66
Selene barely made it back inside the Darkfang stronghold before her composure cracked.
Her breathing was uneven, her chest tight as she pressed a hand against the cool stone wall. She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing herself to steady the erratic rhythm of her heart.
Damn him.
Damn Kieran for looking at her like that. For making her feel like the past wasn’t dead and buried.
For making her doubt everything.
She shouldn’t have gone out there. She shouldn’t have let him get close enough to see the truth in her eyes.
A sharp knock echoed against the door.
Selene stiffened, pushing off the wall. “What?”
The door swung open, and Lucian stepped inside. His golden gaze swept over her, taking in the tension in her shoulders, the way her hands clenched into fists.
“You saw him,” he said, voice calm but edged with something unreadable.
Selene forced herself to meet his gaze. “He crossed into our land. I sent him away.”
Lucian studied her. “Did you?”
Her jaw tightened. “Yes.”
A long silence stretched between them. Lucian didn’t move, didn’t speak. He just watched her.
It made her skin prickle.
Finally, he exhaled, shaking his head. “Selene, you can lie to yourself all you want. But you can’t lie to me.”
She stiffened. “I’m not—”
“I know what he is to you,” Lucian cut in. His voice wasn’t cruel, but it was firm. “And I know it isn’t easy.”
Selene clenched her fists. “It doesn’t matter.”
Lucian’s gaze darkened. “It matters more than you think.”
She shook her head. “I made my choice.”
Lucian studied her for another long moment, then sighed. “Maybe you have. But tell me, Selene—if Kieran was truly nothing to you, why do you look like you’re about to fall apart?”
Her breath caught.
Lucian didn’t wait for an answer. He turned and strode toward the door, his voice quiet as he spoke. “Be careful, Selene. The past has a way of coming back when you least expect it.”
And then he was gone.
Selene barely slept that night.
Her mind wouldn’t quiet, her body tense with unspoken thoughts.
By morning, she forced herself into routine. She trained with the warriors, strategized with Elias, and buried herself in anything that would keep her from thinking about last night.
But it didn’t work.
Kieran’s voice still lingered in her mind.
"Tell me you feel nothing, and I’ll leave."
Her throat tightened. Damn him.
She was sparring with one of the younger warriors when a sharp whistle cut through the air.
Elias stood at the edge of the training ground, his expression unreadable. “We have a situation.”
Selene dropped her stance, wiping sweat from her brow. “What is it?”
Elias didn’t answer immediately. He just gestured for her to follow.
That was never a good sign.
Selene’s stomach twisted the moment she stepped into the war room.
Lucian stood at the head of the table, arms crossed. A scout knelt before him, shoulders tense.
The moment the scout saw Selene, he hesitated.
Lucian’s golden eyes flickered toward her. “Say it.”
The scout swallowed hard. “It’s Bloodmoon.”
Selene stiffened.
“What about them?” she demanded.
The scout hesitated, then said, “They’re moving again.”
The room went still.
Elias frowned. “How many?”
“A full unit. Maybe more.”
Selene’s pulse pounded. Kieran, what the hell are you doing?
Lucian exhaled. “Where?”
The scout hesitated, then turned to Selene. “They’re heading toward the old river pass. Near the place you and Kieran used to meet.”
Her breath caught.
A heavy silence stretched between them.
Selene forced herself to stay composed. “Then we intercept them.”
Elias nodded. “I’ll gather the warriors.”
Lucian studied her. “Are you sure you want to lead this?”
Selene’s jaw tightened. “I’m sure.”
Lucian didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t argue.
“Then let’s move,” he said.
And just like that, they were at war again.
The sun was setting by the time they reached the river pass.
Selene moved silently through the trees, her warriors at her back. The air was thick with tension, the scent of Bloodmoon wolves lingering on the wind.
And then—she saw him.
Kieran stood near the water’s edge, his pack behind him. He wasn’t dressed for war. No armor, no weapons drawn.
Selene stepped forward, her heart pounding. “What the hell are you doing here, Kieran?”
His blue eyes met hers, steady. “We need to talk.”
Selene clenched her fists. “You brought warriors into our land to ‘talk’?”
Kieran’s gaze didn’t waver. “I brought them to keep me from doing something stupid.”
Her breath hitched.
Lucian stepped beside her, his golden gaze cold. “If this is a trap, Kieran, you’ll regret it.”
Kieran didn’t even look at him. His focus remained on Selene.
“It’s not a trap,” he said quietly. “But we need to talk. Alone.”
Lucian scoffed. “Not happening.”
Selene hesitated.
Everything in her screamed that this was reckless, dangerous.
But deep down, she knew—if she didn’t hear him out, she might regret it forever.
She took a step forward. “Fine.”
Lucian tensed. “Selene—”
She lifted a hand. “I can handle myself.”
Lucian didn’t look pleased, but he didn’t argue.
Kieran exhaled, stepping away from his warriors. Selene followed, her pulse hammering.
They stopped near the river, just far enough that no one could hear them.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Then—Kieran said softly, “Do you ever wonder what would have happened if things had been different?”
Her throat tightened.
Yes.
Every damn day.
But she couldn’t say that.
She lifted her chin. “It doesn’t matter.”
Kieran’s jaw clenched. “Doesn’t it?”
Selene forced herself to stay strong. “You made your choice, Kieran.”
His expression darkened. “And you think it was easy?”
Her breath caught.
Kieran took a step closer. “You think I wanted this? To push you away?”
She didn’t answer.
Because she was afraid of what she might say.
Kieran exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “I did what I thought was right. But every single day, I regret it.”
Her heart twisted.
He was too close now, his scent wrapping around her like a curse.
“Selene,” he whispered.
She swallowed hard. “Kieran, don’t—”
But then—his fingers brushed against hers.
And for just one moment—she let him.
Just one moment of weakness.
And it felt like falling.