“No,” Dane hesitated before continuing, “Just take care of yourself and don’t overwork.”
“Thank you,” I replied, my tone flat and unenthusiastic.
After a pause, Dane asked, “Celeste, are you mad?”
The question ignited a small flicker of anger within me, but mostly, it was disappointment. Could he really be so oblivious, or did he simply not care about my feelings? Either way, it didn’t matter anymore. I was done being angry.
Dane's voice, soft and laden with apology, broke the silence. “Celeste, you have to understand. Felicity's struggling to raise her child alone. You know that, right? Her mate cut their ties. She only has me now.”
His words struck me hard, like a hard slap. It seemed he forgot that I, too, only had him. Yet again, why would he care about me when his eyes were set on his first love from the very beginning?
“Of course, I understand,” I replied, striving to keep my tone even. “She must’ve been through a lot.”
But my mate's patience seemed to snap. “What’s that supposed to mean? What’s with your attitude?”
“I said I understand,” I repeated, my voice now tinged with an edge. “Is that a problem?”
“Do you have to talk to me like that?” he retorted, his frustration spilling over.
“What do you want me to say?” I shot back, feeling the tension escalated.
A heavy, suffocating silence settled between us. Finally, he muttered, “Do as you wish,” before abruptly ending the mind link.
It was funny, and it was ironic. Once, I was the “annoying” one for questioning his visits to Felicity. When I’d called to ask when he’d be back from her place, I was bothersome. Now, even trying to be understanding provoked his irritation.
With a sigh, I stared back at the book before me. Dwelling on it wouldn’t change anything. I had more important matters to focus on, like the things I needed before going to Lotus Tower.
The days at the Silver Moon Pack's clinic had blurred together into an exhausting routine. But for me, each one grew heavier, like a weight I couldn’t shrug off. My body had started to betray me. What began as slight discomfort soon spiraled into frequent spells of dizziness, relentless nausea, and fatigue that seeped into my bones. Even the simplest tasks felt like climbing a mountain.
But not only the physician pain but my connection with Cassia... it became weaker.
"Cassia, please, talk to me," I begged.