Chapter 6 6

_Kade's POV_

I paced my office. I was unable to concentrate. My hands were clenched at my sides, and my mind kept drifting back to her. Selene. Her name alone sent a pang through my chest.

Kael, my wolf, was restless too. His low growls echoed in my mind, sharp and angry. "You pushed her away," he snarled. "You destroyed her. And now she is gone."

"She will be fine," I muttered aloud, though the words felt hollow.

"You don't know that. She left, Kade. We don't even know if she's safe."

"She is strong," I countered, trying to convince myself more than him.

"You don't get it, do you?" Kael growled. "She is our mate. You broke her, and now you're breaking yourself."

"Enough," I snapped, my voice cutting through the silence of the room.

Kael retreated into the back of my mind, but his anger simmered, ready to boil over at any moment. He wasn't wrong. Ever since the rejection, a gnawing emptiness had settled in my chest. It felt like a part of me was missing, like I was hollow.

And now, she was gone. I didn't know where Selene had gone, and the thought clawed at me. Had she left the pack's territory? Was she wandering alone, unprotected? The world was dangerous, especially for a wolf without her pack.

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.

"Come in," I barked, running a hand through my hair.

The door opened, and Aria stepped in. Her blonde hair was perfectly styled, and she wore a fitted dress that left little to the imagination. She closed the door behind her, a sly smile tugging at her lips.

"Kade," she purred, walking toward me. "You have been avoiding me."

"I have been busy," I said curtly and turned away from her.

"With what? Brooding?" she teased.

I didn't respond.

Aria sighed dramatically and stepped closer. "Is this about Selene?"

The mention of her name made my chest tighten. I didn't look at Aria. "She's gone. That's all that matters."

Aria laughed softly, the sound grating on my nerves. "And yet, you're still thinking about her."

"She's not my concern anymore," I said, my voice hard.

"Liar," Kael growled.

Aria placed a hand on my arm. "You did the right thing, Kade. Selene wasn't good for you. She was holding you back."

I jerked my arm away from her. "She was my mate."

"She was weak," Aria said sharply, her voice losing its sugary sweetness. "She couldn't handle the pressure of being with you. She ran away, Kade. That should tell you everything you need to know."

Her words hit a nerve, but I refused to let it show. "You don't understand."

"Then explain it to me," she said, stepping in front of me. Her eyes searched mine, and she softened her tone. "Kade, I'm here for you. I've always been here for you. Let me help you move on."

I shook my head. "I don't need your help, Aria."

"Yes, you do," she said firmly. "You're torturing yourself over someone who didn't deserve you. I'm right here, Kade. I'm not going anywhere."

Her words made my stomach turn. Selene didn't deserve me? She was the best thing that had ever happened to me, and I had thrown her away.

Aria stepped closer, her hand resting on my chest. "You don't need her," she whispered. "You need someone who understands you. Someone who won't run away."

"I don't need anyone," I said, my voice cold.

She ignored me, her fingers trailing up my chest to my neck. Before I could stop her, she leaned in and pressed her lips to mine.

For a moment, I froze. Her kiss was calculated, desperate. It wasn't Selene's kiss.

Kael roared in my mind, his fury blazing. "What are you doing?! Push her away! She's not our mate!"

I broke the kiss and stepped back, my anger boiling over. "What the hell are you doing?"

Aria looked hurt, but it was a mask. I could see the manipulation in her eyes. "I'm trying to show you that you're not alone, Kade. That I care about you."

"You don't care about me," I said sharply. "You care about control. About getting what you want."

Her eyes narrowed. "And what's wrong with that? You deserve someone who can stand by your side without breaking. Someone who can match your strength."

I shook my head. "Get out, Aria."

"Kade-"

"Now!" I snapped, my voice echoing through the room.

She flinched but quickly masked it with a cold smile. "Fine. But don't come crying to me when you realize I was right."

She turned on her heel and walked out, slamming the door behind her.

I let out a shaky breath and sank into my chair. My mind was a storm of emotions-anger, guilt, and something I couldn't quite name.

"She's dangerous," Kael growled. "She'll tear us apart if you let her."

"I know," I muttered.

"We need to find Selene."

"She doesn't want to be found," I said bitterly.

"That doesn't mean we shouldn't try," Kael said. "You hurt her, Kade. You need to fix this."

"I don't know how," I admitted.

"Figure it out. Before it's too late."

His words echoed in my mind as I sat in the silence of my office. Selene was out there, somewhere, and I had no idea if she was safe.

The thought of her alone, vulnerable, made my chest ache. But what could I do? I had pushed her away.

And now, I was paying the price.