Chapter2
1300 Words
"Selene! Selene!"
Her name echoed through the darkness, pulling her back from the void.
Selene jolted awake with a sharp gasp, her body lurching forward as violent coughs tore through her chest. She struggled for air, her lungs burning, her body trembling from the shock.
When she finally calmed, she lifted her head—
And froze.
Darius knelt beside her, staring down at her with a worried expression.
"Selene." He called again, softer this time.
Her mind spun.
"Darius…?" She whispered, her voice barely audible, filled with confusion.
This didn’t make sense.
She was dead.
The memory struck her like lightning, cold, sharp, undeniable. The pain, the betrayal… the blade piercing through her heart. Instinctively, her hand moved to her chest. She could still feel it, the phantom ache lingering beneath her skin. Her throat tightened as another memory surfaced, the suffocating agony that followed.
She remembered everything.
Slowly, she looked back at him. He looked… younger.
"Selene, are you okay? Should I call the pack doctor?" Darius asked, concern lacing his voice.
But Selene couldn’t respond. Her thoughts were in chaos, her heart pounding wildly against her ribs.
Then it hit her. This moment… The river.
Her eyes widened in shock.
She abruptly pushed herself up from the ground, stumbling slightly as she stood.
Darius stood up as well, confusion deepening on his face. "What’s going on, Selene? Are you okay? You just fell into the river—"
But she wasn’t listening.
Her gaze had already shifted past him. Locked onto the man standing behind.
Eryx.
Her breath hitched. No… this couldn’t be real. Could she have been... reborn? Had she been sent back… to the very beginning?
Her heart trembled at the thought.
"Eryx…" She whispered, her voice breaking as tears filled her eyes.
She never thought she would see him again.
If this was truly a second chance… she wouldn’t make the same mistake again. Because now, she knew the truth.
It had been him. It was always him.
The realization crashed into her all over again. In the past, she had been blind, blinded by love, by trust, by illusion. But now, everything was clear.
Darius had never been wet. Not that day.
But Eryx… Eryx had been soaked to the bone.
And yet, he said nothing. Just like now.
He stood there silently, watching her, his eyes carrying that same quiet sadness she remembered too well.
But this time, she wasn’t blind anymore. She knew. She finally knew.
Her body moved before she could think.
But suddenly—
Darius grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "Are you even listening to me? Why—"
He didn't even get to finish as she slapped him hard across the face. The sharp sound echoed through the forest.
Darius froze, his head snapping to the side from the force of the slap. Shock filled his eyes as he slowly turned back to her.
Even Eryx’s expression flickered with surprise.
But Selene didn’t care. Not this time.
Her eyes burned with fury as she stared at Darius, years of pain and betrayal blazing within them. She yanked her arm free from his grip.
"Touch me again.'' She said coldly, her voice trembling with restrained rage. "And I’ll make sure you regret it." Her words cut like a blade.
Then, her gaze softened.
She turned back to Eryx, her vision blurring with tears.
And in the next second, she ran. She crashed into him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck as if her life depended on it.
Eryx stiffened in shock, but his arms instinctively came around her, holding her steady.
Selene clung to him desperately, afraid that if she let go, he would disappear again.
Her body trembled as quiet sobs escaped her. "It’s really you…" She whispered against his shoulder. "It’s really you, Eryx…"
Her grip tightened. "I’m sorry.'' She cried softly. "I’m so, so sorry…" Her voice broke.
"It was you… it’s always been you… you saved me."
At first, Eryx didn’t know what to do.
Confusion filled him, thick and suffocating.
This had never happened before. Not with Selene. She had never looked at him, not once. No matter how much he had wished for it, no matter how long he had stood in the shadows hoping she would finally notice him.
But now that it was happening… he didn’t know what to do.
His gaze shifted to his brother, who still stood frozen in place, shock written all over his face.
Eryx already knew the truth. The one Selene loved was Darius. And that would never change.
His jaw tightened. Slowly, his hands fell to his sides, his expression hardening as he forced his emotions down.
''I’m not the one who saved you, Selene.'' He said, his voice calm but distant. ''Darius did.''
Selene froze. She slowly pulled away from him, her brows knitting together in confusion. ''What…?'' She muttered.
Eryx didn’t respond. He simply stared at her, his gaze now cold and unreadable.
Selene’s heart clenched. ''I… I don’t understand, Eryx.'' She said, her voice trembling slightly. ''Why are you saying this? I’m not stupid. I know you saved me. Your body was soaked, and Darius was—'' Her words cut off abruptly.
She turned.
And froze.
Darius stood there, completely drenched. Water dripped from his clothes, trailing down to the ground beneath him.
Selene’s eyes widened in disbelief. ''W-what…?'' She whispered. ''What’s going on…? How is he…?''
Her mind raced. This wasn’t right. When she woke up before… he had been dry. Completely dry.
So how—
Eryx said nothing more. Without another glance, he turned and began to walk away.
Selene’s chest tightened. No. She couldn’t let him go again.
''Eryx, wait!'' She called out, panic slipping into her voice as she rushed after him.
But before she could take more than a few steps, a hand grabbed her wrist. She was yanked back.
''Selene.'' Darius’s voice was low and strained.
She turned to face him, only to meet the hurt in his eyes. ''What has gotten into you?'' He asked. ''I was the one who saved you… not Eryx.''
Selene’s expression immediately turned cold. She tried to pull her hand free, but his grip tightened, refusing to let her go.
''Let go of me, Darius!'' She snapped, anger flashing in her eyes. ''Do you think I’m a fool? I saw you, you were dry before, and now you’re suddenly soaked?''
A bitter scoff left her lips. ''You really never change.'' She said, her voice dripping with disdain. ''Still as cunning and deceitful as ever.''
Darius frowned, clearly confused. ''Where is all this coming from, Selene?'' He asked. ''This isn’t you.''
Selene’s fists clenched. She wanted to scream. She wanted to expose everything—to tell him she knew every lie, every scheme, every wicked thing he had done. That she knew what he would do.
But she stopped herself.
She couldn’t. If she revealed too much, it would only make things harder. She couldn’t let him know. Not yet.
Because if this truly was a second chance… then the past would repeat itself. Darius would make the same moves. Play the same game. Try to destroy Eryx… and her.
But this time, everything was different.
Because now, she knew. She knew what was coming. And this time, she would be ready.
Her gaze darkened, something dangerous flickering within her eyes. This time… she would be one step ahead. She would not lose. Not again.
As she had sworn before her death, she would repay Eryx. She would atone for everything. And in this life… she would protect him. Even if it cost her everything.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes burning with quiet fury. This time, she would make them pay.
All of them.
- Writer
