Selene never realized how quickly silence could turn into suspicion.
The day after Damon killed the gray wolf that attacked her, the forest grew restless. Birds avoided the trees. The air carried a heaviness that settled deep into her bones. And though she tried to go about her routine—lectures, meals, pretending to laugh with Clara—the mark pulsed constantly, whispering like a heartbeat not her own.
Damon hadn't come the night before. The absence gnawed at her.
By dusk, she couldn't stand it anymore. Against her better judgment, she followed the bond into the forest.
Damon was waiting, but not for her.
She froze in the shadows, watching as three men stood before him, each cloaked in black and radiating authority. Their presence pressed against the air, heavy and suffocating.
The Council.
Her stomach dropped.
The tallest of the three spoke first, his voice calm but edged with steel. "Alpha Damon. You've been avoiding us."
"I've been busy," Damon replied coolly, though Selene caught the tightness in his jaw.
"Busy," another Councilman echoed, his eyes narrowing. "Or hiding something?"
Damon's golden gaze burned. "If you came all this way to lecture me, get it over with."
The tallest stepped forward. "Rumors spread, Alpha. Of a human in your territory. A girl who lingers too close." His lips curled faintly. "Tell us it's not true."
Selene's breath caught. She pressed back into the tree, willing herself invisible.
Damon didn't flinch. "Rumors are just that. Words. And words don't concern me."
The Councilman's eyes gleamed. "But if they're true… you know the law. No human may be bound to a wolf. The bond endangers both worlds."
Damon's growl rumbled low, primal. "The law was written by wolves who feared what they didn't understand."
A tense silence followed. Then the third Councilman—older, quieter—spoke. "Careful, Damon. Defiance has consequences. Even for you."
Selene's pulse thundered in her ears. She knew she should leave, run back to safety before they sensed her. But her feet stayed rooted.
Finally, the Council turned to leave, shadows swallowing them whole. But before disappearing, the leader cast Damon one last look.
"Choose wisely, Alpha. You cannot serve both worlds. If the human exists, she will be your downfall."
When the last echo of their footsteps faded, Selene stumbled into the clearing. She couldn't stay hidden anymore.
"They know," she whispered, panic lacing her voice. "They know, Damon."
He spun toward her, fury flashing in his eyes. "Selene, I told you to stay away tonight."
Tears burned her eyes, but she held her ground. "You think I could just sit in my room while everything falls apart? I heard them. If the Council finds out about me—"
"They won't." Damon's voice cracked like a whip. "I won't let them."
"But what if you can't stop them?" Her voice broke. "What if they take me away? What if they kill me?"
His chest rose and fell with ragged breaths. For the first time, Damon looked less like an unshakable Alpha and more like a man cornered.
He crossed the clearing in two strides, gripping her shoulders. His touch was fierce, almost desperate. "Listen to me, Selene. I will never let them touch you. Do you understand? Never."
Her heart hammered painfully. She searched his face, the raw intensity in his golden eyes. He meant every word. But the promise felt like a storm building, ready to tear the world apart.
Slowly, she nodded. "Then what do we do?"
Damon exhaled sharply, releasing her. He looked away, the muscles in his jaw flexing. "We play carefully. The Council will watch me now. Which means you have to be invisible. No mistakes, Selene. If they see you, if they sense the bond—"
"I'll be careful," she whispered, though dread twisted inside her.
But deep down, she knew being careful wouldn't be enough. The Council's shadow stretched far, and it was only a matter of time before it fell fully over them.
Later that night, Selene sat awake in her apartment, staring at the mark glowing faintly against her skin. Damon's vow echoed in her mind: Never.
But she couldn't ignore the tremor in his voice, the weight in his eyes.
For the first time, she wondered—could even an Alpha fight the entire world for her?
And if he did… what price would he pay?
Author's Note:
⚡ The Council has entered the game, and Selene's existence is no longer safe in the shadows. Damon has promised to protect her, but promises don't stop ancient laws. Do you think he'll be able to shield her, or will fate catch up? Don't forget to vote with Power Stones if you're hooked! ❤️