Selene stood at the balcony, the soft evening breeze brushing against her skin. Below her, the kingdom seemed calm—too calm. The streets were still busy, but there was a tension in the air that hadn’t been there before. The report from the border had shaken her. Rebel forces were on the move, pushing towards the kingdom’s northern front. They were closer than anyone had anticipated.The weight of leadership pressed heavily on her shoulders, the kingdom’s future hanging in the balance. She had always known the cost of ruling, but now it felt more real than ever. With Ronan gone, she had been forced to grow into her position, to find strength she didn’t know she had. But that strength—how much was too much? How much could she handle before it broke her?The door to the balcony creaked open behind her, and Selene turned to find Kael standing there, his presence as solid as the stone walls surrounding them. His face was a mask of concern, his eyes dark with unspoken questions.“Any change
Selene stood at the edge of the forest, the cool night air swirling around her. The moon, full and bright, cast its eerie glow over the world, painting everything in silver. The distant howls of wolves echoed through the trees, making her shiver despite herself. She turned to Kael, who stood beside her, his eyes scanning the horizon.“Tonight feels different,” she said softly, though she couldn’t quite explain why. The tension in the air was palpable. Something was coming.Kael, her new romantic partner, turned his gaze toward her, his face a mask of calm that barely concealed the turmoil inside. “We need to stay vigilant. The rebels are only part of the threat tonight.”Selene nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of the kingdom’s troubles. Since Ronan’s loss, Kael had been a constant, someone she could rely on. But there were things about him—things he kept hidden—that she didn’t fully understand. Things that now, with the moon so high and ominous in the sky, seemed to be coming t
The moon hung high in the sky, its cold light bathing the forest in silver. Selene’s breath was shallow, the night air cool against her skin. She had no idea how long she had been walking alone through the woods, trying to clear her thoughts after the chaos of the day. But something felt wrong—something she couldn’t shake.She heard the snap of a twig behind her. Instantly, her instincts kicked in. She spun around, but it was too late. Before she could react, a cloth was pressed to her face, and everything went black.When Kael found out Selene was gone, his heart nearly stopped. Her scent lingered in the air, but there were no traces of her footprints—just a chilling absence. He felt the pull of panic take hold, his mind racing. She couldn’t be far.He’d let his guard down, allowing her to wander the woods alone while he kept watch over their camp. But now, she was gone, vanished into the night, and all he could do was follow the faintest trace of her presence.Kael’s POVKael’s hear
The night was thick with a chill that didn’t belong to the season. Selene stood at the edge of the darkened clearing, her gaze fixed on the shadows that stretched like fingers across the forest floor. She had always trusted the night, always found solace in its quiet, but tonight felt different. The weight of her thoughts pressed heavily against her chest. Kael’s presence beside her was a comfort, yet the unease gnawed at her.“What are you thinking about?” Kael’s voice broke through the silence, deep and steady. She could hear the slight rumble of his wolf within him—ever present, ever watchful.Selene turned to him, eyes flickering to the still woods before returning to his intense gaze. “I can’t shake the feeling that something is coming… and I don’t know if I’m ready for it.”He stepped closer, his hand finding hers, the warmth of his touch grounding her. “Whatever comes, we’ll face it together. You’re not alone in this, Selene.”But even as his words were meant to reassure her, S
Selene stood in the dimly lit clearing, her breath ragged as she tried to push back the whirl of thoughts racing through her mind. Talia’s warning echoed in her ears, the weight of her words pressing down on her chest. “The past will always find you, Selene. You cannot outrun it.”She clenched her fists, fighting the urge to run—to flee from the haunting uncertainty that gripped her. But it wasn’t just Talia’s warning that had her unsettled. It was the way Kael had been avoiding her eyes all day, the way their bond seemed to fracture with every word they exchanged.Kael, standing a few paces away, was lost in thought as well. His brow furrowed, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. There was something distant about him now, a coldness that hadn’t been there before. His voice broke through her thoughts.“We can’t keep moving aimlessly. We need a plan,” he said, his tone clipped, guarded.“I know,” Selene replied, trying to force the tension out of her voice. “But we can’t rush int
The forest was silent, save for the soft rustling of leaves as Karl’s boots pressed against the damp earth. His heart raced with every step. It had been days since Selene vanished, and the aching void of her absence threatened to consume him. She was out there somewhere. He could feel it deep within his chest, the tug of his soul calling for hers. And yet, with every step, the overwhelming weight of uncertainty dragged at him. What if he was too late?The sun had set hours ago, leaving the forest shrouded in the cool embrace of the night. Karl’s eyes, sharpened by years of training, scanned the surroundings, every movement, every shadow scrutinized. The scent of the forest was overwhelming, but it was something else that clung to the air—Selene’s essence, faint but unmistakable. His pulse quickened as he followed the trail, ignoring the cramping in his legs, the dryness of his throat. He had to find her.His thoughts were consumed with images of her—her laughter, her fierce independen
The air was thick with tension as Selene crouched beside Kael, trying to steady her breath. The sound of pounding footsteps echoed through the dense forest, growing louder with each passing second. She could hear the snarls of the enemies, their vicious growls almost drowning out the rhythm of her heartbeat. Her body ached from exhaustion, but she pushed through the pain, desperate to protect herself and Kael.“Kael…” she whispered, her voice hoarse with fear. “We need to move. They’re coming for us.”Kael’s eyes, once fierce and filled with fire, now flickered with weariness. He was still partially transformed, the edges of his wolf-like features barely visible beneath his skin. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he stood, leaning heavily on the tree beside him.“I’m… not sure how much longer I can keep this up,” Kael admitted, his voice strained. “But we have to hold them off… for a little longer.”The ground trembled as the enemies drew nearer, their presence like an overwhelming shad
The air crackled with tension as Selene stood before the two men—Kael, weak and recovering, his breaths shallow, and Ronan, standing tall and cold, a shadow of the man she once knew. Her heart hammered in her chest, a storm of emotions crashing inside her. Ronan’s gaze was hard, his jaw clenched tight. His return was unexpected, but now that he was here, everything had changed.Selene stood frozen, her hand still resting on Kael’s shoulder, her eyes wide in disbelief. Her mind couldn’t catch up with the scene unfolding before her. The man she had thought lost forever was here, standing just feet away from her, though so much had changed. So much had happened.Ronan’s cold eyes scanned her, the expression unreadable. For a moment, it was as if the world had come to a standstill. The fierce urgency of the battle, the destruction surrounding them, even Kael’s ragged breaths, all faded into the background.“Ronan…” her voice barely a whisper, barely a breath of air escaping her lungs. Her
The sky was painted with the deep shades of twilight as the moon rose higher, casting its ethereal glow over the land. The world felt suspended in time, as though everything had led to this moment—this decision. Selene stood at the edge of the cliff, the wind tugging at her hair, her thoughts as turbulent as the sea crashing below. The weight of the world pressed heavily on her chest. She had never imagined that the final choice would come down to this: the past, the present, and the uncertain future.Behind her, Ronan stepped closer, his presence as steady as ever, like a shadow that had been following her all this time, but never once imposing. His soft breath on the back of her neck made her shiver, but not from fear—more from the deep, unspoken connection that had been growing between them. It was real. It had always been real, even when she had denied it.“Selene,” Ronan’s voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, as if he too had been waiting for this moment to arrive. “You d
Selene’s heart ached as she stared at Kael, standing across from her, his face a storm of emotions. His eyes—once filled with a deep affection for her—now held a raw intensity that could have broken a weaker soul. She knew the hurt was there, the pain of her choice, and yet she couldn’t bring herself to change it.Ronan, standing just behind her, was silent, his gaze flickering between her and Kael. He had sensed the tension thick in the air since Selene’s confession, but the silence between them now was more deafening than any words could have been.“Kael,” Selene began, her voice trembling despite her attempts to remain strong. She took a tentative step toward him, but he recoiled, a flicker of something darker passing over his features.“Save it,” Kael snapped, his voice cold. “I get it. You chose him.” His hand clenched into a fist, and his body seemed to vibrate with the energy of the anger he was trying so hard to suppress. “But don’t think for a second that you’ve gotten rid of
The night air hung heavy with unspoken words as Selene stood in front of the gathered group, her heart racing. Ronan stood beside her, his hand resting lightly on her arm, a silent show of solidarity. It had taken them days to come to this moment, the decision to make their relationship public. They could no longer hide the truth from the people closest to them. It was time to stop living in the shadows.Selene took a deep breath. She had always known this day would come, but that didn’t make it any easier. Her gaze swept over the faces of their group—Cassian, who had a concerned frown on his face; Varian, who was unusually quiet; and Kael, standing a little to the side. His expression was unreadable, but his body language spoke volumes. His arms were crossed, his eyes darkened with what she could only guess was a mixture of hurt and confusion.“I—I have something I need to say,” Selene began, her voice shaking slightly despite her best efforts to stay composed. “I’ve spent a lot of t
The sound of hooves pounding against the earth echoed through the forest, a rhythm that matched the tumultuous beating of Selene’s heart. The starlit night above them seemed distant and cold as the moonlight painted their path, glistening against the bloodstained earth beneath her boots. She had barely been able to keep up with the group, the pain in her side flaring every time she moved too quickly. But she had to keep going.They had faced the onslaught together, survived the siege—barely—but now, the battle was far from over. The deeper conflict within her burned just as fiercely. The weight of her indecision was suffocating.She could still feel the sensation of Ronan’s healing hands, the way his magic had wrapped around her wounds, his power infusing her with an energy that had been so foreign, yet so welcome. But it wasn’t just the healing that lingered. It was the touch, the warmth of his presence that made her heart flutter against her will. And then there was Kael—silent and
The clang of steel and the cries of battle filled the air as Selene stood at the front, her eyes scanning the chaos that had erupted on the battlefield. Her heart beat in rhythm with the violence, and though every instinct screamed at her to retreat, she stood her ground. Her people needed her. Ronan was by her side, his eyes fierce but weary as he struck down another of the invaders, his strength finally starting to wane. But he was determined, and Selene could feel his resolve fueling her own.“Stay close!” she called out, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. “We’re not losing this!”Kael, his movements swift and dangerous, rushed forward, cutting down an enemy soldier who tried to flank them. Cassian was close behind, his usual smirk replaced with a grim expression as he took charge of a separate line of defense. The air crackled with tension, every movement sharp, deliberate. The battle wasn’t just a fight; it was survival.Selene’s mind raced through strategies, calcu
The air was thick with tension, every heartbeat echoing like war drums across the crumbling temple grounds. From her vantage point atop the weather-worn balcony, Selene watched the horizon darken—not with clouds, but with the approaching horde.The siege had begun.Below, Kael barked orders, still limping from his last encounter but determined to defend what little ground they had left. The allies they’d gathered—rogue wolves, witches who had once served in hiding, a handful of humans brave or foolish enough to fight—moved in hurried unison, preparing barricades and traps. But the numbers were not in their favor.Selene turned at the sound of approaching footsteps. Ronan stood there, quiet but intense, his gaze locked on the distant army.“They’re moving faster than expected,” he said. His voice was steady, but Selene caught the flicker of tension behind his eyes. “Your brother isn’t wasting time anymore.”“Elias never did,” she murmured, jaw clenched. “But he’s more desperate now. He
The forest still echoed with the chaos they had barely survived. Selene’s hands trembled as she clutched Kael’s shoulder, his blood staining her fingertips. The kiss they had shared—born of desperation, confusion, and something deeper—still lingered between them like a ghost. But it was the man standing just beyond them, cloaked in shadow and moonlight, that stole all the air from her lungs.Ronan.He was bare-chested, panting, blood smeared across his chest, his golden eyes still glowing faintly with the remnants of his transformation. Fury burned in their depths, but so did heartbreak. And betrayal.“Ronan…” Selene’s voice cracked. She took a step toward him but stopped when he flinched ever so slightly, his jaw clenching.Kael groaned beside her, struggling to sit upright. “You know him?” he asked, voice raw.Selene didn’t answer.Ronan took a step forward, his gaze locked on Kael, who still lay weakened on the forest floor. “You kissed him.”It wasn’t a question. It was an accusat
The air crackled with tension as Selene stood before the two men—Kael, weak and recovering, his breaths shallow, and Ronan, standing tall and cold, a shadow of the man she once knew. Her heart hammered in her chest, a storm of emotions crashing inside her. Ronan’s gaze was hard, his jaw clenched tight. His return was unexpected, but now that he was here, everything had changed.Selene stood frozen, her hand still resting on Kael’s shoulder, her eyes wide in disbelief. Her mind couldn’t catch up with the scene unfolding before her. The man she had thought lost forever was here, standing just feet away from her, though so much had changed. So much had happened.Ronan’s cold eyes scanned her, the expression unreadable. For a moment, it was as if the world had come to a standstill. The fierce urgency of the battle, the destruction surrounding them, even Kael’s ragged breaths, all faded into the background.“Ronan…” her voice barely a whisper, barely a breath of air escaping her lungs. Her
The air was thick with tension as Selene crouched beside Kael, trying to steady her breath. The sound of pounding footsteps echoed through the dense forest, growing louder with each passing second. She could hear the snarls of the enemies, their vicious growls almost drowning out the rhythm of her heartbeat. Her body ached from exhaustion, but she pushed through the pain, desperate to protect herself and Kael.“Kael…” she whispered, her voice hoarse with fear. “We need to move. They’re coming for us.”Kael’s eyes, once fierce and filled with fire, now flickered with weariness. He was still partially transformed, the edges of his wolf-like features barely visible beneath his skin. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he stood, leaning heavily on the tree beside him.“I’m… not sure how much longer I can keep this up,” Kael admitted, his voice strained. “But we have to hold them off… for a little longer.”The ground trembled as the enemies drew nearer, their presence like an overwhelming shad