Chapter 88

Matt

Jack ripping off Rose's…no…Celeste's mask had ripped off Matt's as well. As he stared at the girl who had given him so many conflicted feelings, he wondered how he had missed all the signs before.

Celeste's scent, one that he was as familiar with as his own, surrounded him. Had he been so blinded by love that he'd failed to recognize it when she was near him? How could he have possibly thought that she was a different person?

A muscle ticked in his jaw. Matt was pissed. He was pissed off at Jack for ruining the moment, he was pissed off at Celeste for lying to him, but most of all he was pissed off at himself.

The girl he had been lusting after since he'd first laid eyes on her was the same girl he'd fallen in love with. He had fallen in love with someone that he couldn't have. And what made it worse was that Celeste knew what he was and had accepted him. He wasn't sure if he would ever find that again.

Disappointment rushed through him. Matt could have had his cake and eat it too if it hadn't been for that fucking promise he'd made to Jack. Even though he was angry, all he wanted to do was take Celeste into his arms and say that it would be okay. That he had already forgiven her. That he loved her.

But Jack was still standing next to them, watching everything with a cruel smile. He couldn't do it. Not here. He'd have to put on a show and then pray that Celeste would see through it.

Celeste's body was shaking with suppressed sobs. It tore at Matt's heartstrings. He hated seeing her like this.

As gently as he could, he wrapped his hands around her wrists and pulled them away from her face. Out of his peripheral, he saw Jack's eyes narrow. He definitely didn't like Matt touching his sister. Too bad. Matt had never been a cruel person and he wasn't going to start now for Jack's benefit.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Matt," Celeste said, refusing to look at him. He could barely understand her through her tears. He grabbed her chin and brought her face to his, not letting go so she couldn't escape.

"You're sorry? For what? For lying to me? For pretending to be someone else? For making me fall for you? Tell me, Celeste. Was any of it real?"

As the question left his lips, Matt realized he actually meant it. While he didn't think Celeste would ever do something like that to him, he couldn't help the feeling that he had been played for a fool.

Celete's bottom lip quivered and it took everything in his power not to swipe his thumb across it.

"Of course it was real. I would never lie to you about that. It's just…I never thought you'd like me when I looked like me," she said, motioning to herself. Matt had no idea what she was talking about. She was beautiful.

"So I made up Rose so I could talk to you without constantly worrying about what I looked like. That's all it was. Please, Matt. I'm still me. I'm still Rose. Just in this body," she continued, eyes wide and pleading.

Matt almost caved then. He almost said to hell with it, but Jack's presence stopped him. There was a good chance that if Matt didn't do this, Jack would lock Celeste away and he'd never see her again.

"Do you honestly think I could trust you after this? Do you think I could even look at you? You're my best friend's little sister. And that's all you'll ever be," Matt said, stepping away. Celeste's body folded in on itself as she sank to her knees.

"Please, Matt…please forgive me. I..I love you," Celeste whispered into her hands and if he hadn't been a wolf, he wouldn't have heard her.

"We're done, Celeste." He knew this would be the final nail in the coffin.

She hadn't believed him. She hadn't seen through his performance. She thought so little of herself that she couldn't see his true feelings. Matt felt his heartbreak. He may have just ruined everything that they had.

"Do you hear that Celeste? No one could ever possibly want you. You can put on a pretty dress, but that doesn't cover up the ugly underneath," Jack sneered and Matt wanted to punch him. How could he talk that way to his own sister?

"Run home, Celeste. You're not welcome here," Jack added and nudged her with his foot. The crowd around us cheered and started to chant "Go home." Matt could feel his fingers changing into claws and he squeezed them into fists before anyone could see.

Celeste rose shakily to her feet, her head down as she moved through the jeering students. Matt wanted to run after her, to tell her he hadn't meant anything he'd said, but he couldn't.

Especially when Jack clapped him on the back and turned him away from her. "I'm so sorry about that, man. I know you really had a thing for Rose," he said out loud, but he leaned in to whisper, "But if you fucking touch my sister again, I will fucking kill you"

Jack shifted in a way so that Matt could see the gun strapped beneath his arm. He pressed his lips together. He knew Jack was serious. Werewolf or not, he couldn't heal from a bullet to the head.

"Of course not, man. I made a promise. I intend to keep it," Matt told him, laughing as if none of it really mattered to him.

Jack considered him for a moment before grinning. "Alright, then. Enjoy your party. I have to go take her home before she gets into anymore trouble."

Jack left without another word. Matt let out a sigh of frustration. This had all become such a mess. If Celeste had just been truthful with him, he could have found a way around Jack. He might have even been able to convince him that he was good enough for her. But that had just gone down the drain.

There was no way he could enjoy the ball anymore. The whole reason he had come was to be with Rose and she wasn't here anymore. He didn't want to be there. As quick as he could, he made his way to the exit, ignoring the sympathy pats on the back that he got from everyone.

He had inadvertently made Celeste enemy number one. Her life was going to be hell on campus after this. Matt suspected he wouldn't see Celeste for a while and Jack would probably keep her even closer than he usually did.

Matt groaned. As much as he wanted to fix everything right now, he would have to wait. This situation was going to be delicate. One wrong move and the whole thing could blow up on his face.

Matt squared his shoulders as he walked back home. In the meantime, he would just have to pour all of his energy into hunting the rogue werewolf. That would be a good distraction while he bided his time.