Chapter 5 No way out

Selene sat in silence, her fingers curling around the rough edges of the wooden table. The cabin smelled of damp wood and ashes, the air heavy with unspoken words.

Elias was watching her, his sharp hazel eyes unreadable.

"That was him, wasn't it?" he finally muttered, rubbing his sore throat. "Kieran."

Selene swallowed, forcing herself to focus. She didn't have time for this. Not for the lingering heat of Kieran's touch on her skin. Not for the way his voice still echoed in her ears.

"I need your help," she said, ignoring his question.

Elias scoffed. "You mean the help I tried to give before your rabid Alpha nearly crushed my windpipe?"

"He's not my Alpha," she snapped.

Elias raised an eyebrow. "He sure acts like it."

Selene exhaled sharply, her hands gripping the table harder. "This isn't about him. It's about my mother."

That sobered him up.

Elias leaned back, crossing his arms. "She's still sick?"

Selene nodded, her throat tightening. "It's getting worse. I don't have much time. I need something strong enough to slow the infection down before it spreads."

Elias frowned. "You need moonshade root."

Selene's stomach clenched.

Moonshade root. A rare herb, one that only grew in the deepest parts of the forest-dangerous territory ruled by creatures even werewolves feared.

She had been avoiding this. Hoping for another way.

But she was out of time.

Elias hesitated before sighing. "You're insane if you think you're going alone."

"I don't have a choice."

He muttered a curse, shaking his head. "Selene, you do realize Kieran won't just let you wander off into a death trap?"

She gritted her teeth. "He doesn't own me."

Elias studied her for a long moment before his lips curved into a knowing smirk. "Tell him that."

Selene clenched her fists. She didn't need this right now. She needed to move-before Kieran found out what she was doing.

Because if he did, she knew exactly how this would end.

---

The forest at night was different.

The air was colder, the trees darker, their gnarled roots curling like fingers grasping at the earth. The scent of damp moss and distant rain clung to the wind.

Selene moved swiftly, her body light and careful. She had done this before-many times. But tonight, there was an edge of urgency to every step she took.

Moonshade root.

Find it.

Get out.

And don't let Kieran find her.

Simple.

Except nothing was ever simple when it came to him.

The further she went, the quieter the forest became.

Not a good sign.

She exhaled, steadying her heartbeat. She knew this area-knew the dangers. If she was careful, she could-

A twig snapped behind her.

Selene whirled, heart hammering.

Silence.

Her breath came short, uneven. She took a slow step back-

Then something slammed into her.

She hit the ground hard, the air rushing from her lungs.

Claws raked the dirt where she had just been, and she rolled fast, barely dodging the second strike.

A low, guttural snarl rumbled through the air.

Selene scrambled to her feet, heart pounding. The creature was massive-fur black as night, its eyes glowing an unnatural silver.

A shade wolf.

Shit.

She knew about them-wolves twisted by dark magic, their bodies corrupted beyond recognition. They were mindless beasts, driven only by hunger.

And she had just wandered straight into its hunting ground.

The wolf lunged.

Selene barely had time to react, throwing herself to the side as its massive jaws snapped inches from her throat. She hit the ground and rolled, grabbing the dagger strapped to her thigh.

The wolf turned fast-too fast.

It lunged again, and this time she wasn't quick enough.

Pain. Sharp and deep.

Its claws sliced through her shoulder, knocking her back against a tree.

Selene gasped, vision blurring. Blood dripped down her arm, warm and sticky.

Not good.

She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to move. If she didn't kill it now, she wouldn't get another chance.

The wolf snarled, muscles coiling-

Then it froze.

A low, lethal growl rumbled through the air.

Selene's stomach dropped.

The shadows shifted, and then he was there.

Kieran.

His golden eyes burned with fury, his presence swallowing the entire forest whole.

The shade wolf hesitated. It could sense what he was-what he wasn't.

Kieran didn't wait.

He moved faster than she could track, his hand shooting out, claws glinting under the moonlight. He grabbed the wolf by the throat and ripped it open.

Blood splattered against the trees.

The wolf crumpled, its body twitching before going still.

There was sudden Silence.

Selene stared, her breathing uneven.

Kieran turned to her slowly, his jaw tight. His eyes flicked to her shoulder, then back to her face.

"What," he said, his voice dangerously quiet, "the hell were you thinking?"

Selene swallowed hard. "I-"

But he was already there.

His hands gripped her arms, his touch firm but careful. He pulled her closer, his eyes scanning every inch of her.

"You're bleeding."

"I'm fine."

Kieran's jaw clenched. "You're not fine."

His thumb brushed over the torn fabric of her sleeve, where blood was still seeping through. The moment stretched, thick with something she didn't want to name.

Then-without a word-he lifted her.

"Hey-"

Kieran didn't respond. He just started walking, his grip unrelenting.

Selene struggled. "Put me down."

Nothing.

His jaw was set, his eyes dark with something dangerous.

"Kieran."

Still nothing.

Selene exhaled sharply, forcing herself to stay calm. "I had to do this."

His steps didn't falter. "No, you didn't."

"It's for my mother."

That made him stop.

Kieran turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowing. "Your mother?"

Selene swallowed. "She's sick. I needed the moonshade root to help her."

Kieran was silent for a long moment.

Then, finally, he spoke.

"You should have come to me."

Selene stiffened. "I don't need your help."

Kieran's lips curled slightly, something dark and amused flickering in his eyes. "And yet, here you are. Bleeding. Mine to protect."

Selene's breath caught.

His.

She wanted to deny it.

But the way he was looking at her-like she belonged to him, like he would destroy anything that tried to take her away-made it impossible to breathe.

Kieran's voice dropped to a whisper.

"You don't get to run from me, little wolf."

His fingers tightened around her.

"Not anymore."