Chapter Fifty-Four: A Trap of the Heart

Selene stood in the heart of the Darkfang war chamber, her pulse steady, her mind sharp. She knew the warriors around her were skeptical. Kieran was their sworn enemy—Bloodmoon’s Alpha.

But Selene wasn’t interested in playing by their rules.

She was interested in winning.

Lucian leaned back in his chair, the flickering candlelight casting sharp shadows across his face. His smirk was lazy, but his ice-blue eyes were sharp.

"Let me get this straight," he said. "You want to use your former mate—the man who just declared war on us—as leverage against his own pack?"

Selene didn’t flinch. "Yes."

One of the Darkfang warriors scoffed. "You really think Kieran Blackwood is weak enough to turn on his own people?"

Selene turned to him, her silver eyes flashing. "No. But I think he’s torn."

Silence.

She let the words settle, let them sink into the minds of the wolves around her.

Kieran wasn’t just Bloodmoon’s Alpha.

He was a man who had been forced to betray her.

A man who had spent years regretting it.

And that?

That was a weakness she could use.

Lucian chuckled, shaking his head. "And how exactly do you plan on making him choose, little wolf?"

Selene exhaled slowly.

"I give him a reason to."

Lucian arched a brow. "And that reason is?"

Selene hesitated—just for a moment.

Because this?

This wasn’t just a strategy.

This was dangerous.

But she had already made her decision.

She lifted her chin, her voice steady.

"Me."

Lucian’s smirk widened. "Oh, this is going to be fun."

Selene ignored him.

Because she wasn’t playing this game for fun.

She was playing to win.