Chapter 23
Dorian’s POV
I watched her
er from the
the shadows, hidden behind the thick iron gates just beyond the pack house
The scent of blood hung in the air, thick and metallic, as the warrior was dragged inside for medical help. The moon hung low in the sky, casting just enough light to see the scene happening before me— -Selene, rushing forward, panic twisting her face, her hands trembling as they reached for the injured soldier
“Doriani” She called, and
my
hear dropped.
God, the way her eyes flickered with worry made my chest tighten, but not in pain.
In fucking triumph.
She didn’t know I was here, watching her every move like the stalker I’d become, devouring every flicker of her expressions. She had no idea how my heart fucking soared sering her like this–panicked, breathless, thinking it was me that was hurt. That raw emotion flashing across her face told me everything I needed to know. She still fucking cared.
“She still has us in her heart, my wolf growled inside me.
I clenched my fists, nails biting into my palms. My wolf, the beast I barely held back most dayı, stirred restlessly, eager to take this glimpse of her concern and run with it. His voice echoed in my mind. persistent, pushing “She was worried. She still wants us”
Fuck. I wanted to believe that
ng while, I felt a flicker of
Maybe I was grasping at straws, clinging to whatever scraps she unknowingly tossed my way, b
but for the first time in a long” hope
Her concern, that flicker of panic in her eyes, lit a fire inside me that refused to be put out. Shit
I swallowed hard, my throat tight, gaze locked on her as she moved through the crowd. I could see her, clear as day, even from this distance—the way her shoulders tensed, the quick rise and fall of her chest.
She still cared. My wolf’s words echoed louder, “Do something. Dorian. Make her see us. Make her feel”
And then, the idea hit me.
I had to get her attention, make her worry more. Make her fucking feel.
My eyes scanned the training grounds outside the gates, where warriors sparred and trained. Their grunts and the crack of fists on flesh filled the air, the scent of sweat mingling with blood. I spotted a group nearby, barely out of sight, and without a second thought, I stalked toward them, the gravel crunching under my boots.
The heat of adrenaline pulsed through me, my heartbeat syncing with the primal need inside me to be near her, to force her to face me. She could hate me all she wanted—I didn’t give a shit–but she would never stop caring. I’d seen it in her eyes, and I needed more. I needed her to fucking
admit it
I stormed toward one of the warriors mid–spar and shoved him back, hard, until he stumbled. His startled eyes met mine, wide with confusion.
“Alphat” be stammered, hands rising in defense, but he barely had time to react before I lunged at him, my fists swinging with nuthless precision:
I needed pain. I needed bloodd
My knuckles slammed into his jaw, the satisfying crunch of bone beneath my fist fueling the frenzy building in my chest. I didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop. Every punch was a release, every strike a fucking gateway to the desperation clawing inside me. His body buckled, and I didn’t let up, landing blow after blow until his blood sprayed across my skin, my lips, the heat of it dripping down my face.
The sharp pain of has knee slamming into my ribs made me growl, but I welcomed it I needed to feel it. Needed the bruises, the wounds. I needed to see the blood leaking from my own body to justify what I was about to do next.
His but connected with my temple, and the world spun. Good. Fucking perfect.
I threw myself to the ground, letting the weight of my body hit the hard earth with a satisfying thud. The dirt scraped against my skin, mixing with the blood, and I smiled, my vision blurring for just a moment.
This would work
I lay there, panting, half–conscious, waiting for the warrior to back off. When he did, I slowly staggered to my feet, limping toward the pack house like I was about in collapse. The perfect fucking victim
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Chapter 23
The doors loomed in front of me, and I pushed them open with a weak shove, barely holding myself up, could feel the blood oozing from my busted hip, the sharp ache in my ribs. Perfect, Selenie wosildn’t be able to ignore thús. She wouldn’t ignore this
As soon as I stepped innside, my eyes sought her out. She was there, tear the entrance, talking to Matias, her expression still tight with concern. She looked up, and the second her eyes landed on me–bloodied and bruised–her face shifted.
She rushed toward me, like I fucking knew she would, her eyes wide, panic written all over her beautiful features. I could see her fighting it, though
-fighting the worry, the care.
But it was too late.
I’d seen it
“Dorian” she breathed, her voice tight with anxiety. She hesitated, her hands hovering near me but not touching, like she didn’t know what the fuck to do with herself. “What happened!”
I groaned, chitching my ribs like I could barely stand. “Just a little rough on the war. The lie slipped out effortlessly, my voice strained, pained
Her brow furrowed, those sharp eyees scanning over me, taking in every bruise, every drop of blood, And for a moment, just a brief moment, I saw it. That flicker of fear for me. Noot hate. Not loathing. But actual, fucking concern.
“Are you hurt bad?” she asked, the words sounding forced. She was struggling not to give a shit, but her voice cracked just enough for me to know she did.
I chuckled, low and rough. Tve had worse.” I smirked, though it pained me to do so, the cut on my lip reopening as I spoke. “But I didn’t think you’d worry about me, Selene.”
Her eyes darkened, lips pressing into a tight line. She stepped back, like she was trying to create distance between us again. But I could see through it I could feel it. She was still tethered to me, whether she liked it or not
“I don’t she snapped, but her voice waveredd.
1 just fucking smiled, licking the blood off my lipps. She can lie to herself all she wants. I knew the truth now.
Her hands trembled as she touched my skin, carefully cleaning the blood that caked my side, her fingers grazing over the deep cut that ran across my ribs, Fuck, she was being so careful Too careful.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her face. The way her lips pressed into a thin line as if she was trying not to show it, but her eyes betrayed her. Those big. soft eyes were fucking swimming with concern, and it hit me right in the chest.
I sat there, letting her work–my little surgeon, my breathing slow, heavy, my mind racing. She wasn’t talking, not even looking at me directly, just focused on the wound. Focused on making sure I didn’t bleed out or whatever she thought would happen
Fuck. What did I just dot
I was an idiot. I shouldn’t have pushed it this far. Not when she was looking at me like that–like I actually mattered to her. My wolf stirred inside mr. growling, but this time, it wasn’t the usual hunger. It was something softer, something unfamiliar. He was satisfied, content even, just watching
“You don’t need to do this,” 1 muttered, my voice p gruff. The guilt twisted in my gut, making e pain s
seem sharper, more recal. “I’ll heal on my own.
You know that”
She didn’t even glance up at me. Her fingers moved with precision as she threaded a needle through my skin, stitching me up as if I was some fragile human, not a fucking werewolf with healing powers.
“I’m just doing my job,” shee said, her voice tight. “And right now, I’m your doctor. She pulled the thread tight, the sting sharp
nothing I
“I don’t need this,” I repeated, more insistent this time. I wanted her to stop. She was taking this too seriously, and the guilt was gnawing at me. I didn’t deserve this, her kindness, her attention. Not after everything. “11l be fine in a couple of hours. There’s no need to
Shut up, Dorian,” she snapped, her voice cutting through the room like a whip. Her eyes finally shot up, meeting mine with frustration. “You’re not
in charge here. Lam: So sit still and let me do my job”
My heart fucking stuttered at the fire in her gaze, the way her lips quivered with anger and something deeper–something I wasn’t sure she even
Tcouldn’t stop
samirk from creeping onto my lips.
now nothing compared to the heat her anger stirred in me. She was ignoring me,
“Bossy,” I matered under my breath, the pain in my side now i
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Chapter 23
pretending this was just routine, just her bbeing professional. But I wasn’t an idiot. I could see it. She was hurting, too
I tried to slow my healing, the warmth that usually spread through my body when I got hurt becoming a distant hum in the background. It wasn’t hard, I just let it sit there, waiting. Let her have her moment. Let her feel like she was helpingg.
“You really don’t have to-”
“I’m your doctor,” she interrupted again, her voice steady but softer this time. She tied the last stitch with a small, tight knot, her hands still trembling. “And as your doctor, you’re going to listen to me. Got it?”
I blinked, watching the way her fingers hovered over the wound, like she was making sure I was stitched up perfectly, like one wrong break me. It was almost funny. Almost
But all I could do was nod. Because what the fuck else could I say?
move would
Her eyes flickered up to meet mine again, softer now, the anger melting away, replaced by something… deeper. Something that made my chest ache. She didn’t look away this time. She held my gaze, her breath catching for just a second before she stood up, backing away like she needed to put distance between us
“I’ll be fine.” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I didn’t want to admit how much I wanted her to stay close, to keep touching me, to keep pretending like she gave a damn.
“Of course you will,” she said, her t
rlone c
clipped, like she was trying to convince herself just as much as me. “But I’m not taking any chances.”
I stared at her, the room suddenly feeling too small, too fucking quiet,
“I can handle myself, Selene,” I said, but even I didn’t believe it
She didn’t answer. She just grabbed the medical kit and turned away, her shoulders stiff, her hands still shaking. I watched her go, my heart fucking pounding in my chest, and for the first time in a long while, I felt something close to regret
