Selene couldn't stop trembling. Even hours later, after she had stumbled back to her apartment, her hands still shook when she reached for a glass of water. Damon's words replayed in her head on a loop:
You are mine to protect.
It should have terrified her. Maybe it did. But her heart beat wildly for reasons she didn't dare admit, even to herself.
She curled up on her bed, clutching her sketchbook. She had tried to draw to calm her nerves, but every page ended the same—Damon's sharp jaw, his glowing eyes, the way he had stood between her and Kieran like a shield of flesh and fury.
The forest wasn't just a myth. Damon wasn't just a man. And she wasn't just a curious human anymore.
She had crossed into something far bigger, far darker.
The next morning, Clara was waiting for her at the café near campus. Selene barely had one foot in the door before her best friend pounced.
"Okay," Clara said, arms crossed, "spill. You've been acting weird for days, and I know you're hiding something."
Selene blinked, caught off guard. "Weird? I'm fine."
Clara narrowed her eyes. "You look like you've seen a ghost. Or… something worse. Don't tell me you went near that forest again."
Selene hesitated. "I…"
The warning in Damon's golden eyes flashed through her memory. This world isn't yours.
She swallowed the truth down like a stone. "I've just been stressed. Art projects. Exams. You know."
Clara studied her for a long moment, then sighed. "Fine. But if you end up on the news as some missing girl, don't say I didn't warn you."
Selene forced a laugh, though it sounded hollow.
By evening, she was restless again. She told herself she'd stay away, that she'd listen to reason for once. But when the sun dipped low and the air cooled, her feet carried her back to the forest's edge.
And she knew he'd be there.
The shadows shifted, and then Damon stepped into view. As always, his presence filled the space, commanding and dangerous.
"You came back," he said flatly, though something flickered in his golden eyes—relief? Frustration?
She couldn't tell.
Selene's heart raced. "You didn't exactly make it easy to stay away."
His jaw tightened. "I told you. This isn't your world."
"Then why keep saving me?" she challenged, surprising herself with the strength in her voice. "Why not let Kieran kill me last night?"
Damon's gaze burned into hers. "Because I couldn't."
Her breath hitched.
For a moment, neither spoke. The forest was silent around them, the tension between them sharp enough to cut.
Finally, Selene asked the question that had haunted her since the fight. "That man—Kieran—he called you Alpha. What does that mean?"
Damon exhaled slowly, his expression unreadable. "It means I'm the leader of the pack. Every wolf in this territory answers to me."
Selene's stomach twisted. "So there are more… like you?"
"Dozens," Damon said. His voice was steady, but his golden eyes glimmered with something darker. "And not all of them will accept a human knowing our secrets. Kieran's appearance was just the beginning. The others will come. They'll see you as a weakness."
Selene's chest tightened, fear creeping in. But beneath it was something else—an ache, a pull toward him that grew stronger with every word.
"Then why not push me away?" she whispered.
His gaze softened, just for a heartbeat. "Because something in me refuses to."
Selene's breath caught. The air between them grew heavy, charged with something unspoken. Her heart thudded wildly, her body betraying her with heat that spread through her chest and cheeks.
But Damon abruptly turned away, breaking the moment. His hands clenched at his sides. "You need to be careful. If the others sense what I do…" He cut himself off, shaking his head.
"What do you sense?" Selene pressed, her voice trembling.
He looked at her then, really looked at her, his golden eyes glowing brighter. "A bond."
The word lingered in the air like lightning.
Selene's lips parted, her thoughts spinning. She didn't know what he meant exactly, but she felt it too—that invisible tether pulling her back to him again and again.
Before she could respond, Damon stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "Listen to me, Selene. Whatever this is between us, it's dangerous. If you keep coming here, it will only grow stronger. And once the bond takes root…" He trailed off, his jaw tight.
Her pulse hammered. "What happens then?"
Damon's golden eyes flicked down to her lips, just for a moment, before snapping back to her gaze. His voice was low, rough. "Then neither of us will be able to walk away."
Silence. Heavy, unbreakable.
Selene's heart thundered in her chest, her breath shallow. She wanted to ask a hundred questions, wanted to step closer instead of away. But Damon turned, retreating into the shadows.
"Go home, Selene," he said, his voice sharper now. "Before I lose the will to let you."
And then he was gone, swallowed by the forest.
Selene stood frozen, her entire body trembling.
She should be terrified. She should listen. She should forget.
But all she could think was this:
She was already his, whether he claimed her or not.
Author's Note:
🌙 Selene and Damon's bond has been named, but what does it mean for them both? Do you think Damon will be able to resist it—or is it already too late? If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to vote with Power Stones and leave your thoughts in the comments. Your support means everything! ❤️