Chapter 7 He found me

Selena

The blow landed before I even saw it coming. A sharp crack against my jaw sent me sprawling to the cold floor.

Pain burst through my skull, hot and blinding, while the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. Murmurs rippled through the training hall gasps, whispers but no one came forward. No one ever did.

I pushed myself up on trembling arms, smearing blood from my lip. The room swayed, but I forced myself to focus.

Julia stood over me, calm as stone, her stance loose, predatory. Her eyes gleamed with something crueler than pride. She wasn't sparring. She was hunting.

"I told you to fight, Selena," she drawled. "Show me your moves."

My chest tightened. Fight her? This wasn't just a student. Julia was Stephen's girlfriend. And Stephen already despised me. If I fought back, what would he do to me?

I searched the crowd, desperate for a single ally, but faces turned away. They'd already decided-I was on my own.

Panic clawed at me. If I didn't fight back, Julia might actually kill me.

"That's it," she said, grinning as if she could smell my fear. "That's what I want. Fight me."

Her hand shifted before my eyes skin twisting, bones cracking, claws replacing fingers. My stomach dropped.

No. Not that. Not here.

I was wolfless. And she knew it.

My breath hitched as I braced for claws to tear into me

Then a voice cut through the tension like a blade.

"Enough."

Deep. Cold. Familiar.

Stephen.

When I opened my eyes, he was there, standing between us, his hand clamped around Julia's shifting wrist. His gaze was steel-icy, unforgiving and when it flicked to me, I felt it like chains around my throat.

Julia's claws snapped back into human flesh. She recoiled, silent, furious.

I dropped my eyes, heat rising to my face. Why him? Why now?

"Sir, she's new," Lilith's voice rang out. "I'll train her. She didn't mean harm."

For one fragile second, I thought it might save me.

"You can go," Stephen said.

Relief fluttered until his next words cut it to pieces.

"Not you, Selena. I meant Lilith."

The ground seemed to fall from under me. Lilith's eyes flashed guilt before she left, and then it was just me and him.

"Follow me," he ordered.

I obeyed, head low, every stare in the room weighing heavy on my back.

When his office door slammed, I flinched. His fist hit the desk with a thunderous crack.

"Second day here," he barked, "and already you're in trouble."

"I-I'm sorry," I whispered, though the truth burned in me. I hadn't done anything. Julia had.

"Look at me."

No. Anything but that.

"I won't repeat myself."

Slowly, painfully, I met his eyes. Storm-grey, cutting, merciless. And God help me beautiful.

I looked away, cheeks burning. "I'm sorry," I muttered again. Then, softer, "I didn't even do anything wrong."

His steps closed the space between us.

"It seems you're always trouble," he said, low and dangerous. "I don't know why my father sent you here. But if you cause one more problem, I'll make your life a living hell."

He leaned closer. "And Julia is mine."

My mouth moved faster than my brain. "Good for you. You're both psychos."

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Stephen froze.

My heart plummeted. I slapped a hand over my mouth, terror flooding in.

His expression darkened. His hand shot out, tangling in my hair not yanking, just enough to make me gasp.

"So I'm a psycho?" His voice was a soft threat. "Fine. I'll show you just how psycho I can be."

He leaned in, his lips brushing my ear. "You're moving into my house tonight. From now on, every step you take is mine to see. Every mistake mine to punish. You want chaos? I'll make sure you drown in it."

Tears slipped free. I didn't bother to wipe them.

Because he was right.

I'd spoken when I shouldn't. Existed where he thought I didn't belong.

And now...

Now I belonged to Stephen.

And he was going to make sure I never forgot it.