Selene's POV

Pain was the first thing I felt when I woke up.

My side hurt badly.My burned hand hurt too.For a moment I just lay there and stared at the ceiling.

Then it all came back.The fire.Mira's herbs.Caelan's cold voice.My dead pup.

My fingers curled against the floor.

I looked around.No one had come.Not one person.Not even a cup of water.I was still on the floor where Verra had kicked me.

I sat up slowly.It hurt.I breathed through it until the room stopped spinning.Then I got up.

The floor was cold under my feet.

As I walked into the hallway,I heard voices coming from further down.

I did not mean to stop.But I did.

"...Lady Verra said her foot hurt after she kicked Lady Selene.The Alpha did not wait at all.He carried her out himself."

"He looked so worried.Like something very bad had happened."

"And Lady Selene?"

A pause.Then a careless voice.

"She passed out.No one called a healer.The Alpha does not care about her."

A soft laugh."Next to Lady Verra,she does not matter."

I stood still and listened.Those words should have hurt me.

They did not.

No anger.No tears.Just quiet,like something inside me had gone very cold.I walked away as if I had not heard a thing.

Back in my room,I opened the wardrobe.

Cloaks Caelan said looked good on me.Things he said reminded him of me.Gifts he said I needed.

I used to think those things meant he loved me.Now I know better.

I folded them one by one and put them in a box.

When I was done,I called one of the den helpers.

"Take these to Moonhaven Shelter,"I said."The ones that take in wolves with no pack."

"Yes,my lady."

I went back to packing my own things.

Then I found something in the bottom drawer.It was hidden under a pile of papers.Easy to miss.

A thin rolled parchment.

I opened it.Then my breathing slowed.

It was a pardon scroll.It had the Moon Goddess seal on it.

I read every word.

It was about the fire.The one that took Mira.Someone had looked into it.They had found who did it.And someone had marked to forgive that person.

That someone was me.

The name of the wolf who set the fire was Verra.

I read it again.My hands started to shake.

Caelan had told me they found nothing.He had stood over Mira's grave and promised he would find who took her from me.

Three months after Mira died,Caelan said he had a gift for me.A moon-bloom field,he said.

"Just mark here,"he had said,his voice soft."It is yours."

I did not read it.I trusted him.I pressed my seal to it with tears still wet on my face.

A short,bitter sound came out of me.

"I will find whoever did this,"he had said,standing at Mira's grave,his hand on my shoulder.

"I promise you,Selene.They will not get away with it."

I cried into his chest and believed every word.

He had known the whole time.

Verra had set that fire for me.

She planned it while I carried my pup.She sent the guards away and lit the house on fire.She wanted to burn me alive.No one around to help.No witness.

What she did not know was that I had left that morning.I had found a wounded wolf near the border and brought him to the healer's den.That wolf turned out to be my uncle Aldric.I did not know that yet.

She also did not know that Caelan had come to the den that same morning to get some papers.He was still inside when she lit the fire.

Mira came to visit me like she always did.She found the house burning and Caelan trapped inside.

So she ran in.

Mira ran into a fire that was meant for me.She pulled Caelan out using the last bit of strength she had.

When the pack finished looking into the fire,Caelan found out the truth.He went to Verra.

Verra cried and said it was a mistake.She said she did not know he was inside.

Caelan chose to believe her.She was carrying his pup.She was dying,or so he thought.So he hid the truth.He put my name on the pardon and hid it where I would never find it.

He was scared of what I would do if I ever found out.

For a moment I wanted to pull Verra before the pack elders and let everyone know what she did.

Not yet.

I copied every word into the Stone's memory crystal,made a copy on bark-cloth,then put the real parchment back exactly where I found it.

I had just gone back to packing when the door opened.

"What are you doing?"

Caelan stood in the doorway looking at the boxes.

I finished folding the cloak in my hands before I looked up.

"These are old,"I said."I do not need them.I am sending them to the Moonhaven Shelter."

He looked around the room."All of this?"

"I do not need them anymore."

He nodded."About earlier...Verra did not mean to hurt you.She thought you were going to hit me."

"I understand,"I said.

The words came out calm.Like I meant them.Caelan relaxed.He believed me.

"I knew you would,"he said.

I said nothing.I took out the bond dissolution papers Elder Brennan had made and held them out to him.

"Mark this."

He looked at it."What is it?"

"I want a memory stone made for our pup,"I said."It needs your mark as Alpha."

Guilt moved across his face.Then it was gone.

"Do what you want,"he said."But move on.We will have more pups."

My hand tightened for just a second.My face did not move.

"Just mark it,"I said.

He took the pen.He did not read one word.He signed his name and gave it back.

Three years of being his mate.Ended with a seal he did not even look at.

I took the papers back.My hand was steady.

We will never have more pups.We will never have anything again.

Then his Communication moonstone pulsed.

His face changed at once.Soft in a way it had never been for me.

"Verra."His voice went gentle."What is wrong?Your foot...I am coming."

He walked out without looking back.

I stood in the quiet room for a long time.The signed papers in my hand.My half-packed things beside me.

Then I smiled.

Very soon he would wish he had read what he signed.

Selene’s POV

The bond dissolution papers were still warm in my hands when the door opened.

I did not need to look up to know who it was.

My mother walked in like she always did.Like every room belonged to her.

She stopped in the middle of the floor and folded her arms.

“Verra just gave birth,”she said.“She needs to recover.You will make her moon-root broth.The one with slow-simmered bone marrow.”

I looked at her.

“That takes eight hours to prepare.”

“Yes,”she said.“It does.”

No softness.No apology.She said it like she was reminding me of my purpose.

“Start now.It should be ready before she sleeps.”

My father appeared at the door behind her.He did not speak.He only looked at me the way he always had.Like I was a disappointment.

I set the papers down.

“I will start now,”I said.

They were stunned and nodded approvely,and left without another word.

Not one question about my ribs.Not one look at the injury on my jaw.Not one moment of seeing me at all.

I had stopped expecting it a long time ago.

...

I stood at the fire,cooking for eight hours.

My burned hand ached the whole time.I kept going.

By the time the broth was done,the den had gone quiet.Caelan was with Verra.I could hear their voices through the wall.Low and easy.The way people talk when they feel safe.

I carried the tray upstairs and left it outside her door.

Just as i turned to go.

Her door opened.

“Selene.”

Verra’s voice was soft.The kind of soft that means nothing good.

I stopped.

“Thank you for the broth,”she said.

I said nothing.

She stepped into the corridor.Her slippers made no sound.She came close enough that I could see her face clearly in the low light.

There was nothing weak about her.Nothing tired.Just that calm,waiting look she got when she had already decided what she was going to do.

“You looked at me a certain way at dinner,”she said.“I noticed.”

“I did not mean anything by it.”

She smiled.

“Of course not.”

She stepped even closer.

“You should be careful up here,”she said.“Near the stairs.”

My stomach dropped.

Then her hand shot out and grabbed my wrist.

Not a push.A pull.

She yanked me toward her,twisted her body sideways,and together we came tumbling down the stairs.She made it look exactly like something I had done.

“Ah…!”

The cry that came out of her was perfect.Frightened.Helpless.

She tumbled down four steps and caught the railing.Then she folded against it,clutching her side,tears already falling.

I tumbled down the stairs too slow to grab the railing and my injured hand made it hard,and I could feel my whole body ache from the pain.

The door at the end of the corridor flew open.

“Verra!”

Caelan reached her in seconds.His hands moved over her,checking,searching,his voice tight with fear.

“Where does it hurt?Look at me.Verra,look at me.”

She pressed herself into his chest and sobbed.

“She pushed me.”Her voice cracked.“I only came out to thank her.I didn’t do anything,Caelan.I didn’t do anything.”

His head lifted slowly.

He looked down at me.

There was no question in his eyes.No hesitation.He had already made up his mind before he even looked down.

“What did you do.”

It was not a question.

“I did not push her,”I said.“She grabbed my wrist.She pushed me…”

“Enough.”

He passed Verra gently to my mother,who had appeared at the top of the stairs,and walked me my room.

My chest tightened.

I shut up to my feet ignoring the pain all over my body,and followed him.

He was already at the shelf when I reached the door.

His hand closed around the small clay urn.

My pup’s ashes.

I stopped breathing.

“Caelan.”My voice came out quiet.“Put it down.”

He turned it over in his hand.Slowly.Like it was nothing.

“Apologize to Verra,”he said.

“I did not push her.”

“Apologize.”

“Please put it down.That is all I have left of…”

“Then apologize.”

His voice had no anger in it.No cruelty.Just emptiness.He was not trying to hurt me.He simply did not care enough to think about what he was holding.

That was worse.

“I’m sorry.”The words tore coming out.“I am sorry.Please.Put it down.”

For one moment I thought he would.

His fingers opened.

The urn dropped.

It hit the stone floor and broke apart.

The sound it made was so small.

That was the part that undid me.All that was left of my pup.And the sound it made when it shattered was barely a whisper.

I could not move.

He was already walking out.

He stepped over the broken pieces without looking down.He did not glance back at me.His whole body was already turned toward her.

“You are safe,”I heard him say,his voice going soft the moment he reached her.“I am here.”

...

I went down slowly.

Onto my knees.Onto the cold floor.

I gathered every piece with my bare hands.The sharp edge of one piece cut my palm.I kept going.

Some of the ash had scattered too far.Already lost.

I sat there for a long time.

Down the hall,I heard Verra laugh.Soft and easy.The laugh of someone who felt completely safe.

And I was on the floor,bleeding,holding what was left of everything I had lost.

I let myself feel it.All of it.The grief.The fury.The deep,hollow ache of it.

I did not fight it.I let it come.

And then,slowly,it settled.

What was left when it passed was not sadness.It was something quieter.Something cold and clear and steady.

I looked at the bond dissolution papers on the desk.

The pardon scroll in my bag.

The memory crystal with every piece of evidence already stored inside it.

He had just given me the last thing I needed.

Not a reason to stay angry.

A reason to leave.

I finished packing that night.Slowly.In the dark.Without a sound.

By the time the house went fully still,I was ready.

...

Let them sleep.

Let them feel safe.

By the time they opened their eyes,everything they thought they had would already be coming apart.

Selene's POV

The next morning,I left before anyone woke up.

I walked into the forest alone.

The path to Mira's grave was overgrown now.No one came here anymore.No one remembered her but me.

I stood in front of the small stone.

"Mira…"My voice came out broken.

I just stared at her name.My chest hurt so much I could not breathe.

"I'm leaving,"I said quietly."This time,I won't come back."

I touched the cold stone.Memories flooded in.Her laugh.Her loyalty.The way she always stood beside me when no one else would.

"I found out the truth,"I said.My voice shook."Verra started the fire.She killed you."

My throat closed up.

"And Caelan knew."

Saying it out loud made it real.

"I trusted him.And he helped her get away with it."

A tear fell down my cheek.

"I'm sorry,"I whispered."I could not save you.I could not save my pup either."

My chest hurt so much.

"If you were still here…"My voice broke."You would not have let them treat me like this."

I could not speak for a moment.Then I forced the words out.

"But I will not let it end like this."

I stepped back.My whole body was shaking.

"This is the last time I come here."

I turned and walked away.I did not look back.

I barely made it past the trees when rouge wolves grabbed me.Strong hands pulled me down.A cloth went over my mouth.

The smell was sharp.Sweet.Wrong.

My body went weak.The last thing I saw before everything went dark was Verra's face.She was already in the van.Unconscious.

Then nothing.

When I woke up,my head pounded.

The room was dark.The air was wet and cold.My hands were tied behind my back.

Voices came from somewhere close.

"She is awake."

"Good.contact him"

A communication moonstone glowed faintly and Caelan's voice came through.Tense.Sharp.

"Who is this?"

"We have two women,"a voice said."Verra and Selene.One hundred Moon Shards for each."

My heart stopped.Then the connection ended.

Verra was crying nearby.Soft.Scared.

I did not know how much time passed.Then the door opened.

Caelan walked in.

His hair was a mess.His clothes were wrinkled.He looked like he had run here.

His eyes found me.For a second,he looked relieved.

"Selene…"he said.He stepped closer.

My throat tightened.He actually came.

"I brought the moon shards,"he said quickly.His voice was low."Just hold on.I will get you out."

For one moment,hope came back.Then he spoke again.

"Release verra first."

The words hit me like a blow.I looked at him.

"You chose her,"I said quietly.

He froze.

"It is not like that…"

But even he did not believe his own words.

"I did not have enough time to gather two hundred moon shards,"he said quickly."I could only save one now.Verra is weak.She is dying.I had to get her out first."

The same excuse.Always the same.

"And what about me?"I asked.

"I will come back for you,"he said.His voice was firm now.Like he was trying to believe it himself."Just hold on a little longer."

Verra's voice trembled."No…cealan,do not do this.I do not want anything to happen to her…"

"You are too good for this world,Verra,"Caelan said to her.

Then he turned to me.

"I will be back."

He left with Verra.He did not look back at me once.

I lowered my head.My chest hurt so much I could not breathe.

What was the point of pretending now?He had already shown me the truth.

He chose her life over mine.

Just like he chose her pup over mine.

‘’Looks like your man does not love you that much."

Laughter filled the room.

Rough hands grabbed my arm.They pulled me up.Then threw me down.Pain shot through my side.My vision went blurry.

"Did you see that?"one of them said.He crouched in front of me."He came all the way here…and still left you."

Another laugh.

"Must feel good."

I clenched my teeth.My body shook.

They did not need to hurt me.Caelan already had.Time stopped meaning anything.

They dragged me.They hit me.They left me cold without food or water.

They laughed every time I tried to stay awake.

Every time I thought it was over,it came again.

My body could not keep up.

My breathing got fast and shallow.I could not get enough air.

"Stay awake,"someone laughed."Do not pass out yet."

My fingers scraped against the floor.I was so cold.I curled into myself.Nothing helped.

"Where is that man now?"another voice mocked."Did he not say he would come back?"

More laughter.

"She is so pathetic."

My chest tightened.I could not breathe.Tears slipped out.I pressed my forehead to the cold floor and shook.

Then the door burst open.Growls.Snarls.The sound of bodies slamming against walls.

"Hold!"

I knew that voice.I forced my eyes open.

Uncle Aldric stood in the doorway.His guards filled the room behind him.Wolves fell at their feet.

He was not young anymore.But right now,he looked like a storm.

His eyes found me on the floor.His face went hard.

"Selene."

I could not speak.

He crossed the room in three steps.His guards cut the ropes on my wrists.Someone put a blanket over my shoulders.

"How…"I whispered.My throat was raw."How did you find me?"

Uncle Aldric knelt beside me.He took my hand gently.He touched the bracelet on my wrist.

The one he gave me 6 months ago.After I saved his life.

It was small.Wooden beads and a single blue stone.I never took it off.

"It has a spell,"he said quietly."You touch it when you are in danger.It sends a signal to me."

I looked down at the bracelet.I did not remember touching it.

But my other hand was bloody.My fingers must have brushed the stone while I was passing out.

"The moment it lit up,I came,"he said.His voice shook."I should have come sooner.I am sorry."

"You came,"I said.Tears fell down my cheeks."You came for me."

"Always,"he said."You saved my life once,little one.I will spend mine keeping you safe."

He lifted me into his arms like I weighed nothing.

"Take us home,"he said to his guards.

I pressed my face into his shoulder.For the first time in years,I felt safe.