Chapter#53

Chapter#53
Selene’s POV

My wolf whimpered, torn between the mate bond and the truth I’d admitted under that cursed moon: Varian was the wolf I chose. I had to find him, confess everything, and let him claim me.

The academy gates swung open, and a cheer erupted, jarring my thoughts. Captain Torin stood at the forefront, grinning. “Rowan!” he bellowed, “You’ve done Ironfang proud. You’ve been a good leader. The way your team planned and fought rogues brought honor to our name. You’ve made the academy proud.”

Cheers roared through, praising us, but my mind was elsewhere. Hands clapped my shoulders, voices praised our bravery, but my eyes darted through the sea of faces, searching, desperate. 

Where is Varian? 

“Kaelen,” Caden rubbed my shoulder, “You okay?”

I forced a nod, “Just… tired,” I lied as my gaze still scanned the crowd. 

Torin’s praise continued, but it was background noise, drowned by the growing dread in my gut. Varian had to be here. He had to be.

Caden pulled me and Rowan aside. His face was grim as he led us to a quiet corner of the courtyard. “Leandro’s arriving at Ironfang anytime,” He stammered.

“I thought he’d leave before we came back.” Rowan kicked the ground and then breathed, “We should pack and leave before he enters those gates.”

The words hit like a blow, stealing my breath. “No,” I choked out, “I’m done running, Rowan. This isn’t what Father taught us.”

Rowan’s eyes blazed, “You think you can face him? Leandro? Selene! He’ll claim you, maybe put you in chains, and I won’t let that happen!”

“I’m not a child!” I snapped, stepping closer as my fists balled. “I’m my father’s daughter, Rowan. I’m Silverthron’s princess. Daughter of the great Alpha Theron. I won’t let him chase me forever. I’ll stay and fight. It is now or never.”

“You’ll die!” he roared, “You think you’re ready? You’re not!” He let out a sharp breath and then snapped, “We’re not ready. Look at us. How can we fight his army and him… alone?”

“I’ll let him chain me then,” I growled, “But I won’t run. You both can leave if you want to. I’m staying here.”

“You weren’t like this, Selene.” Rowan grabbed my arm as his voice softened, “Kaelen and Father made me responsible for your safety. Grab your things and meet me at the gate with Caden in twenty.”

I snapped my arms away, hissing while staring into his eyes, “I am not leaving. I will look Leandro in the eye, and in front of the whole academy, I’ll tell him I’m not afraid anymore. I’m done hiding myself, Rowan.”

“Enough, Selene!” Rowan growled, making me stumble back. “We’re leaving and that’s final!”

“Stop it, both of you! Fighting won’t help.” Caden stepped between us, arms outstretched, trying to hold the storm at bay. He turned to me. “Selene, Rowan’s right. We need to leave before he gets here. Think about it… he’ll kill both of us and take you. Your life will be over. How will you avenge our Alpha if you’re chained to him as a slave… or a mate in shackles?”

Caden was right. I hated it, but he was. If I stayed, I wouldn’t be fighting for my pack… I’d be surrendering to the very monster who destroyed it.

But I shook my head. 

Blood boiled in my veins, and maybe I wasn’t thinking straight, but I didn’t care. Everything that was happening… it was because of him. And I wanted him dead. I didn’t have the time or the patience to play it safe anymore.

I shouted. “I’m done being his prey.” I turned, storming toward the barracks. 

Fear coiled in my gut, but I pushed it down. Leandro was coming, and I was terrified, but I wanted to end him today. 

I slumped onto my mattress, letting out a low groan. The weight in my chest pressed down harder the moment I closed my eyes. My thoughts drifted: first to my father, then to Kaelen. I missed them. Missed them in a way that hurt bone-deep. 

Tears slid silently down my cheeks as memories flickered behind my lids. The way Kaelen used to ruffle my hair. The warmth in my father’s arms when he hugged me like the world couldn’t touch me. 

And then, Damien’s face surfaced in my mind.

I remembered the last day we spoke. The way his eyes lit up when he saw me in my wedding dress. How his tone shifted when he called me beautiful, like he couldn’t believe I was really his. I remembered his lips on mine. There had been so much love in those moments… so much I hadn’t known I would ache for.

Now, all I had were the pieces.

Then suddenly, a scent caught my attention. It was faint, but I recognised it instantly. It pulled me back to reality in an instant. Varian.

My heart leapt. A desperate ache surged through me, and I ran, following the pull like a lifeline.

I didn’t think, didn’t stop. I just let it lead me to him.

I burst into the main hall, breath caught in my throat, hoping I’d find him here. My eyes scanned the room, frantic. I was certain I’d find him.

But then…

My blood froze.

Leandro stood in the center of the hall, his eyes locked onto mine.

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. His gaze pinned me in place like a blade through the heart. 

And before I could even think of doing anything, he started walking toward me.

My throat went dry, and my heart pounded so loudly I swore it echoed through the hall.

“Took you long enough.” A familiar voice sliced through the silence. I spun around instinctively.

Varian?

He was striding toward us with open arms. But his eyes didn’t even land on me. He walked right past me like I didn’t exist… and pulled Leandro into a tight embrace, like a brother long missed.

Leandro collapsed into him, hugging him back.

My heart stopped.

Varian turned, and his gaze landed on me. “Why’re you staring, traniee?” he hissed, “Kneel to your Alpha.”

The words hit like a blow.

My knees buckled, hitting the cold stone as my hands clutched the ground for balance. I bowed my head, blinking through the tears that burned my eyes.

Varian, the one who once made me feel like I was the only thing that mattered, the one my heart ached for, was his ally? Leandro’s?

The wolf I trusted… the man I love… is a traitor?

My wolf howled, letting a raw scream of betrayal echo through my bones. My chest felt like it was splitting in half, torn between fury and heartbreak.

“Excuse us, will you?” Varian muttered before the two of them walked right past me.

My legs trembled as I forced myself upright, watching them disappear down the hall. Varian didn’t even glance back. Not even once.

Rowan was right. Varian wasn’t someone I should’ve trusted.

And yet… my heart still screamed otherwise.

I stood there, torn in too many directions. My heart, my mind, my gut… each one pulled me somewhere different. I didn’t know who to listen to anymore. 

But what hurt me the most was that my wolf still wanted him to claim her.