CLASHED

Selene’s body ached, and her every breath was stung. Her limbs trembled from exhaustion, and yet she couldn’t fall asleep; not with her so close by.

The massive black wolf hadn’t moved from it shadows for hours. Just stood by guarding watching, breathing, and waiting.

Selene laid curled at the base of a tree, every nerve of hers were working, every instinct telling her to run, fight or scream.

But she did none of those things. Because there was no escaping.

---

Morning came cold and wet, mist moving low between the trees like breath.

Selene stirred awake slowly, muscles stiff and sore. Her eyes flicked to the shadow beside her.

Luna.

Still there. Still watching.

Now in human form.

She stood bare as the morning air passed her, skin pale against the cold, damp forest. Long black hair tumbled in wet waves down her back. Her golden eyes unchanged from her wolf form were locked on Selene with unreadable intensity.

Tension simmered beneath her stillness. Caged energy, like a storm waiting to break free.

Selene struggled to sit up, ignoring the way her body screamed in protest.

“Stay away from me,” she rasped.

Luna tilted her head slightly. “You ran.” She said

“I had to.”

Luna looked at ger with and unreadable expression “You belong to me.” She rasped out

The words struck Selene like a slap.

“No,” she snapped, voice rising. “I belong to myself.”

Luna’s eyes flickered.

Then she took a step forward.

Selene scrambled to her feet. “Don’t—!”

But Luna didn’t stop.

She continued moving forward, like a predator moving after it's prey.

Selene backed away until her spine hit the tree. “You said you wouldn’t hurt me.”

Luna paused slightly. “I won’t.”

“You’re hurting me now,” Selene whispered. “Every time you try to claim me.”

Silence.

Then something dark passed through Luna’s expression.

A wounded expression and fury. Then she moved.

---

Selene barely had time to duck as Luna lunged at her not with teeth, but with hands, fast and strong.

Selene twisted away, heart pounding, and swung the bag she still wore across her back.

It hit Luna square in the chest. She stumbled back half a step more surprised than hurt.

Selene didn’t wait. She grabbed a nearby branch, broke it off the tree, and held it like a spear.

“Don’t come near me!” She said agitated

Luna’s chest heaved. Her nails lengthened, claws glinting in the pale light. Her canines bared slightly, though she didn’t shift fully.

“Put it down,” Luna growled.

“No.”

The bond thrummed between them, pulling, and threatening.

Selene’s head ached. Her heart fluttered wildly, not just from fear but from something else. Something hotter.

Luna advanced again.

Selene slashed her with the branch.

A shallow cut opened across Luna’s shoulder. Blood flowed out.

Her golden eyes flared with fury.

She growled, and tackled Selene to the ground.

---

They hit the forest floor hard.

Selene’s breath whooshed from her lungs. Her back scraped against rocks and roots.

Luna straddled her, pinning her wrists above her head.

Selene screamed and bucked underneath her. “Let go of me!”

Luna’s face hovered inches from hers, panting, trembling.

“I can’t,” she hissed. “The bond won’t let me!”

“You’re choosing this!”

“I’m trying to protect you!”

“You’re trying to own me!”

That made Luna freeze.

For a moment, she looked genuinely stunned.

Then ashamed.

Slowly, her grip loosened.

Selene yanked her hands free and shoved her.

Luna stumbled back, falling to her knees in the dirt.

Selene scrambled up and backed away, chest heaving.

Her hands were shaking. Her legs were shaking. Her soul was shaking.

Luna knelt silently, blood dripping from her shoulder, hair falling in her face.

“I wasn’t going to bite you,” she said softly.

Selene blinked.

“I could have,” Luna added. “I wanted to. But I didn’t.”

“Do you want a medal for that?”

Luna looked up, and there was real pain in her eyes now. “I’ve never wanted anyone like this.”

“I’m not a thing to be wanted.”

“I know,” Luna whispered. “I know.”

The silence between them stretched painfully long.

Selene touched her bruised wrists. “If you ever touch me like that again—”

“You can kill me,” Luna said hoarsely. “I won’t stop you.”

That silenced her.

Selene looked at her, really looked and for a moment, saw not the beast or the predator.

Just a woman. Bleeding. Broken.

Bound to something neither of them chose.

“I don’t understand what’s happening,” Selene whispered.

Luna’s voice was barely a breath. “Neither do I.”

---

They didn’t speak again.

Luna followed her from a distance, limping slightly.

Like a wounded dog shadowing its master.

Selene didn’t look back.

But the bond stayed strong between them like an invisible leash neither could cut.

And something in Selene’s chest ached in ways she didn’t yet have words for.