The moon cast its silvery glow over the Caelum estate, each beam weaving through the dense canopy of oak and pine. The once imposing manor, with its high walls and intricate carvings, now felt suffocating, its beauty overshadowed by the weight of secrets lurking within. Selene's hand lingered on the cool iron banister as she descended the staircase, her steps measured and deliberate. She needed to appear calm, unaffected.
Every pair of eyes in the dining hall below were trained on her, but her focus was on Rowan Vance, seated at the head of the long oak table. His commanding presence filled the room, his posture straight and deliberate, every gesture rehearsed to exude control. For a moment, their gazes met, and Selene felt a surge of cold fury. He smiled, a perfectly practiced expression that once had the power to send her heart racing. Now, it only fanned the flames of her resentment.
"Selene," Rowan greeted, his voice smooth as silk but laced with authority. "You're late."
"I had to make a few preparations," she replied evenly, lowering herself into the seat at the opposite end of the table. Her tone was cordial, almost distant, a sharp contrast to the warmth she once offered him.
The quiet murmur of conversation resumed among the guests, all members of the Vance Pack's elite circle. Strategists, warriors, and their mates filled the space, each one contributing to the illusion of a tightly knit pack. Selene's eyes darted to Tobias, Rowan's Beta, who leaned close to a visiting Alpha's ear, his expression smug and calculating.
She'd seen this scene before—dozens of times, in dozens of loops. Tobias whispering, Rowan smiling, Lucian sitting silently, brooding at her side. Every word, every gesture was the same. It was the predictability of it all that made her skin crawl.
The curse wasn't just a repetition of time—it was a performance.
Selene inhaled deeply, the scent of roasted venison and red wine doing little to steady her nerves. Tonight was the night Rowan would start making his move to discredit her. She'd seen it unfold countless times before: a calculated series of events to sow doubt about her legitimacy, ensuring that by the time her world shattered, no one would stand at her side.
But not this time.
Selene straightened her shoulders, her lips curving into a serene smile. She wasn't the same naive girl Rowan had betrayed in the first loop. This time, she wasn't here to play along.
The Dance of Deception
The sound of clinking glasses and low murmurs filled the air. Selene forced herself to engage in polite conversation with the pack's Gamma and his mate, her words light and measured. Her gaze, however, remained sharp, darting to Rowan as he held court with the Alphas seated near him.
Rowan's charm was undeniable. His laughter was genuine, his words eloquent. He leaned in slightly as he spoke, creating the illusion of intimacy, making each person believe they had his undivided attention. He was a natural leader, and it was this charisma that made him so dangerous.
"Selene," Rowan called, his voice cutting through the room's hum.
She looked up, feigning surprise. "Yes?"
"Join me for a moment," he said, gesturing to the empty seat beside him. "There's something I'd like to discuss."
The room quieted slightly as eyes turned toward her. Selene's smile didn't falter as she stood, gliding toward him with the grace of someone utterly unbothered. She lowered herself into the seat, the scent of his cologne—cedar and musk—filling her nostrils.
"Is something on your mind?" she asked sweetly, her fingers wrapping around the delicate stem of her wine glass.
Rowan leaned closer, his voice low enough that only she could hear. "I've noticed some... irregularities in the estate's finances. Nothing too alarming, of course, but enough to raise questions."
Selene took a sip of her wine, the bitter liquid grounding her. "I wasn't aware you'd taken such an interest in bookkeeping."
"It's my duty as your mate-to-be," he said, his tone dripping with mock sincerity. "The welfare of the Caelum family is tied to the Vance Pack, after all."
The veiled accusation was clear. Rowan was laying the groundwork to frame her as a careless heiress—or worse, a fraud.
Selene's gaze hardened. "I'm glad to know you're so invested, Rowan. Perhaps we should review the accounts together tomorrow. Transparency is, after all, the foundation of trust."
Her words caught him off guard, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face before he quickly masked it with a smile. "Of course," he replied smoothly.
An Unlikely Encounter
The dinner concluded with little fanfare, though Selene could feel the tension in the air. Rowan and his inner circle were already plotting their next move, and she needed to stay two steps ahead.
As the guests filtered out, Selene excused herself, stepping onto the balcony that overlooked the sprawling estate grounds. The cool night air was a welcome reprieve from the stifling atmosphere inside. She leaned against the stone railing, her thoughts racing.
"Trying to escape?"
The deep voice startled her, and she turned to see a tall figure emerging from the shadows. Kian Draven.
His presence was as unsettling as it was magnetic. The rogue Alpha's piercing blue eyes seemed to cut through her defenses, his dark hair slightly disheveled as if he'd just stepped out of a brawl.
"Kian," she said, her voice steady despite her racing heart. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same," he replied, leaning casually against the railing beside her. "This isn't exactly your scene anymore, is it?"
Selene's jaw tightened. She wasn't sure how much Kian knew about her situation, but his sharp intuition made him a dangerous wildcard.
"Why are you here?" she asked again, this time more firmly.
Kian's lips twitched into a smirk. "Let's just say I've been keeping an eye on things. Your pack isn't as impenetrable as you think."
Her pulse quickened. "You're taking a risk being here."
"So are you," he shot back, his expression darkening. "Playing their game, pretending to be someone you're not—it's only going to end one way, Selene."
She turned away, gripping the railing until her knuckles turned white. "You don't know anything about me."
"I know more than you think," he said, his voice low and laced with warning. "And if you keep walking this path, you're going to get yourself killed. Again."
Selene froze, her breath catching in her throat. The weight of his words pressed against her, the implication too chilling to ignore.
"How do you—"
Kian stepped closer, his gaze burning into hers. "You're not the only one who's been through this before."
Selene's mind raced as she stared at him, the world tilting on its axis. How could he possibly know about the loops? About her deaths?
Before she could demand answers, a howl pierced the night, its mournful tone sending a shiver down her spine. It was a warning.
Kian's expression darkened, his body tensing. "We need to leave. Now."
The air grew heavy, the scent of blood carried on the breeze. Selene turned toward the estate, her heart sinking as she saw the faint glow of flames in the distance.
The attack had begun.