The world was still trembling from her howl.
Selene sat on the edge of the ruined bed, silver ash drifting from her wrists where the chains had melted. Her body shook, not from pain, but from something deeper, stranger. Her wolf had been unleashed, and though she could still feel its power thrumming inside her veins, she was terrified of what it meant.
The council had fled, whispers echoing through the halls. Guards lingered in the doorway, staring at her as though she were both miracle and monster.
"Clear the chamber," Kael barked, his voice rough. "Now."
They obeyed instantly, scurrying out. Only a handful remained, his Beta, a councilwoman, and a cluster of young maids who hovered nervously, clutching basins of steaming water and folded silks.
Selene flinched when they approached.
"Don't touch me," she whispered. Her voice was hoarse, trembling.
But Kael snapped, "She is to be cleaned. She is not a prisoner…she is my Luna."
The word stung. Selene's head lifted, her golden eyes locking on him. "I am not your Luna."
For a heartbeat, silence stretched. His jaw clenched, fury blazing…but before he could reply, Darius moved forward.
"Give her space," he said, softer, more commanding than Kael's roar. His gaze swept over Selene, lingering at her trembling hands, the faint glow still radiating from her skin. "She's been through enough."
Kael cast a glance between Selene and Darius, and motioned for the maids to finish their work then stepped out of the room.
The maids obeyed, approaching slowly this time. Selene let them peel away the torn remnants of her gown, though her body stiffened at the exposure. Her skin was streaked with blood, dust, and the faint shimmer of moonfire that hadn't fully faded.
They bathed her carefully, wiping her with warm cloths, combing out her tangled dark hair until it shone. They slipped a gown of deep midnight blue over her shoulders, the fabric catching the firelight like liquid stars.
When she finally looked at herself in the polished bronze mirror, she almost didn't recognize the woman staring back. Her cheeks flushed, her eyes glowed, her beauty sharpened by the strange power within her.
"Beautiful," one of the maids whispered, awed.
Selene's throat tightened. She felt anything but beautiful. She felt… cursed.
She was escorted to the council meeting,
Kael stood near the hearth, arms crossed, jaw tight as he glared at the councilwoman who remained.
"A triple bond has never existed," the elder muttered, wringing her hands. "Two Alphas… one Luna… it defies the laws of the Goddess."
"She is mine," Kael said flatly, his voice carrying the weight of command.
"She is not property," Darius snapped. His golden eyes blazed as he stepped closer, standing at Selene's side. "You can't mark what doesn't want you."
Selene's breath caught. The way he stood there, shielding her from Kael's glare, sent warmth curling low in her belly.
The councilwoman frowned. "If the bond is true, it will tear this pack apart. Brothers cannot share one Luna. It is blasphemy."
Selene finally spoke, her voice shaking but strong. "Then maybe the Goddess isn't asking you to understand. Maybe she's testing us."
The room fell silent, most of them looked doubtful, others forlorn.
When the others dispersed,reluctantly, casting lingering glances of awe and fear, Selene found herself alone with Darius. The fire had burned low, shadows curling across the walls.
He approached slowly, careful not to startle her.
"You were magnificent tonight," he murmured.
She turned her head away, heat rushing to her cheeks. "Magnificent? I nearly lost control."
"You don't see it, do you?" His voice lowered, almost reverent. His hand rose, hesitating before brushing a damp lock of hair from her cheek. "You're the most powerful thing I've ever seen. And yet right now, all I can think about is how breakable you look."
Her chest tightened. "Why do you care?"
"Because," he said softly, his golden eyes locking on hers, "I felt it the moment I touched you. You're not just bound to me by fate, Selene. You're in my blood. My bones. My soul."
Her lips parted, her body swaying closer without thought. The bond snapped taut, heat rushing through her veins. She hated how much she wanted him.
"I shouldn't," she whispered.
"Then don't think," Darius breathed.
His mouth captured hers, hot and demanding.
The world fell away. Her body arched into him, the kiss hungry, desperate, as if the bond had been waiting for this moment. His hands cupped her face, slid into her hair, held her as if he'd never let her go.
Selene gasped against his lips, trembling, every nerve alight. She wanted to push him away, but instead she pulled him closer, fingers curling into his shoulders.
Their kiss deepened, fierce, electric, until she forgot Kael, forgot the council, forgot everything but Darius.
He broke the kiss only to trail his mouth along her jaw, down her throat, where her pulse hammered. She shivered, tilting her head, giving him more, thrusting her breasts forward, arching her back, letting the wanton feeling flow freely through her.
"Say it," he murmured against her skin. "Say you feel it too."
Selene's breath hitched. Her lips parted, the confession burning at the tip of her tongue, he slid his hands down her midnight blue gown , paving way through the silk all the ways to her thighs.
Selene let out a muffled moan, grabbing him by the arm, kneading him and pushing him away at the same time.
Just as his fingers found her core, he froze all of a sudden, withdrawing his hand from her thighs like it was poison.
"My apologies, I…overstepped, he sighed deeply,
"I just don't know what it is about you Selene, the heat I feel inside me whenever I'm around you is weakening"
He brought his hand to her face, smoothening a strand curl,
"Maybe my brother would have to kill me, because I don't think I would be able to resist for so long…"
He took a step away from her and left the room, leaving her sitting alone in the room, still in shock from what just happened.
How would she be able to tell him that she felt it too?