CHAPTER 31
1087 Words
(Selene’ POV)
Dexton’s chest heaved, his nostrils flaring as he glared at me with unfiltered hatred. His hand twitched at his side like he wanted to strike me, but he didn’t dare. Not now. Not when I stood in front of him, carrying the mark of his father—the King Lycan himself.
"You're disgusting," he spat, wiping his mouth as if my very presence left a foul taste in his mouth.
I smirked, tilting my head. "Is that so?" I mused. "And yet, I don’t seem to be the one losing control here, Dexton. What’s wrong? Do you hate seeing me here? Do you hate that I belong to him now?"
His lips curled back in a sneer. "Belong?" He scoffed. "You don’t belong anywhere, Selene. You’re just a desperate b***h who latched onto the most powerful man she could find."
I took a slow step forward, savoring the way his body tensed. "And yet, it worked, didn’t it?" My voice was soft but sharp as a dagger. "I am here. I am his. And you? You are nothing but the son of the man who claimed me."
Dexton let out a growl, his wolf rising to the surface, but before he could say another word, Harper stepped between us again.
"That’s enough," Harper said firmly. "Selene is here to stay. You don’t have to like it, but you will respect it."
Dexton barked out a bitter laugh. "Respect? She doesn’t deserve my respect!" His wild gaze snapped back to me, and he pointed an accusatory finger. "You don’t deserve to stand in this house! You don’t deserve to be by my father’s side! You—"
"I don’t need your approval, Dexton," I cut in sharply. "Lucian has already made his choice. And unlike you, he doesn’t make foolish mistakes."
His expression twisted into something dangerous. "Is that what you think? That my father chose you because he loves you?"
Something in his voice sent a chill down my spine, but I refused to let him see it. "He claimed me," I said simply. "He marked me. And as his mate, I am above you in every way."
Dexton let out a harsh laugh. "You are so naive," he murmured, shaking his head. "You actually think this is love?" His eyes gleamed with something cruel. "You think my father is any different from me?"
I stiffened, but I held my ground. "Lucian is nothing like you."
Dexton smirked. "No?" He took a step closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Then why do you look so afraid, Selene? Deep down, you know the truth. My father didn’t mark you because he loves you. He marked you because he wanted to own you. Just like I did. Just like every man ever will."
My nails dug into my palms. "You don’t know anything," I hissed.
"I know enough," he countered. "I know that once my father gets bored of you—once he realizes you’re nothing but a broken she-alpha who was desperate for a second chance—he’ll cast you aside. Just like I did."
His words struck like a blade to my chest.
I refused to let him see how deeply they affected me.
"You think I’m weak," I said, my voice unwavering. "But you forget, Dexton—I was never weak. I was loyal. I was devoted. And you threw me away like I was nothing."
He opened his mouth to speak, but I silenced him with a raised hand.
"Now, I will show you what happens when you trample on something that was once yours," I whispered. "I will make you regret every choice you made. Every insult. Every rejection."
Dexton narrowed his eyes. "You think you have power now, don’t you?"
I lifted my chin. "I know I do."
His nostrils flared, his fists trembling at his sides. "You’re playing a dangerous game, Selene."
I took another step closer, meeting his gaze head-on. "And I intend to win."
The tension between us was thick enough to suffocate, but before he could retaliate, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the halls.
Lucian’s scent hit me first, strong and unmistakable.
Dexton must have sensed him, too, because his face twisted into something unreadable.
Lucian entered the room like a storm, his dark eyes immediately locking onto mine.
"What’s going on here?" His voice was calm, but there was an underlying authority that sent shivers down my spine.
Dexton took a step back, his jaw tightening. "Nothing," he muttered, looking anywhere but at his father.
Lucian's gaze shifted to me, his expression unreadable. "Selene?"
I smiled, slow and deliberate. "Just catching up with Dexton."
Lucian’s gaze flickered to his son, and something dangerous flashed in his eyes. "Did he say something to upset you?"
Dexton tensed, but I placed a hand on Lucian’s chest before he could advance.
"It’s fine," I murmured, tilting my head up to meet his gaze. "He’s just struggling to accept the new reality."
Lucian studied me for a long moment before nodding. Then, without warning, he reached for me, pulling me close until I was flush against him. His fingers traced my jaw, tilting my face up to his.
"You belong to me now," he murmured, his lips brushing against my skin. "No one—" His gaze flickered to Dexton. "—will question that."
I shivered at the possessiveness in his voice, my fingers clutching his shirt.
Dexton let out a bitter laugh. "Right," he muttered. "Because ownership is all that matters to you, isn’t it, Father?"
Lucian turned to him, his eyes dark and unwavering. "Careful, Dexton," he warned. "Watch how you speak."
Dexton held his ground, his jaw tightening. "I won’t pretend to accept this," he spat. "She will never be my mother. She will never be anything but a desperate woman who threw herself at you for power."
Lucian’s grip on me tightened, his body vibrating with restrained anger.
But I stepped forward, reaching out to place a hand on Dexton’s cheek.
He flinched, but I only smiled.
"That’s where you’re wrong," I whispered. "I never needed to throw myself at anyone for power." I let my fingers trail down his face before stepping back. "Because power was always mine to take."
Dexton’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, his eyes blazing with hatred.
"You," he whispered, his voice raw with disbelief.
I smirked.
"Me," I confirmed.
And with that, I turned my back on him, walking away with Lucian by my side.
- Writer
