Celeste and I reluctantly separated, though I kept one hand on her shoulder. I could feel the tension radiating from her body, the anger she was trying so hard to control.
"I was making sure someone important to our family was safe," Celeste said, her voice carefully neutral. "I thought that was my responsibility as a member of this pack."
"Your responsibility," my mother said coldly, "is to represent this family with dignity and grace. Not to disappear in the middle of the night without informing anyone of your whereabouts. Do you have any idea how many guests asked about you? How many eligible young wolves were disappointed by your absence?"
"I'm sure they'll survive the disappointment," Celeste muttered.
"What was that?" my mother's voice rose dangerously.
"Nothing, Mother."
But L
