Celeste was glad she’d decided to take a run before trying to head back to try and do work. Even though she couldn’t get out of the city, parts of it were still green enough for her. Coupled with some decent headphones she was able to zone out and clear her head.
Being away from Sally’s scent helped too.
One day soon she would take all three of them out of the city, somewhere on a walkabout. It’d make her mother insanely happy if they went up to her sheep ranch for a while and just be for a bit.
Between North Industries and Clan business she was becoming run down. Now the addition of a new mate added it’s own level of stress to her exhausted body.
Yes, once Sally was hers they would take some down time and she would show her the bushland she had grown up in.
With her mind calmer she headed back towards the building. She had run far, but less then she thought she’d need to to calm it all down.
She is lovely Cel.
Just feeling Hunter brush the words against her mind was delightful. He sounded so playful, Celeste couldn’t think of the last time she’d heard him so.
She blushes so sweetly. I wonder how far down her body it goes. He purred in her mind. Now he was teasing her, Celeste only just kept from moaning out loud at the thought. There was a soft chuckle before he left her to the run, the tart, but she was enjoying the time to herself. It was likely things would get out of control before they settled, so she was going to take what she could get.
When she finally got back to the building Celeste needed a shower. The feeling Sally had ignited in her had dimmed, she assumed the girl had finished the interview and headed home. Celeste was disappointed, but considering how she reacted, it was more then understandable that she hadn’t tried to search Celeste out.
Celeste came in through the garage. She knew it would get her to a shower area with the least amount of people. Dealing with the Clan right now would likely destroy her buzz and she didn’t need that right now.
As she’d hoped, the bathroom with the shower cubicle was empty and she’d stashed a spare outfit in a locker in there so she didn’t have to worry about wandering around in smelly workout clothes. She was turning on the water to warm it when a familiar presence made itself known.
“Hello sister.”
Celeste sighed and turned off the water and turning to face her twin.
When they were kids Celeste wished they’d looked the same like the twins in movies. Then when they were teenagers she wanted them to be polar opposites like twins in books. Instead they were stuck being obviously sisters, but surprising everyone who found out they were twins.
She was the same height as Celeste, and their skin colour was very close. Celeste’s was always a darker coffee colour, but simply due to the amount of time she spent outside. Celeste’s hair was also a darker colour with a frizz she worked hard to tame while her sister’s was finer, straighter, lighter and longer. She was slim to Celeste’s slight curves and muscular arms and legs.
Luna North was smart and driven. A staunch defender of the clan and Celeste’s unwilling rival. She hadn’t liked the changes Celeste had enforced to begin with, but when things went well she would accept them. She didn’t like change and Celeste revealed in it.
Celeste also know that Luna would likely be her loudest opponent when it came to Sally. A human second Mate? Unheard of. Especially for the Clan’s head. She had been vocal about Hunter too, though it had receded with time and the way the clan had flourished within the North Industries structure.
“Afternoon Luna,” Celeste lent against the shower cubical, grateful she hadn’t gotten out of her gym ware yet. Sparing with her sister while she was so immaculately dressed and Celeste naked would have been irritating. “To what do I owe the visit?”
Luna’s chocolate eyes narrowed a little before she schooled her features. “It’s not like you to take a lunch run, what happened?”
Straight to the point, as always. Celeste rolled her eyes. There was no middle ground with Luna.
“Nothing to concern you Luna, I am allowed to go for a run should I choose.”
“Everything that affects the head of my Clan affects me,” Luna counted. “Especially right now.”
Celeste’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean Luna?”
A slight lift of her shoulder. “The family talks Cel, and a lot of changes have happened in the last few years.”
Celeste also shrugged, stepping forward. In her heels Luna was taller, but there was no deny the power in Celeste. She was leader of the clan for a reason.
“Changes happen Luna. And I’m sure you agree that most of them have supported more then hindered our family.”
Luna grudgingly inclined her head in agreement, watching her sister. “Very true, but how long can that last? Your changes aren’t small and when you go for a run in the middle of important meetings they notice things are up.”
“They? Or you?”
Again, another nod. “I am part of ‘They’, as you put it. You know we will only put up with it for so long. Eventually your changes will misstep, and then where will the clan be left? Do you really want to mess so much with millennia of tradition and stability? Does your ego really mean more to you then the family’s safety?”
Another step pushed Celeste right up against her sister, her golden eyes flashing with fury.
“You have a problem with the way I change things? They want me to slow down, to limit our combined potential?” She was right in her sister’s face now. “Then you do it right. You or ‘They’ can challenge me for leadership. I will not give on our clan and the future we have because you’re too scared of the changes happening.”
And Celeste stepped around her sister, seething.
“Just watch your back,” Luna called from behind her as she moved to the doorway. “You are only a misstep or two away from pushing them to that. Just a warning.”
Furious Celeste’s fist collided with a tile on the wall, cracking it in multiple places.
“Fuck your warning, Luna. I will meet any challenge ‘They’ throw my way and you know it. Nona chose me for a reason and I’m not about to let anyone shit all over that.” She looked over her shoulder at her sister, “now, if you’ll excuse me, apparently I need to go and run out some tension, again, before I finish my work day.”
With that she left, headphones back on and pounding her way back onto the streets, all calm having left her in the wake of her sister’s words.
***
Author's Note: I have been steadily working through Jane Knight's works. I am currently fangirling over 'Her Fae Lovers'. NO ONE does polyrelationships like Ms Knight. search her out if you have time
Hunter was furious with Luna, but it was really nothing new. It didn’t matter that it might be the 20th century, some people would always treat it like they were still tribal. The shear intimacy that came with Clans, Packs or Prides made things worse of course.Celeste and Luna’s mother didn’t live with the clan for a reason. Her and Celeste’s father owned their shearing ranch and were happy away from the politics. But when Celeste’s Nona had left, the Matriarch was always a direct descendant. Either Celeste or Luna had to take her place. Celeste had won every challenge thrown her way. The Clan was her everything.It hadn’t stopped those who didn’t like Celeste’s changes though. To mate with someone out side of the clan had been a sticking point, as if she had chosen her fated partner to spite them.North Industries was another, though they were hard pressed to argue that. In fact, Hunter taking the Clan&rsqu
Sally was exceptionally grateful that her apartment was just far enough away that she could comfortably angry walk home. Cause she was so, so very angry.Kyra had been confused at her change after returning from her toilet break. Sally had been tight lipped, she still had a lot to learn about the politics of the place before she would feel comfortable ragging on the boss.Thankfully Mr North stayed in his office all afternoon, only paging through to Kyra when he needed anything. It made Sally mortified to realise he’d only been visiting them all those times before to scope her out.As such Sally gave him no extra reason to spend time with her. At 4:20 on the dot she picked up her bag, said thank you to Kyra, and stalked home.How DARE he do that. She didn’t care how young, pretty and seemingly unattached someone was. He was married. His wife was one of her bosses. She worked at the same fucken building as they did. What had he thou
Even if she hadn’t been able to smell her, Celeste would have known the moment Sally stepped into the office space. She could feel her presence all the way down to her bones.Hunter was enamoured with her; he had spun the tale of Sally defending her virtue into a story of epic proportions. After the roller coaster of the last few days, Celeste was delighted to see the joy Hunter got out of this, even if it painted him as the bad guy in Sally’s eyes.Celeste wondered what the girl would tell her when they finally got a moment to talk. As she approached her, Celeste smiled to herself. Her little mate was brave considering the conversation she’d had with Hunter yesterday,“Mrs North?”Celeste bit back a groan. The light, warm way she said her name was addictive, Celeste could listen to her all day. She turned from the photocopier, taking in her black pants and turquoise, long sleeved top as well as the waves of red curls falling
It had been a most amusing day.At some point around lunch Kyra pulled him aside. “Do we need to worry about her mental health?” She’d hissed and Hunter only managed to not laugh by shear force of will.He could understand Kyra’s point. Sally had been walking around in a daze for most of the morning, yesterday she had been competent and fun till Hunter had asked her out, and then she had been short and cool with everyone. Without any context, Kyra must have been getting whiplash from the changes.“I’m sure it’s just new job jitters, the retail position she was in did not let her reach her full potential.” That had been painfully obvious when Hunter had contacted them Monday after the interview. While they were quick to be angry about him poaching their worker, they were quicker to accept compensation. If nothing else came of a relationship between the two of them, he was happy to get her out of there.
Sally certainly hadn’t expected their night to be as fun as it was. Hunter was attentive and interesting. She could hear his passion for environmental architecture and understood instantly why north industries had flourished so.The pub was cozy even if Hunter was a dirty fish eater she hadn’t had a date like this in a while.The underlining current of what was to come couldn’t be denied and Sally realised she wanted to be with both of them. It felt surreal to her. Maybe in her wildest dreams had she thought of having two lovers at once. But here she was, actually contemplating a relationship with a married couple.It was something so far out of her comfort zone that she probably should be worried. Instead she was excited.“Would it be too early to ask for one kiss?”Fucken Hell, the man was sin on legs. Her knees practically went to jelly and she had to close her eyes to get some form of cohere
As Sally lived close to the office, Celeste decided she would catch up on some work while Hunter had his date.After the day they’d all had, Celeste had no doubt that they would hit it off. Sally had even appeared excited at the prospect of a date with Hunter this afternoon and she knew the fucker could be charming.“Will you mind if I kiss her?” He’d asked before he left.She’d given him an eye roll, bumping his shoulder with her own. “If you don’t I might divorce you.”His smile was delightful and she could feel his love pulse through their bond. He’d slung an arm around her shoulder in half a hug. “Promises, promises,” he’d teased.Celeste smiles and hoped they’d had a good night. She wanted to take Sally to the Clan’s house this weekend. Maybe have a picnic near the bush land and show her their powers. Celeste wanted to take things slow,
This was not supposed to happen.Hunter was still furious with members of the Clan interfering with this. And he knew Celeste’s Nona would not have stood for it. He couldn’t hold her leaving against her though. The Clan would never have accepted them if she hadn’t left; he just wished she was here to give Celeste a chance to be with her mate.As it was, they sat in the small living room, in nervous silence while Hunter made them a hot chocolate. He didn’t feel like there was much else he could do, but he needed to do something.Giving Celeste hers she offered him a pained smile that tugged at his heart. He tried to hand Sally hers but she wouldn’t unwrap her arms from around her body. He sighed, placing it on the coffee table in front of her and sitting on the arm of the chair Celeste had sunk into.“What’s going on?” Sally whispered. She wouldn’t even look at Celeste and his ma
“Oi, sweet cheeks!” Yuki called through Sally’s closed door, “you’re gonna be late to work, move your butt.”Sally buried herself further under her blankets.“I’m sick,” she managed loud enough for Yuki too hear. “I’m not going in today.”The lack of sleep and constant tears lent realism to her fib. Sally’s voice was croaky and dry, and her exhaustion filled each word. She felt bad lying to her best friend, but not bad enough to tell the truth and have to talk about it. At least she’d had the forethought to send a text to Kyra. It wouldn’t look good, it being her first week, but there wasn’t much else she could do.“Do you need anything, hun?” Yuki’s voice was instantly softer, worried. Sally wallowed in her guilt.“Just gonna sleep,” she managed, grateful for the soft ‘kay’ as her friend left her to it.&nb