Chapter Fifty-Two: A War Between Hearts

Selene could still feel the heat of Kieran’s presence long after she walked away.

She hated that.

Hated that even now—**after all the lies, all the betrayals, all the years lost between them—**he could still get under her skin.

She walked swiftly through Darkfang’s estate, past flickering torches and the watchful gazes of warriors who had long since grown accustomed to her presence.

She should have gone straight to her chambers.

Should have locked the door, shut out the world, forced herself to forget.

But forgetting wasn’t an option.

Not when her heart was still pounding.

Not when Kieran’s voice still echoed in her mind, raw and unguarded.

"I don’t know how to stop loving you."

Selene clenched her jaw, shoving the words out of her head.

She had to stop this.

Had to stop letting him get to her.

Because if she didn’t—**if she let herself believe that there was anything left between them worth saving—**she would lose.

And Selene Nightshade didn’t lose.

Not to Kieran Blackwood.

Not to anyone.

The Past That Won’t Die

She turned a corner and nearly collided with Lucian.

His expression was unreadable, his ice-blue eyes sharp as they flickered over her. “That bad, huh?”

Selene exhaled sharply, running a hand over her face. “Not now, Lucian.”

Lucian smirked. “You look like a woman about to throw herself into a fight just for the sake of punching something.”

Selene gritted her teeth. “Don’t tempt me.”

Lucian let out a low chuckle but didn’t push. He just tilted his head, studying her with that infuriating gaze that always saw too much.

“I take it lover boy made his move,” he murmured.

Selene stiffened.

Lucian’s smirk widened. “Ah. So he did.”

She turned sharply, voice clipped. “Kieran is nothing to me.”

Lucian hummed, unconvinced. “Sure.”

Selene narrowed her eyes. “Say whatever it is you’re going to say, Lucian.”

Lucian crossed his arms, watching her like a predator watching prey. “Just an observation, little wolf.”

Selene hated when he called her that.

Because it made her feel seen.

Like he could peer straight into her soul and see all the things she wasn’t ready to face.

Lucian leaned in slightly, voice dropping. “The problem with men like Kieran is that they don’t know how to let go.”

Selene’s throat tightened.

Because she knew that.

She had felt that.

Every time Kieran looked at her.

Every time he said her name like it was a prayer wrapped in regret.

And it was dangerous.

Dangerous to pretend it didn’t affect her.

Dangerous to think that anything between them could ever be the same.

Selene swallowed hard, stepping past Lucian. “I don’t have time for this.”

Lucian let her go, but not before he called after her, his voice lazy but knowing.

“Neither does he.”

She kept walking.

Didn’t stop.

Didn’t look back.

Because she wasn’t ready for what she might find if she did.

A War Brewing

The next morning, Selene stood at the edge of the Darkfang war council’s chambers, her arms crossed as she listened to the reports coming in.

The tension in the room was thick.

Bloodmoon had started moving their forces.

Border skirmishes had already begun.

The war wasn’t coming anymore.

It was here.

Lucian sat at the head of the table, fingers steepled beneath his chin. His face was unreadable, but his eyes were sharp. Calculating.

“We need to strike first,” one of Darkfang’s lieutenants growled. “Bloodmoon declared war—let’s give them one.”

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room.

Selene stayed silent, but her mind was already spinning.

Because there was one thing no one in this room seemed to be considering.

Kieran.

Not just as an enemy.

Not just as the Alpha of the opposing pack.

But as the man she once knew.

The man she once—

She cut off the thought before it could finish.

Lucian shifted his gaze to her, his expression unreadable. “You’re quiet.”

Selene exhaled slowly. “I’m thinking.”

One of the warriors scoffed. “We don’t have time for thinking. Bloodmoon is making their move now.”

Selene’s silver eyes flashed.

“And that’s exactly why we don’t rush in like fools,” she said, voice calm but firm.

Silence settled in the room.

Lucian watched her carefully. “Go on.”

Selene took a breath. “Bloodmoon may have declared war, but we need to be careful about how we respond. Rushing into battle might be what they’re expecting.”

Lucian arched a brow. “And what do you suggest?”

Selene met his gaze evenly.

“We need leverage.”

Lucian smirked, intrigued. “And you think you have an idea?”

Selene nodded once.

She had more than an idea.

She had a plan.

One that could shift the war in their favor.

One that involved Kieran.

One that—if she played it right—could end this before it spiraled beyond control.

Lucian chuckled, shaking his head. “I do love when you get that look in your eye.”

Selene ignored him.

Because there was only one thing on her mind now.

Winning.

And if Kieran Blackwood thought he could stand in her way?

He was about to learn just how wrong he was.