Chapter Sixty-One: Strategy of the Heart

Selene pressed her hands flat against the war table, the rough grain of the wood grounding her as she forced herself to focus. The map of Bloodmoon’s territory lay spread before her, the inked lines marking borders, strongholds, and places she once called home.

She ignored that thought.

She had spent years training herself to be stronger than the past.

Tonight would be no different.

Lucian stood across from her, arms crossed, his ice-blue eyes too knowing, too amused. He had spent the last several minutes watching her, waiting for her to say something she wasn’t ready to say.

He wasn’t going to get it.

Selene exhaled slowly. “Bloodmoon’s forces are gathering on the eastern front,” she said, tapping her finger against the map. “We should move our strongest warriors here.”

Lucian hummed, gaze flickering over the map—but not before flickering over her.

"Strategically sound," he admitted, his voice easy, too easy. "But tell me something, little wolf—how much of this plan is based on war, and how much of it is based on him?"

Selene’s stomach twisted.

She didn’t let it show.

Didn’t let her fingers tighten against the table. Didn’t let her breath catch, even as Kieran’s kiss burned fresh in her mind.

She met Lucian’s gaze evenly. "This has nothing to do with him."

Lucian smirked. "Liar."

Selene exhaled sharply, pushing back from the table. "If you’re not here to be serious, then leave."

Lucian just shook his head, his smirk softening into something almost unreadable.

"You think I don’t see it?" he murmured.

Selene clenched her jaw. "See what?"

Lucian leaned forward slightly, voice dropping. "The way he still gets to you."

Her breath stilled.

Lucian’s smirk widened. "Ah. There it is."

Selene hated that he saw through her so easily.

Hated that he was right.

But she wouldn’t admit it.

Wouldn’t let herself acknowledge the truth buried beneath layers of anger and war and years of pretending.

So instead, she lifted her chin. "What I feel or don’t feel doesn’t change the fact that Bloodmoon declared war."

Lucian tilted his head. "No. But it might change how you end it."

Selene stilled.

Because that?

That was the real problem.

She had come here tonight to make a plan.

To figure out how to win this war.

But there was one thing she hadn’t admitted.

She wasn’t sure what winning even looked like anymore.

Was it destroying Bloodmoon?

Or was it something else?

Something far more dangerous?

Selene exhaled slowly.

"Show me the battle formations again," she said, forcing herself to focus.

Lucian studied her for a moment longer.

Then, finally, he nodded.

And just like that—the moment was gone.

But as Selene stared down at the map, at the war she was about to lead, she couldn’t shake the truth that lingered beneath her skin.

This wasn’t just about strategy.

This wasn’t just about revenge.

This was about Kieran.

And whether she was ready to admit it or not—

He was going to change everything.