HIDDEN HOWL

Chapter Ten: Tears and Urges

LIAM

I walked beside Selene, the soft crunch of gravel beneath our feet the only sound in the otherwise peaceful palace garden. It was a rare moment of quiet, just the two of us, surrounded by fragrant flowers and the distant hum of the palace. The sun was lower now, casting a soft orange glow on everything, making the world feel warmer, as if trying to make up for the coldness I could feel creeping in from within.

One would consider this a romantic setting, and it would have been. Had she been my mate.

Or someone I was actually attracted to.

Selene’s presence was always uncomfortable in a way.

"You’ve been distant lately, Liam," she said, her voice light, but there was a sharpness in it that made my stomach tighten.

I glanced at her, trying to keep my expression neutral.

“I’ve been busy,” I muttered, not entirely convinced by my own words. Truth be told, I hadn’t been entirely focused on my duties in the past few days. My thoughts kept drifting to the tension between Trinity and me.

Ever since she started staying at the palace, I have become quite uneasy. She barely ever came out of her room, always locked herself up, and only allowed maids in to bring her food.

Selene didn’t buy it. Of course, she wouldn’t. Selene always saw through the walls I put up. She was not stupid.

We have known each other ever since we were children. It was almost as though the Silvershade sisters made it their duty to study each of us.

"Is it Trinity?" she asked, her gaze steady, watching me carefully.

I stopped walking, looking at her for a long moment, wondering how to answer. "What do you mean?"

She tilted her head slightly, a soft smile playing at the edges of her lips, but her eyes were searching, intent. "You know exactly what I mean, Liam." Her voice was softer now, coaxing. "You’ve been this way ever since she showed up. You’re becoming... distracted."

I frowned, instinctively stepping back. "I haven’t even spoken to her since she arrived here," I said, trying to deflect, but the words felt hollow.

Selene’s smile faded, and she stopped too, turning to face me fully. “Do you really expect me to believe that?”

I took a deep breath, a little unnerved by the intensity in her gaze. "What are you trying to say, Selene?" My voice was guarded now, defensive.

She stepped closer, and there was an undeniable force in her presence. "I’m saying that you need to think carefully about who you’re giving your heart to, Liam." She paused, the silence between us stretching like a taut wire. "Trinity doesn’t deserve you. You need to reject her. Now."

“No,” the word left my lips without hesitation.

I was unsure of what I felt for Trinity; she was not exactly my dream mate, but at the same time... I could not reject her. At least not yet.

"She’s not... right for you. She’s a distraction. A complication. You deserve someone who understands the future we’re building here, not someone who pulls you away from it." Selene ranted.

Selene’s eyes softened, but there was still that hint of steel beneath her words. "I’m telling you to think about what really matters. The future, Liam. The kingdom. We both know that Trinity will never be a part of that."

The words stung, deeper than I wanted to admit. I opened my mouth, then closed it again, unsure of what to say. But Selene had already spoken, and I could feel the wedge between us widening.

I turned away, frustration bubbling in my chest. "I can’t do this right now," I muttered, the words coming out sharper than I intended.

I didn’t wait for a response. Instead, I walked away, my steps quick and angry, my mind a storm of conflicting emotions. I wasn’t sure what had just happened, but I knew one thing: I couldn’t stand being around Selene right now. I needed air, space, and time to think.

As I stormed out of the garden, my thoughts scattered and broken, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going. I nearly collided with someone, stumbling back just in time to avoid crashing into them.

"Trinity?" The surprise in my voice was genuine, and I could see her standing there, her eyes red, her face pale. It was clear that something was wrong.

But when her gaze met mine, I saw it—the tear tracks still visible on her cheeks. My heart tightened.

Why?

"Trinity, what—" I started, my words faltering.

Her lips trembled as she quickly wiped at her face, but it was clear that she had been crying. The sight hit me harder than I expected.

"I’m fine," she said, her voice shaky, but there was a fragility to her that I hadn’t seen before.

I took a step forward, my hand instinctively reaching out toward her. "You don’t have to lie to me," I said softly, my tone gentler than I felt. "What happened?"

She shook her head, pulling away slightly, as if she didn’t want me to see how much it was affecting her.

"It’s nothing," she whispered, but I knew better.

I frowned, my frustration with Selene forgotten in the face of Trinity’s pain.

"It’s fine if you don’t want to talk about it. But I do have a suggestion that can take your mind off of you know everything," I offered quietly, my voice gentle, coaxing. "Just for a little while. What do you say?”

She stared at me for a long moment, her gaze searching, then slowly, hesitantly, she nodded. The relief in her eyes was subtle, but it was there, and it made something inside me ache.

I reached out and gently took her arm; there was this spark that shot up my arm at the contact. It almost made me want to let go of her, but I couldn’t. I did not want to. Leading her down the hallway away from the chaos of the garden, I silently hoped that this would cheer her up.

And just then, I could not help but ask myself,

Why do I even give a damn?