The air was thick with silence, heavy and unyielding. Selene stood frozen, her feet rooted to the damp forest floor. The moon, veiled by wisps of gray clouds, cast faint silvery light over the grove, illuminating the unmistakable figure before her.
Kian Draven.
He leaned against the gnarled trunk of an ancient oak, his broad shoulders cloaked in shadows. His piercing, storm-gray eyes gleamed, reflecting a predator's patience. The flicker of recognition between them felt like the snap of a taut string.
Selene's mind raced. She knew Kian, though they had never met in this iteration of her life. In one of her countless loops, he had been her savior—and her greatest enigma. A rogue Alpha with no allegiance, no pack to tether him, and no reason to care about anyone but himself. Yet here he was, watching her with an intensity that made her shiver.
"Lost, little Luna?" Kian's voice was a low rumble, rough as the bark he leaned against.
Selene clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She couldn't afford to show weakness, not now. Not to him. "Not lost. Just… thinking."
Kian's lips curved into a faint smirk. "Dangerous thing to do out here, so close to Vance territory."
The mention of Rowan's name sent a chill down her spine. She masked her fear with a glare. "I can handle myself."
Kian pushed off the tree, his movements smooth and deliberate, like a panther stalking its prey. The distance between them evaporated in a heartbeat, and Selene found herself looking up at him. He towered over her, his presence overwhelming yet strangely comforting.
"You're brave," he murmured, his eyes scanning her face as if searching for something. "Or foolish. Sometimes, it's hard to tell the difference."
Selene's heart pounded. He had no idea who she truly was, what she had endured. But his gaze made her feel exposed, as though he could see the scars she carried within her soul.
"I'm neither," she replied, her voice steadier than she felt. "I'm just... surviving."
Kian's expression softened, just for a moment. Then the smirk returned, a shield against vulnerability. "Surviving's a tricky thing these days." He stepped back, giving her space. "You're lucky I found you first. Rowan's men aren't exactly gentle with trespassers."
The name clawed at her resolve, but Selene refused to falter. "Why do you care?"
Kian tilted his head, studying her like a puzzle he couldn't quite solve. "Maybe I don't."
The wind rustled through the trees, carrying the distant howls of wolves. Selene's breath hitched.
"I need to go," she said, turning away.
"Wait."
The single word stopped her. She looked back to see Kian holding out a small, carved wooden talisman. It dangled from a frayed leather cord, its intricate design mesmerizing in the moonlight.
"Take this," he said.
"What is it?"
"Protection," he replied simply.
Selene hesitated. Trusting anyone was a risk, especially him. But something in Kian's eyes—a flicker of sincerity—compelled her to reach out and take the talisman.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Kian nodded, his expression unreadable. "Be careful, Selene."
Her breath caught in her throat. "How do you know my name?"
But he was already gone, melting into the shadows as if he had never been there.
Selene clutched the talisman tightly as she made her way back to the Caelum estate. The grand mansion loomed in the distance, its stone walls bathed in pale moonlight. The sight of it filled her with a mix of relief and dread.
Lucian and Astrid were waiting for her inside, their polished façades concealing the lies they had spun. They had raised her, nurtured her, but they had also deceived her, keeping the truth of her lineage hidden.
She slipped through the heavy oak doors, her footsteps silent on the marble floors. The house was quiet, the staff long since retired for the night. Selene's room, with its soft, silken sheets and ornate furnishings, felt more like a cage than a sanctuary.
She sat on the edge of her bed, turning the talisman over in her hands. The carvings seemed to shift in the faint candlelight, forming patterns she couldn't quite decipher. Was it truly protection? Or was it a trap, another layer to the endless web she was ensnared in?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. She tensed, her instincts screaming danger.
"Who is it?" she called out.
The door creaked open, and Astrid stepped inside. Her pale blonde hair was pulled back in a severe bun, and her sharp blue eyes held the weight of unspoken words.
"You were out late," Astrid said, her tone cool and measured.
"I needed air," Selene replied, slipping the talisman into her pocket.
Astrid's gaze lingered on her for a moment before she stepped closer, her heels clicking softly against the floor. "You're not safe out there, Selene. Not with everything at stake."
The words dripped with meaning, but Selene was too exhausted to decipher them. "I'll be careful."
Astrid reached out, placing a hand on Selene's shoulder. It was meant to be comforting, but it felt like a warning. "Good. Because if you make a mistake, there won't be a second chance."
Selene met her adoptive mother's gaze, her heart pounding. Did Astrid know about the loops? Or was this simply another veiled threat to keep her in line?
"I understand," Selene said, her voice steady.
Astrid nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Selene exhaled shakily, her mind racing. The loops, Kian, the talisman—everything was spiraling out of control. She needed answers, and she needed them fast.
As she lay down, the talisman still clutched in her hand, sleep eluded her. The shadows on the walls seemed to shift, whispering secrets she couldn't quite hear.
And then she felt it—a presence, dark and suffocating.
Her eyes snapped open, and she sat up, her breath coming in short gasps. Standing at the foot of her bed was a figure cloaked in darkness, its eyes glowing a deep crimson.
"Selene," it said, its voice a guttural snarl. "You cannot escape."
The room seemed to close in around her, the air thick with dread. Selene's heart raced as she reached for the talisman, its warmth a small comfort in the face of the encroaching terror.
But before she could react, the figure lunged.
The Shadows Close In Selene's scream echoed through the silent mansion as the darkness swallowed her whole.