Selene's POV
The next morning,I left before anyone woke up.
I walked into the forest alone.
The path to Mira's grave was overgrown now.No one came here anymore.No one remembered her but me.
I stood in front of the small stone.
"Mira…"My voice came out broken.
I just stared at her name.My chest hurt so much I could not breathe.
"I'm leaving,"I said quietly."This time,I won't come back."
I touched the cold stone.Memories flooded in.Her laugh.Her loyalty.The way she always stood beside me when no one else would.
"I found out the truth,"I said.My voice shook."Verra started the fire.She killed you."
My throat closed up.
"And Caelan knew."
Saying it out loud made it real.
"I trusted him.And he helped her get away with it."
A tear fell down my cheek.
"I'm sorry,"I whispered."I could not save you.I could not save my pup either."
My chest hurt so much.
"If you were still here…"My voice broke."You would not have let them treat me like this."
I could not speak for a moment.Then I forced the words out.
"But I will not let it end like this."
I stepped back.My whole body was shaking.
"This is the last time I come here."
I turned and walked away.I did not look back.
I barely made it past the trees when rouge wolves grabbed me.Strong hands pulled me down.A cloth went over my mouth.
The smell was sharp.Sweet.Wrong.
My body went weak.The last thing I saw before everything went dark was Verra's face.She was already in the van.Unconscious.
Then nothing.
When I woke up,my head pounded.
The room was dark.The air was wet and cold.My hands were tied behind my back.
Voices came from somewhere close.
"She is awake."
"Good.contact him"
A communication moonstone glowed faintly and Caelan's voice came through.Tense.Sharp.
"Who is this?"
"We have two women,"a voice said."Verra and Selene.One hundred Moon Shards for each."
My heart stopped.Then the connection ended.
Verra was crying nearby.Soft.Scared.
I did not know how much time passed.Then the door opened.
Caelan walked in.
His hair was a mess.His clothes were wrinkled.He looked like he had run here.
His eyes found me.For a second,he looked relieved.
"Selene…"he said.He stepped closer.
My throat tightened.He actually came.
"I brought the moon shards,"he said quickly.His voice was low."Just hold on.I will get you out."
For one moment,hope came back.Then he spoke again.
"Release verra first."
The words hit me like a blow.I looked at him.
"You chose her,"I said quietly.
He froze.
"It is not like that…"
But even he did not believe his own words.
"I did not have enough time to gather two hundred moon shards,"he said quickly."I could only save one now.Verra is weak.She is dying.I had to get her out first."
The same excuse.Always the same.
"And what about me?"I asked.
"I will come back for you,"he said.His voice was firm now.Like he was trying to believe it himself."Just hold on a little longer."
Verra's voice trembled."No…cealan,do not do this.I do not want anything to happen to her…"
"You are too good for this world,Verra,"Caelan said to her.
Then he turned to me.
"I will be back."
He left with Verra.He did not look back at me once.
I lowered my head.My chest hurt so much I could not breathe.
What was the point of pretending now?He had already shown me the truth.
He chose her life over mine.
Just like he chose her pup over mine.
‘’Looks like your man does not love you that much."
Laughter filled the room.
Rough hands grabbed my arm.They pulled me up.Then threw me down.Pain shot through my side.My vision went blurry.
"Did you see that?"one of them said.He crouched in front of me."He came all the way here…and still left you."
Another laugh.
"Must feel good."
I clenched my teeth.My body shook.
They did not need to hurt me.Caelan already had.Time stopped meaning anything.
They dragged me.They hit me.They left me cold without food or water.
They laughed every time I tried to stay awake.
Every time I thought it was over,it came again.
My body could not keep up.
My breathing got fast and shallow.I could not get enough air.
"Stay awake,"someone laughed."Do not pass out yet."
My fingers scraped against the floor.I was so cold.I curled into myself.Nothing helped.
"Where is that man now?"another voice mocked."Did he not say he would come back?"
More laughter.
"She is so pathetic."
My chest tightened.I could not breathe.Tears slipped out.I pressed my forehead to the cold floor and shook.
Then the door burst open.Growls.Snarls.The sound of bodies slamming against walls.
"Hold!"
I knew that voice.I forced my eyes open.
Uncle Aldric stood in the doorway.His guards filled the room behind him.Wolves fell at their feet.
He was not young anymore.But right now,he looked like a storm.
His eyes found me on the floor.His face went hard.
"Selene."
I could not speak.
He crossed the room in three steps.His guards cut the ropes on my wrists.Someone put a blanket over my shoulders.
"How…"I whispered.My throat was raw."How did you find me?"
Uncle Aldric knelt beside me.He took my hand gently.He touched the bracelet on my wrist.
The one he gave me 6 months ago.After I saved his life.
It was small.Wooden beads and a single blue stone.I never took it off.
"It has a spell,"he said quietly."You touch it when you are in danger.It sends a signal to me."
I looked down at the bracelet.I did not remember touching it.
But my other hand was bloody.My fingers must have brushed the stone while I was passing out.
"The moment it lit up,I came,"he said.His voice shook."I should have come sooner.I am sorry."
"You came,"I said.Tears fell down my cheeks."You came for me."
"Always,"he said."You saved my life once,little one.I will spend mine keeping you safe."
He lifted me into his arms like I weighed nothing.
"Take us home,"he said to his guards.
I pressed my face into his shoulder.For the first time in years,I felt safe.
