Chapter six.

Selina's POV.

It wasn't the freezing cold in the dungeon that made my stomach clench tightly, it was him.

Malik.

Standing before me, yet somehow distant, as though there were a wall between us now. His eyes, which had always been my safe place, no longer looked at me with warmth or admiration. They were cold, and so full of restrained fury that I almost couldn’t breathe under their weight.

I wanted to step forward, to reach for him, but something about the way his jaw was clenched told me I shouldn’t.

“Malik, please... ” I began, but my voice shook so badly that it sounded almost foreign to my own ears.

“Stop speaking,” he said.

I froze, my lips parting but no sound coming out.

“Do you have any idea,” he continued slowly, his gaze burning into me, “how you sound trying to defend something that you were caught red-handed doing?”

The accusation pierced deeper than any blade could. My breath caught, and I shook my head quickly. “I wasn’t... I swear to you, Malik, I didn’t... ”

His hand lifted, silencing me completely. The gesture was so dismissive, that my knees felt weak.

“You don’t realize,” he said, his voice dipping into a lower, dangerous tone, “the amount of shame I am enduring standing here, facing you right now.”

Shame.

The word echoed in my head. Malik never used that word with me.

“I thought I was enough for you. Just as you were for me.” He mumbled.

"Malik you are en..." I tried again, but his eyes flashed and I swallowed the rest of my words.

“I’m standing before you,” he said, his tone softening just slightly, but not with mercy, only with restrained fury. “despite the anger and shame, because of what we shared in the past.”

My heart twisted. The past he was talking about wasn’t just a handful of moments, it was everything. Every touch, every kiss when the rest of the world wasn’t watching.

“That’s why,” he said, “I will save you from further ridicule from the entire pack.”

I blinked, confused. “Save me?” I whispered.

He laughed out dryly... one I’d never seen before. “You’ve ruined the beautiful thing we had, Selina. And as much as I am angry at you… what I’m about to do is for your own good.”

My chest felt like it was caving in.

“This pack is no longer a safe place for you. Not with what’s happened. From this moment onward…” He paused, his eyes holding mine for a second. "You are banished, Selina, effective immediately.”

The words slammed into me so hard I actually swayed.

A loud bang went off in my head... maybe it was my pulse, maybe it was the world collapsing around me. My heart split cleanly in two, the pain so strong that it was almost physical.

This can't be happening.

“No… Malik, please.” My voice cracked, the plea spilling out before I could stop it.

His eyes didn’t soften. If anything, they grew colder. “I am making this easier for you. You are supposed to face the council… and the entire pack, but I will do you a favor, Selina. I will spare you the public humiliation. This will be done discreetly. You will leave quietly, and you will return the favor by making sure I never set my eyes on you again.”

Tears blurred my vision, streaming freely down my cheeks, how did everything get so bad like this?

I haven't done anything, I'm innocent, why is it so hard to believe?

“Please, Malik, I’m telling you, I didn’t... ”

“Enough!” he barked, and I flinched back in fear.

Malik has never raised his voice at me.

"Goodbye forever, Selina." He spat, casting me one last glance, and I realized it was a look of finality, without another word, he turned and walked toward the door.

I wanted to run after him, to scream until he believed me, but my legs wouldn’t move.

The door creaked open, the light from outside spilling into the dark cell for the briefest moment. And then, with a low thud, it closed.

And Malik was gone.

He's really gone? Forever? Just like that?

With all the promises we made to each other? Everything shattered in a minute?

How did we even get here?

I collapsed to the floor, stunned, broken, bleeding inside. My soul screamed in a silence so loud it nearly tore me apart. This couldn’t be the end... not like this.

Our story was supposed to be more.

But it was over.

Just like that.

A guard yanked me up by the arm, two of them that had come in with Malik.

I didn’t move.

I couldn’t.

My limbs had turned to lead. My mind… blank. Numb and Lifeless.

The guard sighed, clearly annoyed, and dragged me forward, his grip bruising my arm. Step by step, I was led out of the dungeon, through the secluded route of the dungeon, all the way to pack boundary.

We didn't encounter any pack member on the way, but even if we did, what difference would it make anyway? My life is already ruined, and their mockery wouldn't make it hurt more than it already is.

Suddenly, without warning, one of the guards shoved me hard in the back. I flew forward, landing painfully on the floor. My knees scraped.

A pained cry escaped my lips.

Behind me, laughter erupted.

“Oh no, did that hurt, harlot?” one of them leered at me.

I looked up slowly, the world spinning around me.

“You can find your way from here,” the other laughed. “Not like you’ll last long out there anyway.”

Their laughter faded as they turned and walked away.

I didn’t move.

I couldn’t.

The forest ahead seemed endless.

And the world felt colder.

And I… I had never felt so empty in my life.

So alone.

I drew a shaky breath, wiping my tears with the back of my sore hand. I didn’t know where I would go, or how I would survive. But I knew one thing, moon goddess has cursed me with a cruel faith.

And I'm certain she has more cruelty in stock for me.