Chapter 7: The Hand That Found Me When the World Shut Its Doors

In the quiet of the garden, a voice rose from the trees behind the bench. Logan and Thomas had no idea Selina was sitting there in the shadows. Maybe they thought the place was empty. Still, every word reached her ears clear as glass.

"We need to release Lyra. Alpha needs her."

"I don't know, Beta. None of this feels fair to Luna," Thomas muttered, voice low and stiff, like he was holding back emotions that refused to sit still.

"Stop calling her Luna. She rejected Alpha Alaric. I still can't understand why she would do something like that. He is in this condition because of her. She should have been more careful. Alaric is her mate. How could she turn him away like that," Beta snapped, jaw tight with anger.

"But Alpha never treated Luna right," Thomas tried to defend her, although doubt wavered in his tone.

"No. Luna is just ungrateful. She walked out of Nightclaw Pack without looking back. Everything done for her meant nothing," Beta hissed. "Maybe only Lyra can make Alpha accept it. Which is why I am getting her out of the cells."

"Yeah. Lyra might calm him," Thomas murmured, and Selina's stomach clenched.

"When Alpha accepts that rejection, Selina will no longer be Luna of Nightclaw Pack. What she thinks doesn't matter anymore," Beta added, firm as stone.

Thomas just nodded.

Hidden in the garden, Selina froze. Her eyes dropped to her lap, hair sliding over her face. Tears gathered, trembling behind her lashes. The evening chill crawled into her chest, making it harder to breathe.

These were the people she once called family. For five years she protected them, held the pack together, carried ancient spells and duties so they could thrive. Yet their words cut deeper than any wound she had ever taken for them.

A tear finally fell. Slow, burning, and painfully real. She bowed her head lower, trying to hide the heartbreak she could not control.

It hurt.

It hurt to realize the people she fought for saw her as nothing. The world felt pitiless. She had never harmed anyone, and yet here she stood, painted as the villain.

When their footsteps faded and the garden fell quiet again, Selina wiped her cheeks. She rose, steadying her breath, and walked toward her room. Her face had lost all light. She held her chest as if holding herself together.

The door opened. A scent of fresh flowers greeted her. On the table, the vase she had gifted Raven sat neatly, as if it belonged there. But now there were fresh red roses tucked among the others, and a small plush toy sat beside the vase, holding a card.

Warmth rushed into her chest. After the wound she had just taken, that warmth felt like sunlight breaking through a storm.

Raven.

Only one name filled her mind at the sight of the little bear and the card in its hands.

She stepped closer, lifted the toy gently, and unfolded the note.

'To the strongest woman I know. Keep smiling, because sometimes one smile means everything to someone who just wants to see you happy. The way you made my day brighter when you chose these flowers for me. Thank you.

Your doctor, Raven.'

She read it once. Twice. Five times. Maybe more. A soft smile curved on her lips, warm enough to thaw her grief. Everything about him felt almost unreal. Too kind. Too gentle. And guilt crept in because no matter what, he was still Alaric’s cousin.

Near sunset, Raven arrived with dinner, like he had for the past three days. It all started when Selina complained about the bland hospital food, and the next day he showed up with a home-cooked meal that tasted too good to believe he made it himself. From then on, they ate together every evening, sharing warm food and quiet company.

Now he set up the table while Selina hugged the plush toy, watching him.

"I still don't get why you took the flowers I gave you and then put them here like you gave them to me," she teased, pretending to be annoyed, though the tiny smile on her face betrayed her.

"I didn't do that. I just could not let them sit alone in my office. I hardly get to be there. So instead of watching them wilt with no one to see, I figured I should come here more often." He nodded toward the vase. "And you can see I did not just bring your flowers. I added the roses you like. It is our bouquet now. So it belongs here."

She scoffed lightly but she was clearly touched. "Fine. You win." She nudged the vase aside so they had space to eat.

They started eating, and after a moment Raven cleared his throat. The tiny gesture made Selina look up.

"Selina, I need to tell you something." His voice was too serious. She paused mid bite.

"I am leaving. I am resigning as a doctor here. I am leaving the pack."

The hit landed low, sharp, and deep inside her. Her body went still. Her chest tightened.

"You... you're leaving? Why?" Her voice cracked almost immediately.

"Westbrook University offered me a position as a lecturer," he said calmly.

Selina swallowed hard. She had once dreamed of getting into that university. She even got the offer. But she gave it up. For Alaric. And now Raven was taking the path she once hoped for. Pride rose. So did envy. And something else twisted inside her. Something raw.

She imagined him in a lecture hall, tall and composed, that quiet strength in his eyes. She imagined students staring at him, drawn in. The thought made her stomach drop.

"I got the offer before. But for certain reasons, I could not accept it then," Raven said.

Selina blinked at him. "Why did you turn it down before?"

"There was someone important to me. I wanted to stay near her," he answered. Simple, but heavy.

She nodded, trying not to ask. She had no right.

"Congratulations, Raven. I am happy for you." Her smile was small, shaky. Her heart felt hollow. Her gaze drifted down.

After rejecting Alaric, Raven was the one who stayed. He became her quiet anchor. The one place she did not feel abandoned. And suddenly she understood something painful.

She was alone again.

"Selina."

His voice cut through the ache in her chest.

"Hm?" She turned slowly. Her eyes felt far away.

"Come with me." His voice was gentle, sincere.

She froze. "What?" She blinked, stunned.

He smiled like he already knew how she would react. "I asked if you will come with me."

Her heart slammed painfully. She should not. He was Alaric’s family. It was wrong. But then the voices from the garden echoed in her mind. The betrayal. The loneliness. The cold truth that no one here wanted her anymore.

Nightclaw had no place for her. Bloodhowl did not either. No family. No mate. No friends. If she stayed, she would just haunt a land that rejected her.

If she went with Raven, she would not be alone.

He was good. Too good. It hurt how kind he was. And she was too tired to push away the only hand reaching for her.

"I will." Her voice was a whisper.

Raven blinked, surprised. "Really?"

She nodded. A soft breath of relief escaped him, almost a laugh. Joy lit his eyes, warm and honest.

Selina smiled, faint and fragile, and lowered her head, hiding the swirl of emotions rising in her chest.

For once, she chose something not out of duty, but for herself.

She only prayed she would not regret it. Because for the first time in a long time, she had taken a step toward her own life.

And all she could do was hope it was the right one.