Selene couldn't stop staring at the mark on her wrist.
Even under the weak glow of her desk lamp, the silvery lines pulsed faintly, like living light beneath her skin. She had tried covering it with a sleeve, even with makeup, but nothing dulled its glow completely. Worse, every time she brushed her fingers over it, warmth surged through her veins and Damon's golden eyes flashed in her mind.
She was marked. Claimed. By a man who wasn't even fully human.
Sleep came in restless fragments. When she finally drifted off, her dreams filled with wolves—golden and red eyes chasing her through endless trees. And always Damon's voice, deep and commanding, calling her name.
When morning came, she dragged herself to class. Clara noticed her distracted state instantly.
"You're hiding something again." Clara's brows knit as she leaned across their shared table. "And don't even think about feeding me another 'school stress' excuse. You look like you've been struck by lightning."
Selene tugged at her sleeve instinctively, hiding the mark. "I'm fine. Really."
"Fine, my ass." Clara narrowed her eyes. "Did you… meet someone?"
Selene's cheeks burned. "What? No!" The denial came too quickly, too sharp.
Clara smirked. "You totally did. That's why you've been running off all the time."
Selene forced a laugh, but her chest felt heavy. If only Clara knew the truth—that she wasn't daydreaming about some normal guy, but about an Alpha werewolf who had just tied their fates together.
By evening, Selene's unease grew unbearable. The mark pulsed, tugging her toward the forest. She resisted until nightfall, then gave in.
The moment she stepped beneath the trees, Damon appeared. As though he'd been waiting.
"You shouldn't be here," he said, though his voice lacked conviction. His eyes flicked to her wrist. "The mark's growing stronger."
Selene pulled her sleeve down, heat rising in her cheeks. "I didn't ask for this."
"No," Damon agreed softly. "But now it's ours to bear."
Before she could respond, movement stirred deeper in the woods. Multiple presences. Damon stiffened, his head snapping up, his body shifting into alertness.
Figures emerged from the shadows—men and women, broad-shouldered, eyes glowing faintly. Wolves in human form.
Selene's breath hitched.
One of them, a tall man with sharp features and cold blue eyes, stepped forward. "Alpha," he said, voice clipped. "We've heard whispers. Is it true?" His gaze slid to Selene like a knife. "You've marked a human?"
The others murmured, their tones sharp, disbelieving.
Selene's heart pounded. She glanced at Damon, but his face was unreadable, carved from stone.
"It wasn't intentional," Damon said, his voice commanding. "But it's done. She's under my protection."
A woman with fiery hair snarled. "This breaks every law we live by. Humans cannot know of us. You've endangered the pack!"
"She is mine," Damon growled, his voice reverberating through the trees, silencing the group. His golden eyes blazed with dominance, daring anyone to challenge him.
But the blue-eyed man didn't back down. "You've gone too far, Alpha. If the Council learns of this—"
"They won't," Damon cut in, his tone deadly. "Unless one of you betrays me."
The tension thickened, the air charged with hostility. Selene clutched her sketchbook tight, her palms sweating. She didn't belong here. She was prey in a den of predators.
Finally, the pack members exchanged uneasy glances and retreated into the shadows. The blue-eyed man lingered a moment longer, his stare filled with warning, before following the others.
When the forest was quiet again, Selene let out a shaky breath. "They hate me."
Damon's gaze softened. "They fear what they don't understand. But they will not touch you."
"You can't fight them all," Selene whispered.
His jaw tightened. "I will if I have to."
The weight of his vow sent shivers through her.
Silence stretched between them, heavy and charged. Selene finally found her voice. "What happens now?"
Damon's eyes glimmered, fierce and unyielding. "Now we prepare. The pack won't be the only ones who know. Kieran will spread word of you, and others will come. The bond has put a target on your back, Selene."
Her heart pounded, but even through the fear, a strange certainty settled within her. She wasn't just a bystander anymore. She was part of this now—whether she was ready or not.
And as Damon's golden eyes lingered on hers, Selene realized something else.
No matter the danger, she wasn't sure she wanted to walk away.
Author's Note:
🐺 The pack knows Selene exists—and they're not happy. Damon has broken their laws by marking her, and enemies may be closer than ever. Do you think Damon can protect Selene against his own people? Vote with your Power Stones if you're excited for what's next! ❤️