Turbulence

When Selene reached home, her mood was simmering. Melinda’s snide comments didn’t surprise her, but combined with Jenna’s arrival, they stung.

 ' Is every woman in this town trying to get under my skin?'

 And then there was Kyle. The cold, frustrating, impossible Kyle who acted as if none of this affected him. As if she didn’t affect him.

 By late afternoon, Selene found herself pacing. Should I just… talk to him? She needed to confront him about Jenna. Or at least about that smug look he wore when Jenna was around. She couldn't just let him keep playing her around like this.

 Before she could overthink it, she called him.

 However, it rang but he didn't pick up.

 Angry, Selene dialed it again.

This time, the line clicked after a few rings.

“Selene,” Kyle's deep voice drawled, slow and rich. “Missing me already?”

Her pulse jumped. “Just wanted to know if you’re home.”

A low chuckle rumbled through the phone. “You really can’t go a day without hearing my voice, can you?”

 She rolled her eyes, her face heating despite herself. “Are you home or not?”

“Yeah. Come on in,” he said casually, and then hung up before she could respond.

When Selene entered the packhouse, she immediately caught the faint floral scent lingering in the air. It was not her perfume. It was definitely some other lady's.

Her gaze darted to the couch. A pillow was misplaced, like someone had sat there recently, and her stomach twisted.

“Did Jenna stay here all these while?” she demanded, her tone sharper than intended.

Kyle raised a brow from where he leaned against the kitchen counter, sipping his coffee like the question amused him. “What if she did?”

Selene stalked toward him. “You’re unbelievable.”

 He tilted his head, his expression calm but taunting. “Why are you here, Selene? To check who’s in my bed? Because, that’s none of your business.”

“None of my business?” she hissed. “You knew I was here the other day! You knew how it would look. And you just… let her waltz in like I don’t matter.”

Kyle’s lips curved into a slow, infuriating smirk. “what do you want me to do? Announce that I’m single just so you don’t get jealous?”

As much as she wanted to say yes, Selene caught her breath and said instead. “I am not jealous.”

“Sure,” he said smoothly. “That’s why you stormed in here, glaring at my couch like it stole your man.”

 Selene’s face burned. “You’re… you’re insufferable!”

“You think I don’t see what you’re doing?” she continued, voice shaking with anger. “You’re still trying to punish me for the past. That’s all this is right? Yes, you've had your revenge. It hurts okay? You need to stop now!"

Kyle’s smirk hardened into a cold stare. “This isn’t about revenge. If I wanted you, Selene, I wouldn’t need games. You’d come running the second I asked.”

His words cut deep because they were true, and she hated him for it.

As she stood there, flushed with anger, Kyle’s gaze softened just slightly. He knew Selene wasn’t chasing his money or his status. He knew she wanted him, and he could feel it in every glance, every subtle flirtation.

She wasn’t Jenna. She wasn’t anyone else.

But that sincerity was exactly what made her dangerous.

Selene not knowing what else to do or say turned to leave, only stopping when she gripped the door handle. “You know what? Forget it. All of this. It never happened."

“Selene,” he said, voice dropping into that low, teasing tone again, “you sure there isn’t something else you wanted to say? Something about the heart?” He teased once again.

He really doesn't know when to stop and be real.

She froze but didn’t turn. “Not anymore,” she whispered, and walked out, her chest tight and her mind spiraling.

Kyle stayed where he was, jaw tense, watching her leave. He nodded to himself, feeling he was winning this game. But somehow, it didn’t feel like a victory just yet.

…

Selene shut the door behind her and leaned back against it, her hands trembling. The ache in her chest wasn’t just from what Kyle said-it was from how true it all felt. Each word had struck with surgical precision, stripping her down to the vulnerable girl she'd buried beneath motherhood and pride.

She blinked fast, forcing back the tears stinging her eyes. Her chest rose and fell as she huffed, fighting back the tears.

‘ You came here thinking you could fix things with a smile and some charm,’ she thought bitterly. ‘ And he reminded you exactly who you are to him now—no one!’

Needing space, needing air, she grabbed her coat and wrote a note down for Liam that said she’d be back soon.

Selene walked blindly through the streets of the town. The sky was just as heavy as her heart, holding up a weight of sorrowful outpour. The rain hadn’t started yet, but the wind was brutal, slicing through her sweater like blades. Still, she welcomed the sting. It was the only thing that didn’t feel numb.

She ended up by the little bridge that overlooked the creek-- where kids would to toss pebbles and play tag, back when her world was simple. Back when Kyle had been that awkward, stuttering boy with too much heart and too little strength. And she had been the one with claws.

Claws with which she dug at him mercilessly.

‘ Was this how it’d always felt?’ She pondered, raising her gaze to meet the sky.

‘How did we get here?’ she asked herself.

"Rough day?"

The voice startled her. She turned, brushing away the wetness on her cheeks before it could betray her. A man stood a few feet away, hands in his coat pockets, relaxed. His aura didn’t scream dominance, but there was an easy strength about him. His broad shoulders were straight by his neck, eyes the color of burnt honey, and a faint scar at the edge of his jaw that gave him a rugged edge.

"Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt," he said, his voice gentle.

Selene shook her head. “It’s fine. I just needed to… cool off.”

“Same here,” he smiled. “Sometimes the quiet helps. I’m Aiden, by the way.” He reached out a hand.

She didn’t respond right away. Not until after a couple seconds passed did she nod her head and reached out to shake him. “Selene.”

“I know,” he said softly, but not in a creepy way. “Everyone does. It’s a small pack.”

Of course it was.

He didn’t push, didn’t pry. He just stood next to Selene for a while, watching the trees in the distance sway in the rhythm of the wind.

“You used to live here, right?” he asked eventually. “Before…”

“Before I made a mess of everything,” she finished for him, dryly.

He smiled, very much without judgment. “We all mess up. The question is whether we get back up. At least you look like someone who’s trying to.”

Selene turned toward him slowly. The wind picked up, rustling her hair across her face, and for a moment, just a moment, she let herself wonder if there were still people in this world who could see her without the weight of who she used to be.

"Thanks," she whispered.

He didn’t ask for details, didn’t offer pity. Just stood there, like he knew what it meant to carry invisible wounds.

Selene enjoyed his company. It had a silent serenity that helped her clear her head to it. She started to slowly forget about Kyle, at least about his hurtful words.

And for a second, she thought;

Maybe she didn’t need someone to fix her.

Maybe she just needed someone who didn’t see her as broken.