Chapter 4: Stay Home

Talia “I told you to stay indoors.” Alex muttered seeing the look on my face. I didn't say anything. No, I couldn't. I was lost for words, and pinched myself to confirm the figure outside the door was real. “Celine?” I gasped, unsure of what to say. “Hi, Luna.” She mocked. I could feel the sarcasm dripping off her voice. What more did she want? “Hi yourself. Why are you here?” I breathed out, and Alex only stood there, staring at me and unsure of what to say. “You said she wasn't here, and wouldn't invite me in.” Immediately Alex head whipped over to her. “Why are you here?’ “To see Talia of course. Why else would I be here?” Without giving us a chance to reply, she pused her way into the house. Celine was exactly how I remembered her to be. Though I hated to admit it, she was as beautiful as alway. On getting to the middle of the room, she glanced at me, and I couldn't help but notice the details of her face. Like always, her eyes glowed, and her eyebrows were perfectly etched and groomed. Her lips were painted red, and they curled into a deceptive charming smile, hiding her true intentions, but of course, I could see right through her. Her skin was smoother than I remember, and she had grown her hair longer. Despite her striking appearance, I felt the undercurrent danger in her demeanor and I could see through her dual nature of character. “Why are you here?” I asked, my arms akimbo. I felt nauseous seeing her, and would rather have her leave as quick as she could. Celine laughed. “ What do you mean why am I here? I heard of what happened and came to check on you.” “Well, I'm sorry, but you're not welcome.” Alex told her. “I think we would rather have you leave. Immediately.” He added. However, Celine paid no heed to Alex. She acted as though she couldn't hear a thing of what he had just said. “You see, Talia,” She began, walking around me. “You can never win against me, and I remember I told you back then. As long as I'm alive and willing, Darius would always return to me. The only reason he accepted you as his mate was because I left. Else…” She asked, trailing off. If I wasn't sure what emotions I felt towards Celine before, right now, I knew and understood them. I hated her, and I couldn't understand why she would stoop so low to making my life miserable. “Well, that's great news if you ask me.” I sneered at her, trying hard to mask my true emotions. I would never allow her see me as weak again. Never. Celine scoffed. “I heard you left in the middle of the night with close to nothing. Do you want to know the reason Darius would always return to me?” She asked and I shook my head. I wasn't interested in hearing her spew jargons about their love story, but of course, Celine continued. She wasn't going to left me off so easily. “Darius loves me, and he would always do. Sadly, you had to suffer it, and all you were good for was warming his bed at night. Opps, I doubt he ever shared the bed with you. I mean, you both sleep in separate rooms.” If only her words weren't true, I knew what replies to give to put her back in her place. But well, she wasnt lying about anything. Darius had confirmed it all. “I think you should leave now, Celine. You have clearly overstayed your visit.” He hissed, but Celine only laughed. She was crazy. She had to be. “I guess you weren't good enough to be a breeder after all. He didn't find you worthy enough to carry his baby.” “You're crazy Celine, and I've had enough display of that this morning. Leave when I'm still being nice.” Almost immediately, the familar waft of Darius's scent filled my nose. He was close by, and a tiny part of me wished he was coming to take me back home, but I knew better. Especially whenever it involved Celine. “Hey, what are you doing?” I asked as Celine drew me closer to herself. Her wrap around my arm was painful, and I could feel her nails dug into my skin. “Something dramatic to wrap up the morning.” She smirked at me. I struggled with her, and just as Alex came to my aid, the door was thrown open and Darius walked into the room. “Celine.” He called out, coming to squat beside her. Everything had happened in the blink of an eye, and I couldn't explain how she had landed on the floor. “This evil minx.” I muttered under my breathe. She deliberately came around to provoke me, and since it wasn't going according to her plan, she acted as though I attacked her. “She attacked me. They ganged up on me.” Celine sobbed, snuggling into Darius’s arms. Alex and I stood transfixed in the middle of the room unsure of what to say in defense. She had try caught us off guard, and I wouldn't have guessed she was going to play such a trick. “Why are you here though?” Darius glanced at me, and I fought an internal battle to stop myself from nodding. It seemed like some part of his brain was logical. “I wanted to check on her. I was thinking I could accompany her to beg you so she doesn't have to leave the pack but she did this to me.” “You liar.” I seethed, ready to launch at her. How could she lie so smoothly without batting an eyelid? “She was unreasonably violent, and he wasn't helping matter too.” She added, pointing at Alex. Barom looked away from Celine and his hand trailed to my upper arm where Celine had grabbed me earlier. Following his line of sigh, she immediately tugged at his sleeves yo draw his attention to her and began sobbing. “Take me out of here, Darius. Please.” Had it not happened to me, I would have believed Celine and blamed the other person. Her acting was off the bat and perfect. “Alpha.” Alex began, but Darius held his hand up, signalling him to stop. I couldn't believe my eyes. Was he really going to trust all Celine had said without giving us a chance to defend ourselves? “Darius. That wasn't what happened. She came in here and attacked me first! She—” “She attacked you, but she is the one thrown on the floor?” He scoffed. “I was going to take pity on you and let you remain in the pack, but I'm afraid that wouldn't be possible any longer.” “But, Darius. You can't just take her words for it! You should listen to my part of the story.” I was livid right now. I couldn't believe how irrational Darius was acting at the moment. “I'm banishing you from the pack, Talia. Leave. Right away.” Saying that, he gathered Talia in his arms and stepped out of the house with his Beta right behind him.