Selene didn't know how she made it through the next few days.
The mark on her wrist had grown sharper, brighter, its glow harder to conceal. At night, it burned as though something inside her was stirring. Damon's warning rang constantly in her ears: The bond has put a target on your back.
Her reflection in the bathroom mirror was a stranger—haunted eyes, pale skin, a girl carrying a secret far too heavy.
By the fourth night, sleep was impossible. Her veins buzzed with restless energy, her chest tight. She stepped outside, hoping the cool air might calm her.
Instead, her body pulled her forward, past the streets, down the path, until the trees swallowed her again.
The forest was alive tonight. The air vibrated with tension, the leaves shivering though there was no wind. Above, the moon swelled—round, bright, heavy. Its silver glow painted the world in sharp relief.
The mark on her wrist seared, pulsing in rhythm with her heartbeat.
"Selene."
She spun. Damon stood before her, his chest bare, his golden eyes blazing brighter than the moon. His entire body was taut, trembling with barely restrained power.
"You shouldn't be here," he ground out, his voice rough, guttural.
Her lips parted. "You're… different."
His jaw clenched. His breath came in harsh gasps. "The full moon. It calls to the wolf. Tonight, I can't hold it back."
Fear shivered through her, but fascination held her in place. She had seen glimpses of the wolf within him, but never fully.
"I need you to go," he said, but even as he spoke, his feet carried him closer, as though the bond dragged him against his will.
Selene's pulse pounded. "I don't want to."
Something snapped in his eyes—control fraying. His hands trembled as he reached for her, then stopped inches away, his entire body shaking.
"Selene…" His voice broke, raw. "Run. Before I hurt you."
But she couldn't move. Couldn't leave him like this.
Then it happened. His body arched, bones cracking, muscles tearing, his growl splitting the night. Selene gasped as fur burst from his skin, his form contorting. Within moments, the man she knew was gone, replaced by the massive golden-eyed wolf, larger than any she had ever imagined.
The wolf's gaze locked on her, fierce and primal. Her heart stuttered, torn between terror and awe.
"Damon?" she whispered.
The wolf prowled forward, each step slow, deliberate. She should run. Every instinct screamed at her to flee. But the mark on her wrist burned hotter, rooting her in place.
When Damon reached her, he stopped. His massive head lowered, his golden eyes searching hers. For one terrible second, she thought he would strike.
Instead, he pressed his muzzle gently against her wrist, where the mark glowed brightest.
Heat surged through her, overwhelming, intimate. Tears pricked her eyes. He wasn't gone. The man was still there, inside the beast.
"Damon," she breathed, her fingers trembling as they brushed through his thick fur. "I'm not afraid of you."
A deep rumble vibrated through his chest, not a growl but something softer. A sound of recognition. Of belonging.
The bond pulsed between them, alive, undeniable.
But then the forest stirred. Twigs snapped. A voice broke the fragile moment.
"Well, well. Isn't this touching?"
Selene whipped around. Kieran stepped from the shadows, his red eyes gleaming, his smile cruel.
"An Alpha, tamed by a human." He sneered. "How pathetic."
Damon's wolf form snarled, teeth bared, the sound echoing like thunder.
Kieran's laughter sent chills racing through Selene. "Don't worry, Alpha. I won't tell the Council just yet. I'd rather watch you fall on your own. And when you do…" His gaze slid to Selene, sharp and hungry. "…I'll be there to claim what's left."
Before Damon could lunge, Kieran vanished back into the shadows, his mocking laughter lingering.
Selene's body shook, adrenaline flooding her veins. She turned back to Damon, who was still in his wolf form, his chest heaving with rage.
Slowly, carefully, she pressed her hand against his fur again. "We'll face him. Together."
The wolf's golden eyes softened, just slightly, before he tilted his head back and howled.
The sound tore through the night, wild and raw, echoing for miles. A vow. A warning.
Selene clutched her wrist, the mark blazing brighter than ever. Whatever this bond was, it was no longer just Damon's burden. It was hers too.
Author's Note:
🌕 Selene has witnessed Damon's full transformation under the pull of the moon—and their bond has only grown stronger. But with Kieran watching, how long can they hold onto this fragile trust? Don't forget to vote with Power Stones if you felt the tension tonight! ❤️