CHAPTER 68

Ariana’s POV

No wonder they weren’t outside my room. And here I thought Damien changed his mind.

Seline’s low, sultry laugh echoed once again as she tilted her head, giving the guard better access to her neck. The satisfaction radiating from her was unmistakable. But I don’t get it.

Didn’t she want Damien for herself? Why was she wasting her time being intimate with mere guards? It didn’t make sense.

I was just about to pull away from the door when her voice stopped me.

“This is what you’ll keep enjoying,” she purred, running her fingers along the chest of one of the guards. “As long as you follow my command.”

My stomach twisted. What?

The guards, eyes gleaming with lust, practically melted under her touch. “Anything you want,” one of them rasped. “We’ll do anything.”

A wicked smile curled Seline’s lips. "That’s what I like to hear."

Then, without warning, a strange shift occurred.

A faint green glow, like a swirling mist, began to seep from Seline’s fingertips. It slithered through the air, curling around the guards as though alive. The moment the energy touched them, their eyes darkened, their gazes glossed over — empty, compliant.

My breath caught. What is she doing?

"Now listen carefully," Seline commanded, her voice low but firm. "Keep your eyes on Ariana for me. And make sure she never gets close to me whenever I am unfolding a plan. And when the time is right…”

Her fingers twitched, the mist pulsing briefly. "You’ll get rid of her."

A chill ran down my spine.

The guards nodded in eerie unison, their blank expressions devoid of hesitation. It was like they had no will of their own — as though Seline had sunk her claws deep into their minds.

And once the green energy dissipated, their eyes flickered back to normal, the lifelessness gone in an instant. They blinked, completely unaware of what had just happened. Without a second thought, they returned to their twisted intimacy with Seline, like puppets oblivious to the strings that had just controlled them.

I pressed my hand against my mouth, forcing down the gasp threatening to escape. My pulse pounded in my ears. Seline has powers.

I always knew she was a manipulator — a skilled liar. But this? This was something else entirely. Werewolves aren’t supposed to have abilities like that.

A sudden wave of nausea twisted my stomach as I remembered her words from earlier.

"You might be overwhelmed finding out you have such powers. It’s your choice to tell anyone or not. I understand how it feels to discover something new inside you that you fear others might see you differently."

I thought she had been pretending — twisting her fake concern into some distorted attempt at bonding. But now I knew better. She wasn’t just pretending to understand.

She actually knew because she has powers.

But how? And why hadn’t anyone else noticed? Did Damien know? Surely, something like this couldn’t stay hidden. Unless…

Unless she was good at hiding it.

I stepped back from the door, moving carefully to avoid any creaks. My hands shook, but I forced myself to stay silent. One wrong sound, and she’d know I was here. And after what I just witnessed, I didn’t want to know what she’d do if she caught me.

\----

But I knew better.

The image of Seline and the guards still haunted my thoughts. The green mist, the glazed look in their eyes — it was impossible to forget. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw it again. She has powers. And now, she had two guards under her control.

And for what? To watch me. To eliminate me.

My stomach twisted.

But I couldn’t show it.

I had to act like nothing was wrong. Until I knew exactly what Seline was planning, I couldn’t afford to slip.

I was halfway down the corridor, lost in my thoughts, when an all-too-familiar voice rang out.

"Ariana!"

I looked up, and there she was — Seline. Radiant, poised and as deceptive as ever. A perfect mask of sweetness plastered across her face.

"Good morning," she said, her smile bright and warm, like she hadn’t just used her powers to manipulate the guards into puppets.

I forced my lips into a polite smile. "Morning."

Before I could escape, Sabrina and Vivian appeared from behind her, their usual smug expressions in place.

"Finally," Sabrina sneered, crossing her arms. "Have you come back to your senses about marrying Damien?"

"Or are you still planning to throw your life away like an idiot?" Vivian added with a grin.

My gaze flickered to Seline, half-expecting to see that same sinister satisfaction from last night. But no — she maintained her facade flawlessly, the perfect picture of concern.

For a moment, I wondered if she had somehow placed them under her control too. But I quickly dismissed the thought. Sabrina and Vivian didn’t need Seline’s influence to treat me like dirt. They’d hated me long before she came into the picture.

"My mind’s made up," I said calmly. "I’m not marrying Damien."

Vivian scoffed. "Unbelievable."

"You’re so selfish," Sabrina snapped. "Damien gives you everything, and you still act like some wounded little bird. Lycus rejected you, Ariana. He wouldn’t even glance your way now."

"That’s enough," Seline interrupted, stepping between us with an exaggerated sigh. "You shouldn’t pressure Ariana. She’s going through a lot, and it’s not our place to judge her decisions."

I nearly rolled my eyes. How noble of her.

"But Seline," Vivian whined, "We’re just worried. And you’re the only one that ever tries to knock some sense into her."

"Yes," Sabrina agreed. "And if we hear that you’re upset later, we’ll know whose fault it is."

Seline giggled softly, as though amused by their antics. "Oh, don’t worry about me. I can handle it."

She turned back to me, her expression so gentle it made my skin crawl.

"Ariana," she said sweetly. "Can I have a moment with you? Alone."

My heart thudded. She knows.

Seline wanted to talk to me, and after what I saw last night, I couldn’t shake the fear that she’d realized I had been spying on her.

"And remember," Vivian said with a pointed glare, "If we find out Seline’s upset, we’ll know who’s to blame."

"Goodbye, Vivian," I replied flatly.

The moment they disappeared down the corridor, Seline turned to me, her smile returning. But this time, something was different. She wasn’t as composed. Her hands fidgeted slightly, her gaze lowering. She almost seemed… nervous.

"Ignore what they said," she murmured, her voice softer than before. "They don’t understand you. They’ve never known how to be close to you because you’ve never let them."

I stiffened. "That’s because I don’t want to."

Seline’s smile faltered, but she quickly recovered. "I understand." She lowered her eyes, twisting her fingers together like a shy girl gathering her courage. "But that’s not why I wanted to talk to you."

"Then what is it?" I asked, growing impatient.

She took a breath, her eyes flickering back to mine.

"I wanted to ask you for a favor," she said softly. "Since we’re friends now."

Friends…how I hate that word now. I narrowed my eyes slightly, waiting for her to elaborate. Whatever Seline wanted, I doubted it was anything simple — not after everything I’d seen. But she stood there, twisting her fingers together like a timid child, as if she hadn’t been manipulating people the night before.

"And what exactly is this favor?" I asked, keeping my tone even.

Seline bit her lip, her gaze flickering with uncertainty. "I wanted to ask if… if you could reconsider the wedding."

My heart thudded. "No." The word left my lips before I could stop it.

For a moment, she looked genuinely disappointed. But then, as quickly as it came, she smoothed her expression. "I understand," she murmured. "And, to be honest, I was expecting that answer."

"Then why ask?"

"Because," she said, her voice trembling ever so slightly, "I have another idea."

My patience was wearing thin. "What idea?"

"You don’t have to actually marry Damien," she whispered. "Not on the day of the wedding."

I froze, confusion swirling through me. "What are you talking about?"

Seline stepped closer, lowering her voice as though the walls might overhear her. "I could take your place."

My brows furrowed. "What?"

She swallowed hard, as if summoning the courage to continue. "I know how much you hate the idea of marrying Damien. I see it in your eyes every time someone mentions the wedding. And if you don’t want to go through with it… you don’t have to."

"You're not making any sense," I snapped, though unease crept through me.

"I’ll do it." Her eyes gleamed with desperate sincerity. "I’ll marry Damien instead."