Chapter5
1119 Words
Chapter 5
Selene woke to the feeling of hands on her body. Soft, nimble fingers traced over her arms, adjusting her position, and combing through her tangled hair. Her limbs felt heavy, her mind sluggish, as if she were wading through a thick fog.
Memories crashed into her all at once—her desperate escape, the cold night air against her skin, the brutal impact of hitting the ground when Killian caught her. And then... the Commander, Rayna.
The bastard had forced a bitter-tasting potion down her throat. She had thrashed and fought, but the effects were swift and merciless. Darkness had swallowed her whole, dragging her into a deep, unnatural slumber.
Her eyes flew open, and she shot upright, heart pounding.
A group of women surrounded her—maids, dressed in flowing ivory gowns. They moved efficiently, their faces impassive, as if they were dressing a lifeless doll.
"What the hell is going on?" Selene snarled, jerking away from their hands.
None of them answered. One of them, a tall, dark-haired woman with a strict posture, stepped forward, holding out a delicate white gown.
"You must prepare," she said simply. "The mating ritual is tonight."
The words crashed over Selene like a tidal wave. Her breath hitched. No. No, no, no.
Her failed escape had cost her everything.
She was being forced into a bond she never wanted. A ritual that, if the legend was true, could very well kill her.
Rage surged up like a wildfire, burning away the fear clawing at her chest. Killian didn't care if she lived or died. He was going through with this like she was nothing more than a pawn in his game.
Fine.
If he was going to kill her, she would make damn sure she took him down with her.
She curled her fingers into fists, forcing her breathing to steady. Before he kills me, I'll slit his throat.
The maids continued their work despite Selene's glare, their hands firm but careful as they prepared her for the ritual. She was stripped of her worn clothes and eased into a warm bath infused with unfamiliar herbs. The scent of lavender and something sharper—perhaps wolfsbane—lingered in the air, making her skin prickle.
Her instincts screamed at her to fight, to run, to resist, but the effects of the potion still weighed her down. Her muscles were sluggish, her thoughts hazy. They had drugged her well.
Cowards.
When the bath was done, they draped her in an ivory gown that clung to her form, the fabric whisper-soft against her skin. It was delicate, ceremonial—too pure for the bloodshed she had planned.
She would not go down quietly.
A heavy silence settled over the room as the maids finished their work. Then, as if on cue, the door creaked open. The tall and poised woman from yesterday—Selene recognized her immediately.
Rayna, the commander in charge of the warriors.
Rayna stood near the door, arms crossed, her sharp gaze assessing Selene's every move. When she finally spoke, her tone was calm—too calm.
"How are you feeling?"
Selene let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Oh, you know. I woke up in a stranger's bed, dressed up like some sacrificial offering, with no memory of how I got here." She met Rayna's gaze, her burning with fury. "So, I'd say I feel fantastic."
Rayna exhaled, her expression unreadable. "Selene—"
"Save it." Selene's voice cut through the air like a blade. "I don't need your empty pleasantries."
A muscle in Rayna's jaw ticked, but she nodded once as if expecting this reaction.
"You." Selene surged forward, faster than the maids could react. Her fingers wrapped around Rayna's collar, shoving her back against the door. "You drugged me."
Rayna didn't struggle. She let out a slow breath. "I did."
The maids gasped and scrambled away, but Rayna barely reacted. She simply held Selene's gaze, unwavering. "I did what was necessary."
Selene's grip tightened. "Necessary?" Her voice shook with rage. "You f*****g drugged me!"
Rayna didn't fight back, didn't even try to pry Selene off. "And I apologize for it."
Selene's breath came fast and sharp. "You think an apology is going to fix this?"
"No," Rayna admitted. "But you need to understand—this wasn't done out of cruelty."
"I had no choice." She continued.
Selene bared her teeth. "You expect me to believe that?"
Rayna's expression didn't change. "Believe what you want. But we need this ritual."
Selene's breath came fast and sharp. "We?"
Rayna's jaw tensed. "The pack."
The weight of those words sank into Selene's chest.
"This isn't just about you, Selene," Rayna continued, her voice steady but firm. "Killian's bond with you is the only thing that will unlock our pack's strength. The Scar Hound Pack has been closing in on our borders, and they are stronger than ever. Without the ritual, we don't stand a chance against them."
Selene's stomach twisted. "So you're just going to throw me to the wolves?" She let out a hollow laugh. "Literally?"
Rayna exhaled. "No one wants you dead."
Selene scoffed. "Then maybe you should tell that to the legend that says my mate is destined to kill me."
Silence.
For the first time, something flickered across Rayna's face—hesitation.
Selene's pulse pounded.
"You knew, didn't you?" she accused, voice sharp with realization. "You knew the truth about the curse."
Rayna didn't answer immediately. Instead, she glanced away for the briefest moment. Then—finally—she spoke.
"You won't die tonight."
Selene's breath caught.
"What?"
Rayna met her gaze head-on. "The ritual won't kill you."
Selene's heart thundered in her chest. "You're lying."
"I'm not." Rayna's voice was unwavering. "Killian wouldn't let that happen."
Selene let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Oh, of course. Because I should trust him, right?"
Rayna sighed. "Believe whatever you want. But this isn't just about you and Killian. The pack needs this."
Selene's hands trembled where they gripped Rayna's collar. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to fight, to lash out, to run.
But the truth was already sinking in.
The ritual was happening.
Whether she liked it or not.
Rayna released a slow breath and gently pried Selene's fingers from her collar. "It's time," she said, her voice quieter now, almost unreadable.
Selene didn't resist as Rayna turned toward the door, but her body felt cold as if a part of her had gone numb. She followed in silence, her mind spinning.
They thought they had won.
They thought they could force her into this.
But Selene wasn't a pawn. She wasn't a savior.
She was a survivor.
And survivors escaped.
- Writer
