Chapter 5

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Selene was in the corner of the grand hall, her back was pressed against the cool stone wall, as if it could anchor her racing thoughts.

The party was going on perfectly but she could not seem to enjoy it at all even though it was rare to have such grand functions in the pack.

The air was thick with the scent of pine, wine, and the musky undertones of the gathered werewolf packs, their voices a low hum of power and tension. Her heart pounded, a relentless beat echoing in her chest.

She could not seem to focus on anything. Her mind was a whirlpool of unfamiliar emotions.

She had always wanted a mate. To be marked so she would not be looked down in the pack and now She was marked—finally claimed—but the truth twisted like a knife: it wasn’t Kael’s mark burning on her skin.

It was Kieran’s.

Alpha Kieran, the cursed beast.

The realization sent a shiver through her, equal parts thrill and dread. She was …… trapped …… in her own guilt and happiness. She would not be called mate less but if everyone found out who her mate was ……,

She clenched her fists, nails biting into her palms, trying to just shove away the memories of that night with Kieran from her mind—the heat of his touch, the way his dominance had unraveled her.

She had never felt that before. She hated physical touch after kael and Lyra tainted her mind but …… she could not forget the night with Kieran.

Her body betrayed her, trembling slightly, and she scolded herself, willing her focus elsewhere.

Her eyes darted across the room, seeking distraction, but they landed on him.

Kieran.

He was sitting on a table, his massive frame dwarfing the wolves around him, an alpha in every sense. Selene’s blue orbs seemed to be stuck on him. Watching him, observing him.

His black hair was slightly disheveled, a remnant of their stolen moment in the private room earlier, and the sight made her pulse spike. Her stomach twisted with an unknown feeling but she knew, she liked the feeling.

His black eyes locked onto hers, devouring her with a hunger that felt like a physical touch. She felt so timid and small in front of him, even her breathing ragged.

Her breath hitched, her body responding despite her resolve, a flush creeping up her neck. She did not know but her body reacted differently towards him.

Selene tore her gaze away, clenching her fists tighter, but his presence was a magnet, pulling at her wolf’s instincts, urging her to submit.

Was this all because …… of that mark. Because now he was her…… mate.

A figure approached, snapping her from her spiraling thoughts. She blinked, recognizing Brian, Kael’s beta, his familiar, steady presence a small comfort.

“Greetings, Luna,” he said, his voice warm, his eyes kind. A small smile appeared on her lips at his presence.

Brian was one of the few in Kael’s pack who treated her with genuine respect, not just obligation.

She managed a small smile, her voice soft. “What’s wrong, Brian?”

He shifted, his expression hesitant.

“Alpha Kael asked me to inform you that you’ll be dining with him and the Shadow Claw pack tonight.”

Selene nodded, her stomach twisting. Dinner with shadow claw pack meant …… having dinner with …… Kieran too.

“Where is he?” she asked, though a part of her already knew. Her heart clenched, the name unspoken but heavy—Lyra. She did not know why she even asked about Kael.

Kael was likely with Lyra, as he so often was. Brian’s hesitation confirmed it, his eyes flickering with unease, but before he could answer, a shadow loomed closer.

Selene’s gaze snapped up, and her breath caught.

Kieran was striding toward her, his powerful frame cutting through the crowd like a blade. His eyes burned with intent, and her pulse quickened.

Brian continued to give me kael’s words, “Alpha Kael asked me to accompany you for the dance—” but his words were cut off as Kieran reached over.

Without hesitation, he took her hand, his grip firm yet warm, and pressed a slow, deliberate kiss to the back of her palm. The warmth of his lips sent shockwaves down her spine.

“Let me have this dance, Selene,” he said, his voice a low, velvet growl, her name rolling off his tongue like a claim.

Her eyes widened, shock rippling through her as he spoke her name so openly in front of Brian. How could he address someone else’s mate specially when they were not even close.

Brian stepped back, deference in his posture, but Selene felt the weight of every gaze in the room. Every time Kieran moved, the hall would silence and focus on him, scared that he might attack them suddenly and they wouldn’t be able to bear it.

  Her body trembled at Kieran’s touch, her wolf purring traitorously, but her mind screamed to resist.

She opened her mouth to refuse, to cling to her duty to Kael, but Kieran’s eyes darkened, a silent warning that he wouldn’t let her slip away.

Before she could protest, he already had led her to the center of the hall, his hand settling possessively on her waist, pulling her close.

Her breath hitched as her body was pressed against his. The unknown yet familiar feeling coming back the hard planes of his muscles searing through the thin fabric of her dress.

She lowered her gaze, her cheeks flaming and memories of their night together flooding back—his hands on her skin, his breath hot against her neck, the way he’d claimed her so completely.

Kieran leaned in, his lips brushing her ear, his voice a wicked whisper.

“Are you thinking about that night in my bed, Selene?” Her eyes snapped up, wide with shock, her body shuddering at the raw intimacy of his words. How could he just …… tease her like that ? And that too when they were in public and anyone could hear them.

His touch sent electric shivers down her spine, and she struggled to find her voice.

“We could have countless nights like that,” he continued, his tone dripping with promise, “you, unraveling under me, screaming my name.”

Her gasp was sharp, her heart lurching. The words seemed too dirty yet they had some kind of effect that made her stomach to churn.

“I need to leave,” she stammered, desperation clawing at her as she tried to pull away, but his grip tightened, unyielding.

“Running from me?” he asked, his voice vibrating against her ear, a dangerous edge to it that made her wolf whimper.

“Don’t test me, Selene.”

“I need to go to Alpha Kael,” she whispered, the words trembling. She had to go find kael. She could not betray him just like himself. atleast he was not doing it behind her back but-

That was a mistake.

The air around Kieran shifted, his playful teasing aura vanishing, replaced by a lethal, predatory energy that made her blood run cold. Selene could see the sudden change. His golden eyes glowed, wild and unrestrained, and his grip on her waist became almost bruising.

“Don’t fucking say that,” he snarled, his voice low and venomous, each word a blade. “You’re mine. Marked by me. Claimed by me. And you want to run to another man?”

Her eyes widened at his words. She knew wolves were possessive of their mates but the possessiveness of The cursed beast was different. Very different.

Her body trembled, fear and guilt warring within her suddenly. He marked her unknowingly. She was marked without her consent so why this possessiveness.

Kael was her alpha, her first, her duty.

She couldn’t betray him, no matter how her wolf craved Kieran’s dominance right now. But the fury radiating from Kieran was a storm no one could escape from, and she knew if he lost control, it could spell disaster for both her pack and Kael’s.

She could not put anyone in danger.

Her eyes met his, glowing and feral, and she saw the beast within him teetering on the edge. Her heart raced as she witnessed something else inside his eyes.

Pain.

The curse.

Acting on instinct, deciding to use her healing powers, she placed a trembling hand on his chest, feeling the rumbling growl beneath her palm.

“Just breathe,” she whispered, her voice soft, soothing. “Calm down.”

For a moment, the air hung heavy, his chest heaving under her touch.

Then, slowly, his breathing steadied, the wild glow in his eyes dimming, though the intensity remained.

“Don’t say that again,” he warned, his tone still laced with a possessive edge that made her wolf purr in submission. Her wolf wanted more. More of him to completely submit and stay with him but …… at this moment, Selene was more stronger than her wolf.

She had to control her thoughts.

She nodded, her throat tight, unable to defy him in that moment.

“Come meet me later,” he said, his voice a command wrapped in velvet.

With that, he released her, stepping back and striding out of the hall, leaving her standing alone in the center, every eye on her. Her chest raised and fell, her body shaking.

The weight of their stares pressed against her, but before she could catch her breath, a voice slithered through the air.

“Enjoyed being in someone else’s arms?”

The words were sharp, dripping with venom.

Selene turned, her heart sinking as she met Lyra’s smirking eyes, her blonde hair glinting under the chandeliers.

Her stomach twisted But it was the figure behind her that stopped Selene’s breath—Kael.

He was standing there, his broad frame radiating fury, his emerald eyes dark and stormy, fixed on her with a betrayal that cut deeper than any blade.

Her heart stopped and a cold dread washing over her.

Something was wrong.

Terribly, irrevocably wrong.