The cabin felt like it was shrinking, honestly—like the walls had decided to gang up and squeeze in around her. The weird light under Selene's skin fizzled out, leaving just that stupid crescent on her wrist. She stared at it, hands jittery, half-expecting it to spark up again and roast her on the spot.
Damien? Yeah, he'd already put some distance between them.
And, wow, for the first time ever, Mr. Alpha King actually looked rattled. Scared, even. Not that he'd admit it—he slapped on that stone-faced thing he did, clenching his jaw, all broad-shouldered and stubborn like usual. But she caught it. That flicker in his eyes, the way his mouth twitched. Guy was on edge, and not just surprised—he was keeping her at arm's length like she was radioactive or something.
"Damien…" Her voice came out all scratchy. Ugh. "What does this mean?"
He wouldn't even look at her. Just stared off at the fire, which was basically just sulking embers now. "Means you're not who you thought. And you're not who I thought, either."
Ouch. That stung way more than whatever cosmic branding she'd just gotten.
She tried to laugh—awkward, desperate. "Well, that's just super comforting."
He dragged a hand through his hair, all tense and agitated, like he was wrestling with his own insides. "Selene, no. You don't get it. This bloodline, this… mark… it changes the whole game. You're dangerous now. To me. To everyone, really."
Dangerous. That word just sat there, heavy, in her chest. That's what she was now? To him?
She wanted to snap back, say he was being dramatic, but the memory of that glow beneath her skin shut her up. She didn't actually know what she was anymore.
Still, she couldn't help glancing at him. He might've only been a couple steps away, but it felt like a canyon had opened up between them.
"I never asked for any of this," she muttered. "Didn't ask to be your mate. Didn't sign up for some goddess's curse."
His head whipped around, eyes blazing gold for a second, like his mask slipped. "It's not a curse. It's power. Power people would kill to get their hands on."
Her voice wobbled, but she pushed anyway. "What about you? Would you kill for it, Damien? Or are you gonna bail on me, too?"
He didn't answer. Just clenched his jaw, muscles twitching, and let the silence stretch until it was almost unbearable.
Then he just… turned away. Faded into the shadows at the edge of the room, leaving her perched on the bed, staring at her wrist where that crescent mark glimmered—like a glowing reminder of how far apart they suddenly were.
Neither of them said it, but it hung there anyway:
Yeah, the bond was real. But so was the fear.