CHAPTER 46
862 Words
(Selene’s POV)
I couldn’t sleep.
The silence of the night was unnerving, and the shadows that crept across the room seemed more alive than usual. My mind wouldn't stop racing—every moment replaying itself over and over again. The council's ultimatum. Dexton's venomous words. Lucian's decision.
And me. Right in the eye of the storm.
I sat at the edge of the bed, staring out the window. The moon hung high, cold and luminous, as if it was watching everything unfold with indifference.
I heard the door creak behind me.
Lucian.
His scent reached me before his voice did—warm cedar and spice, grounding me as always.
"You should be sleeping," he murmured.
I didn’t look at him. “I can’t.”
He came closer, his presence a quiet force of comfort, and sat beside me. For a moment, we didn’t say anything. The silence between us wasn’t awkward—it was heavy, thoughtful.
“They won’t stop, will they?” I finally asked, voice barely above a whisper. “The council. Dexton. All of them. They’ll keep coming until one of us breaks.”
Lucian leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “They’re scared of change. Of what we represent. A broken rule. A defied fate.”
“I never asked for this,” I said, my throat tightening. “I didn’t want to be anyone’s enemy.”
“You’re not,” he replied gently. “You’re just... powerful now. That terrifies them.”
I turned to him, my eyes meeting his in the dim light. “I don’t want power. I want peace. A chance to live without looking over my shoulder. To belong somewhere.”
Lucian reached for my hand and laced his fingers through mine. “With me, you already do.”
A lump formed in my throat. “You’re risking everything for me, Lucian. What if... what if I’m not worth it?”
His jaw clenched. “Don’t you dare say that.”
“But it’s true, isn’t it?” My voice cracked. “They see me as a curse. A disgrace. And maybe... maybe I am. Maybe Dexton was right.”
Lucian stood up so fast the chair scraped against the floor.
“Don’t ever repeat that man’s words again,” he growled, eyes darkening, his wolf rising just beneath the surface. “You are not a disgrace. You are not weak. You are not wrong for being mine.”
I stood too, facing him.
“I just—” I paused, voice breaking, “—I don’t know how to carry all of this. The judgment, the hatred, the blame.”
He took my face in his hands, tilting my head up so I had no choice but to look at him.
“You don’t carry it alone,” he said. “Not anymore. I will stand beside you, in front of you, behind you—wherever you need me to be. They will have to kill me before they ever touch you again.”
A sob escaped me before I could stop it.
I wrapped my arms around him, burying my face into his chest. “You make it sound so easy.”
“It’s not,” he admitted, his voice softer now. “But it’s worth it.”
We stayed like that for a while, breathing together, grounding each other in this small sanctuary of quiet amidst the chaos. But the world outside wouldn't stay still for long.
A knock at the door shattered the moment.
Lucian’s eyes narrowed. “Stay here.”
“No,” I said immediately. “I’m not hiding.”
He hesitated but gave a small nod, and together we walked to the door.
Harper stood on the other side, face grim.
“It’s Dexton,” he said. “He’s made an official challenge. Tomorrow at dusk. He wants your title, Lucian.”
I felt the air leave my lungs.
Lucian didn’t even flinch. “Of course he does.”
“But that’s not all,” Harper added, voice lowering. “He said... if you don’t show up, he’ll come for Selene.”
Lucian’s growl rumbled like thunder.
“Then I’ll be there,” he said through clenched teeth. “And I’ll end this.”
My hand tightened around his arm. “Lucian, no. This is what he wants. To provoke you. To break you.”
“I won’t let him use you against me,” he said firmly. “This ends tomorrow.”
When Harper left, the silence between us returned—but it was colder now. Sharper.
“He’s your son,” I whispered.
Lucian looked at me, pain flickering in his eyes. “Not anymore.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “If something happens to you—”
“Nothing will,” he cut in. “You hear me? I’ll win. I’ll protect you. No one’s going to take you from me.”
I nodded, but deep down, I felt the fear tightening its grip on me.
Because tomorrow... everything could change.
And for the first time, I wasn’t sure if love would be enough to stop the war.
- Writer
