LOGINSELENA'S P.O.V I rarely heard the rest of the things they said throughout the rest of the meeting. There was much less opposition now that Alphs cole had made it clear just how little patience he had for their nonsense.I blinked as the council members stood up. I looked up, unable to even remember what had happened. Alpha Cole have a wave of dismissal, and they walked away. Sylvia stayed sitting, Beta Alan stood behind her couch, the two men stood where they were."We have finalized everything, Alpha. We will start preparations immediately. Also, we have contacted the couture house in Silver fangs. They will arrive later, for measurements and your requirements." Alpha Cole simply nodded. "Good work, David. I appreciate you coming in at such short notice."The man, David, gave a small, almost shy smile. "You know I would stop whatever commitments I have for you, Alpha. You are that important to me."I raised a brow, and turned to Evan who looked almost annoyed. He met my eyes, then
SELENA'S P.O.V "Now that we have established that the entire pack will be invited to the two festivals and that the dignitaries will only be around for the main birthday banquet, can we have a full guest list? I have made a short outline of people we absolutely can not miss giving the gold scroll to."The man leaned forward and handed his tablet to Alpha Cole. Alpha Cole accepted it, his brows furrowed as he took in the list. He brought his right index finger and tapped on the screen, then seemed to make a few alterations before handing it back to the man.He accepted it, then looked down. For a tense second, he looked between Alpha Cole and then the rest of the council, who have still not managed to make peace with Alpha Cole's decisions yet."Alpha," the man finally said, his voice low. "Uhm... are you saying that the pack council are not to be invited?"I raised a brow in surprise, as a gasp filled the small space. Isaac leaned dangerously close, his brows drawn together in the so
SELENA'S P.O.V I lingered against the wall for a long minute, just listening. The room next door was quiet for a long while. I sat on the floor, my eyes closed as I listened to the sounds. Any sound would have satisfied me.I heard when Alpha Cole woke up. I heard when Evan told him to be careful. I heard the sigh he let out as the water hit his skin in the shower.As if compelled by a force, I pushed myself off the wall and went into the shower. I closed my eyes against the hot water, my chest tight as I felt the water run down my skin.I thought about how I would apologize to him. Do I go on my knees? Do I cry and break down? I thought of Amanda. She would probably be so disappointed in me for pushing her father away. It felt like my sins against the two of them were piling up, and I wasn't sure how much of it I could keep up with anymore. I wasn't sure how much of it I could atone for without losing my soul.I got out of the shower and changed into a simple dress. I left my hair
EVAN'S P.O.V.I let my hand rest under Alpha Cole's cheek, his warmth spreading through my palm, his pulse low but evident. A single tear still rested on his lashes, and I resisted the urge to reach out. Not just to his face or his skin. I wanted to reach out to his heart and kiss it a little better in the only way I knew how.But there was only one person that he would allow, and she was next door.I held my breath as I listened. She wasn't crying anymore. Maybe she had slipped into a restless sleep just like him. Maybe she had nothing else to cry out.I felt my heart clench, as my hand sank into his hair. I looked down. He was vulnerable. Not as vulnerable as he was when Selena had been nothing but a callback from the past, but vulnerable still.I leaned down close, my eyes darting across both of his closed ones. He was astoundingly beautiful. It was almost irritating just how perfect he looked under these lights, even with the thin red line that showed just how much the emotional t
ALPHA COLE'S P.O.V My head felt like it would split in two, and somehow, my heart felt worse. I sat on the edge of my bed, Selena's scent still engraved everywhere like a punishment, wrapped up in the last robe she had worn.I wanted to feel something. Anything other than the crippling fear that the ship might have sailed for us a while ago and she would never be able to trust me again.I wondered what I could do better. Explain better, allow her to have the mate bond back? Maybe have her around me all the time.My throat closed, the back of my eyes stinging a bit more."I think she trusts you. She is just... scared."I slowly looked up. Evan was standing close to the shower. His usual hood was off, his hair falling across his eyes. His arms were folded in front of him, his expression carefully blank.I looked away and took in a deep breath. "You should go, I...""I don't want to go anywhere. Not after I saw that."I met his eyes. "I am not that weak. I am not going to relapse and...
SELENA'S P.O.V I turned, my chest heaving. I did nothing to stop the tears that ran down my cheeks in slow, fast torrents. I hated myself for putting him through the hell of my own insecurities. Of my own distrust. My fingers gently wrapped around the door knob, and my knees threatened to give away under me. My body felt like it was supposed to belong somewhere else. Somewhere closer to him. I turned the door knob."Selena."My heart jumped, and I turned, my eyes widened with hope. Most of which crumbled the minute I saw his eyes. Still wet. Still exhausted. Still filled with the hurt I put in there.He took a step forward, then gently passed a first aid box, letting it fall to the space between us. I looked down, the tears tearing me apart from somewhere deeper than even I could reach right now."For the bleeding."I bit down on my lower lip so hard that I tasted my blood. Was it too shameless to say sorry? To say I was selfish and greedy and deeply, stupidly sorry, and that I nee
ALPHA COLE'S P.O.V Selena. Selena is in my palace.My eyes thinned as I looked between the women in the dungeon and the soldier still lying unconscious outside. He had been carefully tucked away, and he had a single hit to the side of his neck. Like the edge of a dagger.That was Selena's signatur
SELENA'S P.O.V The dance troupe proceeded to the palace, and I joined, quickly learning their chants as we made the short journey to the palace.Soon enough, the palace loomed in front of us. I stopped for a second to catch my breath, my chest heaving. I still knew the palace like the back of my h
SELENA'S P.O.V I cleaned out the guns and daggers, laying them out on the floor in the room. I stepped back, my eyes taking in the weapons. Most of them were my hunting gear, as I have had no use for weapons in five years.The sun was already coming up, and tomorrow would be the full moon festival
Three events have shaped the woman I have become today.The death of my father, the seal that was handed to me as proof of my family's obligation to protect the alphas, and the day I was introduced to Alpha Cole. The first two had shaped my obligation to the pack, watching my father lose his life







