Following her second miscarriage, Celes found herself under the care of Old Sage, the pack's stern and dedicated Head Healer. As she reclined on the bed, her body still weak and her heart heavier than ever, she overheard Sage discussing the growing tension within the pack due to the Alpha's disappearance. Rumors of strange disturbances in the forest had been circulating, and Sage had his suspicions about the real cause. The words seemed distant to Celes, like echoes in a vast, empty room.
This is for the better, she forced herself to believe.
When Andros arrived to collect her, he was noticeably distracted, checking his watch repeatedly.
"I received urgent news from the scouts," he said, the same excuse he used every time he wanted to leave. His eyes barely met hers as he spoke. "I need to leave."
Celes, now hardened by his repeated absences, gave him a detached nod, her emotions buried deep within her. He left quickly, slipping into his wolf form as he exited the healer’s quarters, his eyes briefly meeting Sage’s. There was an unspoken understanding between them, but Celes was too weary to ponder it.