Damien's POV
I couldn't let go of Selene's hand.
We stood in the moonlight, and my fingers were locked around hers like they belonged there. My wolf purred with contentment while my brain screamed that this was wrong.
"You should go back inside," Selene said softly. "Aria needs you."
"I know." But I didn't move.
"Damien." She squeezed my hand. "Go to your wife."
I finally dropped her hand and stepped back. The bond immediately stretched like a rubber band, pulling me back toward her. Physical pain shot through my chest.
"Does it hurt you too?" I gasped. "When we're apart?"
"Every second." Her violet eyes were sad. "But we have to be strong. For Aria's sake."
I nodded and forced myself to walk toward the packhouse. Each step away from Selene felt like walking through mud. My wolf howled in protest.
*What's happening to me?*
Inside, the packhouse was quiet. I headed toward my bedroom—the one I shared with Aria—but stopped outside the door.
What would I say? That I couldn't control myself? That the bond was like a drug I couldn't quit?
I pressed my forehead against the door. "I'm sorry," I whispered.
No answer. She was probably asleep. Or pretending to be.
I couldn't face her. Not tonight.
I went to my office instead and didn't sleep at all.
*Three Weeks Earlier—When It Started*
The memory haunted me constantly:
The moment the bond snapped into place with Selene, everything changed. Colors got brighter when she was near. Food tasted better. Even the air felt different—charged with electricity.
At first, I fought it. Avoided her. Tried to mind-link Aria for strength.
But the bond grew stronger every day.
On day four, I couldn't eat. My wolf refused food unless Selene was nearby.
On day five, I couldn't sleep. Lay awake thinking about violet eyes and silver hair.
On day six, Selene found me in the Northern Pack's library.
"This is torture for both of us," she'd said. "We need to at least talk."
So we talked.
She told me about growing up in the Northern Packs. How she'd always dreamed of finding her fated mate. How she never imagined he'd already be married.
"I'm not trying to steal you," she insisted. "But we can't ignore what the Moon Goddess created."
"I love my wife."
"I know. And I respect that." She moved closer, and the bond hummed between us. "But love and destiny aren't always the same thing."
That conversation changed everything. Suddenly, spending time with Selene felt justified. We were just dealing with the bond. Being responsible.
But somewhere along the way, dealing with the bond became wanting the bond.
And I didn't know how to stop.
*Present—Day Fifteen*
I woke up at my desk, neck aching. Someone knocked on the office door.
"Come in."
Marcus entered, looking concerned. "Rough night?"
"Is there any other kind?" I rubbed my face. "What time is it?"
"Seven in the morning. And you have a problem."
My stomach dropped. "What now?"
"The pack elders want a meeting. They're concerned about the Luna situation."
"There is no situation—"
"Damien." Marcus sat down. "You have two mates living under one roof. Your wife is pregnant and miserable. Your fated mate is settling in like she owns the place. The pack doesn't know who to follow anymore."
Guilt crushed my chest. "I'm handling it."
"No, you're avoiding it." Marcus leaned forward. "I'm your Beta and your brother. I love you. But you're destroying Aria."
"I'm trying to make this work for everyone—"
"You can't have both!" His voice rose. "Either reject Selene and commit to Aria, or let Aria go so she can heal. This middle ground is killing her."
"I can't reject Selene. The bond won't let me."
"Then reject Aria."
The words hit like a slap. "Never."
"Why not? You barely spend time with her anymore. You miss dinners. You forgot your anniversary yesterday—"
"What?" Ice flooded my veins. "Yesterday was our anniversary?"
Marcus's expression said it all. Disappointment. Pity. Disgust.
"Where were you yesterday, Damien?"
I tried to remember. Yesterday I'd... I'd shown Selene the eastern ridge. We'd watched the sunset. Talked about pack politics and...
I'd completely forgotten my anniversary.
"Oh god." I stood up. "I have to find Aria. Apologize. Make this right."
"She's in her garden. Or what's left of it."
I ran.
The garden was worse than I imagined. Dead plants everywhere. Weeds choking the paths. This place used to be Aria's pride and joy, and I'd been too distracted to notice it dying.
Just like our marriage.
Aria knelt in the dirt, trying to save a few struggling herbs. Her hands shook as she worked. She looked thinner. Tired. When did she get so tired?
"Aria."
She didn't look up. "Go away."
"I'm sorry. About yesterday. About our anniversary. I—"
"Forgot. I know." She kept working. "The bond is more important."
"That's not true—"
"Isn't it?" She finally looked at me, and my heart broke. Her amber eyes were dull. Empty. "Be honest, Damien. When was the last time you thought about me without me being right in front of you?"
I opened my mouth. Closed it. I couldn't remember.
"That's what I thought." She turned back to her garden. "Leave me alone. I'm sure Selene needs something."
The words were meant to hurt. They worked.
"I love you," I said desperately.
"Love isn't enough." Her voice cracked. "Not when you love her too."
I wanted to argue. To insist I didn't love Selene. But was that true anymore?
The bond made it impossible to know what I really felt versus what the magic forced me to feel.
"I don't know how to fix this," I admitted.
"You can't." Aria stood, dirt on her knees. "You can't fix choosing someone else over your pregnant wife. You can't fix missing our anniversary to be with her. You can't fix any of this, Damien."
"Tell me what to do—"
"I can't tell you!" She finally exploded. "You're supposed to know! You're supposed to choose me without being told! But you can't, because the bond is too strong. So we're stuck."
We stared at each other across the dying garden.
"I'm losing you," I whispered.
"You lost me the day you brought her home."
A presence behind me made us both turn.
Selene stood at the garden entrance, looking apologetic. "I'm sorry to interrupt. Damien, the elders are here for that meeting."
"Tell them I'll be there soon."
"They specifically asked for me to join." She smiled sadly at Aria. "As Damien's fated mate, they want my input on pack matters."
Aria's face went pale. "Pack matters? She's been here three weeks."
"The elders feel the fated mate bond gives me certain... rights." Selene's voice was gentle, but the words were knives. "I'm sorry, Aria. I know this is hard."
"Rights." Aria looked at me. "She has rights to your pack now? To the pack I've served for five years?"
"The elders are just being traditional—"
"Traditional?!" Aria's wolf flashed in her eyes. "I'm your Luna! Me! Not her!"
"You're both important—"
"Don't." She held up her hand. "Don't you dare try to make this equal. I earned my place here. She was born into hers through magical destiny. That's not the same thing."
Selene stepped closer. "I don't want to replace you, Aria. I just want to help."
"Then leave." Aria's voice went cold. "Help by leaving. Let us rebuild our marriage. Be the selfless fated mate who walks away."
Selene looked at me, and the bond pulled tight. "I can't. The separation would kill us both. You know that."
"Then I guess we know who matters more." Aria pushed past both of us. "Go to your meeting. Make decisions about my pack with your new mate. I'll be in my dying garden."
"Aria, wait—"
She kept walking.
I started to follow, but Selene touched my arm. "Let her cool down. The elders are waiting."
The bond pulsed where she touched me. Warmth spread through my body, drowning out everything else.
"You're right." The words came out before I could stop them. "Let's go to the meeting."
We walked toward the packhouse together. And I realized with horror that I'd just chosen the meeting—chosen Selene—over comforting my pregnant wife.
Again.
*I'm losing myself.*
The thought whispered through my mind like smoke. Every day, I cared a little less about Aria's pain. Every day, the bond pulled stronger. Every day, I became less like the man who chose her and more like a puppet on magical strings.
*How do I stop this?*
I didn't have an answer.
The elder meeting was torture. They discussed "the Luna situation" like Aria was a problem to solve instead of a person to protect.
"Two mates under one roof creates instability," Elder Thomas said. "The pack needs clear leadership."
"Aria is Luna—" I started.
"But Selene is your fated mate." Elder Thomas looked at her with approval. "Chosen by the Moon Goddess herself. That carries weight."
"Are you suggesting I replace Aria?" Anger burned in my chest.
"We're suggesting you consider all options." Elder Margaret spoke carefully. "For the good of the pack."
Selene squeezed my hand under the table. "Perhaps we could share Luna duties? I could help Aria. Lighten her load, especially with the pregnancy."
The elders murmured approval.
I wanted to argue. To defend Aria's position. But the words stuck in my throat, and the bond hummed with satisfaction.
*No. This is wrong.*
But I said nothing.
After the meeting, I headed back to find Aria. To apologize. To somehow make this right.
I found her in our bedroom, packing a bag.
"What are you doing?"
"Moving to the guest wing." She didn't look at me. "You can have Selene closer. Make everyone happy."
"You're not moving out of our bedroom—"
"Why not? You barely sleep here anyway." She threw clothes into the bag. "At least this way I won't have to smell her perfume on your shirts."
The accusation hit home. Because she was right. My clothes smelled like jasmine lately. Like Selene.
"I haven't... we haven't..." I couldn't finish.
"Yet." Aria zipped the bag. "But you will. The bond will make sure of it."
"I won't betray you like that—"
"You already have." She picked up the bag. "Every time you choose her over me. Every missed dinner. Every forgotten anniversary. That's betrayal, Damien."
She walked toward the door.
"Don't do this," I begged.
"I'm not doing anything. I'm just accepting reality." She paused in the doorway. "You know what the worst part is? I don't even blame you anymore. The bond is too strong. You can't fight it. So I'll make it easier and remove myself from the equation."
"Aria—"
"Goodbye, Damien."
She left.
I stood in our empty bedroom, feeling like I'd just lost something irreplaceable.
My phone buzzed. A text from Selene: *Are you okay? I'm here if you need to talk.*
The bond pulled me toward her. Promised comfort. Understanding. No judgment.
I almost went.
Instead, I collapsed on the bed and finally let myself cry.
Because I knew the truth now: I was losing the fight. The bond was winning. And soon, I wouldn't remember why I fought at all.
A crash from downstairs made me jump.
Shouting. Screaming. Aria's voice filled with rage.
I ran.
In the main hall, Aria stood over something smashed on the floor. Her face was twisted with fury and tears.
"What happened?" I demanded.
She pointed at the floor.
My gift to her—a crystal wolf figurine I'd given her on our first anniversary—lay shattered. And standing nearby with an apologetic expression was Selene.
"It was an accident," Selene said quickly. "I bumped the table. I'm so sorry."
But Aria's eyes met mine, and I saw something new there.
Not heartbreak.
Not sadness.
Hate.
"Accident," Aria repeated softly. "Everything with you is an accident, isn't it?"
She walked away, glass crunching under her feet.
And I stood frozen, finally realizing that accidents were adding up into something deliberate.