Page 10 of Mated By Midnight

Her figure disappeared around the bend, and Elijah’s feet finally moved, though hesitantly. His pulse quickened with every step she took away from him, and his wolf howled in frustration. The fire simmering beneath his skin was becoming unbearable, every fiber of his being urging him to act faster.

But something was still holding him back. Fear, maybe? Fear of what she would say, of what she might not say. Fear of whether she would let him in or shut him out completely. Well, he was about to face that fear head-on.

Elijah’s decision solidified. He wasn’t going to let her walk away like this. He wasn’t going to run from what was already his.

"Elijah." Rylan's voice broke through the forest, quiet, low, and authoritative as always.

Elijah stopped, though his limbs strained against his Alpha's command.

The sun filtered through the branches overhead, casting dappled shadows across Rylan’s face. The Alpha’s expression was unreadable, but his words were steady as he continued. "I have a job for you. I want you to work with the Sequoia pack as the communications point in the new development."

"The Sequoia pack? The deal is still on?"

Elijah’s mind raced, a red haze of anger flashing in his vision as the possibility hit him like a punch to the gut. Rylan wasn’t done with Celine. After everything, he was still going to honor that stupid agreement between the packs and ignore his bond with Liza?

"You’re marrying her?" Elijah bit out, his voice low, dangerous. The fury in his chest was unbearable. His wolf snarled inside him, begging for release, to tear down anyone who stood between him and Celine. Including his Alpha, his friend.

"No," Rylan said calmly. "Celine will be working with Liza and Maize on the new development."

It took a moment for the haze of fury to dissipate. When it did, the Alpha’s words made sense. Celine had said she was an artist. Of course, he would still want her involved in the new development.

But the jealousy, the possessiveness still surged through Elijah. He closed his eyes for a second, forcing himself to control his wolf. His entire body still hummed with the need to act, to claim what was his. His Alpha was clearly oblivious as he went on.

"You’re good with tech, Elijah. You know how to navigate systems most of the pack doesn’t even understand. The new development project is massive, and it needs someone who can keep communications flowing smoothly between the Sequoias and the Ironwoods, as well as the other communities across the nation and world.”

Elijah nodded slowly, though his mind wasn’t fully on the words. Celine's scent, her presence, lingered in the air no matter how far apart they were. The bond had made sure of that.

“It’s a promotion, more responsibility, and more visibility. The elders think you’re too... carefree. They don’t see you as someone who’s ready to settle down, to take on moreresponsibility. But I’m willing to go to bat for you. I’ll convince them. You just need to show them you’re serious. That you’re ready.”

Elijah's fingers twitched at his sides, itching to do something—anything—to dispel the tension building inside him. The offer was more than just a job. It was a path forward, a chance to prove himself, to finally break free of the image the elders had of him. The thought of being taken seriously for once, of finally being trusted with real responsibility, stirred something deep inside him.

But that wasn’t all. The bond. Celine. She was a part of this now, wasn’t she?

If he accepted the position, he would be working with her. Every day. She would be right there, within reach. The bond would only get stronger, pulling them closer. He could already feel the steady thrum of it beneath his skin, like a constant pulse reminding him that she was his.

Maybe accepting the bond wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all. Maybe it was time to stop running from it. He definitely wanted to catch his mate up in his arms again, have her under him, maybe even on top of him.

8

The hum of quiet conversation filled the small office, the rhythmic tapping of keyboards mingling with the occasional rustle of papers. Celine sat at the long wooden table, her sketchbook open before her. Maize and Liza sat across from her, each immersed in their own work—Maize with a set of blueprints sprawled out in front of her and Liza with fabric swatches and color palettes.

After a rocky start—especially between her and Liza—things had finally begun to smooth out. Liza had been cautious at first, clearly confused about Celine’s previous connection with Rylan, but once they’d cleared the air, the tension had lessened. The three women had fallen into an easy rhythm, their individual strengths aligning for the betterment of both the Ironwood and Sequoia packs.

“So,” Maize said, breaking the comfortable silence, “I’ve been thinking about the central community hub for the development. It’s going to be the heart of the new territory, so we need to make it inviting, functional, but also… special, you know? Something that represents both packs coming together.”

Celine nodded, her fingers moving absently over the sketch she’d been working on—a mural idea for one of the communitybuildings. “What about incorporating both pack symbols somehow? Like a shared history, but also highlighting their individual identities?”

Liza’s eyes lit up, her hand pausing over the fabric swatches. “That’s a great idea. Something woven into the architectural details or highlighted in the design elements. Something that people will notice, but it won’t overpower the space.”

“Exactly.” Maize tapped the edge of her blueprint. “We could do that with the layout, too. Make certain areas reflect the Ironwood pack’s style—strong, earthy, more rooted—and other areas more reflective of Sequoia, which is lighter, more open.”

Celine grinned, feeling a spark of excitement. This was the part of the project she loved—the creative collaboration, the way they bounced ideas off each other. Despite the complexities of merging the packs and the weight of their individual roles, moments like this reminded her of why she’d gotten involved in the first place. The opportunity to create something meaningful for their future.

“I could paint something for the community hub,” Celine offered, her voice a bit tentative. “Something that represents the connection between the packs. Another mural, maybe?”

Liza glanced at her, a smile softening her features. “That would be perfect. Your work could really bring it to life, Celine. I mean, it’s not every day that we get to work with an artist who understands both packs.”

Celine felt warmth flood through her at Liza’s compliment. She was starting to feel like she belonged. Not just in the project, but with these women.

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