Selene’s POVFor a moment, I looked at Roman in confusion. Why was he holding the knife like that? Then I realized the handle was pointed towards me. Did he want me to take it?I glanced from the knife to his face, trying to make sense of this—this—insane situation. My fingers twitched, itching to reach for the weapon, but I couldn’t tell if this was some kind of trap. Why was he giving me the chance to hold a blade?Before I could decide, Roman reached out and gently took my hand. Damn—the touch of his skin jolted through me like an electric shock, igniting every nerve in my body. An involuntary shudder ran down my spine, and I stiffened. I wanted to recoil, to snatch my hand back, but something kept me frozen. I couldn't let him know how a simple touch from him had affected me like this. I shouldn't be feeling this. What was wrong with me? Why was I attracted to this tyrant? This murdered?He moved my hand to the knife, positioning my fingers around the handle, and then his
Selene's POVTonight was the Masquerade Mating Ball—the grandest, most dazzling event of the year—and everyone whispered with excitement.Well, all of them whispered except me. I hadn’t received an invitation.This was very upsetting for me. The Mating Ball was where many wolves found their mates. Only singles between 16 and 18 were invited to the ball, and invitations were sent out three days beforehand. If you didn't get an invitation, you'd be ridiculed. I’d never received one, so I’d been the laughing stock of the pack for the past three years now. The other she-wolves bullied me. They called me names in derisive tones and whispered about me behind my pack. ‘No invitation for Selene - AGAIN,’ I heard them smirk and snicker. ‘What did she expect? Why should she be invited? She doesn’t even have a wolf!’It hurt my heart to hear their taunts and giggles at my expense. It was true, though. I didn’t have a wolf. When I turned 16, I eagerly waited for my first shift, but it never ha
Selene's POVWhy? That was the question on my mind as I stared at the invitations. Why hadn’t I seen these before now? These invitations were supposed to go to my guardian and then be handed over to me. I stared at the invitations, my fingers gripping the edges so tightly the paper began to curl. I realized there was only one explanation. My mom. As my guardian, she received these invitations. But she never gave them to me. Instead, she hid them from me, buried under sweaters in my closet.But why would she do that? I’d always tried so hard to be a good daughter, to listen to her and follow her rules, even though it meant excluding myself from all the other wolves. It was crushing sometimes, the loneliness I felt as a child. I longed for friends, to go to school, to do all the other fun things that other wolves my age did. I endured the constant ridicule of the other wolves because I had no friends, and I did it to keep the peace with my mom. I never complained about how bad thin
Selene's POVI choked back the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes. Jason’s betrayal cut like a knife right through my heart. I wanted to run home and pretend like I’d never seen him. I struggled to breath, taking in air in huge gulps while my hands shook. I didn’t know what to do. Jason hadn’t seen me yet. I could still get away before he did. I was mortified and humiliated. I’d trusted him! I’d given him my heart, believing that he loved me, only to have him crush it! But before I could decide what to do next, Cynthia made her entrance. She swept into the room, her long, elegant, emerald gown swaying as she waltzed right up to Jason. All eyes were on her as she made her way across the floor, including Jason’s. He fixed her with a gaze full of intense heat. The way he looked at her? It was as if she was the only she-wolf in the world. He smiled as she approached and extended his hand to her. Cynthia gently placed her hand in his and a soft smile graced her lips. I watch
Selene's POVMy breath hitched in my throat. This man looked so unlike any other man in the room. He literally towered over every man-wolf, larger and more imposing than any Alpha I’d ever seen. The music still played in the background, but no one was listening. Every pair of eyes were locked on him, mine included.Suddenly, his oppressive aura eased, just slightly, and the trembling that gripped us all subsided. My muscles relaxed, though not entirely.He came towards me, his gaze locked on mine. It was a probing, hungry gaze, as if I were the only thing in the room that mattered. Everything else—the crowd, the music, the grand hall—was mere backdrop. My pulse quickened, and instinctively, everyone took a step back as he advanced. He approached, closer and closer still. My breathing became shallow and erratic. His eyes were so intense, for a moment, I tried to avoid it, afraid I might offend him if I gazed back. Yet a part of me—a part I didn’t understand—longed for it. Longed for
Selene's POVI struggled nervously, and the man quickly set me down. I felt panicked as my mother continued to glare at me. The handsome stranger must have sensed my panic because before I could bolt in any random direction, his hand shot out and grabbed mine. “What are you—” I barely got the words out before he started moving, pulling me through the ballroom like a man on a mission. The crowd parted for us as we made our way to the back door. I didn’t resist. Why would I? He looked like he had a plan, and my plan consisted of, well, nothing. Plus, his grip was surprisingly reassuring and firm, and I liked the way his hand felt in mine. It was crazy and I knew it, to follow this strange, dangerous man out of the ballroom blindly. But there was something about him - something that I couldn’t refuse. We slipped through a side door and burst out into the cool night air. The moon was almost full and it shone brightly as we sprinted into the forest. His hand remained in mine as he
Selene's POVLycans. My mind reeled. My mother snapped her mouth shut, terror on her face. “What are you talking about?” I asked with trepidation. “What Lycans? There are no Lycans, Mom. They’ve been dead for years. And what curse?”She froze for a beat, but then she shook her head. “It’s nothing,” she said quickly, too quickly. “It’s just nonsense. Go to bed.” Nonsense? Go to bed? She really thought she could just brush this off? “No, Mom, you can't say Lycans and curse in the same sentence and then brush it off.” She looked away from me. “It’s late,” she sighed. “I’m tired and I have to work early…”“Mom,” I pleaded. “Can you just please, for once, be honest with me? You’ve locked me up my entire life! You’ve cut me off from all the kids my age and I never complained, even though I never why. If there’s a reason, Mom, please, you need to tell me.” Her face was stoic, her voice low. “Selene, go to your room,” she said firmly. “You can’t keep doing this,” I snapped. “You can
Selene's POVWhen Roman said ‘We’ll meet again’, I was full of anticipation. But I never imagined our reunion would be like this.I stood there, frozen, staring at him in complete shock. My breath caught in my throat, and my chest tightened. I wanted to believe it wasn’t him. It couldn’t be. But it was real. It was him. He had just killed my mother. The man I was daydreaming about just hours ago, the one I was so eager to see again... Now, he was standing there, before me, covered in my mother’s blood. I felt my legs weaken as the reality of the scene hit me like a wave. I wanted to move, to run, but my feet remained rooted to the ground.A bunch of limping werewolves staggered past me, gathering in the designated area and dropping to their knees from injury and exhaustion. Werewolf bodies were scattered all over the ground, blood pooling everywhere. It was horrific. I recognized some of the bodies—they were members of my pack. I didn’t know any of them well, but I’d grown up a
Selene’s POVFor a moment, I looked at Roman in confusion. Why was he holding the knife like that? Then I realized the handle was pointed towards me. Did he want me to take it?I glanced from the knife to his face, trying to make sense of this—this—insane situation. My fingers twitched, itching to reach for the weapon, but I couldn’t tell if this was some kind of trap. Why was he giving me the chance to hold a blade?Before I could decide, Roman reached out and gently took my hand. Damn—the touch of his skin jolted through me like an electric shock, igniting every nerve in my body. An involuntary shudder ran down my spine, and I stiffened. I wanted to recoil, to snatch my hand back, but something kept me frozen. I couldn't let him know how a simple touch from him had affected me like this. I shouldn't be feeling this. What was wrong with me? Why was I attracted to this tyrant? This murdered?He moved my hand to the knife, positioning my fingers around the handle, and then his
Selene's POVIt’s Roman, of course.I froze, my heart slamming in my chest. He stood there, leaning against the doorway like he owned the place—which, I guess he technically did, but that was beside the point. His eyes swept over me, lingering just long enough to make my stomach twist, and a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.Why did he have to come now? All I craved was a little time to myself, to sort through the warring emotions inside me. But he stared at me intensely and I soon realized he was there to stay. I tightened my grip on the blanket, pulling it closer around me. My skin prickled and I felt every inch of me turn raw and exposed beneath his stare. Beneath this cover was the humiliating excuse for clothing the maids had left, and the thought of him seeing me in it sent a shudder down my spine.As he tilted his head, his gaze narrowed, like he was sizing me up. A flush of panic washed over me, but I of course, forced myself to lie still. I wasn’t going to give him
Selene’s POVThe maids led me down a long, polished hallway, and the moment I stepped into the room, my jaw nearly dropped. This bedroom was massive—easily ten times the size of my old one. Everything was richly decorated, from the silk drapes to the enormous bed. It was… beautiful. Beautiful and intimidating. I’d grown up in this pack, but I’d never set foot in the pack house before. My mother had been a cook, one of the lowest-ranking maids, and she’d always told me this place was off-limits. I’d often wondered what the inside of the pack house looked like, but I never dreamed it would be so decadent. This room was almost as big as our entire house. I was pretty sure it had to be one of the master suites. I was confused by this. Roman had made it clear that I was a prisoner, so why had he put me in a room this beautiful?One of the maids, a tall, rigid-looking woman named Lysa, stood to the side with a frown , “We need to give you a bath.”I blinked. “You… want to give me a
Roman's POVI leaned back in the worn leather chair, my fingers drumming rhythmically against the table. The battle was over, but we’d taken over the pack and there was a lot of reorganizing to do. The maids had cleaned up this meeting room for us before tackling the rest of the pack house. Around me, the elders sat with somber expressions, waiting for me to speak. But my mind kept drifting back to Selene. I was shocked when I saw her black eyes, glaring at me over her mother’s corpse. How could it be? How could the one I’d been looking for all these years have BLACK eyes instead of red. But it was her; I was sure of it. I’d felt it instantly at the Mating Ball - the matebond. Despite her black eyes, Selene was my mate. It’s why I’d spared her life, of course. Why I’d demanded that she be locked up and put under constant surveillance. She might be wolfless and not the red-eyed Lycan I was expecting, but she was still invaluable. At least, that’s what I believed at the time. “Roma
Selene’s POVI glared at Roman. Of course my eyes weren’t red. He studied my face, his brows furrowed. “Then why—at the ball, your eyes—” Roman pressed, his tone insistent, like he wouldn’t stop until he got an answer. “They’ve always been black!” I snapped, exasperated. “I wore red contacts for the stupid costume, okay? It was a disguise!” I could feel his disappointment, though I had no idea why. And honestly? I was glad. After what he did to my mother, seeing him unhappy felt like the smallest victory. His expression shifted—from confusion, to frustration, to something closer to defeat—before finally going still. “You’re not her,” he murmured under his breath, but I heard him loud and clear. Enough. I’d had it with this pointless back-and-forth. Whatever that ball had been, whatever I’d once felt for him, it was over. It was a lie, just like my red eyes. The only truth now was my mother’s death.“I’m going to kill you!” I roared, all my grief and rage pouring out as I lunge
Selene's POVWhen Roman said ‘We’ll meet again’, I was full of anticipation. But I never imagined our reunion would be like this.I stood there, frozen, staring at him in complete shock. My breath caught in my throat, and my chest tightened. I wanted to believe it wasn’t him. It couldn’t be. But it was real. It was him. He had just killed my mother. The man I was daydreaming about just hours ago, the one I was so eager to see again... Now, he was standing there, before me, covered in my mother’s blood. I felt my legs weaken as the reality of the scene hit me like a wave. I wanted to move, to run, but my feet remained rooted to the ground.A bunch of limping werewolves staggered past me, gathering in the designated area and dropping to their knees from injury and exhaustion. Werewolf bodies were scattered all over the ground, blood pooling everywhere. It was horrific. I recognized some of the bodies—they were members of my pack. I didn’t know any of them well, but I’d grown up a
Selene's POVLycans. My mind reeled. My mother snapped her mouth shut, terror on her face. “What are you talking about?” I asked with trepidation. “What Lycans? There are no Lycans, Mom. They’ve been dead for years. And what curse?”She froze for a beat, but then she shook her head. “It’s nothing,” she said quickly, too quickly. “It’s just nonsense. Go to bed.” Nonsense? Go to bed? She really thought she could just brush this off? “No, Mom, you can't say Lycans and curse in the same sentence and then brush it off.” She looked away from me. “It’s late,” she sighed. “I’m tired and I have to work early…”“Mom,” I pleaded. “Can you just please, for once, be honest with me? You’ve locked me up my entire life! You’ve cut me off from all the kids my age and I never complained, even though I never why. If there’s a reason, Mom, please, you need to tell me.” Her face was stoic, her voice low. “Selene, go to your room,” she said firmly. “You can’t keep doing this,” I snapped. “You can
Selene's POVI struggled nervously, and the man quickly set me down. I felt panicked as my mother continued to glare at me. The handsome stranger must have sensed my panic because before I could bolt in any random direction, his hand shot out and grabbed mine. “What are you—” I barely got the words out before he started moving, pulling me through the ballroom like a man on a mission. The crowd parted for us as we made our way to the back door. I didn’t resist. Why would I? He looked like he had a plan, and my plan consisted of, well, nothing. Plus, his grip was surprisingly reassuring and firm, and I liked the way his hand felt in mine. It was crazy and I knew it, to follow this strange, dangerous man out of the ballroom blindly. But there was something about him - something that I couldn’t refuse. We slipped through a side door and burst out into the cool night air. The moon was almost full and it shone brightly as we sprinted into the forest. His hand remained in mine as he
Selene's POVMy breath hitched in my throat. This man looked so unlike any other man in the room. He literally towered over every man-wolf, larger and more imposing than any Alpha I’d ever seen. The music still played in the background, but no one was listening. Every pair of eyes were locked on him, mine included.Suddenly, his oppressive aura eased, just slightly, and the trembling that gripped us all subsided. My muscles relaxed, though not entirely.He came towards me, his gaze locked on mine. It was a probing, hungry gaze, as if I were the only thing in the room that mattered. Everything else—the crowd, the music, the grand hall—was mere backdrop. My pulse quickened, and instinctively, everyone took a step back as he advanced. He approached, closer and closer still. My breathing became shallow and erratic. His eyes were so intense, for a moment, I tried to avoid it, afraid I might offend him if I gazed back. Yet a part of me—a part I didn’t understand—longed for it. Longed for