LOGINSelena's POV
The garden is behind us, the sun has set, and the stars twinkle through the window. Damian's warmth is comforting against my back, his hand resting on my stomach, and his breathing is slow and steady. I should feel secure, and I do. But there’s something nagging at the corners of my mind, something dark, something lurking.
I shut my eyes. The darkness envelops me.
I find myself standing in a barren field.
The grass is dead and brown
Selena's POVThe morning light is dim and the air is chilly. I find Greta in the medical tent, carefully sorting through herbs, her hands steady, her expression calm."I need to train."She glances up at me. "You haven't practiced since you returned from Lucy.""I know. That’s why I’m here to train with you.""Your gift needs rest. You need rest. And the babies need rest, too."I press my hand against my stomach. "There's a war on the horizon, Greta. People are going to get hurt. I have to be ready to help them."She studies me for a long moment before she finally nods."Alright. But you have to take it easy. No pushing yourself too hard."We start with something small.A cut on her palm. I touch it and let the warmth flow through me. The wound closes up easily."Again." She makes another cut, this time deeper.I place my hand on it. The warmth comes slowly this time, hesita
Selena's POVHours have passed since the war council wrapped up, but the maps still lie scattered across the table, weighed down by stones and marked with arrows and X's. Damian hasn't budged from his seat. He’s been staring at a particular spot on the map for what feels like twenty minutes.I watch him from the doorway. The fire’s almost out, and the room is dim except for the flickering candlelight. He looks worn out, older than he actually is."Damian."He glances up. "You should be sleeping.""And so should you."He rubs his face. "I can't. Every time I shut my eyes, all I see are them. Lucas. Viktor. The rogues."I walk over to him, taking his hand. "Come to bed.""I need to—""You need to rest." I pull him to his feet. "You can't lead if you're running on empty."He follows me, but his steps are heavy. I guide him out of the war room, down the hall, and into our bedroom. The c
Damian's POVI'm in the kitchen when Maya walks in.She stops and stares at Selena, who's sitting at the table with a cup of tea and a plate of cookies. Her belly is definitely round now. It’s noticeable. She’s been wearing loose shirts, but today she’s in something fitted, and there’s no hiding it.Maya's mouth opens, then closes, then opens again.“Selena.”Selena looks up. “What?”Maya points at her stomach. “That.”Selena glances down. “What about it?”“How many months it’s been?”“Four months. Almost five.”Maya’s eyes go wide. “Four months?”“That’s what Greta said.”Maya crosses the room and stands right in front of her. “Selena, I’ve seen pregnant women. I’ve helped deliver babies. Four months doesn’t look like that.&rd
Maya's POVThe scout is breathing hard, his face pale and hands trembling.I found him at the eastern gate, hunched over, sweat pouring down his face. He’d been running all night without a break.“Report.” My voice comes out sharper than I intended.He straightens up. “Rogues. Hundreds of them. Gathering in the valley east of the Bloodmoon border.”Chills run down my spine. “Hundreds?”“Maybe more. They’re organized, armored. Someone’s leading them.”I grip his arm. “Who?”He swallows hard. “Lucas Ahearn. And another Alpha. They’re calling him Viktor.”Lucas. He was supposed to be in council custody, locked away, forgotten. But of course, Elena has her people everywhere. It shouldn’t shock me that he escaped.“Where’s Alpha?”“In the war room.” I let his arm go. &
Selena's POVThe border hasn’t changed a bit.Gray stones, dead grass, and a fence that’s been falling apart for years. I've crossed this line countless times. Sometimes escaping, sometimes searching for something, never sure which side really feels like home.Damian is back there, giving me space but close enough that he can catch me if I stumble. He didn’t want me to come here. He told me Samuel doesn’t deserve my time. Still, he didn’t stop me.Samuel, my father, is waiting on the other side.He looks smaller than I remember. His shoulders are hunched, hands clasped in front of him, and his face has gone pale. The council let him out for just an hour, and only under guard.I pause at the stones. I can’t cross.“Selena.” His voice wavers. “Thank you for coming.”I don’t respond. What can I even say?He steps towards me. “I wante
Selena's POVThe envelope is thin, the paper cheap, and the handwriting looks familiar.I find myself staring at it for a long while before I finally decide to open it. Damian is beside me at the kitchen table, nursing a cup of coffee, watching me closely but not pushing me to say anything. Maya is over by the stove, pretending she’s not interested.“It’s from Caden,” I manage to say.Damian puts down his cup. “What does he want?”Honestly, I have no clue. I open the envelope.The letter is short—just one page. His handwriting seems smaller than I remember, tighter, as if he was trying to cram too much into too little space.Selena,I don't know if you'll read this. I don't know if you'll care. But I needed to say it.I was wrong. About everything. About you, about my mother, about the life I thought I deserved. I was blind, and stupid, and







