Chapter#06

Selene’s POV

“Please!” I exclaimed, “Stop fighting!”

Liam and Varian’s heads snapped toward me. Before I could say more, a long, piercing howl erupted from the woods. I had no time to think. My heart raced as I pointed toward the trees, “I told you before,” I stammered, trying to sound convincing, “I saw someone go that way.”

Varian didn’t buy it. My heart caught in my throat. But before he could act, Liam broke the tension, “I think that’s my mate…”

Varian had no choice but to follow as Liam bolted toward the trees. As soon as they were out of sight, I let out a long, shuddering breath. I had to be quick.

I wasted no time, scrambling out of the water. The cool night air bit at my damp skin as I fumbled with my clothes. My hands shook as I threw on the gray trainee uniform, not even noticing if it was inside out. The only thought pounding in my head was to get away; away from the spring, away from Liam and Varian, before they returned and saw through my disguise. I couldn’t let them discover I was Selene, not Kaelen. My brothers’ safety, my vengeance against Leandro, my very survival depended on it.

Without looking back, I bolted through the forest. My legs carried me with wild desperation, but it wasn’t enough to drown out the pounding in my chest or the memory of Varian’s piercing gaze. Those green eyes haunted me, his ruggedly handsome face and dangerous charm seared into my mind. His voice echoed in my ears like a warning I couldn’t escape.

“Don’t lie to me. Do it again, and I’ll kill you.”

I shivered. I didn’t dare look back. What if he followed? What if they both had? The mate bonds with Liam and Varian were real, and they were closing in.

I reached the barracks and slammed through the stone door. My breath came in heavy, uneven gasps. My damp clothes clung to me like a second skin. My gaze darted around the room until it landed on Caden.

Without thinking, I climbed onto his bed. My wet clothes soaked the blanket as I grabbed his arm, shaking him with a desperation that bordered on panic. “Caden,” I hissed. My voice trembled as I tried to wake him, my nails digging into his sleeve. “Wake up!”

He blinked, startled. His brown eyes clouded with sleep as he sat up, rubbing his face. “Selene? What the hell…” His voice cut off as he took in my state. His gaze sharpened with worry as he grabbed my arms with both hands. My hands shook uncontrollably.

“Selene, why’re you wet? What happened?” The concern in his tone was palpable.

I barely managed to whisper the words, “They’re looking for me. Liam and…Varian. They smelled me. They know.”

His face paled, and his grip tightened. “What? What are you talking about?”

“I’m… I’m their mate!” I spilled out, “I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have gone to the spring to clean myself.”

Caden’s expression softened. He rubbing my arms and shoulders to calm my trembling. “It’s alright, Selene…” He reached for a tin cup on the bedside table, filling it with water from a jug, and wrapped his coarse wool blanket around me. “Drink this.”

I took the cup with shaking hands. The cool water soothed my parched throat as I spilled everything in a frantic rush. “They both smelled me, Caden,” I whispered, as my voice broke. “Varian…he knew I was lying. He threatened to kill me if I did it again.”

Caden cursed under his breath, running a hand through his sandy hair. “You’re telling me two men caught your scent? Damn it, Selene! How did this even happen? The mask was strong enough to last in a hot spring.”

“I don’t know!” My voice cracked as I hugged my knees to my chest, “I thought the Duskfang potion was enough. I thought I was safe.” Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes.

Caden exhaled sharply, but he didn’t push further. Instead, he stood, rummaging through his pack, pulling out a small wooden box filled with herbs and vials. “We need to double the strength of your scent shield,” he said in a steady voice as he mixed moonpetal and duskroot into a paste, “If they smelled you once, they’ll smell you again. And if they’re ready to fight for their mate, they won’t stop until one of them is dead.”

His words sent a chill down my spine, colder than the mountain air outside. I hugged myself tighter, trying to steady my breathing. The thought of Liam and Varian fighting to the death over me was a nightmare I couldn’t bear.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him, Varian. The way my wolf had stirred when he was near, the primal urge to be closer despite his threat, despite the danger, it terrified me. It was like my wolf had chosen him, and I didn’t understand why. I didn’t want to understand why.

My mate was Damien. He had been everything to me. I was his entire world. He’d given his life for me. I couldn’t betray his love.

Tears welled in my eyes as his memory filled my heart. How could I feel this pull toward Varian when Damien’s love and sacrifice still anchored me? The Moon Goddess was telling me I had another mate, another bond, but it felt wrong, a betrayal of everything Damien had been to me. I clutched my chest. My nails dug into my skin as I tried to control my wolf, to force it back into the cage I’d built around my heart.

“Selene,” Caden’s voice broke through my thoughts, “Drink this. It’ll dull your scent for now, but we’ll need to reapply it every few hours until I can make something stronger. We can’t take any chances.”

I took the vial with trembling hands. The bitter liquid burned my throat as I swallowed it. The potion took hold, dulling the edges of my scent, but it couldn’t dull the storm inside me.

“Promise me you won’t tell Rowan,” I whispered as my gray eyes locked onto Caden’s, pleading with him to understand.

Caden hesitated, “Selene, he needs to know…” he started, but I cut him off, “Promise me,” I insisted as my grip on his arm tightened.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fine,” he said finally, “But this is a terrible idea.”

I nodded. My grip loosened as I sank back against the wall. The scent blocker might hide me for now, but how could I keep hiding when two powerful men were on the hunt for their mate? How long could I stay unnoticed in a place like the Ironfang Academy, with two mates at my tail who were ready to fight for their mate?

And worse, what was I supposed to do about my wolf? Was this new bond real? Could the Moon Goddess be so merciless as to rewrite my destiny, to force me into the arms of another when Damien’s memory still held my heart?

I closed my eyes. Damien’s face flashed in my mind. “I’m sorry,” I whispered to his memory as a tear slipped down my cheek.

But deep down, I knew the truth. It was only a matter of time before Varian came for me. And I had to be ready for it, even as the wolf howled for a connection I wasn’t ready to accept.