The sun hung low, its golden light spilling through the forest canopy in fractured beams, painting the ground in flecks of shimmering amber. Selene walked cautiously, each step deliberate, her senses heightened in a way that felt both familiar and foreign. The weight of her circumstances pressed against her chest, but she pushed forward, her resolve unyielding.
The air around her crackled with a strange energy, an almost electric hum that seemed to vibrate in her bones. She had felt it before—an echo of the time loop's magic pulling her back to the very beginning of this cursed game. Only this time, it felt different. There was no immediate threat. No sharp pang of betrayal. Just... stillness.
Selene's fingers brushed the rough bark of a towering oak as she steadied herself. "I'm not the same girl you can toy with anymore," she murmured, her voice a whispered promise to herself. Her heart pounded, not with fear, but with the resolve of someone who had faced death countless times and refused to succumb again.
The faint sound of water drew her attention. A stream? She moved toward it, her bare feet crunching softly against the forest floor. When she reached the clearing, she stopped short, her breath catching in her throat.
The stream glistened in the fading sunlight, its surface rippling with the gentle caress of the wind. And there, across the bank, was a man.
Kian Draven.
Selene froze, her instincts battling her memories. Kian hadn't appeared this early in her previous loops. Their first meeting had always been marked by chaos—an ambush, a chase, and the undeniable tension of two predators circling each other. But now, he stood before her, as though the universe had decided to shuffle its pieces.
He was as she remembered: broad shoulders wrapped in a dark cloak, his sharp features etched with an intensity that seemed to cut through the very air around him. His eyes, a piercing shade of silver, locked onto her with an unreadable expression.
"What are you doing here?" His voice was low, almost a growl, carrying an edge of suspicion.
Selene stepped forward cautiously, aware that any sudden movement could spark an unnecessary confrontation. "I could ask you the same," she replied, keeping her tone measured.
Kian's lips twitched into the semblance of a smirk, but it lacked warmth. "This is rogue territory. You shouldn't be here."
"Neither should you."
They stared at each other for a long moment, the tension palpable. Selene's mind raced. This was her chance to change the narrative, to rewrite this meeting into something more than a fleeting alliance of convenience. But she had to tread carefully. Kian was as dangerous as he was intriguing—a man with his own demons, and he wasn't likely to trust easily.
"Listen," she began, choosing her words with care. "I'm not here to cause trouble. I just need... time. Space to figure things out."
His gaze flickered, a subtle shift that betrayed his curiosity. "You look like someone who's running from something," he said, his tone softer now, though still guarded.
"I'm not running," Selene countered, her voice firm. "I'm preparing."
Kian tilted his head, studying her. "For what?"
Selene hesitated. How could she explain the tangled web of her existence—the loops, the betrayals, the curse—without sounding insane? She decided to offer a fragment of the truth. "For a battle that hasn't started yet," she said finally. "But it's coming."
Kian's expression darkened, a flicker of recognition crossing his features. "You're not the only one," he muttered, almost to himself.
Before Selene could press him further, a rustling in the trees behind her snapped her attention away. Her senses flared, and she turned sharply, her body tensing.
"Wolves," Kian said quietly, stepping to her side.
They emerged from the shadows one by one, their eyes glowing with a feral light. A pack—five, no, six of them—encircled the clearing, their growls low and menacing. Selene recognized the insignia on their armor: the Vance Pack. Rowan's enforcers.
"So much for preparation," Kian muttered, his voice laced with dry humor.
Selene shot him a glare. "I didn't ask for your help."
"And yet, here I am," he replied smoothly, already shifting his stance into one of readiness.
The leader of the pack stepped forward, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "Selene Caelum," he drawled, his voice dripping with malice. "The Alpha sends his regards."
Selene's heart twisted, but she refused to show fear. She stood tall, meeting the wolf's gaze with icy determination. "Tell Rowan he'll have to try harder than this."
The wolf snarled, but before he could respond, Kian let out a low growl that sent a shiver down Selene's spine. "If you've come for a fight," Kian said, his voice deadly calm, "you'd better be ready to lose."
The wolves hesitated, their confidence wavering under the weight of Kian's presence. But the leader barked an order, and they lunged.
Chaos erupted.
Selene moved with practiced precision, her instincts honed by countless loops. She ducked and spun, avoiding claws and teeth as she delivered swift, calculated strikes. Beside her, Kian was a blur of raw power, his movements fluid and devastating. Together, they wove through the fray, an unspoken rhythm guiding their actions.
But even as they fought, Selene couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The wolves were too coordinated, their attacks too deliberate. This wasn't just a routine ambush—it was a message.
A sharp pain lanced through her side, and Selene staggered, her vision blurring for a moment. A wolf had caught her with its claws, tearing through her dress and leaving a shallow but bloody wound. She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay upright.
"Selene!" Kian's voice cut through the chaos, and she turned to see him dispatching the last of their attackers. The clearing fell silent, save for the sound of her ragged breathing.
Kian approached her, his silver eyes narrowing as he took in her injury. "You're hurt."
"I've had worse," Selene replied, brushing him off.
His jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. Instead, he glanced at the fallen wolves, his expression grim. "This wasn't random," he said. "They were sent to test you."
Selene nodded, her mind racing. "And they'll report back. Rowan will know I'm alive."
Kian's gaze hardened. "Then we need to move. Now."
As they disappeared into the shadows of the forest, Selene couldn't shake the feeling that this loop was already diverging from the ones before it. And for the first time, she wondered: was that a good thing... or something far worse?
Deep in the Vance Pack's stronghold, Rowan stood in front of a glowing crystal orb, its surface swirling with images of Selene and Kian battling his wolves.
"She's stronger than before," Rowan muttered, his tone laced with frustration.
Behind him, a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, its voice a chilling whisper. "Good. Let her grow stronger. It will make her fall all the more satisfying."
Rowan turned, his expression wary. "Are you sure this is the right path?"
The figure smiled, its teeth glinting like shards of glass. "Trust me, Alpha. This is only the beginning."