Chapter Fifty-Three: Playing with Fire

Selene stood at the edge of the Darkfang war chamber, her fingers drumming lightly against the hilt of the dagger at her side. The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on, and she could feel the weight of a dozen gazes pressing against her.

Darkfang’s strongest warriors had gathered, their voices sharp with battle plans, their eyes burning with the need for vengeance.

Bloodmoon was moving.

And they were ready to strike.

Lucian sat at the head of the table, his fingers steepled beneath his chin, watching her with an unreadable expression. His ice-blue eyes flickered with something dangerous.

Selene knew that look.

It was the same one he always wore before setting something on fire.

"You’ve been quiet," Lucian murmured, breaking the silence between them.

Selene exhaled sharply, rolling her shoulders. "Just listening."

Lucian arched a brow. "And?"

Selene met his gaze evenly. "And you’re all about to make a mistake."

A few warriors scoffed, but Lucian simply smirked. "Enlighten us, little wolf."

Selene’s fingers curled into fists at the nickname, but she ignored it.

She turned to the gathered warriors, her voice steady, sharp.

"We don’t rush into battle. Not yet."

Another scoff. "Bloodmoon started this war," a lieutenant growled. "They drew first blood."

Selene’s silver eyes flashed.

"And if we let them control the pace of this war, they’ll finish it too."

That silenced the room.

Lucian chuckled, shaking his head. "So, what’s your plan?"

Selene exhaled slowly, already knowing how much they wouldn’t like it.

"We use Kieran."

A ripple of shock ran through the room.

One of the warriors scoffed. "The Bloodmoon Alpha? Are you insane?"

Selene’s voice remained calm. "Kieran is the key to ending this war before it destroys both packs."

Lucian tilted his head, intrigued. "How do you suggest we do that?"

Selene met his gaze evenly.

"We make him choose."

Because for all of Kieran’s power, for all of his loyalty to Bloodmoon—

He was still torn.

And Selene?

She was about to use that to burn Bloodmoon to the ground.