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.

Selene's POV

When I opened my eyes,I was in the healers den.

My body felt heavy.Every move hurts.My throat was dry.

"Selene…"I turned my head slowly.

Uncle Aldric was staring at me.His eyes were red.Like he had not slept.

"You are awake,"he said.He grabbed my hand tightly."You've been out for days”

I tried to speak.My voice came out weak.

"How long?"

"Two days."

My fingers went still.Two days.I had to leave soon."And Caelan?"I asked.

Uncle Aldric's face changed.

"He did not come,"he said quietly.

The words did not hurt as much as I expected.Maybe because I already knew.

Uncle Aldric's grip tightened."Why did you stay with him,Selene?After everything he did?He took everything from you.And you still---"

"I will be fine,"I said softly.

Uncle Aldric nodded.But he did not say another word.

"I want you to come back with me,"he said."To Blackthorne territory.You will be safe there."

I shook my head.

"I cannot.Not yet."

"Why not?"

"I need answers,"I said."About Mira.About my pup.I need to hear the truth from them.Then I will come back.I promise."

He looked at me for a long time.Then he sighed.

"You are as stubborn as your mother."

"I learned from the best."

He smiled a little.But his eyes stayed worried.

"Take this,"he said.He put a small protection Stone in my hand."If you are in danger,touch it.I will come.No matter where you are."

I closed my fingers around it.

"Thank you,Uncle."

After my medication,I left my healing chamber.

I went straight to the pack healer.The one who had helped Verra.The one who knew the truth.

I walked in and closed the door.

The healer looked up.Annoyed.Until he saw me.His face lost all color.

"You…’’

I stepped inside.Then I took out a memory crystal and placed it on the table.

"My name is Selene Blackthorne,"I said calmly."Heiress to the Blackthorne family."

His lips trembled.

"I will give you one chance,"I continued."Tell me the truth."

"I…I do not know what—"

"You do not want me as your enemy,"I warned.

His hands started shaking.

"I will destroy everything you have,"I added quietly."Your healing den.Your family will not be safe from what comes after."

"I will talk!"he said quickly.

"Say it."

His voice shook.

"Verra's pup…did not need the soul essence".

My breath stopped.

"What?"

"Her pup was fine,"he stammered."There was no sickness.It was not necessary."

I stared at him.My brain refused to understand.

"Say it again."

"The pup did not need it!"he cried."Verra insisted!She said she wanted…she wanted your pup gone."

The room tilted.

My fingers gripped the edge of the table.

So my pup did not have to die at all.My legs gave out.I caught myself on the table.My whole body was shaking.

"So you killed an innocent pup for nothing,"I whispered.My voice trembled.

Tears blurred my vision.The healer fell to his knees.

"She threatened my family!I had no choice"

"You had a choice,"I yelled."And you chose to kill my pup!"

He broke down completely.

"I am sorry!Please"

"I will not spare you."

I picked up my moonstone and called the pack counsel.

"I found the healer.He confessed.Have him arrested.I have evidence."

When I got back to the den,I braced myself.

I needed to keep a blank face.So they would not suspect anything.

But when I stepped inside,I saw all of them waiting for me.Caelan.Verra.And my parents.

"What did you do?"My father snapped.

My heart skipped.Maybe they had caught onto my plans.

"What are you talking about?"

"You set it up!"My mom shouted."The kidnapping!Just to get attention!"

I breathed out slowly.It was just another one of Verra's tricks.

"You even endangered Verra!"My father continued."Do you know how weak she is?"

Weak?I almost laughed.

"How do you even know I did what you are accusing me of?"I asked.

Caelan stepped forward.His eyes were cold.

"The kidnappers were caught.They confessed that you hired them,"he said.

Verra stumbled forward."Please,sister.Spare me."

"This is your last warning,"Caelan said coldly."Behave yourself.Or I will make you regret it."

Then he put Verra's pup in my arms.

"Take care of him.Make yourself useful.We are going out.We will be back soon."

With those words,they all walked out.They left me alone with the pup.

I looked down at the pup.He was warm.Breathing softly.He was alive.

My arms tightened.My chest burned as the pup made small noises.

My pup was not alive.Because this pup's mother had mine killed.

My vision blurred.I pressed my lips together,trying to stop it.

But the tears came anyway.Soon the pup started crying with me.

"I am sorry,"I whispered.Sobbing."It is not your fault.You are just an innocent pup.You did not ask for any of this."

I calmed myself and the pup down.

Then my moonstone glowed.An announcement came through.

It was from Verra.She sent an image.Her and Caelan watching the northern lights.Her head leaned against his shoulder.

The announcement said:"Ten years.And he has never missed bringing me here.Thank you,my mate."

Ten years?

My fingers tightened.A terrible truth dawned on me.

Eight years ago,my father brought Verra to our pack.He raised her beside me.

But even before then,Caelan had always disappeared on this very day every year.He said he had to learn the pack business.

My breath caught.

So it was not recent.It was not a mistake.He had been with her all along.From the very beginning.

For eight years,while I thought she was my sister,she was taking my mate.

A bitter laugh escaped me.

It was clear now.It had always been Verra.

Later that night,I was trying to rest.

Then I heard doors pushed open.Verra's terrified voice.

"Something is wrong!The pup…the pup is not breathing!"

Everything moved fast after that.

Caelan rushed to my room with Verra and the pup.

"What did you do?"he shouted.

"I did nothing…"

"You were the only one here with him when we went out!"he snapped.

"I would never…"

"Confess!"he roared."You have always been jealous because your pup died and hers survived."

I stared at him.My chest tightened at his words.

"So this is what you think of me.You think I am capable of this?"

Verra started crying."Please,sister.Hurt me.But spare my pup."

I scoffed."I am not like you,Verra.I would never hurt an innocent pup."

Caelan's face was red with anger.He glared at me.

"Enough of your cruelty.I warned you to behave.Maybe a few nights in the dungeon will teach you a lesson.Pray nothing happens to my son."

He called the pack guards.They put iron chains on my wrists.They took me to the dungeon.

Even as I screamed that I was innocent,he ignored me.

The cell was cold and damp.I curled up in a ball and tried to sleep.Then I heard a noise,everything happened fast.

Three female wolves broke into my cage.They beat me.Until I could not cry out anymore.

Then one of them pulled out a sliver blade.The sharp end glinted in the dark.She grinned at me.

"Verra paid us to kill you.She must really dislike you'’.

Before I could speak,the blade went into me.

I let out a scream.My body jerked.Warm blood spread beneath me.

Heavy footsteps and voices sounded around me.But everything blurred.

My eyes wanted to close.

I was rushed to the healers den.

The healers kept yelling that I should not close my eyes.

I drifted in and out.But I heard bits of conversation.

Caelan was shouting."All healers should attend to my son."

"But Alpha,"one healer said."A prisoner was stabbed.She is badly hurt.She could die."

"What is a prisoner's life compared to my son?"Caelan said coldly."Save my son.The prisoner's life is worthless."

Even now.He still chose to save Verra and her pup.He tossed me aside again.

I was left to bleed.

One healer felt sorry for me.She bandaged my wound with herbs and cloth.

My vision blurred.I reached for my protection stone.

"Uncle Aldric…"

My voice was barely a whisper.

"Come get me…"

By the time the door burst open,I was fading.

Uncle Aldric stood there.His guards filled the room.

"Selene!"he shouted."Stay with me!"

He lifted me gently.

I forced my eyes open.I grabbed his hand.

"I do not care anymore,"I whispered."Release everything.I want them ruined."

The last thing I saw was Uncle Aldric nodding.

Then darkness