Chapter#12

Selene’s POV

I tightened my grip on Rowan’s arm. My nails dug into his sleeve as the reality of our situation sank in. We’d been caught, or at least overheard. My mind raced, cycling through possibilities. Could it have been Varian? He’d left when Rowan arrived, but what if he hadn’t gone far? Or Liam? Or someone else entirely, another trainee in this camp? Whoever it was, this was disastrous. If our secret spread, it would ruin everything.

“I have to go check,” Rowan said, narrowing his eyes as he turned to me, “What if they’re still out there?”

“I’ll…” I exhaled, steadying myself, “I’ll come along then.”

Rowan nodded, and we moved toward the door. As we reached the threshold, I caught a flicker of movement. “There,” I whispered, pointing. We rushed after it. The cold night air hit us like a shroud as we stepped outside.

“Who is it?” Rowan commanded, “Show yourself!”

The only response was the rustling of leaves in the breeze. Rowan gestured for me to stay behind him. “Do you hear anything?” he asked in a whisper.

I shook my head, scanning the woods. An unseen gaze prickled the back of my neck. “We should head back,” I said, trying to mask the tremor in my voice. “They’re gone.”

Rowan glanced at me as concern knitted his brows, but he didn’t argue and gestured for me to lead the way. For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath until a soft chuckle broke the stillness.

My grip on Rowan tightened as I peered into the darkness. I thought I knew who it was. Rowan growled, stepping forward, “Show yourself, coward.”

The chuckle came again, closer this time. I was now sure it was Varian. He wasn’t just watching, he was taunting us. Before we could move, a familiar voice called out, “Rowan! Selene!” It was Caden.

We turned toward the sound, realizing we’d wandered farther from the camp than intended. “Rowan,” I said, gripping his shoulder, “please, let’s go back. We won’t find them at this hour.”

Rowan exhaled. His eyes scanned the forest one last time before nodding. “I guess you’re right,” he said, “But we need to stay alert.”

We made our way back and found Caden waiting by the barracks door. “Rowan, Selene,” he started, “is everything…”

“Not here, Caden,” Rowan interrupted, brushing past him as he strode inside.

Caden’s POV

Something was wrong. I’d felt it the moment I realized Rowan and Selene weren’t in the barracks. The knot in my stomach tightened when I saw them emerge from the woods. They gestured for me to stay quiet. My mind churned with questions, but I didn’t know how to ask without pushing too far.

We reached the room, and they retreated to their beds without a word. Rowan shot Selene a glance before lying down, and Selene mirrored him. What was happening?

The room was still. The faint moonlight filtered through the window by Selene’s bed. My wolf stirred with tension. Why weren’t they saying anything?

I clenched my fists as my wolf’s instincts screamed that I needed to know what was going on. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Alright,” I said, my voice breaking the silence, “Are either of you going to tell me what’s going on, or should I just keep playing this silent guessing game?”

Rowan didn’t move, his eyes shut, but Selene shifted as her hand tightened on her blanket. “Caden,” she whispered, “not tonight.”

Not tonight? My wolf growled louder. “I deserve to know,” I whispered from my bed, “Whatever happened out there, it’s not just your problem.”

Rowan shot me a sharp look. Frustration flashed in his eyes before he glanced at Selene. Then, without a word, he got up and approached me, leaning in close, he whispered, “Caden, this isn’t the right time. We were overheard. And we think there’s someone who knows our truth.”

The words hit me like a blow. My heart pounded so loudly I was sure they could hear it. Overheard? Someone knew? I looked at Selene. Her eyes meet mine. She didn’t speak, but her expression said everything.

Rowan placed a hand on my shoulder, nodding slightly, which was a silent plea to trust him, before returning to his bed. Someone knew. This camp was a breeding ground for gossip, secrets didn’t stay buried here; they spread like wildfire. And our secret, Selene’s true identity, could ignite everything we’d fought for.

I dragged myself to my bed, lying down and staring at the dark ceiling. My mind swirled with what-ifs. Who had overheard them? What had they heard? And what would they do with that knowledge? One thing was clear: tomorrow, everything would change. By morning, whispers would begin, and the truth, or a twisted version of it, would spread like smoke in the wind. I wasn’t ready to face it.

Selene’s POV

Morning came too soon. The first rays of sunlight filtered through the window by my bed, casting faint patterns on the stone floor. I didn’t want to leave the room, but Rowan’s stern glance left no room for argument. With a heavy sigh, I pushed myself out of bed.

The dining hall was alive with noise. The clatter of dishes and hum of early-morning chatter filled the air as trainees gathered at long wooden tables. I kept my head down as we walked in, Rowan on one side, Caden on the other.

Liam approached, carrying a tray of food. My stomach flipped, not from hunger, but from fear. He set plates in front of us. “Morning,” he said with a faint smile on his lips. His gaze flickered over us, lingering on Rowan a moment longer than necessary. “Thought you could use something good to start the day.”

Rowan’s jaw tensed, but he nodded. “Thanks.”

Caden muttered, avoiding Liam’s eyes, “Appreciate it.”

Liam’s stare pinned me. His expression was a mix of curiosity and something I couldn’t place, suspicion, maybe? My wolf stirred with an uneasy itch I couldn’t scratch. “Eat up,” he said, leaning against the table, “You’ll need your strength today.”

What did he mean? Did he know? Was he the one… I looked up at him with my eyes wide. Rowan grabbed my hand tightly under the table.

“What… what do you mean?” Rowan asked, forcing a smile.

Liam straightened. His gaze swept the room before he raised his voice, loud enough for nearby tables to hear. “Training’s going to look a little different,” he announced. “We’re heading into life-threatening scenarios; feral beasts, unpredictable terrain, you name it. To ensure balance, teams will pair the strongest with the weakest.”

A murmur rippled through the hall. My wolf growled softly, but relief washed over me. Liam wasn’t the one who’d overheard us. That was something, at least. Then a new fear struck: I was at the bottom of the rankings, and Varian was at the top. Would I be paired with him?

Liam leaned in, his voice lowering as he spoke to us directly, pulling me from my thoughts. “Pairings are already decided. Rowan, you’ll be with Caden. Kaelen…” His hazel eyes locked on mine as his lips curved into a faint smile, “You’re with me.”

Relief flooded me again. Liam was someone I could trust, someone who’d help me in any situation. “That’s not bad at all,” I thought, relaxing my shoulders.

“Excuse me?” Rowan’s voice cut through my relief, “I’d like Kaelen to pair up with me…or Caden…”

Liam raised an eyebrow, “He’s with me. It’s not up for debate.”

Rowan bristled, but I placed a hand on his arm. “It’s fine,” I said, more to myself than to him.

“But Kaelen…” Caden started.

“Trust me, I’ll be fine with Liam.” I didn’t let him finish his sentence.

Liam smirked, “Good. Meet me at the gym. And don’t be late.”