Mated by Midnight (Moonlight Mates #3)

Chapter 12

12

C eline sat at her desk, staring at the open sketchbook in front of her. The lines and shapes blurred together. She tapped her pencil against the paper absentmindedly, but her thoughts were far from the designs she was supposed to be working on. All she could think about was him.

Elijah.

Well, at first, all she could think about was Rylan and Liza and the affection between the two. But she replaced Rylan's face with Elijah's, and she replaced Liza inside his embrace with herself.

Celine wanted to be kissed by Elijah. She wanted to be held by Elijah. She wanted to be near him.

But he'd left again.

His words from earlier echoed in her mind, over and over; I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.

Did he really think that was the issue? That she didn’t want to be around him? That she couldn’t handle the tension between them?

He had been sitting outside the office all day yesterday, his presence lingering just on the edge of her awareness. Then she'd found him on the porch this morning, sitting in discomfort solely to make her feel comfortable. Had she misread everything?

Had he been waiting for her this whole time? Trying to give her space because he thought it was what she needed? What she wanted?

A voice pulled her out of her thoughts, but she barely registered it.

“Celine?” Liza’s voice cut through the haze, but Celine only nodded absently, her fingers still tracing the edge of the sketchbook.

The air in the office felt heavy, suffocating. Every time she tried to focus on her designs, her thoughts slipped back to Elijah—his steady gaze, the way he had stood there on the porch earlier, trying to give her space. She hadn’t expected it, and now it left her feeling hollow, like she was missing something vital.

“Celine.” Maize’s voice was sharper this time, a little more insistent. “What do you think about the layout of the garden courtyard? Should we extend the pathways or keep it simple?”

“Uh… simple,” Celine muttered, barely glancing at the blueprint Maize had laid out in front of her.

There was a brief pause. Then a snap of fingers in front of her face. Celine blinked, startled. Her eyes refocused on the two women staring at her with matching expressions of concern.

“Hello? Earth to Celine?” Maize said, her brow arched in amusement, though there was a hint of frustration there. “You’ve been zoning out for the last ten minutes.”

“Sorry,” Celine mumbled, trying to shake herself out of the fog. “I’m just… distracted.”

Maize leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. “Oh, I know exactly what you’re distracted by.” Her tone was playful but edged with seriousness. "Or rather, who."

Celine opened her mouth to protest, but Maize cut her off. “He stayed out there all day yesterday. You want to be with him. So why aren’t you?”

Liza, who had been quietly observing, leaned forward. “She’s right, Celine. It’s written all over your face."

"Because I don't understand him," Celine said. "He's a wolf. Shouldn't he be chasing after me? Instead, he keeps giving me space. That's not normal. Right?"

"Elijah doesn’t know how to be in a relationship," said Liza. "He’s never had to figure it out before. Neither have you, if we’re being honest.”

Celine bit her lip at the truth in those words. She looked down at her hands, which were now clasped tightly in her lap. “It’s not that simple. There’s the bond… and I don’t know if that’s all he sees in me.”

Liza shook her head, her gaze softening. “Celine, it’s not just about the bond. The bond is a connection, sure, but it’s not the only thing that matters. Elijah’s trying to be respectful. You're uncertain. And you’re both just dancing around each other.”

Maize leaned forward, her voice firm. “Look, I’m going to say this because I care about you. If you want him, go get him. Stop letting fear or uncertainty keep you from being happy.”

Celine looked at them both, her throat tightening as emotions swirled inside her. “I’ve never felt like anyone really wanted me… for me,” she admitted quietly, her voice trembling slightly. “I've always felt like a bargaining chip as the Alpha's daughter. No one ever wanted me for me."

"There's nothing Elijah could get from your dad. Except for his permission to marry you."

"But what if that’s all he sees? What if… what if I’m just the bond to him?”

Liza reached out, placing a hand on her arm. “The bond doesn’t define your worth. You do. And Elijah? He wouldn’t be hanging around, waiting for you, if it was just the bond pulling him.”

Celine swallowed hard, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. She had been so afraid—afraid that this connection was only because of fate, not because of something real, something deeper. The bond between them was undeniable, but bonds like this weren’t a choice. And that’s what terrified her.

She had watched her parents choose each other every day of their lives, even without a bond pulling them together. There was something sacred about that. Choosing to stay, to love, to be with someone not because fate said so, but because they said so.

Though she’d always longed for a fated mate deep in her heart, she had also craved the kind of love she’d seen between her parents. If she were honest, she wanted both. She wanted Elijah to look at her and choose her—not just because of the bond, but because he wanted her, because he loved her.

But maybe, just maybe, she needed to trust herself more. Trust that she was more than enough for Elijah, bond or no bond. That he could choose her just as much as fate had. That this connection they shared wasn’t just written in the stars, but something they could build, moment by moment, choice by choice.

“Maybe you should both figure it out together,” Liza suggested gently. “Not apart.”

Celine let out a shaky breath, nodding slowly. They were right. She had been holding back, doubting herself and the connection they had. But what if the bond was just the beginning? What if there was more between them—more that they could only discover by letting go of their fears and taking a chance?

Maize gave her a playful nudge. “Take off work early. Hell, take tomorrow off too. Go get your man.”

The knot in Celine's chest loosened. “You’re right,” she said, standing up and grabbing her bag. “I’m going to do this.”

Both Liza and Maize grinned, encouraging her as she headed for the door. Her heart raced with a mix of excitement and nerves, but one thing was clear in her mind now.

It was time to stop waiting.

It was time to stop doubting.

It was time to go after Elijah.