The next morning, Selene awoke with the mark on her wrist still glowing faintly. Damon had vanished before dawn, leaving only the faintest trace of his scent in the air—woodsmoke, rain, and something sharper that lingered on her skin.
She touched her wrist, remembering the blood, the pain, the impossible healing. The memory unsettled her more than she cared to admit. If the bond was capable of that, what else could it do?
But Damon wasn't going to give her answers. Not yet.
So she decided to find her own.
The university library was nearly empty when she slipped inside that evening, her hoodie pulled low, her steps light. Most of the students were cramming for exams, hunched over textbooks. Selene bypassed them, heading for the section nobody ever touched: folklore and anthropology.
Her fingers brushed over spines, pausing on titles. Legends of the Old World. Myths of the Forgotten North. And then—The Shadow Between Man and Beast.
Her pulse quickened. She pulled the book down, dust puffing into the air, and carried it to a quiet corner.
Flipping through brittle pages, she found stories that chilled her to the bone.
Tales of humans bound to wolves. Some were worshiped as prophets, their visions guiding packs through famine and war. Others were feared, hunted as abominations. In every story, the human never survived long.
Her hands shook as she traced the ink drawings—wolves standing over fragile human figures marked with glowing runes.
The words burned in her mind: A bond between wolf and human is power beyond nature. And power always demands a price.
"You're looking in dangerous places."
Selene nearly dropped the book. She turned sharply to find a figure leaning against the shelf.
Kieran.
His lips curved in that mocking smile she hated, though tonight there was no humor in his eyes.
"You shouldn't sneak up on people," she hissed, hugging the book to her chest.
"I wouldn't have to if you weren't digging through things better left buried." His gaze flicked to the book. "Humans and wolves. Do you know what happens to them, Selene?"
Her voice faltered. "They… die."
Kieran's smile widened, cold and sharp. "They burn out. The bond devours them. You're already feeling it, aren't you? The pain, the blood. Soon, it won't just be his wounds you share. It'll be his instincts. His hunger."
Her stomach twisted. She hated that his words rang true.
"Why are you telling me this?" she demanded.
"Because you deserve to know the truth," Kieran said simply, though his eyes glittered with something more. "Damon won't tell you. He'd rather chain you to him and let you unravel, piece by piece. But I…" His voice dropped, silk and steel. "I could set you free."
Selene's breath caught. For a heartbeat, she almost believed him.
But then she remembered Damon's vow—I will protect you, from Kieran most of all.
She shoved the book into her bag and rose to her feet. "I don't need your help."
Kieran tilted his head, studying her. "No. But you will."
And then he was gone, melting into the shadows between shelves, leaving Selene's pulse racing.
She didn't notice Damon until she stepped outside.
He was leaning against a lamppost, arms crossed, golden eyes narrowed.
Her heart leapt and sank all at once. "You followed me."
"Yes," he said flatly. "And it's a good thing I did. Kieran was here."
Selene froze. "You knew?"
"I felt the bond shift. I knew he was near." His jaw tightened. "What did he say to you?"
She hesitated. Part of her wanted to hide it, to protect Damon from more anger. But the memory of blood in her throat stopped her.
"He told me humans bound to wolves don't survive. That the bond will destroy me."
For a long moment, Damon said nothing. His silence was louder than any denial.
Her voice cracked. "It's true, isn't it?"
His eyes met hers, raw and fierce. "I don't care what their stories say. I won't let it happen."
Tears stung her eyes. "You can't fight fate, Damon."
"Yes, I can." His hand caught her wrist, pressing over the mark that bound them. His voice was a vow carved in stone. "If this bond tries to take you from me, I'll tear the world apart to stop it."
Her chest ached at the conviction in his voice, at the sheer ferocity of his love. She wanted to believe him. She needed to.
But as she leaned into him, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat against her ear, the words from the book whispered through her mind.
Power always demands a price.
And she feared theirs had only just begun to come due.
Author's Note:
📖 Selene has uncovered the truth about human-wolf bonds—and it isn't pretty. Kieran has planted doubts in her mind, while Damon's vow grows fiercer by the day. Do you believe Damon can really fight fate? Or is Selene's doom inevitable? Don't forget to vote with Power Stones if you want more secrets revealed! ❤️