Chapter 6 Painful Memories

Selena's POV

I felt like I was in a dark chaos, as if there were a thick cloud around me, preventing me from seeing the road ahead. In this empty space, there was no sound, only a dead silence surrounding me. 

Suddenly, I seemed to be back in the bustling hospital corridors, with patients of various expressions passing by me, all looking expressionless. 

They all seemed to have had their souls taken from them, dragging their heavy bodies in the same direction. I tried to see the path ahead, but the corridor ended in a thick mass of darkness, and all the people who entered it made no sound or struggle; everything was eerily in motion.

I clenched my lips, trying to resist joining them. But as if my body was out of control, I followed the others as they slowly advanced towards the depths of the darkness. 

A great sense of fear wrapped around me, and I opened my mouth wide in an attempt to cry out, but to my despair, I couldn't make a sound no matter how hard I tried. 

The sound of footsteps echoed around me. Thud! Thud! Dull, as if someone was hammering on my heart. I could only watch as my body moved step by step towards nothingness.

But just as I closed my eyes in dismay, a bright light suddenly appeared in front of me, followed by a pair of large, strong hands that grabbed my palms and firmly saved me from the darkness. 

That person was glowing with a bright light; his palm was wide and warm, and his deep eyes were filled with tenderness. I could feel the soft warmth surrounding me, and a familiar scent settled my mind. He stood in the backlight and gave me the gentlest of smiles.

Seeing this scene, my heartbeat instantly accelerated, and I unconsciously wanted to get closer to him to see his true face. Gradually, the light dissipated, and that handsome face slowly emerged in front of my eyes. 

Xander! 

Once upon a time, Xander also stood under the bright moonlight like this and looked at me with a smile on his face. At that time, he was in high spirits, wearing a white shirt and standing on the grass sprinkled with moonlight. 

He gently took my hand, and we danced an elegant waltz under the witness of the moon goddess.

Sometimes we would sit quietly in the grass, surrounded by endless greenery as if it were a natural painting. My head rested on Xander's shoulder, and I closed my eyes, listening to him hum a romantic song softly. 

We used to snuggle together, whether it was a sunny afternoon or a starry night. Xander's embrace was my warmest harbor. I could feel his love; every touch was an expression of deep affection, every look full of tenderness. Our hearts were intertwined like a burning bonfire, warm and bright.

Once, I thought I had found my soulmate, but all that beauty was like a mirage—dreamlike and unreal. Perhaps one day, Xander's attitude began to change. His eyes were no longer soft, but filled with distance and strangeness. 

I didn't understand what was happening and felt a wave of confusion and loneliness, as if I had lost everything good overnight. Xander's gentle face in my mind was slowly replaced by indifference.

At first, I thought it was because I hadn't done enough, so I tried my best to be nice to him, even lowering myself to please Xander. But my humility didn't bring back his smile; instead, it invited more hurt. 

This pain went on week after week, gradually becoming a monstrous, unspoken understanding. 

If I hadn't found the problem that could have killed me, I was afraid I would have continued to be like... knowing nothing and living to die in pain forever.

"Maybe it's good to end it like this."

Tears slipped unconsciously from the corners of my eyes, moistening my cheeks. But just then, I suddenly felt a soft touch on my lips.

"Selena!"

A soft call came from beside me, but the voice sounded distant and strangely inauthentic. I don't know where this survival instinct came from, but I used all my strength to open my eyes, wanting to see who was holding me. As I opened my eyes, a handsome yet cold face appeared before me.

Seeing me wake up, Xander's eyes flashed with a hint of panic, but he quickly returned to his original cold-as-ice look.

"What a shame that you're still alive."

His eyes were cold and empty, as if he were looking at a stranger.

"Xander..." I softly called his name, struggling to sit up and trying to embrace him.

"Get your filthy hands off me and go do something you need to do."

Xander sidestepped slightly to avoid my hug, causing my whole body to flop straight off the bed. I don't know if it was just my imagination, but as I fell to the ground, I seemed to see Xander's hand subconsciously try to pull me back.

"What do you mean?" I raised my head with difficulty and looked at Xander.

"Since you're not dead, it's time to do something that fits who you are. And don't think you're the Luna of the pack just because you're my mate."

The corner of Xander's mouth lifted into a mocking smile before he stood up and headed for the door without regard for my well-being.

"Remember, if it wasn't for me, you'd probably just be an omega, muddling through a sewer-like existence with your shameful and pathetic father."

Xander slammed the door heavily and never looked back. His figure faded into the darkness as if he had never existed. At that moment, my tears flowed once again as I felt a loneliness and despair I had never felt before. 

The moon was covered by a thick layer of dark clouds, and in this dark world, I felt completely lost, not knowing where to go.