The True Mate Celia

The heavy oak door to Roman's private office loomed ahead like a physical barrier. I tightened my grip on the blue file, my knuckles aching from the strain. Taking a sharp breath, I pushed the handle down and stepped inside the expansive room.

Roman sat behind his mahogany desk, engrossed in his paperwork. Just looking at him made my chest constrict. His broad shoulders filled out his dark suit, and his jawline was tense with unwavering focus. I stood near the entrance for a long moment, quietly admiring the handsome features I had memorized over our time together, praying for a flicker of warmth when he finally looked up.

Instead, his dark eyes met mine, and the temperature in the room plummeted. Any affection I hoped to find was replaced with cold disinterest.

"I brought the land deeds," I managed to say, keeping my voice level as I crossed the carpet and set the documents down.

He gave a curt nod, his gaze dropping back to his laptop screen. Silence stretched between us, suffocating and heavy. He said nothing.

"Have you eaten lunch yet?" I asked, pushing past the rejection radiating from his posture. "We could grab something and eat together."

"There is no need for that," Roman replied, not bothering to lift his head. "I promised Celia we would eat together."

My stomach dropped. A vicious pang of jealousy struck my heart at the mention of another woman's name coming from my husband's lips.

"Celia?" I questioned, unable to keep the raw curiosity out of my tone.

Roman leaned back in his leather chair, fixing me with a stare devoid of empathy. "My mate."

The two words hit me like a physical blow. A bitter taste flooded my mouth. Sorrow rose in my throat, choking my breath.

"You remember the conditions that led to our marriage, right?" Roman asked, his tone dripping with detachment. "It was a mistake. A regrettable error on my part. As for Celia, she has been through hell. She was trafficked, hidden in the shadows and kept in captivity when my enforcers and I rescued her. That is why it took me this long to finally find her. I have a mate now, Maeve."

His eyes held the unyielding truth of his love for Celia. My heart clenched. Our relationship, our quiet moments of shared intimacy over the past few days, meant nothing to him.

"So you want to announce her as your mate?" I asked, my voice quivering.

"I can't. At least not right now." Roman sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "She is too weak to be Luna. Apart from her injuries, she is a gamma. Her wolf is fragile. I can't cast you aside; the pack council will not approve of it. They need stability. I still need you to stand in as Luna. This is not a request, Maeve. It is an order. I am ordering you as your Alpha."

He demanded I be a shield for his true mate.

"Yes," I nodded demurely, my chest aching as the brutal reality set in. I would spend my life trapped in the shadow of his destined love.

"What about me?" I whispered, unable to suppress the agonizing pain bleeding into my voice.

"I only married you because of the mistake. You were never my mate, Maeve. I have found her now. Know your place," he stated with finality. "You will be well compensated. Do not worry about money."

I sank into the nearby leather chair, my legs giving out as my dreams shattered. I had foolishly believed his recent touches meant something more. Now, the truth was clear. I was merely a temporary placeholder.

I pushed myself up, my heart heavy with sorrow, ready to leave. Before I could reach the door, a woman rushed past me, charging straight into the office. The scent of vanilla and hospital soap hit my nose. A strange sense of déjà vu washed over me, as if I had seen her face somewhere before.

She ignored me, darting around the desk and throwing herself into Roman’s arms.

My heart shattered again. Roman caught her effortlessly, holding her with a tender care I had never experienced. His cold, authoritative demeanor vanished. His voice dropped to a soft murmur as he spoke against her hair. The love burning in his eyes was raw and undeniable. It was the mate bond. It was real, and it could never be replicated with me.

"I'll wait outside," I choked out, unable to bear the sight of their intimacy for another second.

"Wait," Roman called out. His tone hardened, returning to the cold Alpha who had just ordered me around.

I turned to face him, bracing myself for his next words.

"Maeve, this is Celia, my mate. Celia, meet Maeve, we are married. She will be performing the Luna function for now until you are safe," he introduced us. His gaze softened the second he looked at Celia, then became detached when his eyes flicked back to me. His body language could not lie.

Celia regarded me with a smug smile. I could feel her sharp disdain rolling off her skin. She clearly understood that I was just an obstacle she had already conquered.

"I'm sure we will get along," I managed to say politely, forcing the lie past my aching throat.

"Thank you," Celia replied, her words laced with a thick layer of underlying tension.

I turned on my heel and fled. Instead of taking the glass elevator, I shoved open the fire doors and took the concrete stairs. The empty stairwell provided a quiet sanctuary where I could let my tears flow. Roman and Celia were a perfect fit, destined by the Moon Goddess. I was just a fake.

My heart ached for the dreams I had harbored. I mourned the hope of a loving marriage. He would devote his existence to Celia.

With my heart hammering against my ribs, I wiped my wet cheeks and started to walk down the steps.

Suddenly, the heavy metal door clicked open above me.

"Maeve," a voice called out.

I turned toward the caller. It was Celia. She was walking down the steps toward me, the fragile facade gone, replaced by a mean, menacing glare.

********

Less than an hour earlier, the moment Celia was informed about Roman's wife visiting his corporate office, she tore out of her hospital bed. Curiosity and a fierce desire to assert her position as his true mate fueled her reckless actions. Celia wanted to see what this Maeve looked like and make it clear that she was the one destined to be in Roman's bed.

But the second she approached the office and brushed past the woman, Celia was slammed by a strong wave of panic and anger.

Maeve’s presence was suffocating. She possessed the dominant bloodline of a high-ranking, capable werewolf. It was intimidating. Standing next to her, Celia felt her own gamma blood cower. She was a nobody compared to the regal Luna standing in Roman's office. It was obvious; she didn't need anyone to point out the vast difference in their status or physical strength.

Looking at Maeve's sharp features and sensing her raw power, Celia felt a bitter surge of jealousy burn through her chest. She would have to compete with that. The pack would always choose a strong Luna over a weak gamma.

The smug smile she gave Maeve inside the office was nothing but a desperate defense mechanism. The mate bond secured Roman's heart, but Celia’s deep insecurity demanded she eliminate the threat entirely. Watching Maeve slip out the door, Celia knew she could not just wait for Roman. She followed the scent of distress into the isolated stairwell, cornering her rival with dark, malicious intent brewing in her mind.