70

The morning came too soon.

Selene barely felt the weight of sleep before the knock at her door shattered the silence. The world outside was still dark, a thin veil of twilight stretching across the sky as she forced herself to rise. Lucian never gave her time to breathe.

When she opened the door, he stood there, looking just as unshaken as ever. Not a hair out of place, not a trace of exhaustion on his face. It was infuriating.

“Get dressed,” he said. “We leave in ten minutes.”

Selene wanted to slam the door in his face. Instead, she bit her tongue and did as she was told.

By the time she reached the courtyard, the others were already gathered—warriors lined in neat rows, their faces emotionless, their presence intimidating. Darkfang wolves stood tall, their unity unshaken.

And then there was Kieran.

He stood at the edge of the gathering, his gaze fixed on her.

The moment their eyes met, it was like the world paused.

His dark eyes burned with something fierce, something raw.

She swallowed hard, her heartbeat betraying her.

He knew.

He knew what she had spent the night trying to bury.

Lucian moved beside her, and just like that, the connection broke.

“We ride to the Council,” Lucian announced, his voice cold, calculated. “There will be no room for weakness. No room for mistakes.”

His gaze flickered to Selene—so brief, so subtle, but she felt it.

He was talking to her.

Kieran stepped forward. “The Bloodmoon Pack will escort you to the border.”

Lucian’s lip curled. “How generous.”

Tension crackled between them.

Selene stepped between them before it could escalate further. “Let’s just go.”

Neither of them moved at first.

Then, finally, Lucian turned, striding toward his horse.

Kieran’s voice was low when he spoke. Only for her.

“Be careful, Selene.”

She didn’t look back.

The journey was long, the silence suffocating.

Selene rode beside Lucian, her mind swirling.

“Whatever’s on your mind,” Lucian said, not looking at her, “bury it.”

Selene tensed. “I’m fine.”

Lucian exhaled sharply. “You forget I know you.”

She turned to him, frustrated. “And you forget that I don’t belong to you.”

His jaw tightened.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then, Lucian’s voice dropped. Dangerous. Final.

“You will.”

Selene’s breath caught.

Before she could respond, the sound of rustling in the trees made them both freeze.

Then—

A low, guttural growl.

Lucian’s hand went to his sword.

Selene’s heart pounded.

The attack came fast.

Wolves lunged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

Selene barely had time to react before claws slashed through the air.

She twisted, dodging, her dagger flashing as she struck back.

Lucian was already moving, cutting through the ambush with lethal precision.

But they were outnumbered.

Selene’s instincts took over. She fought without hesitation, her movements fluid, deadly.

But then—

A flash of silver.

A dagger aimed straight for her heart.

Before she could react—

Kieran.

He tackled her to the ground, the blade missing her by inches.

Their bodies collided, his warmth, his scent overwhelming her.

For a split second, it was just them.

His face was so close.

His breath hitched.

And in his eyes—

Fire.

She was shaking.

Not from fear.

From him.

Kieran clenched his jaw. “You’re not dying today, Selene.”

And then he was gone, lost in the chaos of battle.

Selene’s heart thundered in her chest.

This was dangerous.

He was dangerous.

And yet—

She wasn’t sure she wanted to escape.