Chapter 28
Five Years Ago
When I woke, I was no longer in the forest surmanded by those wum rogues. I was in a small, warm room that smelled of herbs and something seri–lavender, maybe The bel beneath me was soft, the sheets comforting against my skin. A fire crackled in the bearth, casting flickering dudem on the walls.
Thlinked, trying in shake off the remnants of my exhaustoon. And that’s when I saw her again—the woman from the woods, sitting quietly by the
stirring something in a pot. Her movements were fluid, almost graceful, as though she was more in tune with the elements than any normal
Tenoakeit, my throat dry.
She nimed, smiling faintly. “You’re awake. GoodTM
1 pusheil myself up, my body still weak. “Who are your
“My name is Eva” she said calmly. “You’re safe here, Selene.”
Confusion washed over me. How do you know my name?”
have my ways. Let’s just say I’ve been keeping an eye on you,” she replied, her smile knowing.
Fanic should’ve surged, but something about her presence felt oddly safe. “You’re…a witch, aren’t you
Eva’s purple eyes sparkled with amusement. “Very perceptive. Yes, I am” She settled beside the bed, hands folded. “And you, my dear, are in desperate need of help.”
The weight of my situation crashed over me. I was running, higling, pregnant with Dorian’s child.
“Why would you help me?” I asked, my voice a hoarse whisper.
Eva brushed a stray lock of hair from my face. “Because I know the truth, Selene. About why you were attacked. Why you were left to die.”
Wlar do you mran!”
“The rogues weren’t acting on impulse. You were targeted”
“By shor
th wava woman. Someone filled with envy who wanted you gone,” she said, tilting her head slightly.
A chill ran through me as mentries flashed–cold stares, lingering koks, too much closeness to Dorian. Eva’s gaze pierced through me, as if she modd read my thoughts. She didn’t need to maine names. I already knew.
Lould hardly sprak “No
Eva’s eyes gleamed with a knowing glint. “Doesn’t it
My stomar li turned, nausea creeping trusigh me as the pieces liegan to fit. Amara had always been there, so carefully placed in the back ground of every moment. She hail always been at Durian’s side, supporting bins, watching me, never too far, never too close
“Why!
whispered, though deep down I already knew
Eva said softly, her voice almost a raress. “She saw you as a threat. To Dorian. To the pack. To everything she wanted for herself”
all. The puzzle pieces began to fall into place—the call looks, the victimized comments, the way Amara always managed to
d to linger
your gone.” Eva added, her voce like a blade cutting through the haze, “And if the rogues had succeeded, no one would have
Icienched my hats, my nails digging in my palms. Amara had tried to have me killed. She had sent me running. knowing full well I was pregnant,
alive, and vulnerabile.
She had planned it. She had sent the roguri alter me. She had tied in kill
and my
3-37 PM c
Chapter 25
I caress my belly. Goddess knows I will never forgive her
Five Years Later
I stood outside an apartment. Not the same one Exa has brought one into but times have chan landy of the same coltage we were in The only reasonable thing to ili was missed someplace ele
them have not lingered in the
it’s not like you won’t be voting on and the guy she muttered, carrying Maric phox tuiny playing with a cursed doll she made. He’s growers comed tolva’s suchy antics. I wouldn’t even be surprised if he sees her as his mather
Ichuckled “Damn, right. I will be visiting” 1 nmutter, staring at her. The memories hit me all at once–how she saved me, how she cared for me while I carried Alare heavy in my belly, and how she became the only person I could trust. I’m moving to Seattle now after receiving an email from, the hospital Lappliedinto. Lcan’t risk namming into anyone from the Think Howler’s Pack, or Amara’s henchmen going after me with Alanır,
“Well, just make sure to bring the ingredients I told you to buy if you’re visiting” She was my lifeline, my best friend. And now, as I stood at her door once more with all the luggage with me, I knew I was asking her for the impossible. She took one look at me, and without a word, she pulleil me mio a tight embrace. It was the kind of hug that made the world disappear for a moment, that someone out there still cared.
“I need you to keep hum safe. I whispered, my voice trembling. “No one. no one can come near him. Not even me.”
Eva pulled hack her eyes soft but serious. “Alaric is like my own. Selene. You know I protect him with everything I have. But are you sure! Even
I swallowed hard. [ “Yes. Until I come back, no one can know where he is. Not Dorian, not my family. No one
Eva nodded. “Consider it done by heart clenched painfully, but I knew this was the only way. For now
I stared once more at my little baby, with his jet–black hair and strikingly familiar features. He was a perfect mix of me and Dorian, though I’d tried so hard to keep him away from that part of his lineage. Alaric was everything to me, and entrusting him to Eva was the hardest thing I’d ever done.
But I had to. For his safety. For all of us.
Present Time
The door creaked open, and Amara rood framed in the dim light. She didn’t say a word, just stood there, her face unreadable. No anger. No shock Just a cold, calculating gaze. My heart jumped, but not from fear–no, this was something else. A familiar, simmering hatred twisted inside me.
I shoved Donan away, stumbling back like I’d just come to my senses, as if I hadn’t been moments away from meking nuo him. “Amari” 1 breathed, voice laced with fake guilt, my eyes widening in faux horror. “Im so sorry…this isn’t what it looks like”
Dorian was quark to reach for me again, his obsession clouding any clarity. His touch lingered on my ann, almost possessive. He didn’t care abou Amana. He never had. He only saw me.
But I dal care—because I knew who she really was
Her siener striched on, her lips pressed in a thin lane, but still, no fury in her eyes. No accusations. She just stood there, watching us, calculating, no doubt already thinking about how to twist thi in her favor. The same way she had twisted everything before.
woman–tus traitur—who had shattered everything years ago. She was the one who had thrown ine to the rogue. I would have died inthanut Eva I swallowed down the late rising in my throat, my mind flashing back to that night, to Eva’s words. How Antira had betrayed me, ured Do wipe me off the maja sent ine running like prey while c
carrying Durian’s child
I wouldn’t forget Ne–fucking–ver
I glanced at lum, making sure he could see the hurt in my eyes, the false regret Fit carefully nude. Dorian’s gaze melted at the sight of my shaking nors. He fell for it, of course. He always did. His obsession had blinded him to everything to her, to the muth. It was all too easy.
Twould never take him from you.” I added softly, playing the innocent cand. Victim. Just like she lud done to me all those years agos
I turned my gaze back to Amara, my heart pounding lot from fear, but from the thrill of the game. She didn’t know it yet, but she had already lost. I wasn’t the wrated, desperate girl she’d once thrown to the wolves. I am better, stronger–and I was going to make her pay.
Her eyes flickered for just a second, and I knew she was weighing my words, trying to real me. I wouldn’t let her see the truth–not yet. Dorian’s gripi tar may atin tightened “Seleur-” he began, his voice low, filled with the worship he reserved only for mur. He would believe whatever I said. He
I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
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Chapter 28
Finally, Amara’s voler cut through the tension like a blade. “You didn’t come back here to be the pack de looked up at her
you?” She chuckled and 1
“You’ve only come back to worm your way back into his life. Playing the innocent little healer? You’re a scheming bitch, Selene,
Before I could process her words, she lunged at me, her hands outstretched like claws ready to rip me apart. Reflex kicked in, and I threw myself into Dorian’s chest. I could feel the tremor in my breath, an exaggerated shake, but one that served its purpose. “Dorian, please, I gasped, fingers clutching his shirt as if my world was collapsing around me.
Dorian’s arm wrapped around me like a vice. He pulled me in, his body rigid with the sudden tension, shielding me from Amara’s attack. His scent. that familiar, intoxicating mix of earth and pine, flooded my senses, making it easy to stay in character.
“Amara.” Dorian growled, his voice low, a cold menace hiding behind every syllable. “Watch Your. Mouth,”
I could feel ham trembling, though not with fear–for me, maybe, or because of the tension he couldn’t seem to shake whenever we were this close. His hand tightened around me, pulling me in tighter against him. I buried my face into his chest, giving a soft tremble, my pulse drumming louder than before.
“You think she’s innocent?” Amara spat, voice trembling, but she didn’t come closer. “She’s using you, Dorian! She’s always been like th
I peeked up through my lashes, watching Dorian’s expression harden, his jaw tight with barely contained rage. “Enough.” His voice was sharp lethal. and his eyes narrowed like a wolf about to strike. His arm around me flexed as if he was drawing strength from holding me.
Ammara faltered. Good.
“You’re mad at Selene? For what? Don’t act like you didn’t try the same thing.”
Amara froze, eyes wide in disbelief, She hadn’t expected him to snap back like that, and it was clear by the way her face twisted that it stung “You tried to spread those filthy legs for me too, Dorian continued, his voice sharper now. “So don’t pretend like you’re fucking better.” “Amara, please.” I said softly, my voice trembling, playing the part. “It’s not what you think. I’m not trying to hurt anyone…
Dorian didn’t even flinch, didn’t break his focus on Amara. Talk to her like that again and you’ll find how replaceable you are” he muttered, his, tone possessive, threatening. He pulled me closer, his hand firm on my waist as he shot her a look that had her shrinking under his stare. “She’s mine His lips brushed against my hair, and his voicce dropped to a dark whisper, low enough that only I could hear.
Whatever control she thought she had, it was gone now. And she knew it
I fought the smirk threatening to crack my lips. His heartbear thrummed under my cheek, alment obsessive. I could feel him drawing me in like a lifeline. Just a little close…
my cheek, steady, protective. His grip on me was
This is fucking satisfying
possessive now,
Amara’s angry expression is a fucking delight, but she didn’t dare step forward again. Not now. Not with Dorian standing between us, guarding me in if I was something fragile.
Fragile
I almost laughed.
If she thought I was fragile, she was dead wrong
I pressed deeper into his embrace, letting my hngers dig into his side. Dorian’s arm stayed locked around me, lus muscular body wrapped onto me. and for the first time in a long while, I felt the satisfaction of knowing that I had the power now,
Amara had made her move years ago. Now it was iny turn.
