MasukSelene’s POV
“Lucian, I... ” I tried to explain before he misinterpreted what's going on. However, “Enough. I don't want to hear anymore of it!” his voice cut me off sharply, his eyes were cold, obviously burning with an anger that’s aimed at me. “I swear with the moon goddess I...“ “I saw what happened, Selene. So you have nothing to say, I just never thought you’d go this far.” Went this far? This was all a setup! But would he believe that if I say that to him? Mira whimpers beside him, and instantly, his attention shifts from me as he walks towards her, concerned softening his features as he crouches next to her. “Are you hurt?” His voice was soft, so soft it stings. She sniffles, shaking her head quickly. “No, no, I… I’m okay. It’s not Luna Selene’s fault. I must have twisted my ankle and fell on my own…” Lucian sighs. “You don’t have to cover for her, Mira.“ I take a step forward. “Lucian, you don’t understand...” But he isn’t listening. He isn’t even looking at me anymore. He runs a hand through his hair, exhaling before helping Mira up on her feet, “Come on, let’s get you to the doctor. Do you think you can walk?” She winces, placing a delicate hand on her ankle. “I… I don’t think so. It hurts so much around here.” Without another word, Lucian sweeps her into his arms, cradling her against his chest like she’s something fragile, something precious. Then he turns to me with a glare. He says nothing afterwards, just simply holds Mira closer and walks away without looking back. The moment they disappear down the hallway, my legs give out and I collapse against the wall, my nails digging into my palms as I gasp for air. The cold night air doubled the pain as it bites deeper and deeper into my skin, but it’s nothing compared to the ache in my chest. I should run after him. I should scream, demanding that he listen to me. But I don’t. I couldn't, because I already know he won't listen to me. After all, I'm not Mira who can cry and he will believe her. And for the first time in four years, I wonder why am I still waiting for him to choose me? When I don't even know if I have anything left to fight for. *** I returned to our bedroom and got out of the clothes and the accessories I had on before slumping myself on the large bed which felt cold somehow that night. My eyes stung as my gaze went to our mating ceremony framed pictures on the table in our room. The man in that picture was the Lucian I used to know, not the Lucian I've been dealing with since she returned. And I knew tonight is going to be like one of those nights I slept in a cold bed. He wouldn't come back here tonight, I was sure of that until I heard a knocking sound at the door. Who is it? I wondered as I got out of the bed and quickly wiped my tears, A Luna is expected to be a strong figure, so I mustn't be caught crying. It must be gamma Roslyn, I thought as I walked to the door and opened it to see Lucian there, Mira hugged to his chest. “Lucian...“ I trailed off looking at him again and pinching myself to be sure I wasn't dreaming. “Get out of the way Selene.“ He replied gruffly and my brain felt like it was short circuited at that moment. He always calls me Sel... “I said get out of the way!“ He snapped pushing me aside as he stride inside our bedroom and lay Mira who has her eyes closed on the bed. “What's going on.. why is she here...on our?“ My voice trembled as I pointed to the bed. He dragged his hand through his hair, “The doctor said she needs extra monitoring and care.“ “There's a guest room, there are maids to look after her... Why our room? Why our bed?“ “Maybe you should've thought about the consequences your actions will bring before pushing her like that!“ My mouth parted in shock. “I...yes, I did push her! But it was an accident! She was the one who...” “I've told you already! I don't want to hear your lies anymore! The Selene I used to know was so kind and gentle! The Selene I know was a good Luna to my pack and would never go to such a length, or stoop so low to an extent of hurting someone, let alone a former Omega of the pack!“ He yelled at me. And a laugh bubbled in my throat. A bitter, broken laugh. “You see what you want to see, Lucian.” My voice wavered, “I have done nothing but be a good Luna to your pack. I have stood by you, loved you, even when you paraded her around like she still mattered like I was nothing! Do you even realize what you’ve done? You left me alone in that dressing room, made me wait like a fool, and then had me walk into that hall without you, all because of her!” He suddenly scoffed, “So all of this was because you’re jealous?” he shook his head. “I always knew you had a temper, but I never thought you’d be so petty and so cruel.” He glanced at Mira, who was still lying on our bed, pretending to be weak. “Now you've turned yourself into a hot tempered and bittered bully.“ A bully, that was what he saw me as? Not his mate. Not his wife but a jealous, and petty bully. I felt something inside me shatter as I blinked away my tears, my hands clenching at my sides. “If I were to ask you right now…” My voice wavered. “If you had to choose between me and her… who would you choose, Lucian?” I demanded even though I knew the answer. His lips parted slightly, but no words came out. I let out a soft, broken breath. “knew it.” I'm the evil queen in their fairytale. And it has been stupid of me holding on even though he has let go. Tears slid down my cheeks, but I didn’t wipe them away, instead, I met his unloving eyes and forced myself to smile. “I hope you enjoy your life with her, Alpha Lucian Blackwell of Moonflower Pack.” I took a step back, “Because I, Selene Rory, I'm breaking the bond between us.” I said, removing my wedding ring and throwing it to him. “And I'm rejecting you as my mate.”Maelis’s POV I woke up disoriented. The afternoon light pierced through the heavy curtains, stinging my eyes. My head felt heavy, and breathing was a chore. I pulled myself up, sitting against the headboard. The room was unfamiliar at first glance but then the familiarity settled in. I reached up instinctively to touch my face. And just as I suspected, my fingers brushed against cold, hard metal. The silver mask was back in place, perfectly secured. Exhaustion, anxiety, and fear crashed down on me all at once. I threw the covers off and swung my legs to the floor. My knees wobbled as I stood up, making for the door. A small part of me hoped this was a dream, that I would open the door and find Melanie. But upon opening the door— “Boss!” Luka’s scream almost made me deaf. He jumped on me immediately, his momentum causing both of us to stumble backward, knocking us hard against the wall. “Ouch! What's gotten into you?” I groaned, grimacing at the pain radiating through my
Maelis POV I swung the metal pipe with every ounce of strength I had, aiming right for the center of the glass. CLANG! The impact vibrated right up to my shoulder socket. The glass didn’t even crack. Instead, the force rebounded, sending a shockwave that felt like it was going to rip my muscles apart through my arm. I dropped the pipe, gasping in pain, clutching my numbing wrist. Inside the box, Lucian had slumped to the floor. His eyes were half-closed, his chest heaving as he fought the gas. Kellan was already unconscious beside him. “Selene, stop!” Melanie rushed toward me and grabbed my shoulder, “It’s reinforced! You can’t break it!” She yelled, trying to pull me away, toward the exit. “We have to go. We can get people to help them out of here, but we’re going to die if we don’t leave right now. That gas is going to leak!” I knew that. Of course I knew that. But I looked at Lucian. I saw the way his hand was reaching out toward the glass, toward me, even as he was fading.
Maelis’s POV“You must be kidding me,” Melanie muttered as we entered.I stopped beside her, staring at them.Lucian was pacing the small enclosed space, his jacket discarded on the floor. Kellan was inspecting the electronic lock mechanism from the inside, looking thoroughly defeated.“How did you guys get yourself into this kind of situation?” I asked with a deep frown, staring up at the reason I’d ditched the safety of the room and come running out here, thinking he was caught in a life-or-death battle.Instead, he was just... stuck.Still, for some unknown reason, a heavy weight lifted off my chest. I was a little relieved that he wasn't in any immediate danger. He wasn't bleeding. He wasn't fighting off a hundred rogues. He was just locked in a box.Lucian stopped pacing when he saw me. His eyes softened instantly, and he walked up to the glass. “What are you two doing here?” I rolled my eyes, “Well, I'm not the one trapped in some glass.” I muttered, expecting him to bite back,
Maelis’s POV“Lucian might be in trouble,” I said tightly, my body already roaring at me to move, to leave Melanie there and go chase him down. But I didn't move.“Aren't you going after him?” Mel asked, looking at me with surprise.“Didn't you say his Beta went for him already?” I stressed, trying to convince myself more than her. “They are adults. They are capable enough to watch each other's backs and keep each other safe.”“But you literally just said you had a feeling of him being in danger.” Of course I did. Exactly why I'm trying to push the feeling away. Given that, all I got then; when I acknowledged the bond despite knowing the implications was betrayal. And now I'm getting the same signal, definitely because he got himself caught up in some danger. But I'm not going to charge into it when I don't have Rosa anymore. At least with her, survival would've been certain.It's because of her that I'm here, alive right now after all and I'm not going to throw that away like some
Maelis’s POVI tossed and turned on the narrow bed, unable to sleep a wink no matter how much I tried. My mind was all over the place, replaying everything that has happened so far, including earlier events. Unable to take it anymore, I stood up and made for the small locker bathroom. The sink was old, but Melanie had confirmed the water still worked a while ago.Thankfully, Kellan had some lamps set up in here, so we won't have to bother about electricity. I turned the tap. The pipes groaned, then spat out a stream of cold water.I splashed my face repeatedly, sputtering and blowing out the droplets that tried to get into my eyes. I gripped the edges of the sink, locking eyes with the strange woman in the cracked mirror.I almost expected a snarky remark. “You look like shit.”Even though I knew better, I was expecting some miracle where she would come back. But the space in my mind where she always curled up, where she existed every second of the two years of my life, was now empt
Lucian’s POV“Does that change the fact that you chose your mistress over me every single time? Does it erase the humiliation? The nights I spent alone wondering why I wasn't enough?”The question kept ringing in my head, louder and louder, like a funeral bell that wouldn't stop tolling as I ran through the woods, my legs pumping like pistons. I had no idea where I was. I didn't even know how much distance I had covered in the last few minutes. I just kept running, as if I could outpace the memory of her voice. As if I could run away from myself.But there was so little I could hold back right then.So I finally broke, slumping forward and plopping down heavily at the base of a massive oak tree. I gasped for air, clutching the dirt.I didn't even notice it was this dark until now. The shadows had lengthened, swallowing the forest whole.I leaned my head back against the rough bark, closing my eyes. Even though I knew he was going to pour a good amount of salt on my open wounds, I let







