As the days unfolded, Celes found herself increasingly absorbed by her new role as Old Sage’s apprentice. The knowledge she was gaining from the esteemed healer filled her with a sense of purpose she had not felt in years. Each day brought new lessons and insights, and the work rekindled a spark within her that had long been extinguished by the weariness of her troubled marriage.

Yet, the satisfaction she found in her new position was marred by the growing tension between her and Andros. He had begun to show an overt disdain for her apprenticeship, a resentment that simmered beneath the surface. His discontent was palpable, though he masked it with a veneer of indifference.

One afternoon, as Celes was studying in the healer’s quarters, she received a mindlink from Andros. He mentioned that he would pick her up later and that they would go somewhere. When she asked where he was now, he replied that he was still at the Consul's meeting and that the investigation regarding Faelan was still ongoing. Celes, feeling indifferent, simply said okay and cut the link.

Later, Ales called her to say hello, her voice cheerful as always.

[Hey, Celes! How are you? Are you okay now? Sorry, I haven't visited you at the Healer's. My brother just fill me. Hope he's not stressing you?]

Celes chuckled.

Oh how I miss this girl.

"Thank you, Ales. I feel so much better now that you call. I've been feeling lonely."

[Me, too. I just call because I want to hear your voice so I can relax. Ugh, I just remember why I'm so pissed. I saw that Szarina at the Consul's meeting today.]

Celes's heart sank a little but she tried to keep her tone light. "Oh? What was she doing there?"

Ales sighed. [You know, the usual. But get this—she interrupted a conversation about what gift brother should get for you. Just barged in and asked him to go with her somewhere.]

Celes forced a smile, even though Ales couldn't see it. "Really? That's unexpected."

[Ugh, it was!] Ales groaned. [I can't believe how easily he complied. He always does that because of his stupid sense of duty.]

Celes's smile turned bitter as she thought to herself, It's not only duty driving Andros. Feeling suddenly disappointed, Celes tried to divert their conversation and sighed in relief when Ales did not notice. They catch up for a long while, but the heavy feeling did not even go away long after their call ended.

That evening, as Celes returned from the healer’s quarters, her hands full of medical journals and notes, she was met by Andros’s barely-contained frustration. He was sitting with a bouquet of flowers, his eyes expectantly happy.

Why is he here?

"What's the occasion?" she asked, her voice neutral.

Andros went pale. "Today is our wedding anniversary," he said, his voice tight.

Celes realized why he had been asking Ales about what gift she would like.

"Oh. I'm sorry. It slipped my mind," she admitted honestly.

Andros's expression darkened.

"Of course it did. Too busy with your damn job to remember our anniversary," he snapped.

What seemed like a sweet moment quickly devolved into another argument.

His impatience and irritation stung, but Celes’s calm demeanor only seemed to fuel his ire. He accused her of neglecting her duties at home, of prioritizing her work over their relationship. The accusations cut deep, and Celes struggled to keep her composure as she faced his anger.

Now, as she stood in their home, the weight of his accusations felt like a cruel echo of that past humiliation. The thought of how she had once tried to make their anniversaries and birthdays special, only to be dismissed as trivial, weighed heavily on her. She had meticulously planned dinners and decorations, her efforts a testament to her love for him, only to have her gestures belittled as unnecessary and uncomfortable. The memories of her attempts to celebrate their life together, only to be rebuked for them, were a painful reminder of the futility of her past efforts.

The argument ended with Andros grudgingly offering to take her out for dinner to celebrate their anniversary. The offer was half-hearted, a feeble attempt to patch over the cracks in their relationship. Celes accepted, clinging to a faint hope that the evening might provide some solace.

They went to a quaint restaurant, where the atmosphere was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the coldness that had settled between them. For a while, they managed to maintain a semblance of peace, sharing a meal in silence. Andros seemed ill at ease, his glances at his watch betraying his preoccupation with something else.

As they finished their meal, Andros' phone rang. Without glancing at the screen, he turned it facedown and continued eating. But after a few seconds, it rang again.

"You won't answer that?"

"They can wait."

It rang again.

"You can answer it. Maybe it's an emergency."

Andros sighed loudly and took his phone. But his expression changed upon seeing the caller's ID. And judging from his expression alone, Celes knew who the caller was.

“Szar. What's wrong? You sound worried."

Szar?

[Andros, it’s Reign. He’s developed a high fever and it’s not going down. I’m really scared. Can you come over?]

It was not on loudspeak, but it was loud enough to hear from her frantic voice.

“What’s his temperature? Have you called the doctor?”

[It’s 39°C. Almost 40! I’ve called the doctor, but they’re not available right now. I’m doing what I can, but I’m so overwhelmed.]

“Okay, stay calm."

Andros looked at Celes as if to gauge her reaction, and Celes nodded.

"Go," she mouthed, before bringing the slice of steak unto her mouth.

"Okay. I’m on my way. I’ll handle it. Have you tried any remedies or given him any medication?”

[I’ve given him some fever-reducing medicine, but it hasn’t helped so far. I’m really worried, Andros.]

“I understand. I’ll be there as fast as I can. Try to keep Reign cool and hydrated until I arrive.”

[Thank you, Andros. I’m just so worried about him.]

Andros looked at Celes, filled with awkwardness and guilt. Celes nodded, understanding what would come next.

"Go," Celes replied, her voice steady. "He needs you."

“I’m sorry for having to leave suddenly, Celes. I didn’t expect this.”

“It’s okay. Duty comes first. I hope Reign feels better soon.”

Andros' lips tightened into a thin line.

“I’ll make it up to you.”

“There’s no need to worry about that right now. Just focus on Reign.”

"I’ll see you later at home, then?”

Celes did not bother to reply.

Andros left quickly, leaving Celes alone at the table. She continued to eat in silence, her anger simmering. The sight of the empty chair across from her stung deeply, her heart sank as she thought about Szarina, the Luna, and Faelan's heir, whom Andros had claimed to have unrequited love for.

As long as there's Szarina, I will always come second.

The following day, after the anniversary dinner that had only served to deepen the rift between them, Andros attempted to explain his actions to Celes. He told her about Reign’s importance as the heir and the responsibilities he bore as Beta.

Reign, he reminded her, was the next in line to lead the pack. As Beta, Andros's responsibilities extended to ensuring the well-being of the Alpha’s family. He insisted that he could never forgive himself if anything happened to Reign. This explanation was meant to calm Celes, but it only served as a stark reminder of the divides in their priorities and the betrayal she felt. It was clear that his devotion to Szarina and her child took precedence over their own troubled marriage.

In an attempt to soothe her further, Andros reminded her that the first Full Moon of the Lunar Month was approaching—a significant event for the entire pack. Preparations were underway, a fact that had slipped Celes’s mind amidst her immersion in her studies.

"You know, Celes, I was thinking… since everyone will be busy celebrating, how about we take some time for ourselves? I remember how much you’ve always loved watching fireworks. How about we find a quiet spot, just the two of us, and enjoy them together?”

"Fireworks?"

"Yes. Let’s make a little escape from the festivities and enjoy the fireworks like old times.”

Celes nodded. "I'll be there."

But as the Full Moon drew near, an emergency arose. Celes was informed that Old Sage had been urgently escorted to a neighboring village to treat a wound sustained by the Alpha's father. Without hesitation, she gathered what supplies she could and hurried to join him. She could not even inform Andros, as he was so busy with the security parameters and she did not have time to find where he was.

Upon arriving at the neighboring pack, Celes found Old Sage deep in the midst of an intricate procedure, assisted by a young man who looked a little annoyed for his job.

And the scene before her was one of seamless coordination and expertise. They moved in perfect harmony, their communication fluid and efficient, often in a language she could not understand. The sight froze her in place, making her feel like an outsider in a world she was just beginning to comprehend.

After the procedure was successfully completed, Old Sage turned to her with an unexpected announcement.

“As you know, this will be my last procedure before my retirement.”

Celes turned at him shock. “Retirement?”

“It is time for a new generation to take over. I have decided that you, Celes will be assisting my son from now on.”

“Your son?"

He was his son? How come I haven't seen him before?

"But… I didn’t know you had one.”

“Larkin has been studying and preparing for this role. It is his time to step up, and you will be his apprentice.”

Larkin tried to hide his astonishment. "This is quite sudden, Father. Is there no room for discussion?”

“My decision is final, Lark. Celes has proven her abilities, and it is the right moment for this transition.”

Larkin's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at her, a mix of skepticism and challenge in his gaze.

"I hope you're ready for this. Celestine, isnt it?" he said, his tone carrying an edge of authority. She straightened her back and nodded. "There’s a lot you need to learn, and I won’t go easy on you."

Celes met his gaze with determination. "I'm ready to learn," she replied, her voice steady. "I won’t let you or Sage down."

As they left the neighboring pack, Celes couldn't help but feel a mixture of anxiety and excitement. Working with Larkin would undoubtedly be challenging, but it was also an opportunity to prove herself and grow as a healer. She was determined to make the most of it.

Back at the Crimson Moon Pack, the celebration for the Full Moon celebration were in full swing, though it would soon end. Larkin initiated to walk her home, but she declined, thinking that Andros might see them. Celes decided that she would stay longer to enjoy the last minute show, the highlight of this event, before going home.

"This should have been my last firework with him," she muttered to herself.

Until the final fireworks exploded in the sky. And as she stood beneath the night sky, Celes surrender all the love that was left in her heart along with the fading echoes of the fireworks.

When she was on their home, Celes felt an overwhelming weariness despite not having been physically active during the entire procedure. As she arrived, her eyes fell upon Andros waiting for her, and to her surprise, Szarina was with him.

The sight of Szarina brought back a flood of emotions for Celes. She had not yet moved past the sting of Andros leaving her to tend to Szarina and her son, and now, here Szarina was again. Celes recalled the hurt she felt upon seeing the photos of Andros and Szarina together during the Lunar Month, which Andros' mother had continuously shared in their family group chat. These pictures, filled with moments of Szarina and Andros enjoying the pack’s festivities like some power couple, had been a painful reminder of her exclusion from their family.

Throughout the Lunar Month event, Szarina had been at the center of every activity, enjoying her role as the pack's Luna. In one particularly stinging video, Andros had carried Szarina in his arms, eliciting cheers and comments from the pack members who declared them a perfect match. They indeed looked too perfect for each other, she could not even deny. It was only stopped when Ales finally commented, "Delete these, Mother, before Cel sees this."

But it was too late; she had already seen everything.

Now, back in the present, Andros could sense her disappointment. He began to explain his actions during the Lunar event, claiming he had only taken Szarina out because she was bored and needed company. She was still the Luna, and he felt it was his duty to keep her entertained. His explanations were filled with justifications, but they only deepened Celes’s sense of betrayal.

"Celes, believe me."

Andros's hand brushed against hers as he tried to force her gaze to meet his. Desperation filled his eyes as he asked if she really didn't care, or if she was just pretending to be okay out of spite. He promised it wouldn't happen again, vowing to keep his distance from Szarina from now on. His words and actions revealed that he understood the boundaries he should have maintained as a married man, yet he had repeatedly failed to honor them. His deception and lies had eroded the trust between them.

Despite his plea, Celes felt a cold realization settle in her heart: Andros no longer mattered to her. The decision had already been made; she would be leaving soon. The anger and hurt seemed distant and muted, overshadowed by a sense of finality.

"Okay, I believe you," she replied, her voice devoid of emotion, almost mechanical. The words were a formality, a step towards the inevitable end of their relationship.

Szarina, sensing the tension, excused herself and left. Celes watched her go, the sight of her retreating figure a bittersweet reminder of what had been lost. Andros tried to draw her into conversation, but Celes’s responses were curt and detached. She could see the frustration building in him, but she no longer had the energy to care.

Over the next few days, Celes focused on her training with Larkin. The work was demanding, but it provided her with a much-needed escape from the turmoil at home. Larkin's strict and no-nonsense approach kept her grounded, and she found solace in the routine of their work.

One evening, as they were wrapping up a particularly intense session, Larkin paused and looked at her intently.

"You've improved a lot, Celestine," he said, his tone unusually gentle. "Father made the right choice in choosing you as his apprentice."

Celes felt a warmth spread through her at his words.

"Thank you, Larkin," she replied, her voice soft. "I’m grateful for the opportunity."

Larkin nodded, his expression serious. "I know things are difficult, regardless if it's home or work. If you ever need anything, or if you just need to talk, I’m here."

The unexpected offer of support touched Celes deeply. Her first impression of him was bad, but guess she was wrong.

"Thank you," she said again, her voice thick with emotion. "That means a lot to me."

As she left the healer's quarters that night, Celes felt a renewed sense of determination. She would continue to grow and learn, to become the healer she had always dreamed of being. Andros's betrayal and their crumbling marriage were painful, but they no longer defined her. She was more than her relationship, more than the hurt and disappointment. She was Celestine, the healer, and she would forge her own path forward.

Back at home, Andros was waiting for her, his expression wary. "We need to talk," he said, his voice tense.

Celes nodded, bracing herself for yet another confrontation. "Yes, we do."

They sat down at the kitchen table, the air between them thick with unresolved tension. Andros took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on hers.

"I’ve been thinking a lot about us, about everything that’s happened. I know I’ve made mistakes, and you've been disappointed. I’m truly sorry. But I want to make things right."