Chapter 14. The Golden Wolf Awakens

Celeste’s POV

In a gesture that surprised me more than I expected, she reached across the short distance between us and gently handed me her jacket. She must have noticed my vulnerability—exposed and shivering in my nakedness—and offered her cloak without a word of reproach. Together, we walked back toward the rest of the pack, each step accompanied by a heavy silence that pressed against my ears.

In that quiet, I realized that my earlier instincts about her warm, generous nature were absolutely correct. Yet I also understood that she carried a carefully constructed mask, a stoic shield to protect herself from anyone who might try to take advantage of her kindness. In her eyes, I glimpsed a story far more heartbreaking than any she let slip through her calm expression.

As Nora and I rejoined the others, I felt dozens of curious gazes settle on us. The women lining the path stared at us as if waiting for something to happen, their eyes flicking back and fort