Changes

For years Celeste had assumed she had her life figured out, her place in the world and how people fit into it. It was with this air of self assuredness that she lived, how she operated, how she helped her brother in his reign over their people. When their father had relinquished his control Julien had accepted the mantle without issue, who really would dare to question his authority, he was the natural born alpha. And as the next in line in both age and closeness to her brother it only made sense she served as his second. Second born and second in command worked for her. She had authority but was never responsible for the truly big decisions and thats how Celeste liked it.

Jack of all trades was an apt way to see the young Beta, she made sure she knew a little of everything, and used it when needed. The same girl who could help you change a tire could do your hair, take care of your kid, fix your sink and wing your eyeliner. It served her, not only in staying in touch with those in their small world, but in making sure people saw her family, knew they were accessible, made then friends and therefore she hoped no threat to her brother. She never wanted to see a day when someone challenging his control meant a fight to the death.

In this time Celeste not only met a man but fell in love, the kind of young passions that took control of the soul and made one feel invincible. Johnathan was a pack member, his family having been close to her own in her childhood. It had seemed fated that they would end up together and for a short time they were happy. But soon enough that all came to change. John lusted after the power that Celeste was so blase about, and worse the control her brother had over all of their lives. Celeste had no inkling that her fiance would challenge her brother, and when he did he seemed shocked that she would be angry, not stand at his side as he threatened to rip out her brothers throat for a power play.

The night they were to fight Celeste was less the ok, knowing someone might die, certainly if John won her brother would, that was how a pack dealt with power struggles, the strongest lead them, and those that contested it weren't around the long. She stayed isolated, her mother and sister her only company until night fell and it was time to settle the matter. Julien, being as strong as he was didnt draw out the slaughter, but slaughter is what it turned out to be, and Celeste stood back watching, the sting of Johns betrayal and loss swarming through her.

Being his fiance, and that his own family didnt want the shame of his failed coup, Celeste was left to deal with his body, something both traumatic and some what therapeutic for her. On the foothill where he had proposed she buried him, planting a tree on the spot, one that was thick enough to blend in the forest at large. Nobody would disturb him where he slept, nobody would ever find him that wasn't a part of their world. the first year she visited his grave twice, once on what would have been their wedding day, and again a year after he had died. And in the half decade that had followed she went once a year, though she wasnt sure why she kept up the tradition. She never told anyone she went, she didnt want opinions on her weakness or being sentimental. No she did it alone, for herself and the man she might still have loved if he hadnt been so selfish as to wish to implode her entire world.