Chapter 10 Bullies
Christopher held Selene a moment longer than necessary, the warmth of his body anchoring hers as the quiet of the room wrapped around them. Slowly, almost deliberately, he leaned down. Their lips met in a soft, testing brush at first, a delicate exploration, the kind that set hearts hammering.
Selene’s eyes fluttered closed, letting herself savor the contact while keeping a thread of awareness for the world outside. Her wolf purred low, curled around his presence like smoke and fire, alert, hungry. Christopher’s hand moved to the small of her back, pulling her closer, as if claiming her in a way words could not.
The kiss deepened, slow, careful, each movement deliberate. Selene tilted her head slightly, letting the motion guide them both, teasing, giving just enough to draw him in but never fully surrendering control.
Christopher’s fingers tangled lightly in her hair, his other hand pressing firmly against her side. His wolf stirred, a fierce, low growl of possession. “Selene…” he murmured against her lips, voice thick with unspoken claim. “You’re mine.”
Selene’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile against his. “Oh? You think I don’t know that already? Who would even dare to own me beside you?” she whispered, her voice soft yet dripping with mischief. The words sent a shiver down his spine, and his jaw clenched involuntarily, heat coursing through him.
Her hands traced along his shoulders, teasing and guiding. The kiss became more insistent, slow-burning, intimate and lingering at the edge of hunger but restrained by careful, measured control. Christopher’s breath hitched, the tension between them crackling like wildfire.
A sudden voice interrupted the moment. “Selene, where are you? The beta is looking for Christopher!”
Selene pulled back slightly, eyes sparkling with a teasing fire. “Ah,” she said softly, voice lilting, “looks like the fun ends here for now.”
Christopher’s lips twitched into a smirk, a low chuckle escaping him despite himself. “You’re going to regret teasing me like that,” he muttered, though his eyes were still warm, lingering on her with restrained desire.
Selene stepped back, letting her gaze linger on him. “Oh… I don’t think so,” she replied, voice smooth, seductive, a faint promise hidden between the words. She allowed just a hint of a smirk before turning toward the sound of her aunt’s voice, walking out with an air of calm control.
Christopher shook his head subtly, still smiling, heat and frustration mingling as he followed her with his eyes. The tension between them had not diminished—it had only grown, simmering, waiting for the next stolen moment.
Days passed after that, each one blending into the next. Selene moved through her daily routine with a calculated grace, confident, charming, untouchable on the surface—but every glance, every encounter with Christopher reminded her of the intimate moment they had shared.
Christopher, in turn, carried the memory like fire beneath his calm exterior, the restrained heat lingering in his gaze whenever Selene was near.
And Selene? She smiled sweetly, appearing composed, serene, all the while sharpening her mind and senses, planning, watching, always observing—because nothing had changed. She had survived once. She would survive again. And when the time was right… she would strike, reclaim, and dominate her own fate.
But for now, the stolen glances, the soft teasing, and the subtle marks of possession remained unspoken, simmering in the quiet between them.
The days that followed moved with deceptive calm.
Selene felt it first in the smallest moments. The pause before footsteps, the weight of a gaze lingering too long. Across lecture halls and stone corridors, Christopher’s eyes found her again and again, drawn as if by instinct rather than choice. Their glances collided briefly before either of them looked away.
It was subtle but Kai noticed.
At first, irritation flickered behind Kai’s practiced smile. A tightening at the corners of her lips, a brief hardening of her eyes whenever Christopher’s attention drifted. Selene caught it all, every micro-reaction, every shift in posture and instead of retreating, she leaned into it.
She let her laughter carry just a little longer when Christopher was nearby. She held his gaze a second too long. She smiled softly but not flirtatious, not bold but warm enough to invite interpretation.
Kai’s patience snapped.
Selene felt it ripple through the academy before she heard it outright. Whispers followed her through the corridors, slipping between students like smoke. Kai moved carefully and strategically, never accusing, never confronting outright. She spoke softly, sweetly, always with concern painted across her face.
“I’m just worried about Selene,” Kai said softly, her voice gentle, almost regretful. She folded her hands together as if bracing herself. “She hasn’t been herself lately.”
“I think the pressure’s finally getting to her,” one of their classmates added, nodding in agreement.
A girl with wavy blond hair scoffed, crossing her arms. Kate—one of the school’s known bullies and, conveniently, Kai’s closest friend—tilted her head. “Did you notice how she flirts with Christopher every chance she gets? I mean, I get that they’re in a relationship, but isn’t it a bit much?” Her lips curled faintly. “Especially when he’s our Alpha—and she knows exactly what that means.”
Roan lifted a brow, eyes narrowing. “I also noticed how she answered Kai back in class. It was humiliating. Publicly, too.”
Kate hummed thoughtfully. “So what do you think she’s planning?” Her gaze slid to Kai, and she gave a quick, conspiratorial wink.
No—Selene wasn’t the one planning anything.
Kai lowered her eyes, shoulders slumping just enough to sell the act. “Oh, no. Don’t say things like that,” she murmured. “I’m sure there’s something she’s going through… something she just can’t tell me.”
Roan straightened abruptly, indignation flashing across her face. “You’re too kind, Kai. Way too kind for a sister like that.” She stood, grabbing her bag. “Come on—Marionette, Julian, Maria. Let’s teach Selene a little lesson.”
The four of them walked off, voices low and purposeful.
When they were finally out of sight, Kai and Kate exchanged a glance—then burst into laughter.
“What a bunch of losers,” Kate sneered, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.
The words bloomed where they landed, fed by jealousy and curiosity. They traveled quickly, carried on hushed voices and exaggerated concern. And by the time they reached Selene, they had twisted into something far sharper than whispers.
By midday, the four of them cornered Selene near the shaded path that led toward the outer grounds. Sunlight filtered through the leaves overhead, dappling the dirt beneath their feet, but there was nothing warm about the way they looked at her. Their faces were tight with poorly concealed judgment, eyes sharp with accusation.
“Is it true?” Rian asked, folding his arms as if he were already convinced.
“I heard you’re trying to stir trouble,” another chimed in, voice edged with disdain.
“Don’t you have any shame?” someone else snapped.
Selene stood still, her posture relaxed, expression calm—almost detached. Inside, her pulse remained steady. So this is your move, she thought coolly. Predictable.
She opened her mouth to respond—Thud.
A book fell from above, striking the ground between them with a sharp crack that echoed through the path.
Everyone flinched.
Before anyone could react, a voice drifted lazily from the branches overhead, unbothered and faintly amused.
“Could you all be quieter?” the voice drawled. “You’re disturbing my sleep.”
Heads tilted upward in unison.
A tall figure lay sprawled across a thick branch above them, one arm dangling loosely over the side. Dark hair caught the sunlight as he peered down, eyes half-lidded with irritation. Sharp. Amused. And unsettlingly familiar. His gaze flicked briefly to Selene—just long enough to linger—before sweeping over the rest of them.
Ryzen.
He yawned, stretching as though he hadn’t just thrown a book with flawless precision. “If you’re going to stage a public confrontation,” he added mildly, “at least pick somewhere less peaceful.”
The effect was immediate.
The group scattered in a rush of muttered excuses and wounded pride, no one willing to meet his gaze for more than a second. Their confidence dissolved as quickly as it had formed.
Selene remained where she was.
Ryzen’s attention returned to her, sharper now. “You attract chaos,” he said lightly. “Or maybe you just don’t bother dodging it.”
Selene bent to retrieve the fallen book, brushing dirt from its worn cover before holding it out toward him. “Maybe,” she replied, her voice smooth, thoughtful. “Or maybe some people don’t like being seen.”
A slow smile curved his lips—something like recognition sparking behind his eyes.
“Careful,” Ryzen said as he dropped effortlessly from the tree, landing in front of her without a sound. “That kind of honesty gets people in trouble.”
Selene met his gaze without flinching. “So does silence.”
For a moment, something unreadable passed between them—old tension, unspoken familiarity, the quiet hum of something unfinished. The air seemed to thicken, charged with something neither of them named.
Above them, the wind shifted through the branches.
And from a distance, Kai watched—eyes narrowing—as Selene walked away, not alone, and very much unbroken.