Selene stared out at the moonlit woods beyond the sprawling Caelum estate, the wind carrying the earthy scent of pine and frost. The same woods that had once felt like a sanctuary now seemed to mock her with their quiet indifference. Somewhere out there lay the path to answers—but she would have to tread it carefully.
Her reflection in the glass was almost unfamiliar. She looked every bit the perfect heiress: golden hair coiled into an elegant twist, an ivory gown flowing like starlight against her skin. But beneath the facade, her eyes betrayed the storm inside—a flicker of resolve mingled with pain.
The night was eerily quiet, save for the faint hum of activity from the Vance Pack's warriors stationed outside the gates. The same men who would one day turn their backs on her, she thought bitterly.
She closed her eyes, trying to shake the growing sense of dread. This loop was different. She could feel it in her bones. If she wasn't careful, it wouldn't just be her life she lost this time—it would be her soul.
The dining hall was grand, adorned with chandeliers that cast golden light over polished oak and silver settings. The guests—high-ranking wolves from both the Caelum and Vance packs—were seated in clusters, their laughter and chatter filling the room. But Selene barely heard them. Her focus was on Rowan.
He sat at the head of the table, the perfect image of an Alpha-in-waiting. Broad-shouldered and commanding, he held the room with ease, his charm weaving a spell over everyone present. But Selene knew better. She had seen the darkness in him, the ambition that burned brighter than any bond they shared.
Her heart clenched as his gaze met hers, a fleeting smile curving his lips. It was the smile of a man who believed he had already won.
Not this time.
Selene forced a smile in return and picked up her glass, masking her unease with practiced grace. She had played this role before—the dutiful fiancée, the obedient Luna-to-be. But this time, she would write her own script.
After the dinner, the estate's corridors were silent, save for the soft echo of Selene's heels against the marble floor. She had excused herself early, feigning fatigue, but in truth, she needed the solitude.
The library was her sanctuary. A sprawling room of ancient tomes and moonlit alcoves, it held secrets no one else seemed to care about. Selene ran her fingers along the spines of the books, her mind racing.
She had to piece it all together—the curse, the loops, her bloodline. There had to be a pattern, a way out. Each loop felt like a puzzle with missing pieces, and she was running out of time to solve it.
Her fingers paused on a leather-bound volume, its cover embossed with a crescent moon. It wasn't here before.
Her pulse quickened as she pulled it from the shelf. The book was old, its pages worn and brittle. Flipping through, she found passages written in an archaic script, the words whispering of the Moonblood Clan and the curse that had doomed them.
The blood of the Moon bears a cost. To wield its power, one must pay the price—a soul divided, a life unclaimed.
The words chilled her. She was about to read further when a voice broke the silence.
"I thought I might find you here."
Selene spun, her heart lurching, and found herself face-to-face with Rowan. He stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice steadier than she felt.
"I could ask you the same." He stepped closer, his movements deliberate. "You've been... distant tonight. Is something on your mind, Selene?"
His use of her name, soft and intimate, sent a shiver down her spine. Once, it had made her feel safe. Now, it felt like a trap.
"I'm just tired," she lied, slipping the book behind her. "It's been a long day."
Rowan's eyes lingered on her, as if searching for cracks in her mask. "You know you can trust me, don't you?"
Selene swallowed hard, her grip tightening on the book. "Of course."
But Rowan didn't move. Instead, he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You've changed, Selene. You're not the same woman I fell in love with."
Her breath hitched, but she forced herself to hold his gaze. "Maybe you never knew me at all."
For a moment, the mask slipped, and she saw something flicker in his eyes—doubt? Fear? Before she could decipher it, he stepped back, his smile returning.
"Goodnight, my Luna," he said, his tone dripping with mockery.
Selene waited until his footsteps faded before exhaling, her heart pounding. He was onto her.
The next morning, Selene ventured beyond the estate, the frosty air biting at her cheeks. The woods beckoned her, their shadows both familiar and foreboding.
She had made a decision. If she was going to break the cycle, she couldn't do it alone.
Kian Draven.
The rogue Alpha was her only hope. He had been an enigma in every loop—sometimes an ally, sometimes an adversary. But there was something about him that felt... different. As if he, too, was caught in this web of fate.
The path to his territory was treacherous, winding through dense forest and steep cliffs. Selene's breath fogged in the cold air as she pushed forward, her senses alert.
By the time she reached the edge of Kian's domain, dusk had fallen. The trees seemed to whisper warnings, their branches clawing at the sky.
"Kian," she called out, her voice steady despite the fear knotting in her chest.
For a moment, there was only silence. Then, a low growl echoed through the woods, sending a chill down her spine.
A figure emerged from the shadows, his presence commanding. Kian Draven was every bit as imposing as she remembered—tall, with dark eyes that seemed to see straight through her.
"You shouldn't be here," he said, his voice rough.
"I need your help," Selene replied, stepping forward.
Kian's gaze hardened. "Why would I help you, Caelum?"
"Because," she said, holding his gaze, "we're both running out of time."
The air between them crackled with tension, but before either could speak, a howl pierced the night—a sound that froze Selene's blood.
They weren't alone.
Kian's expression darkened as he turned toward the sound, his body tensing like a coiled spring. "You led them here."
"No," Selene protested. "I swear—"
Her words were cut off as figures emerged from the darkness, their eyes glowing with predatory intent.
Selene's heart raced as she recognized them. Wolves from Rowan's pack.
Kian's lips curled into a snarl, his fangs gleaming in the moonlight. "If you want to live, stay close to me."
And then, with a feral roar, he lunged into the fray.
Selene watched in horror as the first wave of wolves descended upon them. The air was thick with the scent of blood and fury, and for a moment, she thought she saw something—someone—lurking in the shadows beyond the fight.
A pair of silver eyes glinted in the darkness, watching her with a hunger that sent shivers down her spine.
The Shrouded Alpha was here.