Chapter#10

Selene’s POV

“Don’t worry, Rowan,” Varian smirked dangerously, “We were just asking little Kaelen to join us in the shower.”

My face flushed with embarrassment. Even thinking about showering between these men made my insides scream. Why did it feel good hearing that? Imagining that? I couldn’t betray Damien. I couldn’t betray his sacrifice. And above all, I couldn’t walk away from my path which was revenge from that brutal Alpha Leandro.

“I’m fine,” I grabbed Rowan’s arm, giving him a nod. Since everything happened, Rowan has been very protective of me. He’s my younger brother and always acted like he’s younger. Who would have thought he’d become so responsible in just some days. I was proud to see him man up and I knew father and Kaelen would have been proud of him as well if they were here.

Caden showed up, saving me. I eyed him to take Rowan away because he couldn’t know everything that was happening—two highest ranked men being my mate, my wolf and scent being stronger, Varian suspecting me of hiding something.

“I need you back there, Rowan,” Caden uttered, pointing to the bathroom lockers at the end of the room. As soon as they were gone, I decided to hide myself as well but Liam called after me, “That sounds alright to me,”

I turned back to face him, Varian standing beside him scanning me with his deep blue eyes. “We could have a shower together. It would be perfect to discuss unfinished matters,” he then looked at Varian, deepening his voice, “Because some people like to make things complicated.”

Varian mocked, staring into my soul, “Yeah, join us. Take those dirty clothes off, little Kalen.”

Yes, how perfect would it be to jump in the same hot shower with those men. That is what my heart screamed. My mind knew better. It knew that if I got in there, if I got under that warm shower between those two men, they would get my scent. Everyone would. My scent would linger through the shower and I’d be unmasked just like that!

But Varian’s words echoed in my mind, "Join us."

It was a simple offer but I knew it was anything but a simple offer. But at that moment, it was Liam my wolf wanted. The way he looked at me—like I mattered, like I wasn’t just another trainee.

My eyes locked on Liam’s. I could hear the dripping from his bare chest. Every drop made my nerves pump even faster making it nearly impossible to resist. And then my eyes locked with Varian’s. Gosh, he was just perfect. I couldn’t even start to express how he made me feel from the inside just by looking at me.

But then reality hit like a cold slap to my already frazzled nerves. I couldn’t risk it. Not yet. Not with everything I was trying to keep hidden.

My hands shook. I could feel my cheeks burn. My wolf was coming out. I had to leave. Fast.

“I... I’ll catch up later,” I muttered, avoiding their gaze as I backed away. I could feel the intensity of their eyes as they stared at me but I couldn’t turn back. I had to go away from them before things got even more complicated.

“Selene,” Rowan stopped my way, “Tell me what’s going on with you and those men?”

“Nothing, really,” I looked in his eyes and smiled, “Trust me.”

“Are they bothering you?”

“The other guy, Varian, he’s trying to trouble me,” I lied as I let out a breath, “But Liam, you know him. He’s got my back.” I gave him a reassuring smile, “I’m alright, Rowan. Don’t worry about me.”

It was a long tiring day. Due to all the work and sweat, I was stinking and I couldn’t take a shower earlier. Later that evening, when the barracks were quiet and everyone else had retired to their rooms, I slipped back to the shower. The door creaked open, and I stepped inside. It was very quiet. No one was around. It was the perfect time for me to shower and relax.

The water felt good against my sore muscles. It was warm, calm, relaxing but as I scrubbed away the sweat and grime of the day, my thoughts kept wandering back to the two men.

Liam’s face was burned into my mind. His eyes were anything but like Varian’s. They were warm, caring, with a charm that made me feel safe. But Varian? His were like deep, endless voids, and always cold towards me. They were the eyes of someone who had been through so much, and maybe that’s what made him mysteriously dangerous. His resolve was like a wall I couldn’t break through, and yet, there was something in them that attracted me like a magnet.

As the warm water rolled down my body, I couldn’t stop thinking about the way Varian had looked at me earlier. And the words, “You lied to me.” wandered across my mind that stung me. He was everything I didn’t need in this camp and yet every time he came around, my wolf would stir in a way it hadn’t stirred before.

Liam was nothing like Varian. He hadn’t looked at me with suspicion or judgment. He’d been kind. He cared, I could feel it in every glance, every word. He was everything I needed in this camp.

But stuck between two powerful men wasn’t the worst part.

My scent—my scent—was something I couldn’t escape. Sometimes it was faint, just a trace of honey and wildflowers, a cool breeze. But at other times, it would flare up—strong, undeniable—and I feared that it would expose me in front of both of them.

Would they realize it was mine? Would they know that I was someone... different?

The water splashed against the tiles as I scrubbed harder, trying to wash away the restless feeling in my chest. I couldn't let myself get too close to either of them—not yet. Not when the past still had a hold on me, not when I could still feel Damien’s memory burning through my veins like fire.

When I finished and dried off, I wrapped myself in a towel. I knew I couldn’t keep hiding, couldn’t keep things from Rowan for long.

As I made my way back to my room, the weight of everything—Varian, Liam, the fear of being exposed, of Rowan knowing the truth, of getting eliminated from the camp—pressed down on me.

Letting out a deep long breath, I pushed the door but it was locked. I knocked. No answer.

I knocked again, harder this time.

I heard someone inside, the soft shuffle of footsteps before the door creaked open. It was Caden.

“I was just changing…” he said before turning away to his bed, letting me inside the room.

I stepped inside and scanned the room to see if anyone else—Rowan was in the room.

“Selene?” His voice was groggy, “What’s wrong?”

“I need your help. I can’t—” I cut myself off, trying to form the words. “I can’t keep masking it. The scent. It keeps getting stronger. It fluctuates when Liam and Varian are near me. And I don’t know how to mask it especially after I shower. I can’t afford for anyone to notice. Please, you have to help me.”

“That’s why Rowan needs to know…” he began but I cut him off, “Rowan can not know.”

“Selene, with everything happening between you three, do you think Rowan is stupid enough to not see what’s happening?” he exclaimed.

“Even if we tell him about this, what’s he going to do about it?” I sharply said, exhaled and then sat beside him. I put my hand on his shoulder and uttered in a soft tone, “This is only going to worry him. Have you not seen how protective he has become for me after that incident? We don’t want to worry him, right, Caden?”

Caden studied me for a moment. “Alright,” he finally said in a calm tone. I nodded, swallowing back the lump in my throat. He stood up, wandered around the room for a moment and then said, “We can only increase the strength of the scent blocker, Selene. If they are your mates and your wolf is acting when they’re around, your scent will fluctuate. But it depends on you if you can control your wolf. Controlling your wolf is the only way to keep your scent steady.”

“I’m trying to…” I managed to say, “And yes, you’re right. We should increase the strength of the scent blocker.”

As I turned around, my legs froze. The world stopped and everything became silent all of a sudden. The last person I wanted to see right now was standing just at the door.