SELENE POVThe aftermath of the battle was devastating. Bodies of humans and wolves alike scattered the town square. Ava and I walked arm in arm through the trails of bodies. The wolves who had not fallen shifted back into their human forms and together we scoured the battlefield for survivors. There were tears rolling down Ava's cheeks. I held her tightly to my side while holding back my tears, trying to be strong for my friend. At the same time, both of us noticed a wolf not far away trying to stand. We rushed to his side and as I got closer, I realized that it was Arlo. I gasped and dropped to my knees next to him. "Arlo!" I breathed. "Don't move, you're going to be ok." Arlo settled back to the ground and I watched as he slowly transformed into his human form. "Where are you hurt?" I asked inspecting his body. "It's just a scratch," Arlo said through gritted teeth looking down at a large gash on his arm. "There is another on your leg," Ava said wiping her tears away.
TOR POVThe sun had barely begun to illuminate the skyline when the Alphas and Betas from pack Talia and Zaire started to file into my council chambers. Cassius stood by my side, completely healed of his injuries thanks to Selene. I looked at him and gave him a nod. In return, he slapped me gently on the shoulder. It had been a while since I had seen my trusted friend and was glad to have him at my side. Magnus, the Alpha of Pack Zaire stood by the fire with his Beta Ira. Both were stoic-faced and silent. Pack Talia's Alpha, Ares, approached me and gripped my arm in a warrior's greeting before standing beside his Beta Kole. "I can't thank you enough for your assistance yesterday," I said gruffly, looking at Ares and then at Magnus. Magnus nodded his head but said nothing, he was never a wolf of many words. His pack was from across the plains and surrounded by large valleys. They mostly dwelled in caves and cliffsides of canyons. Many of the Zaire pack shared his features; his
SELENE POV "You're not going." I stared at Tor in surprise. But he just watched me calmly, as if he was already prepared for my reaction. "That's not fair, Tor," I said quietly. I leaned against the desk and ran my hand down my face, trying to calm my frustration. "I'm sorry that you feel that way," was Tor's simple and maddening response. "Don't talk to me as if you are so composed," I snapped. "Admit it, you are angry with me for disobeying your orders yesterday. And this is my punishment.""Of course, I am angry with you, Selene," Tor said in a tone on the brink of anger. "I told you to hide so that you would be safe. Yet, you continuously put yourself in needless danger."He took a step closer to me, his eyes like iron. "And no, this is not a punishment," he finished. I scoffed and shook my head. "I see now," I muttered, lifting myself off of the desk and approaching him. "Now that I'm your mate, I have also become some subservient slave expected to obey your ever
SELENE POVNight fell over Alder and I just finished eating dinner with Ava, Margo, Brielle, and Ellwood. We had been discussing the happenings of the past couple of days. But I was barely present as my thoughts were on nothing but Tor and my next move. After a lull in the conversation, I stood. "I think I'm going to turn in for the night," I said nonchalantly.The women bid me goodnight and before I left the dining hall Ellwood caught my eye and gave me a knowing glance. I gave her the barest of nods and slipped out of the room. At least Ellwood would know my plans and could tell the others at some point so that they would not worry for me too much. I made my way up to Tor's… our … bedroom and stepped inside. I slipped out of my simple dress that was covered in dirt and ash from today's work. Then I dressed in form-fitting leather breaches and a white cotton button-up shirt and paired them with dark leather traveling boots. I walked toward the large balcony doors and opened th
TOR POVI had stopped dead in my tracks the second that I felt Selene's presence through our bond. I stood there in my wolf form feeling for the direction that she was coming from, but it had disappeared. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me because this was the first time I had been away from her for so long since our mating bond had been consummated. But as we continued our journey, I continued to feel the same nagging sensation in my gut. Like she was so close, but just out of my reach so that I could barely feel her. On the third night, I stopped the pack for a night of rest. While we could have gone another night of travel without stopping, I needed to find out if I was going insane or if I was truly picking up on my mate's bond. After we found a secure place to hunker down for the night, Cassius approached me with a curious look on his face. "Kind of an odd place to stop for the night," he commented with his eyebrow raised. "What's on your mind, Tor?" I shrugged. "
SELENE POV Tor and I had retired to sleep without another word to one another, but he held me tightly in his arms as we slept by the dying embers of the small fire. It was dawn when I opened my eyes again and Tor was still sleeping with his arms wrapped around me. I watched him sleep for a moment. The regret I felt for my betrayal was potent, but I couldn't deny the calming peace of being in his presence. Softly, I ran my fingers down his chest and when I looked into his eyes again, he was awake and watching me quietly. "Hi," I said quietly. With an indescribable look in his eyes, he ran a gentle knuckle down my cheek. Without a word, he slowly unwrapped himself from my limbs and stood. I watched as he dressed and when it was apparent that he wouldn't be speaking to me anytime soon, I went about gathering my clothes. I took a moment to mend the shirt Tor had ripped off me last night with my magic before getting dressed. I had just finished tying off my boots when Tor finally sp
TOR POVI approached the group and heard Selene's words. "Thanks to Tor, I was able to find my true self." That is when she saw me standing there and swallowed in surprise. It had been ripping me up inside being so cold to her throughout the day, but I was still so angry with her for endangering herself once again. I wanted to tell her that the only thing I wanted was her safety and that it wasn't all about disobeying my commands. But my inner wolf had not let go of the fact that she was being a stubborn insubordinate creature. She watched me with weary eyes. "Selene, I need to talk to you," I said shortly. Slowly she stood and followed me far enough away so that we wouldn't be overheard. When I turned to face her again, all I could do was stare at her as my mind ran through all of the things that I wanted to say to her. Selene waited patiently, keeping whatever was going through that head of hers to herself. But instead of speaking the words I'd rerun through my head o
SELENE POV "You can stop this now if you would just give yourself up to Damion," the Sorcerer said angrily. "Yet, you would selfishly save yourself when you could save the lives of thousands. You disgust me." The sorcerer's words haunted me as I mended the wounds of those who were injured during the conflict only hours ago. How was it that Damion had twisted the sorcerer's perspective to the point where he would join Damion's side? I understood the desperate need to stop the witch trials and burnings, but how could he trust Damion to that degree? After the sorcerers had disappeared, we made a quick change in trajectory and had run through the night to find somewhere to regroup. Thankfully, no one had been killed during the conflict, only a few sustained minor injuries. Then, after we found somewhere secluded to make camp for the night, I insisted on healing those who were injured. And so I did, with Arlo and Sage at my side. Aiding those within the party was also helping me fee