5

Selene's POV

The forest was alive with the whispers of the wind and the soft hum of nature. I stood at the edge of a clearing, the tall pines towering above me, their branches swaying lazily in the breeze. The air smelled of earth and pine, grounding me in a way I hadn’t felt in years.

I’d come out here to escape the weight of Ronan’s intense gaze. Being around him stirred something deep and primal within me—something I wasn’t sure how to handle. Every time he looked at me, it felt as though he could see every hidden scar, every fractured piece of my soul.

And yet, I wanted him to look.

The thought made me uneasy. I’d spent years building walls around my heart, protecting myself from further pain. Letting someone in—especially someone like Ronan—felt dangerous. But wasn’t I already standing on the edge of danger?

I closed my eyes, letting the cool breeze caress my skin. My thoughts drifted to the moment we’d shared earlier, the way his deep voice had wrapped around me like a protective shield. Ronan was unlike anyone I’d ever met. There was a quiet strength in him, a resolve that made me feel safe even when I didn’t want to.

A rustle behind me broke my reverie, and I spun around, my heart leaping to my throat. Ronan stood a few feet away, his broad frame casting a long shadow in the fading light.

“I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said, his voice low and calm.

“You didn’t,” I lied, crossing my arms over my chest.

He tilted his head slightly, studying me in a way that made my stomach flutter. “You’ve been out here a while. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m fine,” I replied, though my voice betrayed a hint of the turmoil I was feeling.

Ronan took a step closer, his piercing eyes locking onto mine. “You don’t have to pretend with me, Selene. I can see it—the weight you’re carrying. You don’t have to carry it alone.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. How did he do that? How did he see right through me when I barely understood myself?

“I don’t need saving,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended.

“I know,” he replied, his tone steady. “But everyone needs someone to stand beside them. Even you.”

His words softened something inside me, and before I could stop myself, I took a step closer. The space between us felt electric, charged with an energy that was impossible to ignore.

“Why do you care so much?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ronan’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he wouldn’t answer. But then he said, “Because I know what it’s like to feel abandoned. To have no one to trust. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, least of all you.”

The sincerity in his voice unraveled something inside me. I wanted to believe him, to trust that he meant what he said. But trusting someone meant risking everything, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for that.

Still, I couldn’t deny the pull I felt toward him. It was like gravity, impossible to resist.

Before I could second-guess myself, I reached out, my fingers brushing against his. The contact sent a jolt through me, and I saw the flicker of surprise in his eyes.

“Thank you,” I said softly. “For everything.”

Ronan’s hand closed around mine, his grip warm and steady. “You don’t have to thank me, Selene. I’m just doing what feels right.”

The intensity in his gaze made my pulse quicken, and I realized with startling clarity just how close we were. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, the faint scent of pine and smoke that clung to him.

For a moment, I forgot about the pain of my rejection, the betrayal that had nearly destroyed me. In Ronan’s presence, those wounds didn’t seem as raw.

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” I admitted, my voice trembling. “I don’t know how to let someone in.”

“You don’t have to know,” Ronan said, his voice a soothing balm. “Just take it one step at a time. I’m not going anywhere.”

The vulnerability in his words was my undoing. Without thinking, I closed the distance between us, my hand resting against his chest. I could feel the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm, a reassuring rhythm that matched the wild cadence of my own.

Ronan’s breath hitched, and for a moment, I thought he might pull away. But then his arms came around me, pulling me against him.

The warmth of his embrace was overwhelming, and I found myself leaning into him, letting the strength of his presence anchor me.

“You’re not alone anymore, Selene,” he murmured, his lips brushing against my hair.

Something inside me shifted, a crack in the walls I’d built around myself. Maybe, just maybe, I could let him in.

---

The moment stretched on, and I wasn’t sure how long we stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms. But eventually, I pulled back, my cheeks flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and something else I couldn’t quite name.

“Sorry,” I said, taking a step back. “I didn’t mean to—”

“You don’t have to apologize,” Ronan said, cutting me off. “Not to me.”

His words were a reassurance I didn’t know I needed, and I nodded, my heart still racing.

“Come on,” he said, offering me a small smile. “Let’s head back before Kael sends out a search party.”

I laughed softly, the sound unfamiliar after so long without joy. “I think he’s more worried about you than me.”

Ronan chuckled, a deep, rich sound that made my stomach flip. “You’re probably right.”

As we walked back to the cabin, the tension between us eased, replaced by a comfortable silence. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt... lighter.

But as we approached the cabin, a shadow of doubt crept into my mind. Was this real? Could I truly trust Ronan, or was I setting myself up for more heartbreak?

I glanced at him, his strong profile illuminated by the moonlight. There was a steadiness about him, a quiet strength that made me want to believe.

Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something new.

Something worth fighting for.