Chapter 5 – A Dangerous Game

Selene didn’t move. Neither did Kieran.

For a moment, all she could hear was the pounding of her own heartbeat, the sharp inhale of breath between them. The world outside the training ring ceased to exist.

Kieran’s golden eyes locked onto hers, dark and unreadable. His grip on her waist tightened ever so slightly, as if testing the weight of her against him.

Selene smirked, but the expression was more of a shield than anything else.

“Careful, Kieran,” she murmured, voice low and taunting. “You’re starting to sound like you missed me.”

A slow, dangerous smile curved his lips. “I don’t dwell on ghosts, Selene.”

Her smirk didn’t falter. “Then why do you still look haunted?”

His eyes darkened.

For a second, she thought he would snap—roll them over again, remind her who was in control. But instead, he exhaled sharply and released his grip on her waist, shattering the tension between them like glass.

Selene climbed off him smoothly, brushing dirt from her pants. Around them, the pack remained silent, watching with barely concealed curiosity.

“You fight well,” Kieran said as he rose to his feet.

She arched a brow. “A compliment? Careful, Kieran. I might start thinking you respect me.”

Kieran smirked, tilting his head. “Respect is earned, Selene.” He stepped closer, his voice dropping just for her. “And you’re not there yet.”

Selene held his gaze, neither backing down nor giving in.

Then, without another word, he turned and walked away, his wolves parting for him instinctively.

Selene inhaled deeply, steadying herself.

The game had begun.

And she would make sure she was the one to win it.

---

Bloodmoon Manor – That Night

The manor had always been too large, too cold, too filled with memories Selene didn’t want to revisit.

She stood by her window, staring out at the moonlit forest beyond the estate. The scent of pine and damp earth filled the air, grounding her.

A knock sounded at her door.

She didn’t have to guess who it was.

“Come in,” she said, keeping her voice even.

The door creaked open, and Liam stepped inside. His expression was carefully neutral, but there was something guarded in his stance.

“I heard you gave Kieran a fight today,” he said.

Selene smirked. “Disappointed I didn’t lose?”

Liam sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. “You don’t get it, do you?”

She turned fully to face him. “Enlighten me.”

Liam’s jaw clenched. “Kieran is letting you play this game now, but it won’t last. He doesn’t trust you. Neither does the pack.”

Selene folded her arms. “And what about you, Liam? Do you trust me?”

His hesitation was answer enough.

Selene chuckled darkly. “That’s what I thought.”

Liam exhaled sharply. “Selene, I—”

She held up a hand. “Save it.”

There was nothing left to say.

Liam hesitated for a moment longer before nodding and stepping back. “Be careful.”

Selene waited until he was gone before turning back to the window.

The shadows outside stretched long into the night.

She had survived the day.

But tomorrow?

Tomorrow, the real battle would begin.

Selene remained by the window long after Liam had left. The weight of his words clung to her, but she refused to let them settle. Trust had never been a luxury she could afford—not in this pack, not with Kieran, and certainly not with Liam.

The past was a wound that hadn’t fully healed, and she wasn’t about to pick at old scars.

But she couldn’t deny the truth. Kieran was watching her, waiting for her to slip, to fail, to prove that she didn’t belong here.

She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

A cool gust of wind slipped through the cracked window, carrying the scent of something she hadn’t smelled in years—charred wood and burning embers.

Her breath hitched.

Not here.

Not now.

She forced herself to turn away, shaking off the phantom sensation of fire licking at her skin.

Selene crossed the room to the basin, splashing cold water onto her face. The coolness helped, grounding her in the present. She met her own gaze in the mirror, tracing the faint, nearly invisible scar along her collarbone—a reminder of the night that had changed everything.

A reminder of why she could never let her guard down again.

A knock came at her door again, firmer this time.

She exhaled. “What now?”

The door opened without permission.

Kieran.

His presence filled the room instantly, bringing with it the scent of cedar and power. He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, gaze unreadable.

Selene didn’t flinch. “You know, most people wait to be invited in.”

Kieran smirked. “Most people aren’t me.”

She rolled her eyes, drying her hands on a towel. “What do you want?”

He stepped closer, his golden eyes gleaming in the dim candlelight. “You.”

Selene arched a brow, waiting.

Kieran exhaled, tilting his head slightly. “If you’re serious about staying, about reclaiming what you lost, then you need to understand something.”

She folded her arms. “Enlighten me, oh wise Alpha.”

His lips curled slightly, but there was no amusement in his expression. “You’re walking a thin line, Selene. The pack still sees you as a threat.”

“Good,” she murmured.

His eyes flickered with something unreadable. “This isn’t a game.”

She stepped closer, matching his intensity. “Then stop playing with me, Kieran.”

The air between them shifted. Tension crackled like lightning, raw and electric.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Kieran reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face, his fingers barely grazing her skin. It was the lightest touch, yet it sent heat rushing through her veins.

Selene swallowed, willing herself to stay still, to not react.

But Kieran wasn’t just testing her resolve. He was testing her control.

And damn it, he was winning.

His voice was softer when he spoke again. “Be careful, Selene. You might not like what happens if you push too far.”

Selene held his gaze, refusing to break first. “I never liked playing it safe anyway.”

His smirk returned, slow and dangerous. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

Then, just as suddenly as he had appeared, Kieran turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.

Selene let out a slow breath, pressing a hand to her chest to steady her racing heart.

Kieran was right about one thing.

This wasn’t a game.

It was a war.

And she had every intention of winning.