LOGINSelena's POVHis hand feels warm in mine, and I cling to it tightly. I don’t intend to let go—not now. Every few steps, I glance up at him, checking his face to make sure he’s still right there beside me. Each time, he meets my gaze, squeezes my fingers, and plants a kiss on my forehead or lips."You’re staring," he says, a teasing edge to his voice."I’m looking," I reply.His smile is small but genuine. "Same thing."I shake my head. "Staring is distant. Looking is seeing. Right now, I’m seeing you."He halts, pulls me close, and kisses me slowly. "Then look as much as you want."We meander through the trees, the moonlight filtering through the branches. The path is familiar to him but feels new to me. He guides me to a clearing where the lake opens up before us.I stop short, my breath catching in my throat.The water lies still, like black glass reflecting the stars a
Selena's POV"Damian?"My voice trembles as I say his name. I stretch out my hand toward him, my fingers quivering, half-convinced I’m dreaming. He’s here. Really here. Sitting on the edge of our bed, his face wet, eyes red, gazing at me like I’m the only thing that matters in the world.I push myself up and grab his arms. "Is this real? Are you really here?"He cup my face in his warm, trembling hands. "I’m real. I’m right here."I break down. Tears spill over, and I can’t contain them. I throw myself into him, wrapping my arms around his neck as if he might vanish."I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, I’m sorry—" The words tumble out repeatedly, and I can’t seem to stop. Pulling back slightly, I gaze at his face, brushing my hands against his cheeks, his jaw, his lips. He’s here. He came back.I kiss him. His forehead, his eyes, his cheeks, his mouth—I
Damian's POVThe lake is peaceful.Moonlight gently pours over the water, casting a silvery sheen that reflects the stars like scattered coins. I’ve been coming here since I was a kid. It’s been my refuge during tough times—since my parents died, when the pack felt too heavy to bear, or when I just needed some time to think.I’ve never shared this place with anyone. I wanted to show it to Selene, to let her see where I come to when I'm feeling lost. I had plans to propose here. But that was before everything fell apart. Before she kept my children from me.Now, I sit here alone, gazing at the water, unsure if I’ll ever take her anywhere again.*You hid my child from me.*I shut my eyes, thinking of her expression when I confronted her. The way her hand dropped, the sound she made as I walked away.I was filled with rage. I still am. But there’s something else beneath it—something
Selena's POVThe morning light feels harsh.It slips through the curtains, all golden and soft, landing on the empty spot next to me in bed where Damian should be. The sheets are cold. He didn't come back. I lay here all night, waiting, listening for him. But he never came.I bury my face in his pillow. His scent is still there—pine, woodsmoke, just him. I breathe it in, hold it, let it break me apart.*You hid my child from me.*Those words ring in my head. I shut my eyes, and his face flashes before me. The pain. The tears. The way he pulled away when I reached out.Why didn’t I tell him sooner? I was going to, back at the garden, before everything crumbled. But the words came out all wrong, and he looked at me like I was a stranger, and I couldn’t— I didn’t—I roll onto my back and stare at the ceiling. I was scared. That’s what I told him. Scared, he’d make me stay behi
Selena's POV~Morning sunlight streams through the windows, warm and golden, casting a glow on the walls of our new room. Our new home. The pack house is complete, rebuilt from the ground up, and this room—our room—surpasses what I imagined. With wooden beams, a stone hearth, and a bed spacious enough for both of us, plus a little extra.Damian is still sound asleep next to me, his arm heavy on my waist, his face turned toward the window. The light highlights his hair, his jawline, and the scar that runs through his eyebrow. He looks so peaceful, youthful, like how he appeared when I first woke up in his embrace, before we were burdened by the weight of the truth.I watch him and my hand instinctively moves to my stomach. The warmth there is steady now, not just a fleeting feeling. Not the gift, but something else. Someone else.Today, I’ll tell him.My heart races. I shift closer, letting his warmth envelop me. He s
Damian's POV~I can’t seem to get any sleep.She’s here in my arms, her face tucked against my chest, breathing slowly and steadily. The fire's gone out, and the cabin feels chilly, but she gives off a warmth that I can’t help but appreciate. She’s always been warm like that.I really should be sleeping. Tomorrow, we’ve got a long walk ahead of us. Tomorrow, we’ll face whatever comes our way. Still, I can’t tear my eyes away from her.The moonlight spills softly across her features, casting a silver glow. Her eyes are shut, lips slightly parted, hair sprawled across my arm. She looks so peaceful, so youthful—just like she did when I first carried her out of the rain, before she learned to fight, before she had to bear the weight of everything that’s happened.My heart aches at the thought.I love her. I’ve known since the day I first saw her, when she kissed me, when s







