جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 100

The click of the closing door echoed through the chamber.Then silence.Selene stared at it.As if the healer might suddenly return.As if another interruption might save her.But nothing happened.The room remained still.And for the first time since falling out of the closet, she realized they were completely alone.Her stomach tightened.Damian stood a few feet away from the bed.Watching her.Not speaking.Not moving.Just watching.The silence stretched.Long enough to become uncomfortable.Long enough for Selene to wish he would say something.Or leave.Either would have been better.Instead, he remained exactly where he was.Patient.Waiting.As though he knew she was fighting a battle inside herself.Her fingers curled against the blanket.She refused to look at him.Refused.Because every time she did, she remembered.Mate.The word echoed inside her mind again.Lyra stirred faintly.Selene immediately pushed the feeling away.No.Not now.Not with him standing right there.“

The silence that followed Selene's question felt endless.She sat motionless on the edge of the bed, her eyes lowered, her chest still tight from everything she had said. The tears had stopped falling, but the ache remained.Across from her, Damian stood quietly.For once, the Alpha of Silvermoon looked like a man searching for the right words instead of someone who always had the answers.Selene almost laughed at the irony.For years, she had imagined what she would say if she ever had the chance to confront him.Now that the moment had arrived, neither of them seemed to know where to begin.Finally, Damian exhaled slowly."I never wanted you to feel abandoned."Selene's jaw tightened.The statement sounded sincere.That was what made it hurt."Then why did I?" she asked softly.Damian looked away briefly before meeting her gaze again."Because I made mistakes."The admission surprised her.Not because she thought he was incapable of making mistakes.Because she never expected him to

The council chamber had not known peace since the attack.Voices rose and fell across the long stone table.Elders debated.Guards stood watch near the doors.Several members of the council had been summoned earlier than usual, and judging by the tension hanging over the room, none of them were pleased about it.At the head of the table sat Damian.Silent.Listening.His expression revealed nothing.To most of those present, it appeared as though he was simply allowing the elders to exhaust themselves.But Liam knew better.The Alpha had barely slept in days.And somehow, that wasn't what concerned Liam most."The rumors are spreading."An elder's voice cut through the chamber."The entire pack is talking about it."Another elder nodded."They should be.""The first shift alone would have been enough. The escape into the forest only made matters worse."Murmurs of agreement followed."The younger wolves are frightened.""The patrols are asking questions.""We still do not have all the

The moment the chamber door shut behind him, Damian stopped.Completely.Silence rushed toward him immediately.Not the silence of a council chamber.Not the silence of discipline.Not the silence he wore like armor every day.This silence was different.It was empty.And for some reason, that made it worse.For a long moment, he simply stood there.Motionless.The room around him remained exactly as he had left it earlier.The desk.The maps.The reports stacked neatly in one corner.The unfinished correspondence waiting for his attention.The responsibilities of an Alpha.The responsibilities of a leader.The responsibilities that had always come first.Always.Damian stared at them.Then looked away.Because for the first time in years, none of it felt urgent enough.His jaw tightened.Slowly, he crossed the room.His steps echoed faintly against the stone floor.When he reached the desk, he placed both hands against its surface and lowered his head.A breath escaped him.Long.Hea

Evelyn found Liam exactly where she expected him to be.Near the western balcony.Halfway through putting on his coat.The evening wind moved through the corridor quietly.Silvermoon looked peaceful from here.Almost normal.Almost.Liam glanced up as she approached.A small smile appeared immediately."You're staring."Evelyn folded her arms."And you're avoiding me."His smile widened slightly."That sounds serious.""It is."Liam sighed dramatically."Then I should probably be worried.""You should."That earned a quiet laugh.For a moment neither spoke.The familiar ease between them settled naturally.Comfortable.Effortless.One of the things Evelyn loved most about him.Being around Liam never felt difficult.Never felt forced.It simply felt right.He stepped closer.Close enough to brush a loose strand of hair behind her ear.The gesture was casual.Natural.Practiced.Evelyn's expression softened despite herself."You know," Liam said, "most people greet each other before la