Selene
The words hung heavily in the air between Torren and me, as the camp's fire crackled faintly in the distance. My hands trembled on the quiver I'd been checking, the arrows blurring in my vision.
"What do you plan to do?" I whispered, my voice barely steady as I met Torren's gaze. "Now that you know... are you going to tell him?"
Torren leaned against a tree, his bandaged arm cradled close, his expression torn. He glanced toward the fire where Draven sat sharpening his knife, completely oblivious.
"I don't know yet," he admitted, rubbing his jaw. "Draven's flirty as hell. The guy flirts with anything that moves and cracks jokes at the worst possible times. But deep down he's never let himself fall for anyone. After the curse hit, he gave up on the idea of a mate... falling in love... all of it. He figured it wasn't in his cards."
His gaze locked on mine. "Until you. I've seen the way he is with you. My brother has never been that way with anyone, ever. Telling him now could... actually, would... break him. It'll shatter what little hope he's clung to."
His words pierced deeper, the dread coiling tighter. Draven, with his winks and fearless grins, hiding that emptiness. And I'd walked into his life, stirring something real, only for this secret to poison it.
"I think he deserves to know the truth," I said, though the words tasted bitter in my mouth.
Torren's eyes softened. "Maybe. But think hard. We're close to the Cliffs and your son needs you focused. And Draven... he needs you too, more than he'll admit. In the end though, it's up to you. I won't be the one to break his heart like that."
With that, Torren headed back to the fire.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The night closed in, the curse's whispers slithering through my thoughts: Killer. Betrayer. He'll hate you.
I shook my head, but they lingered, amplifying the guilt until it felt like a living thing clawing at my chest.
By dawn, we broke camp, the air heavier with the curse's taint as we pushed toward the Red Cliffs. The pines gave way to jagged rock formations, the path climbing steeper, but the hallucinations worsened with every step. Shadows flickered at the corners of my eyes – faces from the raid, bloodied and accusing.
Draven tried to talk to me, even tried to make me laugh a few times, but I kept my distance, unable to even bring myself to enjoy his presence. Eventually, he walked ahead with his brother and Thorne, but he glanced back at me more than once, his brow furrowed.
"You alright, huntress?" he asked during a brief halt, handing me a water skin. His tone was light, but edged with concern.
"Fine," I muttered, avoiding his eyes. "Just... the curse."
He nodded, but didn't press, falling back into step with Veyra. The distance between us grew, and not just physically. His flirty banter from last night felt like a distant memory, replaced by this unspoken wall I'd built with my secret.
Renn scouted ahead, his voice calling back. "Clear for now, but something feels off. I think we've got some eyes on us."
Thorne grunted, wiping sweat from his brow. "It's the illusions. I saw an old packmate earlier, waving from the rocks. He was gone as soon as I blinked."
The group murmured agreement, but the curse hit harder as we climbed. Veyra stumbled once, swearing as a shadow twisted into a rogue's form, her sword half-drawn before it dissolved. "Damn this fog," she muttered.
Torren, walking stronger now thanks to Elara's salves, stuck close to the healer, his golden eyes lighting up as he teased her. "You know, Elara, that salve of yours worked wonders. So what's your secret? Goddess's favor, or just your soft gentle touch?"
A faint smile tugged at her lips. "I'd say a little bit of both."
He raised a teasing brow. "Oh really? In that case, I'll be sure to catch an arrow in a place other than my arm next time. I'm thinking my upper thigh is a good place to start."
She rolled her eyes, but laughed softly. "You're horrible."
"Can't blame a wolf for trying, eh?" He said, with a grin, falling into step beside her. "So tell me, what's the worst wound you've ever patched? Bet you've got stories that'd curl my fur."
Elara shared a wild tale of a moon-cursed warrior she'd saved during a border skirmish. Torren listened, adding his own quips about close calls, drawing laughs from Thorne and Renn. The bonding eased the tension, the group sharing roasted strips from last night's hunt, jokes flying as we rested briefly.
"Remember that time we chased a rogue into a thorn thicket?" Torren said, grinning at Thorne. "You came out looking like a porcupine."
Thorne barked a laugh. "And you tripped over your own tail laughing instead of helping. Good times."
Their camaraderie highlighted the loyalty in Shadowfang, but it only deepened my dread. These wolves were Draven's family in all but blood, and they would turn on me in an instant, if they knew. The hallucinations fed on it: whispers turning to visions of Draven's parents, accusatory stares fixed on me.
During a narrow pass, the curse struck hard. Thorne halted suddenly, he raised his axe, eyes locked on Renn ahead. "You traitor!" he snarled, swinging wildly.
Renn dodged, confusion flashing. "Thorne, what the–"
"It's an illusion!" Veyra shouted, but Thorne's blow had already grazed Renn's shoulder, drawing blood before Draven tackled him, pinning his arms to the ground.
"Easy, brother... it's us!" Draven grunted, holding firm until Thorne blinked, the haze clearing.
"Gods... I'm so sorry. I thought he was a Bloodfang scout," Thorne muttered, horror dawning as Elara rushed to bandage Renn's minor gash.
Renn winced but clapped Thorne's shoulder. "Curse got you good. No harm."
The incident rattled us, the stakes were clear now: the curse could turn us on each other. My guilt amplified it my hallucinations. All I heard were whispers saying "it's your fault, all your fault" over and over.
Draven helped Thorne up, his eyes finding mine across the group, with deep concern showing in them, but I looked away quickly before I cracked.
Later, as we pushed on, I caught Thorne alone during a scout break. "You knew," I said flatly, blocking his path. "You knew about the raid... and about my part in it."
Thorne's gruff features tightened, his eyes dropping. "Yeah. I recognized you the moment Draven brought you back. You and I fought that night. You were quite slippery with that bow of yours."
"Why didn't you say anything?" I demanded.
"What was I supposed to say?" He shrugged, distant as ever. "It wasn't my place. Draven's the alpha and he decides what's best for the pack. Besides, you've proven yourself ever since you came. But yeah, that's why I've been quiet. Hard to trust the face from your nightmares."
His words cut, but I nodded, the dread settling heavier. "Fair enough."
"Are you planning to tell him?" Throne asked.
"I'm not sure yet." I said, paused, then, "He's going to hate me, isn't he?"
But he didn't reply. And that was answer enough.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Draven noticed my withdrawal as the day wore on, his flirty jabs falling flat when I didn't bite back. By evening, as we camped in a rocky overhang, he pulled me aside.
"Talk to me, Selene. You've been distant since last night. If it's about the bond, or the curse..."
"It's not," I lied, my voice cracking. The words hovered on my tongue: I was there, Draven. I helped plan and even fought in the raid that killed your parents. But fear choked them back. The thought of losing him, of shattering this fragile thing between us outweighed my guilt. "I'm just... tired. The hallucinations are really getting to me."
He cupped my face, his thumb brushing my cheek gently. "Hey, we're in this together, okay? Whatever's eating you, we'll face it. You're my Luna – my fire. Don't shut me out."
His tenderness nearly broke me, the spark between us flaring despite everything. I leaned into his touch, almost confessing, but pulled back at the last second. "I know. Just... give me time."
He nodded, though worry lingered in his eyes. "Alright, my queen. But I'm here whenever you're ready."
As night fell, Renn returned from scouting, his face pale. "Alpha! They're torches approaching, carrying Bloodfang banners, but... Morwen's sigil's on them. She's leading the patrol, and they're heading straight for us."
Draven's expression hardened. "Then we hit them first."