Chapter 7
Selene’s POV
Five years. It felt like a lifetime since I’d walked away from everything I once knew. From the park. From changed, and so
the pair
The world h
had
The sterile smell of the hospital clung to me as 1 slipped out of my scrubs, rolling my shoulders to case the tension after another long day. I looked at myself in the mirror–Dr. Selene Greyson. The name still felt new, even after all this time. A surgeon in the human world. No one here knew my past. No one here cared about the scars that lingered beneath the surface.
And I liked it that way,
Grabbing, my bag. I stepped out into the late afternoon light, a soft breeze sweeping through the city streets. The buzz of cars and people was a far cry from the howls of wolves and the rustling of forest leaves, but I’d grown used to in. This was my life —quiet, predictable, and free from the shadows at my past
I checked my phone, scrolling through the notifications. A missed call from my foster mom, the only real connection I still had to the pack. I hadn’t seen her in years, but we kept in touch. She was the only one I hadn’t completely shut out
My phone buzzed on the counter, pulling me out of my thoughts. I glanced at it and saw the name flashing across the screen: Mom. It had been a while since I løst spoke to her, but it wasn’t univial. She kept her distance ever since I left, afraid of what father–foster father might do if he found
where 1 was
1 swiped to answer and held the phone to my ear. “Hey, Mom,” I said, smiling as I leaned against the counter,
There was a pause. A shaky breath. “Selene
Her voice was weak, almost fragile
My smile faded instantly “Mom! What’s wrong?”
I’m not doing well, sweetheart. It’s bad this time. Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. “I need to see you.”
A cold chill ran through me. In all these years, she’d never asked me to come back. Never. Even when things were tough she’d always been the one tii tell tor to stay away, to keep safe. Now, she was asking for me to come back
what are you talking about?” I straightened, my pulse quickening. “What happened”
There was a long pause, and for a moment, I thought she might not answer. Then she said softly, “I’m sick, Selene. Really sick. Please..just come hair I need to see you”
Tæripped the phone tighter, my stomach twisting. This wasn’t like her. She had always been the strong one, the one who kept me going when rarrythi else fell apart. The woman who’d never once let me see her cry in front of him,
But none, her your was full of something I hadn’t brand in years–fear.
Tuud, my voice barely above a whisper. “TIL be there”
The tent I said I’d be there, the sound of his voice cut through the line, sharp and sneering
“Well, well heck werk derided to grow a conscience, he drawled, his tone sending an instant chill down my spine. “Coming back medier fur thar jest tione, huhit Gaurs you’er nor all bad after all.”“”
back to
to see your
foster
Troge, my grijs tightening on the phone. Him. My father, Marcus 1 sduf’t heard his voice in years, and I’d hoped to never hear it again. The vranatum basi wands hadn’t changed though. He sounded hateful, just as cruel as i remembered
I don’t losen na lam my men’s voor broke thataigh,
“She doesn’t have machi mme left, gid, he cut her self, igesting her “Terminal, the doctors said. You gonna let her die without coming to see her? Craft gui fob giatel for this family now?”
My stomar le twitted violently. I could feel the confusion rising, but the fear was stronger. Terminal?
FOLE
ber voire faint but pleading. “Just come homeTM
cing, trying to make sense of what was happening. She was sick, Terminally sick. That word hung in the air
Furity. I could hear the huality in his voice too. He wasivt lying, and the reality of it hit me like a punch in the gut. My mother was dying. “Dorcoming“Dual, my voue haurrly dearly. I igneind way liis laughter grated against my nerves and hung up the phone before I could hear
Chapter 7
I stared at the screen for a second longer, my heart pounding in my ears. Everything felt surreal, like the ground had just been pulled out from
But I didn’t have time to break downs. Not now
riptions, barely
With shaky hands, I grabbed my laptop and quickly searched for the next flight back. My fingers trembled as I click: processing the numbers on the screen. Time felt like it was speeding up anil slowing down all at once. My mindl was a bia of memories and panic
-memories of the best time I saw her, of the nights we whispered on the phone while keeping our voices low enough so he wouldn’t hear
I found a
ti leh in four hours. I booked it without hesitation, barrly glancing at the cost. Money didn’t matter right now. Nothing did.
Once it was done, I sat back in my chair, staring at the confirmation page. I was going back. After all their years of building a life away from the pack, away from him, I was returning to the place I swore Til never step food in again.
stood up, pacing the room as my thoughts raced ahead of me. What would it be like, seeing her again! Could I even face him without breaking! A surge of ansiery gripped me, but it was nothing compared to the gnawing fear in my chest. I had no idea what awaited me, and that uncertainty the worst part
Three hours later, I was at the airport, standing in line at security. My carry–on was slung over my shoulder, and I kept glancing at the time, anxious to get on the plane, anxious to get this whole nightmare over with. The airport was crowded, bustling with travelers going about their lives. completely unaware of the storm brewing inside me.
As I finally reached the gate 1 sank into a plastic chair, staring at the boarding sign as if it held all the answers I didn’t have, my carry–on slung over my shoulder trying to ignore the anxiety gnawing at me.
The place was packed, with people bustling around, completely oblivious to the storm brewing inside me. I kept glancing at the time, willing the minunes to pass faster, even though they seemed to crawl
nally, the announcement came boarding for my flight. My heart skipped a beat, and I stood up, trying to shake off the nerves that had sented. into my bones. I grabbed my bag and joined the line, feeling like I was walking toward some sort of impending doom.
As I shuffled forward, the weight of my situation hit me agat. I was about to board a plane back to my home country–the place I’d escaped from years ago. My mother was dying, and I had no choice but to go back, even if it meant facing my father and all the crap I’d worked so hard to leave behind. Icould almost hear his ancering voice taunting nie already.
When fully reached the gate, I slumped into a plastic chair, staring blankly at the boarding sign. My stomach churned.
Terminal The word echoed in my mund again. She was dying. And I hadn’t been there. I’d left her in that house with him, knowing what he was lär, knowing far would continue to make her life hell. But what choice dud I have back then? I had to escape. I had to save myself
“Hey, you okay?” a voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see a flight attendant standing in front of me
ready to get this tower with, I muttered, trying to sound more confident than I fel
gave me a sympathartic smile. “All right, tire to bound Good luckTM
tight smale and nodded. With my heart pounding, I joined the line to bound the plane. Every step telt heavier, like I was walking sud. The gate agent took my boardinge jass with a quick scan, and I slaulled down the jet bridge, the reality of wheat 1 was doing hitting me
Trade the plane. I found my seat, crammed into a tiny space. The plane was filling up quickly, and I glanced around at the other passengers, who were engrossed incilea own worlds. They had no idea what was about to go down
pulled out my phone, trying to distract myself, but it was an use. My hands were shaking as the plane started to taxi. I clenched the arrests, Trying to steady my terers. This may it | heading back, and there was no turning back mom
The engines nuated as the plaur picked up spred, and I forced myself to locate The aircraft lifted off, and tell the pressure in my chest case
italy shrough the entity semaiand I stared out the window as the airport lights disappeared below us
“Just Trep it together. I whispered in
by mjach. I had to. My foster mother n
needed me. And no matter what crap my Foster Father threw at me, Thad to.
As the plane climbed lagher, I tried to datrack myself by watching a movie, but I couldnt get the thought of what awaited me out of my head. The flight serted in drag on, every minute feeling like an eternity.
their routine, and I barely registered the
The flightattenglands weit daar father almost paralyzing. I was alı
their presener. I was lost in my thoughts, the worry about Excing my foster (to confront my past, and the weight of it was alusust too much to beár.
2/3
546 PM c
Chapter 7
Finally, the captain came on the intercom to announce our descent. My heart started racing again as we began our approach. I fumbled with my seatbelt and glanced around, trying to gather my thoughts
The plane touched down with a jolt, and I could feel the tension in my shoulders. I gathered my things, my fingers still trembling. The landing gear screeched as we taxied to the gate, and the realization hit me hard. I was back, and whatever awaited me was just around the corner.
As I disembarked and walked through the airport, the familiar feeling of dread settled over me. I took awaited me, knowing that there was no turning back now.
I see him there, and I know it’s not juts my father I’m talking about, Him.
breath, ready to face whatever hell
