The Ambush

Chapter Ten: The Ambush

Selene’s POV

The morning air kissed my skin gently as Ronan and I walked deeper into the woods for training. The leaves rustled above us, sunlight leaking through the trees in soft beams. The forest was quiet, peaceful—like it was holding its breath for something we couldn’t see.

I looked up at him as he walked beside me, carrying two wooden staffs for combat. His jaw was set, but his eyes flicked to mine every now and then, softening each time they met me. My heart beat just a little faster.

After everything, this forest had become our space. Ours alone.

We reached the clearing, the same place where he had first taught me to fall without fear. To bleed and keep standing. I dropped my bag and took a breath, stretching.

Ronan grinned and tossed me one of the staffs. “Let’s see if you still remember what I taught you yesterday.”

I caught it midair and gave him a smirk. “You’re the one who should be scared.”

We laughed. There was something easy about this. Natural. It made me feel like I had a place again.

We trained a little—just light sparring, laughter in between. I landed a hit on his side and gasped when he stumbled back, pretending to be wounded. He clutched his chest dramatically and dropped to the ground.

“You’re dying?” I teased, leaning over him.

“I need something to live for,” he whispered, eyes burning into mine.

I didn’t answer with words. I bent down and kissed him—slow, warm, lingering. And for a while, nothing else existed.

Later, we lay in the grass, tangled together, just listening to the wind. His fingers brushed my hair back, his hand resting gently on my waist. It was calm. It was safe.

Until he sat up quickly.

“I need to go back to the cabin,” he said. “I forgot the herbs we were supposed to pack for your leg.”

I nodded. “I’ll stay. Just for a bit.”

He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “Don’t wander.”

And then he was gone.

I stood alone in the clearing, twirling the staff in my hand and practicing my footwork. I was just thinking about how far I’d come—how I’d stopped shaking when holding a weapon, how I no longer flinched at the sound of a broken branch—when I heard it.

Crack.

My eyes snapped toward the trees.

Then another crack. A low growl. Footsteps.

Too many footsteps.

My heart began to thud.

I turned in a slow circle—and that’s when I saw them.

Kael.

And his men.

Four of them. Wolves from the old guard. Loyal to him. I could feel it—the rage pouring off them like steam.

Kael stood in the center, his eyes locked on mine. Calm. Cold. Like a predator who already knew he’d won.

Fear shot through me like lightning. I could run.

But I didn’t.

Not this time.

Because if I ran now, I’d always be a coward.

I lifted my chin. Tightened my grip on the staff.

“I’m not going with you,” I said under my breath.

Kael signaled, and the first two wolves came at me.

I moved before I could think. Ducking, spinning, striking with the staff. One blow to the knee. Another to the ribs. I felt the crack.

But they were stronger. Faster. More experienced.

Still, I fought. Harder than I ever had. My blood roared in my ears. I screamed when I struck. I growled when I was hit. And when one of them tried to pin me, I did what I had never done before.

I shifted.

Bones snapped.

Fur tore through skin.

My body trembled—but I rose on four legs, silver and wild. I launched myself at the one closest to me, biting deep into his shoulder.

The others backed off for a moment. They hadn’t expected that.

Neither had Kael.

But it didn’t last.

The others came at me again, three against one. Teeth clashed. Claws ripped. I felt pain sear through my side. My shoulder burned. But I didn’t stop.

Not until I was pinned.

One of them slammed me to the ground, and the other threw a net over my back—enchanted silver. I screamed as it burned into my skin, and before I could move again—

Darkness.

⸻

I woke up in chains.

I was lying on cold stone, still in wolf form. The room was damp, the air thick. My body ached. My side bled. I shifted back slowly, weak and trembling.

And then I saw him.

Kael.

Standing just outside the bars.

“Why?” I whispered, my voice hoarse.

He stepped closer, looking at me like I was something precious that had gone missing.

“I need you,” he said quietly.

I stared at him.

“You made your choice,” I said. “You chose Mira. You took the pack. You threw me out.”

He looked away for a moment. Then he walked to the bars, hands wrapped around them.

“I never stopped wanting you,” he said. “Even when I hated you.”

I turned my face away.

He continued, “Ronan won’t find you. Not here. This place is sealed. Hidden. You’re mine again.”

A cold fear crept through me.

“I’m not yours,” I said. “Not anymore.”

His voice hardened. “Then why do you still wear the mark?”

I looked down. My mate mark—the one we shared—still burned faintly on my collarbone.

Because it never faded.

But it meant nothing now.

“You’re the Alpha,” I said. “Because we were mates. You got the crown through me. Now that you’ve rejected me… you don’t have that right anymore.”

He didn’t answer.

I looked him dead in the eyes.

“I would rather die here than stand beside you again.”

Silence fell.

And deep inside, I prayed Ronan would come.

That he would feel it. That he would know something was wrong.

Because if he didn’t…

I might not make it out.