(Selene’s POV)Then Adrian leaned in close, his lips brushing my ear as he murmured, “I want you, Selene,” a strange heat curled in my stomach. It was like he’d lit a match inside me, igniting something raw and consuming. My breath hitched, and for a second, all I could do was stare at him. The storm in his eyes reflected something dark and hungry, mirroring my own.Callum’s words from the party clawed their way back into my mind, the memory taunting me. When we pulled up to the house, the tension between us was unbearable. Adrian reached for the door, but before he could even step inside, I grabbed his wrist, holding him back. He turned, his gaze searing into mine as though he was waiting for me to make the next move. And I did. I surged forward, capturing his lips in a kiss so heated it felt like I’d burned myself. Adrian groaned low in his throat, his hands immediately finding my waist and pulling me closer. The kiss deepened, his tongue sliding against mine in a dance that mad
AdrianThe whiskey swirled lazily in the glass, the amber liquid catching the faint light of the room. I stared in the direction Callum had pulled Selene into just minutes ago, my grip tightening around the glass. Five minutes. That’s how long it had been since I last saw her walk through those doors, her back straight but her tension almost tangible. What were they saying? Or rather, what was *he* saying? My jaw clenched at the thought. Was Callum finally telling her the truth? Or was he spinning another one of his vile tales, manipulating her the way he always did? I hated the uncertainty, the not knowing. But then the door opened, and Selene stepped out. Her eyes scanned the room, sharp and calculating. She was looking for me—I could tell by the way her gaze passed over everyone else, disinterested and cold, until it landed on me. She walked straight toward me, her heels clicking against the marble floor with purpose. “Adrian,” she said the moment she reached me, her voice lo
Selene’s POV“She’s not what you think she is,” Callum said loudly, his words cutting through the low hum of conversation like a knife. His voice was sharp, laced with anger, and impossible to ignore. The room fell silent, the whispers dying down as every eye turned toward us. My chest tightened under the weight of their stares. Each curious gaze felt like a probing question, and I could practically feel their judgment. Callum stepped closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over me, his expression dark and unreadable. “She’s not what he says she is,” he repeated, his tone colder, harsher. His next words hit me like a slap to the face. “I should know. I was mated to her once.” The air seemed to crackle with tension as his revelation rippled through the crowd. Gasps erupted, followed by a tidal wave of murmurs and shocked exclamations. People craned their necks, desperate to catch a glimpse of the woman he claimed had once been his mate. Me. My cheeks burned with humiliati
Selene’s POV**The man didn’t know what hit him. One moment, he was gripping my arm, his face twisted in anger and insult, and the next, he was on the floor, sprawled out like a rag doll. It all happened so fast that I barely registered Adrian’s movement, the quiet but powerful force that had him reaching forward and flinging the man away from me like he was nothing.For a split second, the room went silent. It was as if time had paused, and every eye in the grand hall was on us. People froze mid-conversation, their faces painted with a mixture of confusion and surprise. Then, as if a dam had broken, whispers and murmurs rose from all directions.“Is that… Adrian?”“Adrian’s here? I thought he was gone.”“What’s he doing here, of all places?”The buzz around us grew louder, and I could feel the weight of everyone’s stares. My heart raced as I looked up at Adrian, who was standing over the man, his expression completely unreadable yet so fierce it made my breath catch. He stepped close
Selene’s POV**The car moved smoothly through the busy city streets, but inside, my heart was racing, heavy with worry. I had no idea what Adrian was planning, only that he had instructed, “Dress nice and act well.” Those words weren’t much help, especially coming from him, where “act well” could mean anything. Not knowing his intentions made my nerves prickle, keeping me on edge.I looked down at my dress, anxiously smoothing the dark blue fabric over my knees. The gown was elegant, hugging my curves modestly, and I hoped it was fancy enough for whatever Adrian had in mind without drawing too much attention. The necklace he’d given me sparkled against my collarbone, a surprising gift that made me feel… appreciated? But I knew better than to feel comfortable around Adrian, especially when he kept his Intentions so vague.The car slowed, pulling up to a grand building with tall glass walls that reflected the evening lights. I swallowed hard as Ismael, Adrian’s driver, stepped out and o
Selene’s POVI was in my office, sorting through the endless stack of reports on my desk. The ticking of the clock on the wall was the only sound in the room, echoing against the polished surfaces and heavy wooden furniture. I’d gotten used to the quiet here—it was the kind of silence that allowed me to focus, to plan, to work without distraction.My assistant, Marcus, knocked on the door and entered without waiting for a response. He knew the drill by now, had worked with me long enough to skip formalities. I looked up, nodding for him to take a seat.“Everything’s in order for the conference next week,” Marcus started, flipping through his own file of notes. “We’ve confirmed all the attendees, secured the location, and the press kit is ready to go.”I listened, taking in every detail as he ran through the list. Business was routine—a predictable set of tasks that I could manage in my sleep. Yet, there was one matter I had in mind that wasn’t so routine.After a few more minutes, Mar