Lucien's hand was still wrapped around Selene's wrist as he guided her out of the library. The corridor's sharp silence made the echo of their footsteps feel too loud, too exposed.
She didn't speak. Neither did he. Not until the cold night air wrapped around them as they stepped into the academy gardens.
Moonlight spilled across the trimmed hedges and stone pathways, casting silver shadows over the roses. It felt like a world far removed from the tense walls of Nightbane Academy.
Lucien finally let go.
"You okay, Moonflower?"
Selene blinked. "Moonflower?"
He grinned and leaned casually against a stone pillar. "It suits you. Beautiful, blooms under pressure, and… a little dangerous if someone gets too close."
"I'm not dangerous," she muttered, folding her arms.
"Wanna bet?"
Her eyes narrowed, but his teasing smile softened her annoyance.
Lucien's tone dropped to something quieter. "You didn't lose control back there. That's important."
Selene looked down at her palms, remembering how the surge of energy had threatened to break her apart. Her voice trembled. "It's like something is trying to get out. Something inside me… I don't understand it. My wolf, it—she talks to me sometimes, but not like a normal wolf. Her voice is ancient. Calm but cold. And she said something… terrifying."
Lucien straightened. "What did she say?"
"She said, 'This world is not ready for you.'"
Lucien exhaled slowly. "Your wolf... she's waking up."
"But she's not normal," Selene said. "She doesn't feel like mine. More like… I belong to her."
Lucien didn't laugh. He didn't tease. His expression was unreadable for a moment, then his gaze met hers.
"You're not like the others, Selene. You never were."
She looked at him, confused and curious. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," he said softly, brushing a leaf from her hair, "I think you were never meant to live a normal life. And maybe—just maybe—that's a good thing."
A flutter stirred in her chest. Before she could answer, Lucien suddenly looked over her shoulder, his body tensing.
Selene turned.
In the distance, by the academy's gate, stood a tall figure cloaked in shadow.
Kyren.
His silver eyes were glowing faintly in the dark, fixed entirely on her.
Selene's breath caught.
Their eyes locked for just a heartbeat.
But it was enough.
A spark flared between them—painful, raw, and undeniable. The bond. It was growing stronger.
Kyren turned away sharply and disappeared into the darkness.
Selene's knees felt weak.
Lucien touched her arm. "Come on. You need rest."
But her heart wouldn't settle.
Not with Kyren watching.
Not with her wolf whispering in her mind: Soon, the mask will fall. And when it does, nothing will be the same.
Selene walked beside Lucien in silence, her thoughts tangled in the burning weight of Kyren's gaze. Even though he was gone, she still felt him—like his presence had seared itself into her skin.
The moment they reached her dormitory building, Lucien stopped outside the door. His eyes held that usual teasing glint, but beneath it, a tension lingered.
"Get some rest, Moonflower. And Selene…" His voice dropped. "Don't ever think you're alone in this. Not while I'm here."
Her heart gave a strange flutter at his words, but she only nodded.
He ruffled her hair lightly, earning a glare, before turning away with that usual confident swagger.
Selene watched him disappear into the shadows, then stepped inside the dorm.
The room was quiet, her roommate nowhere in sight. Moonlight slipped through the window and stretched across the floor, touching the edges of an old, silver-framed mirror propped against the wall.
Selene frowned. That hadn't been there before.
She stepped toward it cautiously.
The mirror shimmered faintly, as if it breathed.
Suddenly, her reflection flickered.
Her eyes in the mirror glowed with a molten gold hue. Her hair billowed around her like smoke. A mark shimmered at the base of her throat—a crescent moon surrounded by fire.
She gasped and stumbled back.
"What… what was that?"
"Soon," her wolf whispered in her mind, "you will awaken. And they will all kneel."
Selene gripped her chest, heart racing. "No… I don't want anyone to kneel. I just want to understand who I am."
"You will," her wolf replied. "But not all truths bring peace."
Before she could speak again, the dorm door burst open.
Talia stood there, furious, arms crossed, two other girls flanking her like guards.
"Enjoying your attention from Lucien?" Talia sneered.
Selene blinked, still recovering from the mirror. "What?"
"You think you're special because he walked you to your room?" Talia stepped closer. "You're just a charity case. Kyren rejected you. That should've been the end of your little fairytale."
Selene's fists clenched.
"You don't scare me," she said, voice shaking but firm.
Talia smiled cruelly. "Good. Then you won't mind this."
She raised her hand to slap Selene.
But before it could land—
A low growl thundered through the room.
Kyren.
He stood at the doorway, his eyes glowing silver, fangs slightly bared.
"Touch her," he said in a deadly calm voice, "and I'll break your arm."
Talia paled instantly and stepped back, the venom draining from her face.
Selene stared at him, stunned.
Kyren walked forward slowly, his gaze never leaving hers.
"You need to learn when to fight," he said, eyes narrowing. "And when to let someone else protect you."
Then, without waiting for a response, he turned and left.
The door clicked shut behind him, but the storm he left in her chest raged on.
Kyren's departure left a heavy silence in the room. Talia and her cronies quickly shuffled backward, casting fearful glances over their shoulders.
Selene sank onto the edge of her bed, her hands trembling. Her heart pounded—not just from the confrontation, but from the overwhelming swirl of emotions Kyren's presence always stirred in her.
Lucien, who had followed Kyren in quietly, now crouched beside her. His teasing smile was gone, replaced by something softer, more protective.
"Don't let her get to you," he said gently. "They only bully what they're afraid of."
Selene looked up at him, eyes wide. "But why Kyren? Why did he… protect me?"
Lucien's gaze darkened. "Because you're his mate. Even if he doesn't want to admit it yet, his wolf knows."
Selene shivered. The idea that Kyren's cold indifference hid a fierce claim unsettled her. She'd never imagined such a connection.
"Does it scare you?" Lucien asked quietly.
Selene nodded. "I don't even know what I am. What if the wolf inside me is… dangerous?"
Lucien laughed softly. "Dangerous is an understatement. But that's why you need to train. To control it before it controls you."
She bit her lip. "How? I don't even know where to start."
"Come with me," Lucien said, standing and extending his hand. "I'll teach you. No one else has to know."
Selene hesitated, then took his hand. His grip was warm, steady—an anchor in the storm.
---
The moon hung high in the night sky as Lucien led Selene through the winding paths behind the academy, to a secluded clearing surrounded by ancient trees. The air was thick with magic and mystery.
"Close your eyes," Lucien instructed softly.
Selene obeyed, feeling the cool breeze brush her skin.
"Focus on the wolf inside you," Lucien whispered. "Feel its power. Don't fight it. Let it speak."
Minutes passed, the silence broken only by the rustle of leaves and distant hoot of an owl.
Suddenly, Selene's body tensed. A surge of warmth radiated from her core, spreading through her veins like wildfire. Her senses sharpened—the scent of pine, the soft rustle of the earth, the faint heartbeat of a mouse scurrying nearby.
Opening her eyes, she gasped.
Lucien smiled. "You're awakening. That's a good sign."
"But it's scary," she admitted, trembling.
Lucien's voice was firm but kind. "Power like yours comes with risks. But also incredible strength. You're not alone anymore."
Selene felt a flicker of hope.
---
Suddenly, the stillness shattered.
Footsteps—fast, determined—broke through the night.
Kyren appeared at the edge of the clearing, his silver eyes blazing in the dark.
"You're training her?" His voice was low, edged with something fierce and possessive.
Lucien stepped forward, jaw clenched. "She's learning to survive. Something you should have helped her with."
Kyren's gaze snapped to Selene. "I will protect you," he said, voice rough with emotion. "No matter what."
Selene's heart pounded. For the first time, she felt the true weight of her destiny—not just as a wolf, but as someone caught between two powerful alphas. Kyren's intense gaze never left Selene's face. For a moment, the air between them was electric—charged with unspoken truths and wild, tangled feelings neither dared voice.
Lucien stepped back, his jaw tight but eyes flickering with something unreadable. "This isn't over," he said softly, then disappeared into the shadows, leaving Kyren and Selene alone beneath the ancient trees.
Selene's breath caught as Kyren took a slow step forward, closing the distance between them. His voice was low, rough with restrained emotion. "You're stronger than I thought. But that power… it's dangerous. For you—and for everyone around you."
She swallowed hard, heart pounding. "I'm not afraid anymore."
Kyren's silver eyes darkened. "You should be."
Suddenly, a sharp, bone-chilling howl ripped through the forest.
Both their heads snapped toward the sound.
Kyren's eyes narrowed. "They've found us."
Selene's wolf stirred violently inside her, a raw primal force demanding release.
Kyren reached for her, grasping her wrist. "Hold on to me. Don't let it take over—yet."
Before she could respond, a shadow darted from the trees, fast and deadly.
Kyren pushed her behind him, growling fiercely.
Selene's heart raced as the unknown attacker lunged.
And then… everything went black.