything. Her hand was on my shoulder now, reassuring and warm
Aunt Celeste took a step forward, her voice rising “And what about me, huh? The one who was hurt? The daughter who had everything stolen from her? Where’s my lover
“Celeste,” Grandma said softly, “you’ve always been loved-“
“Don’t!” Aunt Celeste snapped, cutting her off. “Don’t lie to me. You love honor, Mother. You love reputation. You love whichever child is making you proud.” She shook her head. “You don’t love me. You just love what I was supposed to be.”
Her voice cracked on the last word, and for a second, she looked so small and lost. I almost wanted to hug her. I might have, if I wasn’t scared she would scratch my face off.
Grandma’s hand trembled. I could tell she wanted to reach out, but she didn’t. Maybe she didn’t know how to.
Then Aunt Celeste’s gaze fell on me again. Yep, that was definitely hate and anger.
“And you,” she said bitterly. “Perfect little Daniel. You’re a little peacemaker, aren’t you? Always trying to fix things. Always trying to make everyone happy. Do you think that works? That cookies and smiles fix shit?”
“Celeste,” Mom warned.
But I shook my head. “You’re just sad,” I said softly. “It’s okay. People say mean things when they’re sad.”
Something flickered across her face-something like guilt-but then she straightened, scoffing. “Sad? Oh, don’t be ridiculous. I’m perfectly fine. I’m not the slut who married my sister’s boyfriend so I wouldn’t have to raise a bastard.”
I flinched.
Mom froze.
Grandma gasped.
Aunt Celeste’s not-smile was even wider. “What? Did I hit a nerve?”
“That’s enough!” Grandma said again, louder this time. Her hand lifted like she might slap Aunt Celeste, but I darted forward and grabbed her wrist.
“Grandma,” I said quietly. “Don’t. Please.”
Everyone went still. Even Aunt Celeste.
I looked up at her and tried to smile, even though my chest hurt. “It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean it. You’re just…in a bad mood.”
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