The rogue camp was unlike anything Selene had imagined. It sprawled deep within the forest, hidden beneath a canopy so thick the moonlight barely pierced it. Wolves lounged in the shadows, scarred and feral, their eyes following Selene like predators sizing up prey.
Damon walked at her side, his presence radiating authority, but even he couldn't mask the unease rippling through the pack. These weren't Blackthorn wolves, bound by loyalty and law. These were survivors. Unpredictable. Dangerous.
Aria led them to the center, her braid swinging down her back. "If your human is to stand among us," she said, voice sharp as steel, "she must prove she is more than a burden."
Selene stiffened. "Prove? How?"
Aria's smile was cold. "By fire."
That night, a ring of flames was built in the clearing. Wolves circled it, their eyes glowing in the flickering light. Selene stood in the center, her heart pounding. The fire crackled high, smoke stinging her lungs.
Damon growled low, stepping forward. "This is unnecessary."
Aria raised a brow. "Your bond makes her our weapon. But what use is a weapon if it shatters under pressure?" Her gaze slid to Selene, mocking. "Or perhaps you'd rather keep her caged, Alpha?"
Selene's fists clenched. She hated Aria's words, hated how they cut deep because they carried truth. She didn't want to be Damon's weakness. She wanted to be his strength.
"I'll do it," Selene said, before Damon could stop her.
His golden eyes snapped to her, fury blazing. "Selene—"
She met his gaze, her voice steady despite the fear clawing inside her. "I have to. For you. For us."
His jaw tightened, but he said nothing. Only moved closer, so close she could feel the heat of his body through the fire.
"Then I'm with you," he whispered.
Aria's voice rang out. "The Trial of Fire begins."
From the shadows, two wolves stepped forward carrying bowls of glowing embers. They scattered the embers into the ring until the ground itself shimmered with heat. Selene's throat tightened as the flames hissed and sparked.
"Walk the circle," Aria commanded. "Let the fire test you. If you falter, the bond is a lie."
Gasps rippled through the rogues. Damon snarled, but Selene placed her hand on his arm.
"It's okay," she whispered.
Then she stepped barefoot onto the searing ground.
Pain lanced through her instantly. Every ember burned like molten knives against her skin. Her body screamed to stop, to run, but she forced herself forward.
One step. Two. Three.
The flames roared higher, as though feeding on her agony.
Selene bit her lip until blood filled her mouth. Her vision blurred. The world narrowed to fire and pain.
I can't—
Then a rush of heat surged through her wrist. The bond. Damon.
Through it, she felt him—his strength pouring into her veins, his voice growling in her mind. You are not weak. You are mine. You are fire.
Her legs steadied. Her chest lifted. She took another step. And another.
Around her, the rogues murmured, their hard gazes shifting with something close to awe.
Halfway through, her knees buckled. The flames licked her skin, heat blistering her feet. She cried out, stumbling.
In an instant, Damon was there, the firelight carving his face into a mask of fury and desperation. He couldn't cross the flames without ending the trial, but his voice roared through the bond.
Stand, Selene! Stand for us!
Her mark blazed like a star. With a scream torn from the depths of her soul, she rose again. Step after agonizing step, she pushed forward until, at last, she crossed the circle.
The flames died down instantly, leaving only smoke curling into the night.
Selene collapsed to her knees, her chest heaving, sweat and tears streaking her face. Damon was at her side in a heartbeat, gathering her into his arms. His lips pressed to her hair, his voice rough.
"You did it. Gods, Selene, you did it."
The rogues stared in stunned silence. Then, slowly, one wolf began to howl. Another joined. Then another. The sound swelled until the forest shook with it.
Selene clung to Damon, trembling, but in that moment, she knew she had won more than survival.
She had earned their respect.
Later, as Damon wrapped her blistered feet with strips of cloth, he shook his head. "You nearly destroyed yourself."
Selene touched his cheek softly. "But I didn't. And now they see me as more than your weakness."
His golden eyes burned, fierce and tender all at once. "You've never been my weakness. You're the only thing keeping me from falling apart."
Her heart swelled, aching and full. She leaned forward, pressing her lips to his. The kiss was fire, raw and desperate, the bond between them thrumming like a heartbeat.
When they finally pulled apart, Selene whispered, "Then let's never let them see us break."
Author's Note:
🔥💔 Selene has faced the Trial of Fire and survived, proving her strength to the rogues—and to herself. But every victory comes with a cost. Do you think Aria truly supports Damon and Selene, or is she testing them for her own gain? Share your thoughts and vote with Power Stones if you loved Selene's bravery in this chapter! ❤️