11
Selene’s POV
tip tightening on my arm atomy slime. I hate it. I
I’m not entirely sure how long we stood there, those sage green eyes locked on me with wildfire burning and like he was afraid I’d disappear again. My heart raced, and despite everything, the warmth of his touchient sli hate how he still have this much effect on my body like it was writing for him to be touched. I wanted to scream, ferry, fotell him how much I had missed him of hated him on what I really feel unside, bar the words were stuck in my thumat; because the truth was, I still don’t know.
“I need to fucking know, Selene, he pressed, his voice low and intense. “Do you still hate met Or are you just pretending?
His words hit me like a slaps I didn’t know how to answer but the truth was, Lilidn’t know. Fluidn’t let myself think about him in years, hadn’t allowest those feelings to surface as I held my scalpels over people’s hearts and lived through my apartment thinking I was finally at peace. I Usosielut being a surgeon would have thought me how such an important organ in the body could still beat for the same person who broke it. Yet here he was, and my hear betrayed nie, thumping wildly despite my attempts to remain calm. But no way in hell was I going to let him see how. much he still affected thr
1 looked away, unable to meet his intense gaze.
“I’m not pretending. Alpha,” I finally replied, my voice steady but quiet. It didn’t escape my eyes how his burned with disappointment and hurt when I used his inle. But hate? That’s too deep of an emotion for someone you don’t even care about anymore.” I blurted out, It wasn’t anywhere near the truth but it had to be said. My heart raced, and I could feel the tension crackling between us, as if the universe was holding its breath.
He pulled me closer, our bodies inches closer from touching, towering over me with that fierce intensity in his eyes. I wanted to scream at him to tell him how much I loathed him for what he’d done and how much I missed him at the same time. But all that came out was, “You have a funny way of asking someone how they feel.”
Before I could lose myself in his gaze, my stepmother opened the door, breaking the moment like a much–needed breath of fresh air. “Selene!” she exclaimed, her voice warm and welcoming, and I rushed into her embrace, grateful for the distraction.
“Mom I held her tight, feeling the frailness of her body, and for a second, all the bitterness and hurt faded and I was instantly reminded of what I amudly came here for–not father, not Dorian, it was Mom. But as we pulled apart, I could see Dorian still standing there, a shadow lingering in the odoorway!
“Come on in, Alpha Donan” Haid, a bit too brightly, but it felt like the right thing to do. “It’s been ages You should come inside”
I didn’t know how I could stand to be near him after everything, yes the pull was undeniable. My mind was a mess of confusion, torn between wanting to push him away and wanting to pull him closer. It was infuriating how he still made my heart race, how his presence alone could make me feel au alive, even after all the scars he’d left behind.
do we walked inside. I glanced back at him. The fierce look in his eyes hadn’t faded, if anything, it burned brighter. I hated that it made me feel so
live, so raw. But I couldn’t let him see that Not now. Not ever.
I pulled back from my stepmother, and my heart sank when I saw my adoptive father, Marcus, stepping into view
Welcome home, Selenet he said with an enthusiasm that made my skin crawl. There was a strange edge to his voice, an eagerness that felt forced. 1 plastered on a utile, but imde. I was uneasy. I always had been when he was around and no amount of smiles coming from him would be
sigh terase that memory away.
“Thanks, Dad,” I replied, my voice a little toucherful I could feel Dorian’s gaze burning into my back, the heat of it making me want has burn arent and confront him again. But I couldn’t do that—not with my family right there.
Muller was oblivious to the tension, her warmill wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. Tve missed you so much! We have so much to
ngi song” star said before coughing which instantly alerted me fil be damned if I am out there saving so many lives with these huids yet I can’t help the stily person who stood by me through it all. Morn was adamant, pulling me toward the living room.
sine last glance back at Dorian, and for a moment, the world faded away. All I could see was the longing in his eyes, the way he was still so
triy fixated on me. It made my heart ache in ways I couldn’t understand. But then the moment shattered as Marcus–my stepfather, stepped
uling senile so his face. I couldn’t help but feel trapped.
i get you settled, shall wet for said, but there was something in his tone that made my skin crawl. I felt like a puppet.
ngrmured. letting mom guide me away. But even as I walked, I could feel Dorian’s presence like a brand on my skin, and I knew I’d truth of what I actually feel about him now that years had passed by. But for now, I was just trying to survive this homecoming.
trans. The second I see Selene, my heart dann near stops. She’s right there. So close I could reach The way she used to biok at me, like I was her whole work. I know I fucked that up, but maybe—
dene movers to her mother, offering help like the perfect slaughter she’s always been. Her attention isn’t on me, not yet, but it will be. Soon, I drop
Chapter 11
onto the couch, trying to look casual, like my mind isn’t racing with a million twisted thoughts of her. She always did have a way of making me lose my goddamn mind.
“You need to fix this shit, now” My wolf’s voice invades my head, snarling with barely contained excitement. “Get rid of Amara. End this farce of a marriage. We can have Selene back. She’s ours.”
Yeah, no shit, I think. Amara. That fucking mistake. If I could go back and gut her father before I agreed to || bastard had the nerve to threaten Selene. My Selene. I couldn’t risk it, not with her life hanging in the balance
Engagement, I would. That
God, I hate what it cost me.
There’s no love between me and Amara. Never was. That marriage was a transaction–nothing more. A deal struck with the devil, but one that kept Selene alive, even if it destroyed everything between us. I glance over at Selene, my stomach twisting in knots. Does she even know? Does she have any idea what I sacrificed for her! Or does she just hate me for abandoning her?
I fucking hate myself for it, so I wouldn’t blame her.
“For the sake of that damn kid. I mutter under my breath. Not mine. Never was, but the poor bastard’s stuck in this shitstorm of a marriage just like me. Amara’s brat, Yeah, I could cut ties with Anura, leave her to rot, but the kid! The kid didn’t ask for this hell.
“You don’t owe that child anything my wolf snarls, interrupting my thoughts. “It’s not yours. You know it.”
1 grit my teeth, my jaw so tight I feel like my fucking skull might crack. He’s right. I know that kid isn’t mine. I’ve always known. But that doesn’t change the mess I’m in and if I just up and leave, Amara will take it out on the boy. I’ve seen her. She’s got no soul, no conscience. She’d make him pay for my mistakes
And Selene…she doesn’t even know the half of it God, what was she thinking during all of this? Did she think I just left her behind without a second thought! That 1 didn’t care? Every fucking day I’ve regretted it, every night I’ve dreamt of her, of fixing this, of getting her back. That pregnancy…did she struggle through it alone? How did she manage?
I can still remember how she looked, her eyes full of fire and hate, all because of me. I did that. I fucking broke her, and I hate myself for it. But I’ll fix it. I have to. I just need to get rid of Amara, and then I can have Selene back where she belongs.
I shift in my seat, my fingers itching to reach out, to grab her, to fucking make her see that she’s still mine. Always has been. I wonder what she’d
say
if she knew how deep it goes–how evry fucking breath I take is filled with thoughts of her. How I want to wrap my hands around her, drag her back to me and never let her go. Would she hate me for it! Or would she finally understand?
“Get rid of Amara,” my wolf urges again. “We don’t need her. She was never anything but a problem.”
“I can’t just fucking cut her off.” I snap back in my mind. “There’s the kid,” Even if he’s not mine, I can’t leave him to that psycho.
“The kid’s not your responsibility. Selene is”
I fall silent, staring at Selene from across the room. My wolf’s right, but I can’t say it out loud. I can’t admit that I’ve been using the kid as an excuse to stay trapped in this bullshit. Maybe I’m scared. Scared of what happens when I finally let go of the chains. When I finally claim Selene the way I’ve always wanted.
I want to tell her everything. I my mouth shut. Not yet. There’s still too much in the way. Amara’s still in the way.
want to scream that I never stopped loving her. I want to crush her against me and never let her go a
But soon. Soon, I’ll fix it
again. But I keep
Selene is mine. Always has been. Always will be
And God help anyone who tries to get between us again.
