Lucian’s POV It was the first thing in the morning, and it was time to leave the pack. I needed to look for Selene today, and if I was fast on my feet, I would be able to search through at least two packs.It was at least six o’clock when I walked out of the pack. I wanted to check the first pack I took her to when we went to get material to build her house. I had suspected she would be there all night, and if she was there, she must have gone to the king to seek refuge to be kept as a rogue.Which would be very silly, because she would be murdered and be used as a point of sacrifice. I dreaded this possibility mostly because she didn’t know this. I knew Selene was smart, but there were just some things that were beyond her comprehension.She wasn’t well traveled, so she didn’t know the hidden policies of some certain packs, like the gold crown pack. They accepted rogues to buy things from them, but a king was once killed by a rogue who couldn’t stay under rule, so ever since the pack
Lucian’s POVI just sat there in disbelief, my hands resting on my chest that was threatening to explode with fright and disappointment. I should have come here instead.If I was just a day earlier than now, I would have her here. I was exasperated with myself, and as much as I hated to admit this. I blamed the fact that my body was too weak and I needed more rest than I normally did.“Is everything alright?” The Alpha asked.I don’t respond. I needed to set out for Joan. I never thought we would see each other again after the least encounter, but now I was looking for her, if I saw her, I would see Ella and Selene.Or maybe she had returned them to the pack.I didn’t know I was just confused, and I needed some sense of liberation. I walked out of the pack, and I walked back to the pack borders without hesitation. I drove out. I was driving back to my pack for two reasons. I was going back home in hopes that if I got back there I would see Selene and Ella.The dues of that little trou
Selene’s POV The next day was the same thing: the usual loop of having to learn languages, how to say I need this and I need that, places I needed to visit, like malls to get more clothes, and observations that were needed to be made. And we went through everything till I could pronounce them more fluently. Soon it was nighttime, and I was supposed to leave first thing in the morning because in three days the humans would be crossing into a new year in their calendar, and I would need to be there in the party of this said, ‘Casper this criminal.’Yes, that was his new name.And while Joan and I sat outside with Ella inside, we had a heated day, and now we were already exhausted from all the things we did all day.She held my knuckles, and she kissed them when she noticed I wasn’t talking and she had been doing the talking.“I believe you.” She said it was her first calm thing she had said all day, and it meant a lot to me. I only nodded, and I stared down at my feet.“If I don’t come
Selene’s POVThey started to gather me, I soon became claustrophobic, and it only made my situation worse because they started drawing closer, forming a defense wall. I had never felt this perplexed in my entire life.Confused and worried that I might just hurt someone in panic made it worse, but as Joan had said, we were not so different from these people, we were the same beings; we had the same form; two hands, two legs, and one had clear skin.If they had anything I had it too, and if there was anyone who should be at an advantage, it’s us. Our wolves aren’t a liability but an ability, I thought to myself as I felt someone's hands touch me. I succumbed to it.I saw a box car, it beeped continuously, and then people gave way, and some people came down from it. They packed metal things on the floor and assured me to get on it. As much as I wanted to tell them it's fine and what was happening was natural, I couldn’t convey it.So I let them carry me on the thing, and they placed me i
Selene’s POV I expected them to know right away that something was wrong, but they started laughing. I had made a mockery of myself, like it wasn’t already bad enough.I prayed to the goddess to open the floor so I could jump in, but she didn't, and they didn’t stop laughing. He took a board and wrote on it.*Are you okay? Don’t you have insurance to cover it up? What you said was sipped awkward.*I don’t know what it meant, and I saw that they were looking at me curiously for answers I melted into the car, which was still on the road, and said, “Yes.” I said then closed my eyes, hoping that my answer somehow aligns with them dropping me off. I just wanted to find a hotel and then listen to the recording of Joan. Maybe I can learn more than just yes and no.The human sat close to me, he held my hands tight, and I glanced back at it. I repelled his attention and closeness, and I pulled my hands away.He said something that I didn’t understand; I just kept looking. Soon the car came to
Selene’s POV Why do humans bear the name of their profession? I am Selene healer, or I am Selene farmer. What else? Hi, I am Selene, inventor?If this isn’t the most silly thing I have heard all day.My outburst had the man staring at me like I had done something way out of line, which, in my defense, I did. I just laughed my ass out because his name sounded ridiculous, just like when Joan had said it for the first time.I still had my back against the bed, and laughing had removed the max that filled my nose with the calming air.He took the board, and he wrote something on it. *What is funny? Did I say anything wrong?* I didn’t know, but with the look of concern in his eyes, I could tell he wasn’t entirely comfortable with me laughing the way I did.I didn’t know how to tell him, but since we were trying to understand each other in any way possible and he was doing a bad job having to write it on the board, I decided to ease the pain for both of us.I sat upright, and I placed the m
Selene’s POV Silence prevailed in our midst, just watching each other, and someone walked into the little room, probably because they suspected trouble, but the last thing I needed was trouble. If he had let me leave, I would not have to suffer this much. The healer told them to leave, and I watched them back off.I already had my dagger in my bag. If they were planning to put me here for any reason, I would not go down without a fight.My daughter was on the other end of the realm, and I only came here to make a harmless exchange. And they were making a fuss out of it. It was so annoying, and they were making me sick with all this drama.I imagined Lucian in this situation, what would he have done if he were here? First, he would not have entered the car, and second, it would be bloody already, and the thought of him only made me smile.I wanted to go back home, home to Joan, Ella, and Lucian.I wanted to go back to where I wasn’t misunderstood and maybe didn’t have to explain myself
Selene’s POV If I had known that humans had a way of communicating, I might not have worried so much about language barriers, but then again, it was a nice experience.I walked out of the ward with him beside me, the moment I stepped out, everyone's eyes met mine, they questioned me with their eyes, and trust me, I would have been worried if I listened to Joan.If I had worn the cloth, she wanted me to wear the napkin that our believer target loved seeing on ladies, if people were looking at me suspiciously, I would have suspected it was the reason.Now I was fully clothed and elegant as at that too, and if they wanted some sewing advice I would give them.With my chest held high, I walked out of the ward, trying to avoid gazes with anyone who tends to stare for too long, and when I was done, I was out, and the healer who had offered to take me to the goldsmith opened his car for me.I entered, and the interiors were classy. I knew most of our vehicles were fashioned from theirs, and
Joan’s POVAfter the news about Lucian and Selene. And Alex and who ever was involved I was downcasted for the longest of periods and as the goddes might have it my bruises were not as bad as one would imagine.A few broken bones and an cute but once again miss Selene if she was here. It would have been better because surely she would help a friend out.Now I had to move around with a limp, tired and exhausted as I walked out of the ward down the hall Lucian and lilac were in the study room and I was heading to see Ella who in my understanding hasn’t gotten up from bed yet.I walked over to her room, there were guards in the room where she was staying, and two more outside I heard her talking with one of them they were playing card games on the bed.“Joan.” She cheered without looking up from her card.“Hey little one, how are you doing?” I asked as I leaned on the bed and and reached out for her thighs, it wa totally uncalled for but I placed my head on her thighs it wa bandaged and
Selene's POV“Don’t thank me yet,” he replied lightly, though there was a seriousness in his eyes that told me he’d seen more than I cared to admit. “Rest now, and when you’re ready, we can talk. But first, you need to recover.”I looked away, remembering the sharp, bitter taste of the wind and the haunting sound of those rogues’ voices. “I’m a rogue,” I repeated, as if to convince myself that I could still be the fierce, independent warrior I’d always been. “I don’t usually need help.”He paused, his hands still working over my wounds. “Maybe not,” he said softly. “But even rogues have scars that run deeper than the skin. Let me help you patch those up tonight.”I wanted to protest, to cling to the pride that had kept me isolated for so long, but the truth was undeniable. I was tired—physically and emotionally battered. And deep down, I knew that letting someone in wouldn’t make me weak; it would simply make me human. With a sigh that seemed to come from the depths of my soul, I nodd
Selene’s POVI lashed out with my free arm, slamming my elbow into my attacker’s ribs, and he grunted, loosening his grip on my wrist for just a heartbeat. The chaotic sounds of the forest—the relentless storm, snapping branches, and the harsh murmurs of the rogues—filled my ears. I scrambled backwards, my heart pounding hard enough that I could almost hear it. I knew I had to run. I couldn’t stay here and be caught by these desperate fools.I bolted through the underbrush, adrenaline pounding in my veins, each step fueled by fear and fury. My breath came in ragged gasps as I dashed blindly through the forest, blood seeping from fresh cuts and old bruises alike. I didn’t dare look back, though I could hear the snarls and angry shouts trailing me in the distance.The wind still whipped at me, unrelenting, and for a moment I thought it would sweep me off my feet entirely. I fought it, clinging to the wet ground as if my life depended on it—because it did. I could almost taste the metall
Lucian’s POVAnother pack member, an older wolf with scars etched deep into his face, nodded slowly. “We owe you our lives. But… why are you out here alone, Mask? Lilac said you wouldn’t leave your post.” His tone was gentle yet filled with concern.I clenched my jaw. “I need to think,” I replied, more to myself than to them. The burden of leadership, the betrayal, and the constant threat from Alex and his allies—it was too much. I didn’t know if I could shoulder it any longer.The wind roared again, as if to remind me that there was no escape from destiny. I turned to leave, but then I paused. The pack’s eyes, filled with hope and desperation, held me in place. Their silent pleas for guidance, for reassurance, weighed heavily on me. I couldn’t abandon them—not when they needed me most.My mind was a storm of conflicting emotions. Anger, sorrow, and a deep-seated guilt churned inside me. I remembered Lilac’s words, the promise I had made. I remembered the faces of those who looked up
Lucian’s POV I was furious. Every muscle in my body burned with anger as I stormed out of the pack house. The recent events still stung like fresh wounds— Alex’s betrayal, the way everything had fallen apart, the weight of secrets.She should have not gone to the human realm she would die. And she knows this too well that she would die yet she did all this why! I pushed open the heavy door and stepped into the cold, unforgiving night. The wind hit me like a wall, whipping my hair and carrying the scent of rain and earth. My heart pounded in my chest, a relentless drumbeat that fueled my rage.I had left for the ward where Joan had been staying—a place I once thought was safe. Now it felt like a trap. I needed to be free, to run away from the constant reminders of failure and loss. Every step I took away from that house felt like a step toward escape. Yet even as I ran, I knew I couldn’t outrun the memories. They clung to me like shadows.Before I had even gathered my thoughts, a str
Selene’s POVI let the guilt sit with me for a while before I let it go, my father was there and even though I know Joan would take care of her I still needed to contact them.I wasn’t with any form of communication devise with me and the realm is too big to go on and about looking for them.The wind was relentless. It howled through the trees, whipping against my body with an unforgiving force. Each step I took seemed like a punishment as it seems the wind wanted to make me one with the RV walls It felt like walking through an invisible wall pushing me back. My clothes clung to my skin, soaked from the endless drizzle, and the icy air cut into me like knives. My nose was force fed air and my mouth was sealed shut. I could not move further and I tried not to be swept away but the force.Damn a valley without rockOr caves or even as much as a tall three.if I was a beaver I would dig the floor and enter. I was exhausted. My body screamed for rest, but I couldn’t stop. Ella’s scent wa
Selene’s POVWhatever I was doing was most definitely working as his breathing pace was now more steady than it had been since we stepped out of the portal, and now that was done I tried to steady my heart beat while trying to make it work so I could send him out of there.But whatever I was doing was also causing something to move in his body, like I was healing not only his system for breathing but his entire body but this time I tea is more different than anything I have ever felt.The moment I got deeper into healing him it felt as though I was glued to his body, it was intense, and magnetic and the more I stayed he became more attached I felt just staying there, the portal grew but it was always decreasing as we proceeded with the treatment.Whatever it was I didn’t care but I pulled him closer to the portal till half of his body was here and the other ther from he held my hand, my heart skills beat.His eyes opened slightly and his lips stretched in. Sly smile.“Thanks for ever
Selene’s POVI tried to kick his hands out, but damn this thick dress. Damn it so much, because of it he was able to climb on my body while pinning my knees to the floor, my attentlg to stand was ended when he held my legs.And now I was trying to crawl out of there but he held my hair in between his hard fingers.“Damn you!” He said.As he held my jaw threatening to break it with his hand I met his broken nose as well, both of were bleeding, but he was smiling at me“Hello Selene hawkmoon. It’s nice seeing you again.” He butted my head with his head and I fell to the floor the room took a quick spin but I was not giving up, I had taken the stone out of my chest pad where I had kept it earlier, and I held it in my hands and when he came close to my face again I slammed his head with the stone.Again. Three times till one’s sure I had gotten the part where was bleeding he rolled on his back as he groaned in pain. I stood to my feet, ready to take to my feet but the dress was crappy an
Selene’s POVit kept on flattering and resizing as it emerges, now I thought of nothing at all but the resent energy in the room it knocked on the walls of my mind, it teared my veins there were so many sick people in the room praying to be healed by some miracle healer all of a sudden.But I had other things, I stood from where I was and I walked over to a distant edge maybe the further I am am from the more distant the rush to want to heal them will affect me.Did it workMaybe.The potato was big enough to size my head and if it could just grow a little bit wider now I would shove myself inside like a tight cave hole. I would not mind it.I had finally gotten to a stage of mind one would calm perfect and once I saw that the ho I had created was big enough to fit me I stood up and it stood still, I could almost cry but I had no—“Shit.” Casper walked into the room, the stillness in my heart died and the portal disappeared but with the look on his eyes I was sure not finding a way o