Kieran's laughter echoed through the forest, sharp and mocking. The sound made Selene's blood run cold.
She pressed back against the tree, her pulse hammering. Damon's broad frame stood between her and the red-eyed stranger, his stance rigid, every line of his body vibrating with tension.
"Leave," Damon growled, his voice dropping to something primal, animal. "Now."
Kieran's grin widened. "Or what? You'll kill me in front of your little human?" His eyes flicked toward Selene, glinting with cruel amusement. "She looks fragile. I wonder how loud she screams."
Selene's chest tightened, fear clawing up her throat. Damon's growl deepened, rumbling through the ground itself.
"One more step," he warned, "and you won't live to regret it."
For a long, terrible moment, the forest held its breath. The tension between the two men was suffocating, the air thick with the promise of violence. Selene's hands trembled as she clutched her sketchbook against her chest, her knuckles white.
Then, in a blur, Kieran lunged.
Selene screamed.
Damon moved faster. His body shifted, his growl tearing through the silence like thunder. He collided with Kieran in a violent clash, the sound of snapping branches filling the air. Selene stumbled back, eyes wide as the two figures became a blur of strength and fury.
For the briefest instant, Damon's face changed. His eyes glowed brighter, his jaw lengthened, sharp fangs flashing in the dim light. His hands—no, claws—slashed through the air, sparks of power rolling off him.
Selene gasped, her heart stopping. He wasn't human. Not even close.
Kieran snarled, his own form twisting, red eyes blazing. For a horrifying moment, Selene thought she saw fur ripple across his skin, a monstrous shadow bursting beneath the surface.
The forest exploded with sound. Growls. Snarls. The crash of bodies colliding again and again.
Selene pressed herself against the tree, terror flooding her veins. She couldn't look away, though every instinct screamed at her to run.
Damon fought like a force of nature. Brutal. Precise. His movements were both man and beast, his golden eyes locked on Kieran with lethal intent. But Kieran was fast, his strikes sharp, his laughter twisted even as blood slicked his lip.
"You're slipping, Damon," Kieran taunted, teeth flashing. "All because of a human."
Damon's growl was deafening. With one final surge of power, he slammed Kieran to the ground, his claws at his throat. The forest seemed to tremble under the force of his dominance.
"Leave," Damon snarled, his voice rough with fury. "Or I'll tear you apart."
Kieran's grin faltered, though his red eyes still glowed with malice. He spat blood and sneered. "This isn't over. She'll cost you everything, Alpha."
And then, in a blur, he was gone—disappearing into the shadows as quickly as he had come.
Silence fell, heavy and suffocating.
Selene's chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath. Damon straightened slowly, his chest rising and falling with ragged intensity. His golden eyes still glowed, his claws dripping with blood.
Selene's legs nearly gave way. "W-what are you?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Damon turned to her, his expression unreadable. For a moment, he didn't answer. His form seemed to ripple, claws retracting, fangs fading. Within seconds, he looked human again—though nothing about him felt human anymore.
He stepped closer, his gaze burning into hers. "You shouldn't have seen that."
Selene's pulse raced. She wanted to back away, but her body betrayed her, frozen in place. "You're… you're not…"
"Human?" Damon finished for her, his voice low, rough. "No."
Her breath caught. Every story, every whispered legend about the forest suddenly felt real. The howls. The missing people. The warnings.
"You're a…" She hesitated, the word catching in her throat. "Werewolf."
The silence between them crackled. Damon didn't confirm, but his eyes—those glowing, golden eyes—were answer enough.
Selene's mind spun. Fear pulsed through her veins, but tangled with it was something else. Wonder. Curiosity. A dangerous pull she couldn't explain.
Damon stepped closer, his expression hard. "Now you understand why you can't come back here."
Selene's throat tightened. "If you wanted to scare me away, you should have let Kieran—"
Her words cut off when Damon suddenly slammed his hand against the tree beside her head, caging her in. His golden eyes burned, fierce and unyielding.
"Never say that," he growled. "You are mine to protect. No one touches you."
Selene's heart stuttered. Heat shot through her chest, her fear mingling with something far more dangerous.
His words echoed in her mind: You are mine.
Before she could respond, Damon stepped back, running a hand through his hair as if frustrated with himself. His jaw was tight, his voice rough when he spoke again.
"You've seen too much. You've already crossed the line." His eyes met hers, softer now, though still blazing. "Selene… you belong to this world, whether you realize it or not."
Her lips parted, but no sound came. Her entire world had just tilted, her life forever changed by the truth standing before her.
And deep down, she knew one thing for certain.
She wasn't going to stay away. Not now. Not ever.
Author's Note:
🔥 Selene has finally learned Damon's secret—and now the danger is real! What do you think of Damon's fierce declaration? If you're hooked, please vote with Power Stones and share your thoughts in the comments. Your love keeps this story alive! ❤️