Chapter#45

Chapter#45
Selene’s POV

“Kaelen, you’re a woman?” Liam’s shocked voice rang in my ears like a death knell.

Fear clawed at my chest, sharp and suffocating, as I fled the rooftop garden. My torn tunic flapped against my thighs, barely covering my exposed skin. My secret, the lie I’d woven to survive, had unraveled in his hands.

His rage consumed him, and with it, the love he once promised me.

I trusted him. I loved him.

And now, I lay bare, not just as a woman, but as a fool.

I stumbled through as my breath hitched and tears blurred my vision. Knights and trainees milled about. I ducked into an alley of crates. My hands shook as I fumbled with a storage closet door. The rusty lock gave way, and I slipped inside, slamming it shut and sank to my knees.

The closet was cramped, reeking of mildew and old leather. My fingers clutched the torn tunic, pulling it tight over my chest, as if I could hide what Liam had seen. If Liam spoke, if anyone learned I was Theron’s daughter, Leandro would find me. He’d burn Emberclaw to ash to claim me.

A sob tore from my throat, “Why?” 

Why did I let Liam close? Why did I kiss him, let his hands roam, when I knew my secret was a blade at my throat? 

He was someone I could trust with my secret, but seeing what a wolf he was tonight, I didn’t know what to think. His rage shattered everything that was between us. 

He tore my tunic, ignored my pleas, and now he held my life in his hands. Will he tell? Will he betray me to drown his pain?

My mind spiraled, dragging me back to that day, my wedding day, when Silverthorn was drenched in the blood of its wolves. 

I was ready to fight Leandro the moment I heard he was coming to Ironfang. So why am I scared now? What exactly am I afraid of: Leandro himself, or the possibility that I don’t believe in myself?

My thoughts choked me, making my hands claw at the closet floor. 

I lived as Kaelen, my dead brother, for months. I trained, bled, fought to prove myself, all to hide from Leandro, to grow strong enough to kill him. But now? 

Now I was a girl again, vulnerable and exposed. Liam’s shocked eyes haunted me. 

Does he hate me for this? Or is it worse… does he pity me, a weak thing hiding behind a man’s name?

A creak outside the door snapped me back. Heavy footsteps echoed and paused near the closet. My heart pounded so fast I knew it would rip apart. 

“Selene?” Rowan’s low voice broke the ice, “I know you’re in there. Open the door.”

My hands trembled. 

Did Liam tell him? 

I didn’t want to face him, didn’t want to see the disappointment in his eyes. But I couldn’t ignore him. I crawled to the door, my fingers fumbling with the key, and cracked it open.

“Gods, what happened?” his voice was filled with worry, “And your tunic…” His gaze dropped to the torn fabric. “Who did this?” He quickly took off his fur mantle and put it on my shoulders.

I flinched, “It’s Liam… he knows,” my voice was barely audible as tears spilled down my cheeks. “He knows I’m not Kaelen. He knows I’m a woman. I’m sorry, Rowan. All of this is my fault.”

Rowan’s eyes widened. “How does he know?” he growled, clenching his hands. “Did he do this to you?”

I choked on the words as shame flooded me. “We were… kissing. On the roof. He was angry… hurt because of Alina…”

“Alina?” Rowan cut me off, “What did Alina do to him?”

“Alina was…” I stopped before I could let out the secret he trusted me with. “Rowan… I can’t tell you.”

My breathing quickened, and I opened my mouth, struggling to inhale and exhale. Rowan held my arms, trying to help me calm down.

“It’s okay… It’s okay…” His voice lowered, trying to comfort me. “Selene, look at me.” He held my face with both of his hands, making my watery eyes meet his. “Did Liam force himself on you?” 

“He…” I managed to speak, “He wanted more than a kiss. I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen… ” I held his hands, lowering my eyes. He tore my tunic, Rowan. Then he saw, my…”

“Hey, hey,” Rowan pulled me in a hug, “It’s okay, Selene. You’re okay, and that’s what matters.”

My voice broke as I tightened my arms around my brother, “I’m sorry, Rowan. I shouldn’t have…”

Rowan’s breath hissed out as he pulled back. His fists slammed against the door, “That bastard,” he snarled, “I’ll kill him for touching you. For forcing himself on you.” He let out a breath, shaking his head, “I shouldn’t have left you alone. Should’ve been there with you.”

“You know it’s not your fault. It’s mine. I let him close, even when you warned me. I thought… I believed he loved me.” My voice cracked as I snapped, holding his hands tighter, “Father died because of me. Kaelen died because of me. Mother… she died when I was born. Silverthorn is no more because of me…”

“Selene,” he silenced me mid-sentence, “Don’t you ever say that again. You’re my sister, and what I am… how I am… is all because of you. The only reason I feel like a wolf strong enough to look after you… is because of you. You made me strong and independent. You gave me the courage to fight. If you want to blame yourself, then blame yourself for how thankful I am to the gods for having you as my sister.”

A tear rolled down his cheek, but he wiped it away quickly.

“I trusted him with you.” his voice was rough, trembling with rage. “I don’t care if he knows your secret or not. I can’t bear the thought that he forced himself on you… tearing your tunic and exposing you like that!”

“Rowan, I…” I whispered as my hands clutched the mantle. 

“I’ll kill that bastard!” Rowan snapped and then met my eyes, “Let’s get you changed and take you to bed, okay? The fight with the rogues was already too much for you, and now this…” He left out a frustrated sigh, “Don’t blame yourself for anything. I’ll make sure Liam speaks about this with no one.”

I said nothing. My insides were filled with shame and guilt. Rowan could see that. I brushed the tears from my face and met his eyes again. I gave him a small, shaky nod, and he hugged me again.

“Selene, I promise I’ll fix everything.”