Chapter 7 — Selene’s POV: The First Betrayal
1532 Words
“Then you’re coming with us.”
The words echoed in my head, sharp and final.
My body went still.
Not out of fear.
Out of realization.
This was it.
The moment everything broke.
I slowly exhaled, forcing my racing thoughts into something steady. “No,” I said.
Lira didn’t blink. “That wasn’t a suggestion.”
“I figured,” I replied, my voice calm despite the storm building inside me. “Still no.”
The other hunter stepped forward. “Selene, don’t make this worse.”
Worse.
I almost laughed.
This was already as bad as it could get.
“You don’t understand,” he continued. “If the Alpha hears about this from anyone else...”
“He will,” Lira cut in. “And she won’t be the one explaining.”
My chest tightened.
Of course.
They weren’t just here to take me.
They were here to control the story.
To make sure I didn’t get a chance to speak.
To make sure whatever this looked like..
Stayed exactly that way.
“You’re not taking me anywhere,” I said.
Lira’s gaze hardened. “We are.”
“No,” I repeated.
“Selene..”
“Don’t,” I snapped, cutting her off. “Don’t say my name like we’re still on the same side.”
Silence.
That one hit.
I saw it in her eyes.
But it didn’t change anything.
It never did.
“You’ve made your choice,” she said.
“Yes,” I replied.
“Then live with it.”
She moved.
Fast.
This time, I didn’t just block.
I pushed back.
Hard.
She stumbled a step, clearly not expecting me to fight her.
Good.
That gave me just enough time to react.
“Run!” I shouted.
I didn’t look back.
I didn’t need to.
Because I felt it...
The shift behind me.
The movement.
Justice.
He didn’t hesitate.
Good.
That made one of us.
“After them!” the other hunter yelled.
Branches snapped behind us as they gave chase instantly.
My heart pounded as I ran, my body moving on instinct now. Faster. Sharper. Every sense stretched to its limit.
Beside me, Justice kept up.
Barely.
But he kept up.
“You’re making this worse,” he said between breaths.
“Too late for that,” I shot back.
“They won’t stop.”
“I know.”
“Then what’s the plan?”
“There isn’t one!” I snapped. “Just run!”
The forest blurred again, but this time it felt different.
Heavier.
Like it was watching us.
Like it knew.
A howl cut through the air behind us.
Close.
Too close.
“They’re gaining,” Justice said.
“I know!”
I grabbed his arm and pulled him sharply to the left, cutting through a narrow path between thick trees.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
“Away,” I replied.
“That’s not specific.”
“It doesn’t need to be!”
We burst through the trees into a smaller clearing, the ground uneven beneath our feet.
I skidded to a stop.
He nearly ran into me.
“What ..”
“Quiet,” I whispered sharply.
We both froze.
Listening.
The forest held its breath.
Then..
Nothing.
No footsteps.
No voices.
No movement.
I frowned.
That wasn’t right.
“They stopped,” Justice said quietly.
“Yes,” I replied.
“That’s not good, is it?”
“No,” I said. “It’s worse.”
Because my pack didn’t stop chasing unless...
They didn’t need to.
A low voice came from behind us.
“Smart.”
My blood ran cold.
I turned slowly.
And there he was.
Kael.
Standing at the edge of the clearing.
Alone.
My chest tightened. “Kael…”
His eyes flicked between me and Justice, his expression unreadable.
“They split,” he said. “Cut you off.”
Of course they did.
Of course he did.
I took a small step back, instinctively placing myself slightly in front of Justice again.
Kael noticed.
Of course he did.
Something dark flickered in his eyes.
“You really chose him,” he said quietly.
I swallowed.
“Yes.”
The word came out steadier than I expected.
But it didn’t make this easier.
It made it worse.
Kael looked away for a brief second, like he was trying to steady himself.
Then he looked back at me.
And whatever hesitation was there before..
Was gone.
“You need to come with me,” he said.
“No,” I replied immediately.
His jaw tightened. “Selene...”
“I’m not going back,” I cut in.
“You don’t have a choice.”
“I always have a choice.”
“Not this time.”
Silence stretched between us again.
Heavy.
Painful.
“You told me to run,” I said.
“I did.”
“Then let me.”
“I can’t.”
My chest tightened.
“Why?” I demanded.
“Because it’s already too late,” he replied.
My stomach dropped.
“What do you mean?”
He didn’t answer right away.
Instead, his gaze shifted to Justice.
Cold.
Sharp.
“You shouldn’t have come here,” Kael said.
Justice didn’t flinch.
“I didn’t have a choice,” he replied.
Kael let out a humorless laugh. “There’s always a choice.”
“Not for this,” Justice said.
That again.
That same tone.
That same certainty.
Kael stepped forward.
Slow.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
“I should kill you right now,” he said.
Every muscle in my body tensed.
“You won’t,” I said quickly, stepping fully in front of Justice now.
Kael’s eyes snapped to mine.
“Move.”
“No.”
“Selene.”
“I said no.”
His patience snapped.
“You’re protecting the very thing that will destroy us!” he shouted.
“I don’t believe that!”
“You felt it!” he shot back. “Don’t lie to me!”
I froze.
Because..
He was right.
I had felt it.
That connection.
That pull.
That something I couldn’t explain.
But I wasn’t ready to accept what it meant.
“Even if I did,” I said, my voice quieter now, “that doesn’t mean he’s the enemy.”
“It means he’s worse,” Kael replied.
Behind me, I felt Justice shift slightly.
Then..
“Enough.”
His voice cut through the tension.
Calm.
Firm.
I turned slightly, glancing at him.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
“This,” he said, stepping forward.
My heart jumped. “No..”
But he moved anyway.
Stepping out from behind me.
Into view.
Into danger.
Kael’s entire focus snapped onto him instantly.
“Don’t,” I warned.
But neither of them listened.
“Let her go,” Justice said.
My breath caught.
“What?” I whispered.
Kael’s eyes darkened. “You don’t get to make demands here.”
“I’m not asking,” Justice replied.
Something shifted in the air.
Subtle.
But real.
And for the first time....
I saw it.
Not just confidence.
Not just calm.
Power.
Quiet.
Controlled.
But there.
Kael saw it too.
His expression changed instantly.
“What are you?” he asked.
Justice didn’t answer directly.
Instead, he looked at me.
Just me.
“Selene,” he said softly.
My heart pounded.
“What?”
“If we don’t leave now,” he continued, “this gets worse.”
I swallowed.
“It’s already worse,” I said.
“It can get worse,” he replied.
Behind us, distant howls rose again.
Closer.
Faster.
They were coming.
All of them this time.
My chest tightened.
Kael heard it too.
His jaw clenched.
“They’re almost here,” he said.
“Then move,” I replied.
“With me.”
“No.”
“With me,” he repeated, firmer now.
“I’m not leaving him!”
“And I’m not letting you throw your life away!”
“It’s my life!” I snapped.
“And it’s my duty to protect it!”
The words hit hard.
Because for a second...
I believed him.
I saw the truth in his eyes.
The conflict.
The frustration.
The care.
But it didn’t change anything.
Because my decision..
Was already made.
I stepped back.
Closer to Justice.
And that one movement said everything.
Kael saw it.
Of course he did.
And this time..
He didn’t try to stop me.
He just looked at me.
Long.
Hard.
Like he was memorizing something he was about to lose.
“You don’t understand what’s coming,” he said quietly.
“Then let it come,” I replied.
The howls grew louder.
Closer.
Right at the edge.
Kael exhaled slowly.
Then stepped back.
Just once.
“That’s your final choice?” he asked.
I didn’t hesitate.
“Yes.”
A pause.
Then..
“Then run.”
My heart skipped.
“What?”
“Run,” he repeated, his voice low now. “Because next time…”
He didn’t finish.
Next time..
He wouldn’t hesitate.
I grabbed Justice’s hand again.
Tight.
Firm.
And this time
I didn’t look back.
- Writer
