I didn't kiss him back.
I couldn't.
My brain just… froze. His lips were on mine, but my mind screamed at me that this was wrong. So wrong. And yet a dangerous, twisted part of me didn't want to pull away. Not yet.
But I did.
I shoved him back with both hands, chest heaving. "What are you doing, Alpha?" I snapped, anger slicing through the confusion like lightning in a thunderstorm.
Damien blinked, momentarily stunned, as if he hadn't expected rejection. As if I was just supposed to melt under his touch and forget everything that just happened.
"You were crying," he said, voice soft now. Almost gentle. "I hate it when you cry."
"That doesn't give you the right to kiss me." I stepped back, needing space, needing air. "Especially not after your entire pack nearly had me imprisoned for something I didn't do."
His jaw clenched. A muscle ticked.
"I didn't know what they were planning. I wasn't told. But I should've seen it coming." He looked away, then back at me, the calm in his eyes replaced with something hotter, sharper. "Why are you being treated like this?"
"Gee, I'd love to know that myself." I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, fury crackling in my veins now. "Maybe because I'm not some delicate, pureblooded damsel with a sob story and fake tears."
His expression darkened again, but this time not at me—I could feel the shift. It wasn't anger for me, it was at the people who had put me through hell today.
"Selene," he growled under his breath, almost like a curse.
"Yes, Selene," I bit back, stepping closer, refusing to back down. "The same woman who faked a poisoning, threw in some staged tears and suddenly I'm the villain everyone wants dead. And Luciana—"
"Luciana won't be a problem anymore."
I stared at him. "So you admit this was all planned?"
"I said I didn't know—"
"You're the Alpha!" I cut him off. "If you didn't know what was going on in your pack, then you're either lying or incompetent."
He looked like I'd slapped him. Good.
"And Xavier?" I continued, voice shaking now with rage, "He grabbed me like I was a criminal. I have bruises, Damien. Actual bruises."
His hands fisted at his sides. He looked like he wanted to punch a wall—or maybe Xavier. I didn't care which. But I wasn't done.
"You all think you can play your little power games around me. Push me, accuse me, hurt me—and I'll just take it." I took a breath and locked eyes with him, fire pulsing through my chest. "I'm done."
"Eva…" he started, voice low, almost careful now.
"No," I cut in, stepping back toward the door. "You don't get to say my name like that. I've had enough."
And I had.
I'd been thrown into this world without a choice. Forced to stay. Pushed, accused, blamed—and nearly ruined for something I hadn't done.
They thought I'd break.
They had no idea who I was.
If Selene wanted to play dirty, then fine. She'd see how good I was at that game.
She wanted a war? She just got one.
–––⸻✧⸻–––
I didn't waste time.
I stormed down the hall and found her room half open. Luciana was there, throwing clothes into a bag like the world was ending. Maybe for her, it was.
"Going somewhere?" I asked, stepping inside.
She flinched at my voice, then straightened, not bothering to look ashamed.
"Orders," she said flatly. "I was told to leave."
I closed the door behind me, slowly. "You should've thought about that before framing me."
Luciana's lips tightened. "It wasn't supposed to go that far."
"Oh, forgive me, should I have just taken the blame gracefully?" I took a step closer. "You lied. You watched me get dragged, humiliated—and you said nothing."
Her eyes met mine now, uncertain, defensive. "Selene made me. She said if I didn't help her, she'd—"
"I don't care what Selene said," I cut in coldly. "You still made a choice. Don't pretend you were innocent in this."
Luciana stayed silent, jaw clenched.
I leaned in just enough for her to feel the weight of my words. "Next time you decide to play someone's pawn, make sure you're not disposable."
Then I turned, opened the door, and walked out.
Let her stew in that.
She wasn't my focus anymore. Selene was.
And I had a plan.
–––⸻✧⸻–––
The moon hung heavy in the sky, casting silver over the balcony as I leaned against the railing.
Selene.
Luciana.
Xavier.
Even Damien.
All of them… liars. Backstabbers. And I'd almost paid the price for their games. I gripped the cold railing tighter, jaw clenched. I wouldn't let this go. I couldn't.
Arms slid around my waist from behind, sudden and too familiar. I flinched hard, twisting around, heart in my throat.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, Xavier?" I snapped, heart racing.
He stood far too close, arms on either side of me, trapping me between his body and the balcony rail. The sharp scent of whiskey hit me immediately, burning through the night air.
"You're drunk," I muttered, backing away, trying to keep my voice steady.
He gave a hollow laugh, eyes glinting with something bitter and broken. "Takes the edge off."
I glared. "Get away from me."
But he didn't move. He leaned in instead, eyes burning with something twisted—something that had nothing to do with me.
"You think you're clever," he said coldly. "Walking around like you're some savior. Like you didn't almost kill her."
I stiffened. "You know I didn't."
"Don't I?" His voice cracked, but only for a second. "She's been crying over him for days. And now you—you get to be the one he defends."
"I didn't ask him to," I snapped.
"But he did," Xavier hissed. "He picked you. He picked you."
I blinked, confused. "What does this have to do with Damien—?"
He laughed again, but there was no humor in it—just years of frustration and heartbreak poured into a single sound.
"You don't even get it. You don't know what it's like… watching the one you love fall for someonewho doesn't give a shit about her."
Realization hit me. He wasn't angry at me because of me. This was about her.
Selene.
The perfect Luna-to-be. The one Damien never loved. The one... Xavier did.
"You're pathetic," I whispered, pity lacing my voice now. "You helped frame me to win her?"
Xavier's face twisted. "You're the reason she's hurting. You're the cursed girl who came here to ruin everything—"
"Let go of me!"
He grabbed my arm, fingers digging into my skin so hard it burned. I hissed in pain, trying to yank myself free.
"Let me go!"
Then so fast it happened, Xavier's body flew across the balcony and slammed into the wall like a ragdoll, collapsing to the floor with a grunt.
I gasped, looking up—
Damien.
He was standing there, wild, furious… and drunk. But even intoxicated, he was all Alpha. His chest rose and fell like a beast barely holding back.
"If you ever touch her again," Damien growled, voice lethal, "I will rip you apart. Drunk or not."