Chapter 15

Selena rested her forehead against Lucienne’s, her cheeks still warm from the kiss. Neither of them spoke for a while. The silence between them no longer felt awkward. It felt safe.

Lucienne smiled softly. “You know… when I first met you, I thought you hated me.” Selena let out a quiet laugh. “I did.” He raised an eyebrow. “You admit it?” She nodded. “You were cold, arrogant… and you believed everyone except me.” He winced dramatically. “That sounds terrible.” “It was.”

He reached for her hand beneath the blanket. “Then thank you… for giving me another chance.” Selena looked down at their intertwined fingers. “Don’t waste it.” “I won’t,” he promised.

Outside, the rain continued tapping gently against the windows. The palace had finally grown quiet after days of chaos. For the first time since the mate ceremony, neither of them felt the need to stay on guard every second.

Lucienne pulled the blanket a little higher over her shoulders. “Get some sleep.” Selena looked at him. “Will you still be here when I wake up?” A faint smile crossed his lips. “Where else would I be?” She finally closed her eyes, and after a brief hesitation, rested her head lightly against his shoulder.

Lucienne wrapped one arm around her carefully, almost afraid she might pull away. Instead, Selena relaxed against him. “Goodnight,” she whispered. “Goodnight, my mate,” he replied. Within minutes, exhaustion claimed them both.

Morning sunlight spilled through the curtains. Selena stirred first. For a few seconds she simply watched Lucienne sleeping peacefully beside her. Without the weight of responsibility on his face, he looked younger… almost gentle. She found herself smiling without realizing it.

Lucienne slowly opened one eye. “Should I be worried?” he murmured. Selena jumped slightly. “You were awake?” “Not until someone kept staring at me.” His smile widened. “So… what was so interesting?” Selena quickly looked away. “Nothing.” “You’re a terrible liar.”

She laughed despite herself. “Fine. I was wondering if you always sleep with your hair looking this ridiculous.” Lucienne touched his hair in mock horror. “Ridiculous?” “Very.” He shook his head. “After everything we’ve survived, this is how you choose to insult me?” Selena grinned. “It seemed important.”

He laughed, the sound filling the room. “You’re impossible.” “And yet,” Selena replied, “you’re still smiling.” He looked at her for a long moment. “You make it difficult not to.”

A knock sounded at the door before either of them could say anything else. “Alpha,” a servant called from outside. “Breakfast will be served within the hour.” Lucienne answered, “We’ll be there shortly.”

As they prepared for the day, Selena stood before the mirror struggling with the clasp at the back of her dress. She sighed in frustration. Lucienne noticed immediately. “Need help?” She hesitated before giving a small nod.

He stepped behind her and carefully fastened the clasp. His fingers accidentally brushed the back of her shoulder. Both of them froze for the briefest moment before he quietly cleared his throat and stepped away. Selena met his eyes through the mirror, her cheeks faintly pink. Neither of them mentioned it.

“You’re ready,” he said. Selena smiled. “Thank you.” He opened the chamber door and gestured toward the corridor. “Come on. We should see how Seraphine is doing.”

They walked side by side through the palace halls. Conversations stopped as they passed. Servants lowered their voices, but not enough to keep the whispers from reaching Selena’s ears.

“That’s the Alpha.”

“They’re together again.”

“He never leaves her side now.”

“So she’s really staying in his chambers…”

Selena instinctively lowered her head. Lucienne noticed immediately. Without a word, he reached for her hand and held it openly in front of everyone. The whispers stopped at once.

By the time they reached the royal tower, the atmosphere had changed completely. The guards standing outside Seraphine’s cell bowed respectfully before unlocking the door. One exchanged a worried glance with the other. “She hasn’t spoken since last night,” he admitted quietly. “She just keeps staring at the window… as if she’s waiting for someone.”

Lucienne and Selena exchanged a look before stepping inside together.

Seraphine slowly turned when the door opened. The moment she saw Lucienne standing beside Selena, a bitter smile crossed her lips. “So… you finally chose her without hesitation.”

Selena stepped closer to the iron bars. “I didn’t come here to fight.” Seraphine laughed quietly. “No. You came because you still think there’s something left to save.” She lowered her eyes. “There isn’t.”

Lucienne folded his arms. “You said someone inside the palace is working with those people. Stop protecting them.” Seraphine looked at him. “You think I’m protecting them?” She smiled sadly. “I’m protecting the only family I have left.”

Selena frowned. “Then tell us who it is.” Seraphine slowly shook her head. “If I speak now, Mother won’t survive what comes next.” Selena’s expression changed. “What does Mother have to do with this?”

For the first time, uncertainty appeared in Seraphine’s eyes. “She made a choice years ago.” Her voice dropped. “A choice she’s regretted ever since.” Lucienne stepped forward. “What choice?” Seraphine looked away. “Ask her yourselves.”

Silence settled inside the prison. Selena searched her sister’s face. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?” Seraphine gave a hollow laugh. “Because I wanted you to suffer. Then one lie became another… until I couldn’t find my way back.”

Selena’s eyes filled with tears. “I spent years wondering what I’d done to make you hate me.” Seraphine looked at her for a long moment before whispering, “You were born.” The words hung heavily between them. “It wasn’t your fault… but I could never separate you from everything I lost.”

Lucienne noticed Selena’s shoulders trembling. He quietly stepped beside her, his presence alone enough to steady her. Seraphine saw the small movement and smiled bitterly. “He looks at you the way I dreamed someone would look at me.”

Selena wiped away a tear. “I never wanted your life, Seraphine.” Her sister nodded slowly. “I know that now.” She lowered her head. “I just realized it too late.”

Outside the cell, Luna Alara appeared at the end of the corridor. She stopped when she heard their voices. She couldn’t bring herself to walk inside. Instead, she remained hidden behind the stone wall, listening in silence.

“Mother loves you,” Selena said softly. Seraphine closed her eyes. “She pities me.” Selena immediately shook her head. “No. She’s afraid of losing you.” A tear slipped down Seraphine’s cheek. “She already has.”

Lucienne looked between the two sisters. “Whatever happened before, it doesn’t have to end like this.” Seraphine smiled faintly. “You really believe broken families can be put back together?” Lucienne answered without hesitation. “Only if everyone stops hiding the truth.”

A quiet sob echoed from outside the cell. Selena turned sharply and froze. “Mother?” Luna Alara stepped into view, tears running freely down her face. She looked at Seraphine through the bars, her lips trembling. “I’m so sorry.”

Seraphine stared at her mother in disbelief. “Now you’re sorry?” she whispered. “Where was that apology when I needed you?” Luna Alara couldn’t answer. She simply lowered her head, crushed beneath the weight of her own silence.

Seraphine slowly backed away from the bars until she reached the small window. “Leave,” she whispered. “All of you.” Selena took a hesitant step forward. “Seraphine…” Her sister didn’t turn around. “Please… just leave me alone.”

Luna Alara rushed out of the cell sobbing with a guard guiding her out.

As Lucienne gently guided Selena out of the cell, Seraphine rested her forehead against the cold stone wall. The heavy door closed with a dull clang behind them. She waited until their footsteps faded before slowly opening her hand. Hidden inside her palm was a tiny folded piece of paper she hadn’t shown anyone. She was also scared to open it.