Selene was ready to leave. Not in a few days. Not tomorrow. Now. The moment she stepped out of the vault, her heart was pounding, her mind racing. She didn’t care that they had just uncovered centuries of secrets. She didn’t care that she had barely slept, barely eaten.All she cared about was the hunt.The Elders had erased her mother. They had stolen everything. And Selene was ready to burn them to the ground. But Theoden had other plans.“We need to rest.”Selene whipped around, eyes blazing. “We don’t have time to rest.”Theoden was calm. Too calm. He stood just a few feet away, arms crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable.“The pack needs to prepare,” he said. “We need to prepare.”Selene shook her head. “I’m ready.”“No, you’re angry.”The words hit her like a slap. Selene clenched her fists. “I have every right to be angry.”“I didn’t say you didn’t.”Theoden took a slow step forward. “I’m saying that anger alone isn’t enough.”Her breath came fast, ragged. She didn’t
Theoden woke first.For the first time in centuries, he felt rested—truly, deeply rested. Not just physically, but in a way that settled into his bones, like his soul had finally clicked into place. Selene stirred beside him, her red hair spilling over the pillow, her breathing soft and even. He didn’t wake her—not yet. Instead, he lay there, watching her, letting the peace settle around him for just a moment longer. Then, as if sensing him, Selene’s eyes fluttered open. Green. Bright. Alive. She smiled sleepily. “You’re staring.”He smirked. “Can you blame me?”She stretched, groaning softly before rolling onto her side. “I feel…better. Rested.”Theoden nodded. “I know what you mean.”It was a new feeling, one neither of them had truly experienced in this life. Like the weight they had been carrying had shifted. It wasn’t gone—not even close. But now, it wasn’t just a burden.It was purpose.Selene sat up, rubbing her eyes. “I’m starving.”Theoden chuckled. “Then let’s eat.”The sce
Chapter Twenty-Six: Setting the TrapTheoden sat at the small wooden table, fingers drumming against the surface, his blue eyes narrowed in thought. Across from him, Selene leaned forward, elbows on the table, brows furrowed. The morning light streamed through the window, illuminating the tension between them.They had too many unanswered questions. Too many loose ends.“What do we prioritize?” Selene asked, voice steady but firm. “Tracking down my kidnapper or finding the hiding Elder?”Theoden exhaled, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “Both are a threat. Both need to be dealt with.”Selene nodded. “But which one first?”Theoden studied her, his mind sorting through the options.“We know the Elders are hunting Cassiel. If they find him first, we’re done. They’ll perform the ritual, and we’ll cease to exist.” His voice was low, measured. “But whoever kidnapped you… he had a plan. He wasn’t working with them. He wanted you to remember—just enough for him to control you.”Selene shivered. “
Theoden stood in the doorway of their cabin, his blue eyes locked on the symbol carved into the dirt. The night air was crisp, but the chill that ran down his spine had nothing to do with the cold. Selene was beside him, her breath coming in quiet, steady exhales. He didn’t have to ask how she felt. He could sense it. Tension. Disquiet. A silent storm brewing behind her green eyes. She stared at the symbol, her fingers tightening into fists. “It’s fresh.”Theoden nodded. “He was here.”No footprints. No scent. No sign of approach or departure. But the symbol remained. A message.A warning.Selene exhaled sharply and turned back inside, rubbing her arms as if she could shake off the feeling that still clung to her skin. Theoden followed, closing the door behind them, his movements controlled but heavy.“He wanted us to see it,” Selene muttered, pacing. “He didn’t try to take me again. He didn’t attack. He just—” She gestured toward the door. “—left his mark.”Theoden leaned against the
At Theoden’s command, Darius, Luka, and a few Silvercrest warriors spread out, searching for the Hollow. A clue. Anything. Selene glanced around them nervously before stepping closer to the message. She ran her fingers over it and as she did she felt the force inside her burn more intensely. It was a subtle reaction. But she felt it.The others mind linked to report that they could not find him. Not even a clue. Theoden could still feel the lingering heat in his veins, the power stirring beneath his skin like an untamed fire. It wasn’t just a flicker anymore—it was alive, pulsing through his body, wrapping around him like an unseen force.And Selene—she felt it too.She stood before him in the dim light of the ruins, her green eyes bright, charged with something that hadn’t been there before. She had pressed a hand to her chest earlier, stunned by the force rippling from him, but now—now, she was changing too.Her breath was unsteady, her fingers flexing as if she could grasp the en
Theoden felt it in his bones.The power inside him was no longer just a whisper of something ancient—it was awake. Selene lay across from him in the dim light of the cabin, her green eyes bright, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. The air around them pulsed with energy that had been sealed away for centuries. But now, there was no holding it back. And as the power inside him grew, so did hers. Selene shuddered, pressing a hand against her chest. “I feel… different.”Theoden stepped closer, his blue eyes searching hers. “Because you are.”Selene swallowed. “What is this? What are we?”Theoden lifted his hand, and without meaning to, fire flickered between his fingers. It wasn’t normal fire—it was gold, burning with the weight of something more than magic. And Selene—light shimmered over her skin, glowing softly, as if the power inside her had finally decided to take shape. Theoden clenched his jaw. “We’re what we were always meant to be.”But now they knew the truth—t
The trees thickened the deeper they walked, towering evergreens standing like ancient sentinels in the fading light. Each step was deliberate, each breath slow. Theoden walked just ahead of Selene, his eyes scanning the path, his senses stretched far beyond what was visible. Every shift of wind, every creak of branch, every rustle in the underbrush was filtered through the instinct that had kept him alive for centuries—even if he hadn’t known it until recently.“You feel that?” Atlas stirred in his mind, his voice low, wary.Theoden gave the faintest nod. “Yeah. It’s too quiet.”Selene walked beside him now, close enough that her shoulder brushed his. Her expression was unreadable, but Theoden could feel the tension in her limbs, the way her fingers twitched ever so slightly. She was listening too.“Nova?” she asked softly, eyes on the trees.“Something’s not right,” Nova murmured. “It’s like the forest is holding its breath.”Theoden turned his head slightly toward Selene. “We’re not
The morning mist clung to the trees, soft and low, as if the forest itself was reluctant to wake. Selene stood near the marked tree, her fingers hovering just above the freshly carved name. The bark was still raw. Still wet. Someone had been here, not hours ago, but minutes.Theoden stood behind her, tense and silent. His eyes were fixed on the woods beyond the tree line, his body wound tight with something more than suspicion. He didn’t like being watched. He liked being toyed with even less.“He’s close,” Selene murmured, not turning around.“I know.” His voice was low and hard. “He wants us to see this. Wants us to follow.”“Atlas?”“He’s waiting,” the wolf growled. “He’s playing a game and thinks he’s already won it.”Nova stirred in Selene’s mind, sharper than usual. “He knows we’re watching for him. And he doesn’t care.”Selene exhaled, the morning air cool against her skin. “Then let’s stop pretending we don’t see him.”She stepped away from the tree, her power stirring faintly
Theoden’s breath burned. His chest rose and fell in hard, fast bursts, his body slick with sweat and blood. Around him, the battlefield seethed with chaos—twisted roots, scorched earth, broken stone. He didn’t hear the screams anymore. Only the hum of power behind his ribs. Only the fire that refused to burn out. He was a warrior. Created for war. His every breath a weapon. His every movement a calculated strike. Atlas pulsed in his chest like a second heartbeat. Their minds were fused, indistinguishable. The beast inside him didn’t just want blood—it demanded justice. Demanded vengeance. And Selene— Selene was light incarnate. Golden light streamed from her, her hair swirling in the storm of her own power. Her eyes no longer green, but glowing gold, so bright they blurred the edges of her face. She wasn’t just wielding her power. She had become it. Together, they were incandescent. Theoden’s fire twisted upward, coiling around her glow like a crown. His skin flared with go
It started as a tremor. Not in the earth—but in the air, in the space between heartbeats. Selene jolted upright from the small hill where she’d been resting with Theoden. She felt it ripple across her skin, down her spine. The hair on her arms stood up. Theoden stood without needing to ask. “You felt it too.” All across the valley, wolves stirred. Patrols halted. Warriors turned their heads as if drawn by an invisible pull. The shield pulsed—a silent warning vibrating across the magical boundary. Something was trying to get in. Selene and Theoden ran. By the time they reached the northern ridge, Luka and Darius were already there, flanked by several warriors. No one spoke. They just stared through the barrier. On the other side stood five figures. The Elders. Each one different in form and appearance, but all cloaked in the same cold power. Magic coiled around them like smoke, heavy and ancient, pressing against the invisible barrier as though testing its strength. The one
The day was warm and still. For once, there was no danger pressing at their borders, no threat looming in the tree line. The valley held its breath, cocooned in the quiet hum of the shields Selene and Theoden had laid in place. Selene stretched out on the moss-soft grass just beyond the cabin, her head resting on Theoden’s chest. His hand moved lazily through her hair, the rhythm unhurried and grounding. Birds chirped in the distance. The wind rustled through the leaves. Everything was still. For the first time in days—no, in weeks—she wasn’t moving, fighting, healing, planning. She was just… breathing. Theoden’s voice broke the silence. “You know what I like about this?” She tilted her head, green eyes curious. “What?” He smiled faintly. “You’re always glowing.” She laughed softly, a low, musical sound. They lay like that a little longer, tangled together in the grass, soaking in the fragile calm they’d carved out for themselves. They didn’t need words. Everything they felt,
Selene stood at the edge of the central clearing, fingers threaded together, eyes closed. Theoden stood beside her, arms folded, watching the slow rise of the sun as it kissed the tops of the trees. Today was not for battle. It was for building. They had already tested the shields. They knew it worked—knew that together, they could forge something more powerful than either could do alone. Now, it was time to give that protection to everyone. Selene stepped forward first, her hands glowing with quiet gold. She approached one warrior at a time, speaking softly, letting her light wrap around their frame. Each shield she cast was specific, intentional—her thoughts focused on that wolf’s safety, their strength, their life. She whispered words only they could hear. Sometimes a name. Sometimes a wish. Sometimes a memory. And then Theoden would step up beside her. He’d raise his hand, let his fire slide across the gold, not to burn—but to seal. The flame curled around the light, hummin
The clearing buzzed with energy. Not the kind that came from fear or tension—but something more focused, more alive. Selene stood at the center, her palms lifted, golden light flickering between her fingers. Across from her, Theoden stood still, arms crossed, watching the glow build between them. “You ready?” she asked. He raised a brow. “You’re the one who said we needed to test this shield thing again. I’m just here for the sparks.” Selene smirked. “Alright then. Let’s make it shine.” She extended her magic outward. The golden light pulsed, growing outward in a shimmering dome that wrapped gently around them. It hovered in place, firm and steady. Theoden stepped forward, adding his fire. It curled around the edges of the shield, reinforcing it—solidifying it. Selene held her breath. The shield didn’t flicker. It held. For the first time… it didn’t vanish after a few seconds. “Well,” Luka said from where he leaned against a nearby tree. “That’s a good start. Looks less li
The smoke had cleared. The trees were still. The sky above was gray, muted by drifting clouds, the aftermath of a storm not made of rain but magic. Selene stood with her hands on her knees, catching her breath. Theoden was still on the ground, propped against a tree, his chest heaving, blood drying along the side of his jaw. Luka and Darius knelt nearby, both pale and silent, their bodies bruised and burned, but alive. None of them spoke for a while. There was nothing to say. They had survived. But barely. Selene straightened slowly, her eyes scanning Theoden’s face. He didn’t look at her, just focused on breathing. His shoulders trembled slightly from the strain. Something in her chest tugged. Without a word, she moved to him. He didn’t flinch when she knelt beside him. He didn’t stop her when her hand pressed to his chest—soft, careful, her fingers spreading gently over the worst of the burns. Golden light spilled from her skin. He inhaled sharply. “Selene…” “Shhh,” she
The morning was cold. Selene stood at the front line, the edge of the forest dark and quiet before her. Beside her, Theoden exhaled slowly, his blue eyes locked on the horizon. Luka and Darius flanked them, armed and ready, though neither spoke. They had insisted on taking the lead. Many argued they should wait behind the lines, be the last defense if everything else failed. But Selene and Theoden knew better. If their power was what the Elders feared—then it had to be the first thing those Elders saw. The silence didn’t last long. He arrived without warning. The Elder stepped from the woods like he’d always belonged there. He was tall, cloaked in dark gray, his face youthful but hollow, as though something inside had long since rotted. His magic came first—a pulse that shifted the wind, bending tree limbs, stirring the ground. Then it struck. Selene braced herself, but the force was staggering. She stumbled back three steps, eyes wide as the Elder raised a hand again. Anoth
Theoden ran like something was chasing him. Selene was right behind him, their feet pounding against the earth as branches whipped past, hearts racing faster than they could think. Luka’s broken voice still echoing in Theoden’s mind. “—can’t… move… Darius—close—too close—“ No directions. No context. Just panic. The clearing came into view seconds later. Luka and Darius lay on the ground, sprawled out and still. Too still. Selene skidded to her knees beside Luka. His skin was pale. His chest barely moved. Theoden dropped beside Darius, pressed two fingers to his neck, then his chest. “No pulse,” he said through gritted teeth. “Barely a breath.” Selene reached for Luka’s wrist. Nothing. “Oh no—no no no.” They didn’t think. They moved. Selene positioned her hands over Luka’s sternum and began chest compressions. “Come on, come on,” she whispered, counting under her breath. Across from her, Theoden tilted Darius’s head back and started CPR, alternating between breaths and co
Theoden ran like something was chasing him. Selene was right behind him, their feet pounding against the earth as branches whipped past, hearts racing faster than they could think. Luka’s broken voice still echoing in Theoden’s mind. “—can’t… move… Darius—close—too close—“ No directions. No context. Just panic. The clearing came into view seconds later. Luka and Darius lay on the ground, sprawled out and still. Too still. Selene skidded to her knees beside Luka. His skin was pale. His chest barely moved. Theoden dropped beside Darius, pressed two fingers to his neck, then his chest. “No pulse,” he said through gritted teeth. “Barely a breath.” Selene reached for Luka’s wrist. Nothing. “Oh no—no no no.” They didn’t think. They moved. Selene positioned her hands over Luka’s sternum and began chest compressions. “Come on, come on,” she whispered, counting under her breath. Across from her, Theoden tilted Darius’s head back and started CPR, alternating between breaths and co