Selina’s POV
The night air clung to my skin like a second layer, thick with tension and the lingering scent of blood. I stormed away from Kieran, my heart pounding violently against my ribs, my throat raw from our argument. I had spent years loving him. Years waiting for him. And tonight, I finally understood—waiting had been my biggest mistake. Kieran had chosen her, again and again. And I had let him. Not anymore. Ignoring the burning in my ribs from my recent wounds, I pushed through the doors of the warriors' barracks. The room fell silent. Conversations halted, weapons stilled, and every gaze turned to me. A few warriors exchanged glances. Some smirked, clearly amused. Selina Blackwood doesn’t belong here. I wasn’t a warrior. I wasn’t a high-ranking pack member. I wasn’t even Kieran’s mate anymore. But I had something none of them did. A reason to fight. I walked straight to Dorian, who stood hunched over a wooden table covered in maps and patrol schedules. He looked up, brows furrowed in surprise. “Selina?” His voice was wary. “What are you doing here?” I placed my hands flat on the table. “I want to help find the traitor.” The tension in the room sharpened. The warriors shifted, some amused, some skeptical. A few even chuckled under their breath. Dorian let out a slow exhale. “Selina—” “Don’t tell me to stay out of this.” My voice was steady, even though my hands trembled. “I was there when the attack happened. I saw the intruder up close. I fought him.” My nails bit into the wood. “That means I can help.” Silence. Dorian studied me. His dark brown eyes assessed, measured. Unlike the others, he didn’t laugh. He didn’t dismiss me. After a long moment, he nodded. “Alright,” he said. “Tell me what you saw.” I exhaled sharply, relieved he wasn’t sending me away. “The attacker was fast,” I began, replaying the fight in my head. “Stronger than a normal rogue. But what stood out the most were his eyes.” I shuddered at the memory. “They were silver. Completely silver.” A warrior swore under his breath. Dorian’s expression darkened. “Are you sure?” I nodded. His jaw tightened, his face unreadable. “What does it mean?” I pressed. Dorian glanced at the other warriors before motioning for them to clear the room. When we were alone, he leaned in slightly. “There’s only one kind of werewolf with fully silver eyes,” he said quietly. “A Shadowborn.” My blood ran cold. I had heard the stories. Whispers of an ancient bloodline, wolves who weren’t just strong but unnatural. Faster, deadlier. Some said they were created through dark magic. Others that they were cursed. But that was myth. Or at least, it was supposed to be. “But they were wiped out centuries ago,” I whispered. Dorian’s expression was grim. “That’s what we thought.” A thick silence settled between us. Then, something worse dawned on me. Someone inside Blood Moon Pack had helped a Shadowborn escape. Someone within our walls had betrayed us. A shiver ran down my spine. If we didn’t find the traitor soon, it wouldn’t be long before they struck again. I didn’t sleep that night. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, and no matter how much I tried to push them away, they would not stop. I had spent so much time drowning in heartbreak, consumed by Kieran’s rejection. But this? This was bigger than him. For the first time in years, I wasn’t thinking about love. I was thinking about survival. By the time the sun rose, I had made my decision. I wouldn’t just find the traitor. I would make them pay. The next morning, I didn’t wait for permission. I stormed into Kieran’s office. Dorian was already there, seated in front of Kieran’s desk, but both men turned toward me in surprise. Kieran’s expression darkened. “Selina, what the hell—” “I know what we’re dealing with,” I cut him off. “The intruder wasn’t a normal rogue. He was Shadowborn.” The air in the room changed. Kieran’s jaw tightened, his gaze unreadable. “That’s not possible.” “Tell that to the man who nearly killed me.” I held his gaze, daring him to dismiss me. “Dorian confirmed it.” Kieran turned to his Beta. “Is this true?” Dorian hesitated before nodding. “If her description is accurate, then yes. The attacker was Shadowborn.” Kieran ran a hand through his hair, frustration clear in every tense muscle. “Why would a Shadowborn target my Luna?” The word Luna hit me like a slap. He meant Lilith. Of course. Even now, everything was about her. Even after everything. Even after I had almost died. Fury surged inside me. “This wasn’t random,” I forced out, voice cold. “Someone inside the pack helped him escape.” I took a step forward, my heart hammering. “We have a traitor.” Kieran’s eyes flickered with something unreadable. He was listening now, actually listening. “And you think you can find out who?” His voice was measured. I lifted my chin. “I know I can.” His gaze locked onto mine, and for a moment, neither of us moved. Then, slowly, Kieran leaned back in his chair. “Fine,” he said, voice unreadable. “Find the traitor, Selina.” I expected him to brush me off, to tell me to leave this to real warriors. But he didn’t. He was trusting me. For the first time. But Kieran had no idea what he had just unleashed. Because I wasn’t doing this for him. I wasn’t doing this to prove myself. I was doing this for me. I was done being the girl left behind. I was done being the victim. And when I found the traitor? I would burn them to the ground.Selina’s POVThe weight of Kieran’s words still echoed in my head.Find the traitor, Selina.It wasn’t a challenge. It wasn’t permission. It was a test.And I intended to pass.The warriors wouldn’t accept me overnight, but I didn’t need their approval. I needed results. If I wanted to prove that I belonged in this fight, I had to be two steps ahead.The first step? Tracking the Shadowborn’s escape route.If someone helped the intruder escape the pack’s territory, then they had to leave a trail. And I was going to find it.Dorian met me at the northern border, where the rogue had last been seen. He had called for two warriors to join us—Talon and Reed, both experienced trackers. I wasn’t sure if they were here to help me or babysit me.“The last known sighting was here,” Dorian said, kneeling beside the clawed-up dirt. “But we lost the scent trail.”I scanned the area, my heart pounding. The dense forest surrounding Blood Moon’s territory stretched endlessly, and the further out we we
Selina’s POVI didn’t sleep that night.How could I?The letters burned in my mind, the words seared into my memory like a cruel brand.Everything is in place. The Shadowborn has been freed.Lilith had betrayed Kieran.She had betrayed all of us.And I was the only one who knew.I paced my room, my hands clenched into fists. I had two choices—confront Kieran and risk him not believing me, or gather undeniable proof.Only one of those options wouldn’t end with me thrown into the dungeons.I had to be smart. I had to be careful.But more than anything…I had to bring her down.The next morning, I forced myself to act normal. If Lilith even suspected I was plotting against her, she would strike first.And I couldn’t afford to let that happen.I needed more information.I needed someone who knew things.And that meant finding Edwin.Sneaking out of the packhouse wasn’t easy, but I had years of practice moving through the shadows.By the time I reached the border, I was drenched in sweat,
Lilith’s POVI have spent my whole life weaving lies. Carefully, intricately, like a spider spinning its web. And tonight, all my efforts were about to pay off.The grand hall of the Blood Moon Pack was alive with light and music, the scent of jasmine and cedarwood filling the air. The Mating Ball was the most important event of the year, the night where fated bonds were revealed. But I had no intention of leaving my fate to the Moon Goddess. No—I had already decided how my story would end.I belonged to Kieran.The future Alpha stood at the center of the room, exuding power and authority, his broad shoulders tense as he listened to some warrior’s report. His dark, neatly styled hair framed a face carved from stone—sharp jaw, high cheekbones, piercing blue eyes. Every unmated she-wolf in the pack was watching him, hoping, waiting, wondering if the Moon Goddess had chosen them.I knew better.I adjusted the delicate gold chain around my throat, the one Kieran had gifted me on my last b
Selina’s POVI should have left.The moment Kieran rejected me, the moment the entire pack turned their backs on me, I should have run.But I didn’t.Instead, I let the numbness seep into my bones, let my feet carry me through the halls of the packhouse, up the grand staircase, past the portraits of Alphas who had come before. Their golden eyes seemed to watch me, judging.I didn’t stop until I reached my room—a small, tucked-away space meant for someone of my status. A servant’s daughter. An orphan.Not an Alpha’s mate.Not a Luna.The moment I closed the door, the dam inside me broke. My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath.I had always known I wasn’t meant for greatness. That no matter how much I loved Kieran, no matter how much I wished for more, I would always be just Selina.But for one fleeting moment, the Moon Goddess had told me otherwise.For one second, I had been chosen.And he threw me away like I was nothing.Tears burned down my cheeks. I p
Selina’s POVPain was a familiar companion.It throbbed in my side, sharp and insistent, but it wasn’t just the physical wound that hurt. It was the way Kieran had looked past me as if I didn’t exist. As if I hadn’t nearly died trying to save the woman he had chosen over me.I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stand despite the dizziness. Blood soaked through the fabric of my dress, but I refused to show weakness. Not here. Not now.Not in front of them.Lilith whimpered softly in Kieran’s arms, her fingers clutching his shirt as she whispered, “I was so scared…”Kieran’s jaw tightened, his grip on her tightening protectively. “I’ve got you,” he murmured.A hollow laugh threatened to escape my throat.Where was that protectiveness when it had been me?The warriors were still gathered, murmuring among themselves about the attack, but no one paid attention to me. No one ever did.I was still bleeding. Still standing in a puddle of my own blood.And yet, all that mattered was her.It
Selina’s POVI didn’t sleep that night.How could I?The letters burned in my mind, the words seared into my memory like a cruel brand.Everything is in place. The Shadowborn has been freed.Lilith had betrayed Kieran.She had betrayed all of us.And I was the only one who knew.I paced my room, my hands clenched into fists. I had two choices—confront Kieran and risk him not believing me, or gather undeniable proof.Only one of those options wouldn’t end with me thrown into the dungeons.I had to be smart. I had to be careful.But more than anything…I had to bring her down.The next morning, I forced myself to act normal. If Lilith even suspected I was plotting against her, she would strike first.And I couldn’t afford to let that happen.I needed more information.I needed someone who knew things.And that meant finding Edwin.Sneaking out of the packhouse wasn’t easy, but I had years of practice moving through the shadows.By the time I reached the border, I was drenched in sweat,
Selina’s POVThe weight of Kieran’s words still echoed in my head.Find the traitor, Selina.It wasn’t a challenge. It wasn’t permission. It was a test.And I intended to pass.The warriors wouldn’t accept me overnight, but I didn’t need their approval. I needed results. If I wanted to prove that I belonged in this fight, I had to be two steps ahead.The first step? Tracking the Shadowborn’s escape route.If someone helped the intruder escape the pack’s territory, then they had to leave a trail. And I was going to find it.Dorian met me at the northern border, where the rogue had last been seen. He had called for two warriors to join us—Talon and Reed, both experienced trackers. I wasn’t sure if they were here to help me or babysit me.“The last known sighting was here,” Dorian said, kneeling beside the clawed-up dirt. “But we lost the scent trail.”I scanned the area, my heart pounding. The dense forest surrounding Blood Moon’s territory stretched endlessly, and the further out we we
Selina’s POVThe night air clung to my skin like a second layer, thick with tension and the lingering scent of blood. I stormed away from Kieran, my heart pounding violently against my ribs, my throat raw from our argument.I had spent years loving him. Years waiting for him. And tonight, I finally understood—waiting had been my biggest mistake.Kieran had chosen her, again and again. And I had let him.Not anymore.Ignoring the burning in my ribs from my recent wounds, I pushed through the doors of the warriors' barracks. The room fell silent. Conversations halted, weapons stilled, and every gaze turned to me.A few warriors exchanged glances. Some smirked, clearly amused.Selina Blackwood doesn’t belong here.I wasn’t a warrior. I wasn’t a high-ranking pack member. I wasn’t even Kieran’s mate anymore.But I had something none of them did. A reason to fight.I walked straight to Dorian, who stood hunched over a wooden table covered in maps and patrol schedules. He looked up, brows fu
Selina’s POVPain was a familiar companion.It throbbed in my side, sharp and insistent, but it wasn’t just the physical wound that hurt. It was the way Kieran had looked past me as if I didn’t exist. As if I hadn’t nearly died trying to save the woman he had chosen over me.I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stand despite the dizziness. Blood soaked through the fabric of my dress, but I refused to show weakness. Not here. Not now.Not in front of them.Lilith whimpered softly in Kieran’s arms, her fingers clutching his shirt as she whispered, “I was so scared…”Kieran’s jaw tightened, his grip on her tightening protectively. “I’ve got you,” he murmured.A hollow laugh threatened to escape my throat.Where was that protectiveness when it had been me?The warriors were still gathered, murmuring among themselves about the attack, but no one paid attention to me. No one ever did.I was still bleeding. Still standing in a puddle of my own blood.And yet, all that mattered was her.It
Selina’s POVI should have left.The moment Kieran rejected me, the moment the entire pack turned their backs on me, I should have run.But I didn’t.Instead, I let the numbness seep into my bones, let my feet carry me through the halls of the packhouse, up the grand staircase, past the portraits of Alphas who had come before. Their golden eyes seemed to watch me, judging.I didn’t stop until I reached my room—a small, tucked-away space meant for someone of my status. A servant’s daughter. An orphan.Not an Alpha’s mate.Not a Luna.The moment I closed the door, the dam inside me broke. My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath.I had always known I wasn’t meant for greatness. That no matter how much I loved Kieran, no matter how much I wished for more, I would always be just Selina.But for one fleeting moment, the Moon Goddess had told me otherwise.For one second, I had been chosen.And he threw me away like I was nothing.Tears burned down my cheeks. I p
Lilith’s POVI have spent my whole life weaving lies. Carefully, intricately, like a spider spinning its web. And tonight, all my efforts were about to pay off.The grand hall of the Blood Moon Pack was alive with light and music, the scent of jasmine and cedarwood filling the air. The Mating Ball was the most important event of the year, the night where fated bonds were revealed. But I had no intention of leaving my fate to the Moon Goddess. No—I had already decided how my story would end.I belonged to Kieran.The future Alpha stood at the center of the room, exuding power and authority, his broad shoulders tense as he listened to some warrior’s report. His dark, neatly styled hair framed a face carved from stone—sharp jaw, high cheekbones, piercing blue eyes. Every unmated she-wolf in the pack was watching him, hoping, waiting, wondering if the Moon Goddess had chosen them.I knew better.I adjusted the delicate gold chain around my throat, the one Kieran had gifted me on my last b