~Killian
The great hall falls into a heavy silence, the echo of boots on stone fading as the last of the pack filters out, their whispers a lingering tempest that clings to the air like mist. I stood at the head of the long oak table, my intimidating frame rigid with the burden of leadership, my emerald eyes scanning the empty space where Selene had stood moments ago. The torchlight dances across my scarred brow, a mark of battles fought, but it's the ache in my chest that consumes me.
My wolf, Raze, paces within, his gold-flecked gaze fixed on the memory of her—dark hair framing that scarred cheek, silver eyes that hold a mystery I can't unravel. There's a pull between us, a bond that ignites with every glance, stirring a longing I can't name. It's tied to a guilt I carry, a shadow from my past that haunts my every decision, and it grows stronger with her presence.
Mara glides to my side, her golden hair catching the light like a beacon, her blue eyes sharp with a conviction that sets my nerves on edge. Her jasmine scent fills the room, a fragrance I once found comforting but now feels distant, overshadowed by the enigma of Selene.
"She's trouble, Killian," Mara murmurs, her voice a velvet blade.
"I saw her eyes glow in the grove—unnatural, unsettling. The pack's whispering about those strange marks at the border. She's hiding something, and it could destroy us. You must act."
Her words stir unease, but my wolf growls, a deep, protective sound that surprises me, urging me to shield Selene rather than condemn her.
I turned to the elders, their weathered faces etched with concern.
"Selene claims she's a healer," I say, my voice rough with the strain of command.
"She saved Kael, and now another warrior. But her knowledge of our ways, her presence in the sacred grove—it raises questions. We'll test her, under Darius's watch. If she's a threat, I'll handle it."
The elders nod, some relieved, others wary, their murmurs a chorus of doubt. My chest tightens, the guilt within me a weight I can't shake, a past mistake that fuels my hesitation. Selene's gaze, those silver depths, pulls at me, a connection I can't explain, and it wars with the duty I owe my pack.
Before I can dismiss them, a warrior staggers through the door, his face pale, his hand clutching his side.
"Alpha!" he gasps, collapsing to his knees.
"I was on patrol—something struck me, like a shadow. My strength's fading, my vision blurring."
I rushed to him, my hands finding a faint, pulsing mark on his skin, its color unfamiliar, its presence chilling. My wolf snarls, sensing a danger beyond our kind, and I glance toward the infirmary where Selene waits.
"Get her," I order Darius, my voice tight with urgency. "Now."
Moments later, Selene enters, her dark cloak swirling like a storm cloud, her silver eyes meeting mine with a mix of defiance and something softer—vulnerability, perhaps. My heart stutters, the pull between us flaring, and I step closer, drawn to her despite the uncertainty she brings.
"Heal him," I say, my tone a command laced with an unspoken plea. "If you can."
She kneels beside the warrior, her hands trembling slightly as she examines the mark. The air hums with a warmth that brushes against my skin, and my wolf howls, Mine, urging me to claim her.
Her touch is gentle but firm, and a faint glow emanates from her fingers, the mark fading as the warrior's breathing steadies.
"What did this?" she asks, her voice low, her eyes flicking to mine with an intensity that sends a shiver through me. "It's not a wound I recognize—something… otherworldly."
The pack murmurs, some in awe, others in fear, and Mara's gasp cuts through the tension.
"This is no healing!" she cries, her voice rising. "It's sorcery! Killian, you can't ignore this—she's a danger to us all!"
I held up a hand, silencing her, my gaze locked on Selene.
"Explain," I demand, stepping closer, my voice dropping to a husky whisper. "What are you hiding, Selene? That power—it's more than skill."
Her breath hitches, and for a moment, I see a flicker of emotion, an echo of someone I once knew.
"It's knowledge," she says, her tone steady but her eyes glistening.
"Techniques from my travels, nothing more. I swear it."
The lie is thin, and my wolf growls, sensing the truth, but her success with the warrior sways the room.
"Enough," I say, my decision firm despite the doubt gnawing at me.
"She stays, but under a tighter watch. Darius, confine her to the infirmary. We'll uncover what's behind these marks."
Selene rises, her expression unreadable, but her eyes linger on mine, a silent challenge that stirs my blood.
Mara steps forward, her voice trembling with anger.
"You're blinded by her, Killian! She'll betray us—her presence invites chaos. Think of the pack!"
I turn away, her words a thorn, but my focus remains on Selene as she's led out, the pull between us a tether I can't break.
In the war room, I pore over maps, the pulsing mark's image searing my mind. Darius enters, his amber eyes grim.
"The patrols found more of those marks, Alpha," he says, laying a cloth with the strange symbol on the table. "They're spreading, weakening our defenses. That warrior—his collapse feels like an omen, a threat we haven't faced before."
My gut twists, a sense of foreboding settling over me.
"Burn it," I order, my voice tight.
"And keep it quiet. The pack's on edge—we can't afford to panic."
Darius hesitates.
"Selene's power—could she be connected? Or is this something bigger?"
His question cuts deep, but my wolf rebels, protective.
"She's not the enemy," I say, more to myself than him. "Not yet."
The pull toward her, a longing that defies reason, clouds my judgment, and the guilt within me presses harder, a past I can't escape. I rub my temples, the weight of leadership a burden I share with no one.
Mara slips in, her presence a quiet storm.
"Killian, please," she pleads, her voice softening, a rare vulnerability in her tone.
"I've stood by you, cared for you through every trial. Don't let her tear us apart. Her eyes, her power—they're not natural. Trust me, not her."
She reaches for my hand, her touch cool and familiar, but it lacks the fire Selene ignites.
"I need proof," I say, pulling back.
"If she's a threat, we'll find it. But my instincts—my heart—tell me she's more than Mara claims."
That night, I stood outside the infirmary, the mist curling around the stronghold, my breath visible in the cold. Through the window, Selene tends another warrior, her movements graceful, her scar a silent story that draws me in. My wolf howls, Mine, and I clench my fists, the guilt and longing warring within me. I pushed the door open, stepping inside, the scent of herbs mingling with her ash-and-wildflower aroma.
She turns, her silver eyes widening, and the air crackles with tension.
"Selene," I say, my voice low, rough with desire. "We need to talk."
She steps back, her hands trembling, but her gaze holds mine.
"Alpha," she whispers, "I'm doing my duty. What more do you want?"
I close the distance, my heart pounding, the pull between us a living force.
"The truth," I murmured, my hand brushing her arm, sending a jolt through me.
"I feel you—something lost, something I need. Tell me who you are."
Her breath catches, her eyes glowing faintly before she douses it.
"I'm a healer," she says, her voice breaking, "nothing more."
But the lie trembles, and I lean closer, my lips near her ear.
"You're more," I whispered, my hand lingering on her arm. "My wolf knows it. I see it in your eyes, feel it in my soul. Give me something, Selene—anything."
Her scent shifts, a hint of something familiar breaking through, and my heart races, a memory stirring.
"Killian," she breathes, my name a surrender, and for a moment, we stand suspended, the pull between us a bridge to a past I can't recall.
My hand slides up her arm, tentative but possessive, and her body tenses, a shiver running through her.
"I can't," she says, pulling back, her voice thick with emotion. "You don't know me—not really."
The rejection stings, but the longing in her eyes betrays her, and I step closer, my resolve weakening.
"I want to," I say, my voice a plea.
"Every time I see you, I feel… whole. Tell me your story, Selene. Let me in."
She shakes her head, tears glistening, and the distance between us grows, a chasm of unspoken words.
"It's not that simple," she murmurs. "You wouldn't understand."
The door opens, Darius interrupting, his voice urgent.
"Alpha, a scout's down—another of those marks. It's spreading."
I glance at Selene, the romance of our nearness clashing with the suspense of the unknown.
"We'll finish this," I promised, my voice thick with emotion, then followed Darius out, the pulling toward her a tether I couldn't break.
Outside, the warrior collapses, his body trembling, the mark pulsing, a hint of a curse that chills my blood. My wolf howls, torn between duty and desire, as the night closes in, heavy with secrets and threats.
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