chapter 61

SELIORA POV

This side of Kaelion was soft and completely different.

It always made me question whether he was the same person I saw in the ballroom on the day he attacked my pack.

“I should get some sleep,” I muttered, turning towards the other side, away from him.

The only thing that mattered to me was getting my father out of wherever he was and going back to my mother and Thlaric.

I closed my eyes but I found it hard to sleep. All I could hear only the sound of the rain pattering against the roof.

After a few more minutes of just lying down, I decided to get up and go sit outside for a while.

I slowly removed the blanket over my body so as not to alert Kaelion and stood from the bed.

“Where are you going?” Kaelion asked, startling me.

I assumed he would already be asleep.

“I need some air, I am going to sit outside for a while,” I responded, looking back at him.

“I am coming with you,” He stated, standing up and picking up the blanket. “You should not be alone out there.”

He walked towards me afterwards and we both walked out of the hut and sat on a wooden floor chair where I could see the view of the small river.

As I watched the rain, Kaelion covered me with the blanket.

“You do not have to be nice to me,” I said.

“Misha’s death made me a shadow of myself, Seliora. I never imagined I would wipe out an entire pack and not feel a single guilt. I was supposed to feel better after getting my revenge but I felt nothing at all, only more emptiness.”

It felt strange to hear Kaelion opening up to me about his feelings.

It was first Rex and now he was talking to me about Misha.

“I lost my sister, I understand the feeling of losing someone so dear to you. The pain never leaves but you just have to find a way to live with it,” I mumbled.

“What happened to her?” Kaelion asked.

I didn't like talking about Malyra. It always felt like opening old wounds.

“She was fifteen while I was twelve,” I mumbled, tightening my fist. “She died in a rogue attack.”

It felt like I was living the moment all over again.

I could recall vividly how I came out of where my father had told me to hide only to find Malyra's dead body on the floor and the way my mother screamed and rushed her while I collapsed.

“She was my best friend, she had so many dreams and aspirations. I had to step up and most times, it feels like I try so hard to live up to her memories,” I said but stopped after realising I was starting to overshare.

I had never spoken to anyone about how I really felt after her death. It felt good to let it out after so many years.

After Malyra's tragic death, my dad almost lost himself and I was forced to grow up and take responsibility for the pack at a really young age.

I also had to be there for my mother and Thlaric despite how much I was also hurting.

At thirteen, I was already a great fighter while my mates in the pack enjoyed their childhood.

At sixteen, while the girls in the pack attended parties and had fun, I ran the pack affairs.

“You really did step up, she would have been really proud of you,” Kaelion stated. “Your fearlessness and bravery are just all so mindblowing.”

I instantly looked sideways at Kaelion after hearing him say that.

“Did you just give me a compliment?” I asked.

“Yes, you are really what people say you are,” He muttered. “The fearless Seliora of the Ember Fang pack.”

“More compliments,” I muttered. “Today must really be my lucky day.”

For the next few minutes, Kaelion and I sat outside in silence.

“The rain isn't stopping, we might have to spend the night here,” Kaelion muttered after a while, breaking the silence.

He then stood up and faced me. “We should go inside.”

“Yes, we should,” I whispered, standing up and walking inside with him.

“Good night,” He said, as we both lay down.

“Good night,” I muttered, closing my eyes before drifting off to sleep.

Morning soon came.

As I opened my eyes, I looked around the small room then looked back towards Kaelion.

He was still fast asleep beside me. I noticed his hair was covering his eyes and I reached out to brush it away using my fingers but stopped abruptly.

I then stood up and looked back at him.

I could not deny it anymore no matter how much I tried to.

I felt something for Kaelion.

It was why I couldn't kill him despite having multiple chances to do so and why I saved him twice even when it meant disrupting my own plans.

“No, Seliora,” I muttered to myself, running my hands through my hair.

How could I harbour feelings for the one person who had hurt me more than anyone could ever? The one who not only rejected me publicly but also murdered my pack, the people whom I had been training all my life to be their Alpha.

What would my mother and my brother think of me?

“Good morning,” Kaelion said, sitting up. “You seem stressed, is there a problem?.

“We really need to get back to the house. I do not want to stay at your pack for much longer. The earlier we find my father and discover what this is all about, the better for everyone,” I stated, storming out of the hut.

I had never felt this tenderness and weakness for anyone. I never had the time.

Once I was back with my family, I would never have to see Kaelion ever again. It would be the end of whatever it was I felt.