CHAPTER 10
Selene's POV “So?” Dara came out with a frown. Riven burst into laughter. Silas grinned secretly. “What is it?” Dara groaned, eyeing them. “You look like those manly cruel soldiers. You look even scarier now." Riven said amidst laughter. Dara raised her fist threatening to hit him. He stood up running to hide behind me. ”Hey, I still need to change. We need to get this over with quickly. We have little time left.“ Dara withdrew her fist, she still had that unsatisfied look on her face. I returned a few minutes later in men's clothing. That was the plan, to dress like a man. ”So how is it?“ Riven exclaimed in a dramatic way. ”You still look pretty even as a man. Perhaps we add a mustache. Dark's men might start to make passes on you.“ I furrowed my brows. ”Am I not convincing enough as a man now?“ Riven shook his head. He searched through his bag bringing out a rough mustache. ”Why do you have that?“ ”I sometimes change my identity too.“ he smiled, placing the mustache on his philtrum. The vertical groove in the middle of his upper lip. He demonstrated, mimicking the look of an old man. I laughed. Even I will truly mistake him to be an old man. He helped me place it on my philtrum. It was enough to cover my identity, but I now look like a handsome young man. ”You still look beautiful as a man. I doubt there's anything that won't look good on you.“ Silas complimented with a smile making my cheeks flush red as I muttered a thank-you. ”It's almost sunset, we should get going.“ Dara stood up leaving us behind. She must still feel annoyed. We had to put in more clothes to cover our chest. We arrived at Dark's territory's border. The men stopped us. ”We are rogues. Banished from our pack.“ Riven said. ”Rogues?“ one of the men said with a deep voice. He looked at our wrist to confirm we were truly banished and asked the others to come search us. We had hid our bags with our few belongings, we put on tattered clothes and looked dirty to convince them. ”What are you doing here?“ the man asked again while the others finished searching us. ”We've come to see, Dark. We ask for protection and wish to provide him with information.“ ”What kind of information?“ I tapped Riven signaling him not to say a word. ”I'm sorry, we can't disclose it to you. It's best said to him.“ The man's gaze hardened, he looked at me suspiciously. I cleared my throat, changing my tone to make it sound deeper and bold. ” We mean no harm. We only seek a place for protection, hoping with this information, Dark will consider our request.“ I diverted my gaze, silently praying he wouldn't catch on. ”Jaxon.“ Someone called from behind. ”Dark wants to see you.“ I heaved a sigh of relief as his attention was called elsewhere. ”Follow me.“ he said and we did. The inner place was vast with old buildings. We entered a place looking like an abandoned palace. The man, Jaxon, told us all to duck as he opened the door. We didn't quite understand. Jaxon pushed open the door to the grand palace and immediately, a head came flying outside. Luckily, I bent just as Jaxon had warned. A man stood with a patch on his left eye, looking rough, yet handsome. He held a stick of cigarette puffing out smoke from his nostrils and mouth. His blue eyes were beautiful but he looked ruthless. Blood stains were on his hand and a body without a head laid on the floor. ”Jaxon, what have you brought for me?“ A maid carrying a bowl and towel approached Dark quickly. He briefly looked at us while he washed his hand and cleaned it with a towel. ”Dark, they are rogues, banished from their packs. They've come with information which they wish to share with you.“ Dark walked towards a huge chair, the only one in the large room. He sat on it, a knowing smirk on his lip. He looked like a devil, but I couldn't even tremble in his presence. For some reason, my gaze didn't waver while looking at him. Unlike Riven and the rest who couldn't even make eye contact. ”You have two minutes, speak.“ Dark ordered. I saw Riven hesitantly as he was about to step out. I walked ahead of him, standing before Dark. ”We've come to you for help. Alpha Killian plans to attack eastern packs tomorrow. He wishes to expand his power which will be terrible for us rogues. I, personally, was banished. I was framed. I've seen what Alpha Killian is capable of. He is merciless and treats rogues like dirt. I fear that if he succeeds in expanding his powers many rogues will suffer for it. Our lives will become toys for him to use and discard anytime he wills. Alpha Killian might not attack your territory now Dark. But his taste for power cannot be measured. He will surely do so in the near future. It's best such a threat is eliminated before it grows more wings to fly.“ Dark stares at me with an expressionless face. I couldn't tell what he was thinking. Was my speech that bad? ”Bring them in.“ Dark ordered one of the guards in the room. Four men were dragged in, looking half beaten with bruises that refused to heal. ”Bring me my bow.“ he ordered again, and it was brought in a minute. I watched quietly wondering what he was up to. Did my speech bore him? The door was left wide open and Dark took out an arrow. The men were pushed to the front and told to run. ”As long as you successfully step outside. I'll let you live.“ His voice was deep and dark like his name. His eyes were merciless like a person who has gone through hell. Dark readied his bow aiming it at the four of them. ”Now run.“Dark’s POV“That doesn’t mean I’ll take advantage of her love.”Havana stood across from me, her arms folded beneath her chest.“I care for her, Havana,” I continued, “More than I thought I ever could. If it means never breaking this curse… I’ll live with it. I’d rather be cursed beside her than free without her.”Havana’s gaze softened slightly, but she said nothing. ******Morning came, everything seemed normal.I walked out of my room and made my way to check on Silas. Dara was awake, seated beside him, gently patting a cloth to his forehead. Silas still hadn’t opened his eyes fully, but his chest rose and fell with calm breaths.“How is he?” I asked.Dara looked up. “A bit better.”I nodded. “Have you seen Selene?”She blinked. “No… she hasn’t come to check on him.”My brows furrowed. “Are you sure?”“I’ve been here all night.”I turned and walked out.I found Havana in her room, packing her clothes needed for laundry.“Where’s Selene?” I asked.She looked up. “I haven’t seen her
CHAPTER 76Selene’s POVThe stars felt closer up here.I sat beside him, my knees bent and my hands folded between them. The wind brushed through his hair, and his eyes brightened even in the dark.“You said something about your mother…” I asked gently.He was quiet for a while.Then he said in a low tone, “She died the day I was born.”I turned to him.“She wasn’t supposed to,” he added, staring at the sky. “I wasn’t supposed to live either.”“What do you mean?”“She went to a strange woman. She said I wouldn’t survive the birth. My body wasn’t strong enough. So my mother made a choice to save me no matter the consequences as long as I live. But she died while giving birth to me.”I swallowed, a soft ache forming in my chest.“And… that’s how you got your curse?” I asked.He nodded once. “It was the price.”He looked down at his hands. “To survive, I had to be bound to it. The curse wasn’t just given to me, it became a part of me. It was the only way for me to live.”I didn’t know w
Selene’s POV I woke to the soft sound of birds and the golden glow of evening light slipping through the windows. My eyes fluttered open, and the memory hit me hard. I blinked rapidly. I was still naked beneath the sheets and then it all flooded back. His hands, his lips, the warmth of his skin pressed against mine. The way he whispered my name like it was something he never wanted to forget. It was peaceful and slow unlike what I expected, rough and full of sin. But this…. This was calm. “Oh Moon goddess,” I whispered, pressing a hand over my mouth, my face burning. The door creaked open. “You’re awake.” I turned quickly. Dark stood at the doorway, his shirt slightly unbuttoned, a small but rare smile curving his lips. In his hand, a cup steamed faintly. He walked toward me. I tugged the sheet tighter around my chest, my heart pounding for no reason other than the way he was looking at me. He handed me the cup. “Tea. It’s still warm.” I took it with both hands, gratef
CHAPTER 74 Selene’s POV We arrived just before dawn. My legs ached with every step. But I didn’t care, Silas was alive. Dark carried him, his arm supporting the weight without effort, but I saw the tension in his jaw. He hadn’t said a word since we escaped from Alpha Raymond guards. As soon as we stepped into the territory and near the main house, “Silas!” Dara’s voice cracked as she ran. Her eyes were red, her face pale, but the moment she saw us, she broke into tears. “Dara,” I said quickly, stepping in front of her. “He’s alive. He’s hurt but he’s alive.” She sobbed, reaching to touch his arm as Dark passed. “Thank you, thank the moon goddess. I almost thought we'd lost him. I thought it would be too late.” Dara said between sobs. Dark took Silas straight into one of the rooms and lowered him gently on the bed. “Havana,” he called and she rushed into the room. He turned to her as she entered, “can you treat him?” She nodded immediately. “I’ll do my best.” H
CHAPTER 73 Killian’s POV She thought I was asleep. But I wasn’t. I lay on the edge of the bed, my eyes closed. Lilliana moved quietly across the room, just like she had for the past few nights. Always when she thought I was out. I waited until the door clicked shut behind her. Then I opened my eyes. I followed her. She was careful, I’ll give her that. Clever with her steps, quiet like a thief in her own home. But I had spent years tracking wolves through the dark. She couldn’t outrun that. She took a corner looking over her shoulder. Then, I stopped in front of a door and knocked. She entered and I came out of my hiding. I stood close to the door enough to hear what they were saying inside. A voice greeted her, male. “You’re late,” he said. “I had to wait till he passed out,” Lilliana replied, her voice sharper than I’d heard in days. My stomach turned. “You’re still playing the victim well,” the man said. She scoffed. “It’s not hard. He’s more broken than I expected.
Chapter 72Selene's POVI reached inside the Dark Howl palace. Everywhere was in disarray, maids running around and any guards who tried to stop were killed by me instantly. I looked around each room and still I couldn't find Silas. Then, I saw a maid, leaving a room with a blood stained cloth on a tray. I entered the room but it was empty. I furrowed my brows looking around. I walked towards a curtain ahead and pulled it over. I froze when I saw Silas.He was tied to a chair, bloodied and barely conscious. His face was swollen and his shirt torn and soaked.“Silas!” I cried, rushing forward.But I stopped, because I wasn’t alone.Alpha Raymond stepped out from a corner.“How sweet,” he said, smiling. “You found him.”I backed up slightly, my eyes scanning the room.There were at least five guards.One stood behind Silas, a knife held tightly against his throat.Alpha Raymond raised a brow. “I said I’d let him live. But only if you give me the bottle.”My breath caught.“You never