Selene''s POV


    I sat at the edge of my bed, trying to focus on what my friend Daniel was saying, but my thoughts kept drifting. Everything had been chaos these past few days: Olivia''s ritual, Lennox''s condition, the constant tension in the air.


    Daniel ced aforting hand on my shoulder. "You''re thinking about him again, aren''t you?"


    I sighed, not bothering to deny it. "He is my mate, but I have to hate him, Daniel."


    Daniel gave a half-smile. "You sure about that? Because your voice just softened when you said his name."


    I frowned at him, but before I could reply, a familiar, faint scent drifted through the air—musky, strong, unforgettable.


    Frederick.


    My heart skipped painfully. I turned sharply toward the door, pulse racing. I didn''t even need to check. My wolf stirred uneasily inside me. He''s here.


    Daniel followed my gaze. "What''s wrong?"


    "He''s here," I whispered. "Frederick."


    Daniel straightened, already sensing the tension in my voice. "Do you want me to leave?"


    I hesitated, then an idea formed, wild and stupid but necessary.


    "No," I said quickly. "I need your help."


    His brow furrowed. "Help? With what?"


    I stood up and took a shaky breath. "Pretend… pretend we''re together. That you''re with me."


    "What?" Daniel blinked. "You mean—"


    "Yes," I cut him off. "If he thinks I''ve moved on, maybe he''ll stoping around. Maybe he''ll finally let me go."


    Daniel hesitated. "Selene, that''s cruel."


    I swallowed hard. "It''s the only way."


    He sighed. "Alright. What do you want me to do?"


    I looked toward the door again. The footsteps were closer now. "Just… y along," I whispered.


    Before I could lose my nerve, I leaned in and kissed him.


    It was awkward, rushed, but the moment our lips touched, the door burst open.


    And there he was.


    Frederick stood frozen in the doorway, his expression one I''d never forget—shock, pain, disbelief, and rage all tangled together.


    I felt my chest tighten painfully, my wolf growling in guilt and confusion. But I didn''t pull away.


    I couldn''t.


    So I kissed Daniel again, even though every part of me screamed against it—my heart, my body, my wolf.


    Because I had to make him believe.


    Suddenly, Frederick''s hand gripped my arm, yanking me away from Daniel so fast I barely had time to breathe.


    "What the hell are you doing?" I shouted, pushing at his chest, trying to free myself.


    His voice came out low and sharp. "What am I doing? The better question is, who the hell is he?"


    I met his re head-on, even though my heart was pounding. "This is Daniel," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. "My boyfriend. I told you I have a boyfriend."


    For a moment, the room was silent. Frederick just stared at me, his chest rising and falling heavily. Then a bitterugh escaped him, rough and broken. "Your boyfriend," he repeated slowly. "A boyfriend you couldn''t give your virginity to."


    His words stung, but I lifted my chin. "You have no right to question me, Frederick. What we had was a mistake."


    "It wasn''t a mistake for me!" he roared, mming his hand against the wall beside me. The sound made me flinch, though I refused to look away.


    "Please," I whispered, my voice trembling despite my defiance. "Just leave."


    He didn''t move. Instead, he turned to Daniel, his eyes cold. "Get out."


    Daniel froze, ncing at me for guidance. "Maybe I should—"


    "No," I said quickly, stepping forward. "You don''t have to—"


    But Daniel sighed. "It''s fine, Selene. I''ll step outside." He gave me a look—part worry, part warning—before walking out and quietly closing the door behind him.


    The second the door clicked, Frederick turned back to me.


    "Frederick—"


    I didn''t get to finish.


    He was already in front of me, pressing me against the wall. My breath caught in my throat. His body towered over mine, his eyes burning like wildfire.


    "Let me go," I said, pushing against his chest, but his grip didn''t loosen.


    He wasn''t hurting me, but his presence was overwhelming, consuming.


    His voice dropped low. "You think you can rece me that easily? You think he can touch what''s mine?"


    My heart skipped. "Yours?" I spat back, anger and fear twisting together inside me. "I was never yours. What happened between us was an act for me."


    His eyes darkened further. "It wasn''t for me, Selene!"


    "I don''t care," I shot back, my voice breaking. "I acted as if I liked you because I wanted to get closer so I could kill you." I spat on his face.


    He stopped. His breathing slowed, his expression shifting from anger to pain.


    My wolf stirred painfully inside me, whimpering, caught between anger and longing.


    I hated this.


    I hated that my body still remembered him—the warmth of his touch, the way his voice used to soften when he said my name.


    He leaned closer, his breath brushing against my cheek. "I love you, Selene. Tell me you don''t," he murmured. "Look me in the eyes and tell me you don''t still love me."


    I swallowed hard, my voice trapped somewhere between my heart and my throat.


    And I couldn''t say it.


    Not because I didn''t want to, but because the truth was already written in the way my heart raced beneath his touch.


    Frederick''s hand was still braced against the wall beside my head, his body close enough that I could feel the heat radiating off him. My pulse pounded in my ears.


    "Say it," he whispered, his voice low and rough. "Tell me you don''t love me."


    I wanted to. Moon Goddess, I wanted to scream it.


    But the words wouldn''te.


    Instead, my breath came out shaky, and when I finally met his eyes, everything in me trembled. There was no anger left in them—only pain, longing, and that familiar pull that had always drawn me to him, no matter how much I tried to fight it.


    His thumb brushed against my cheek. I didn''t move. Couldn''t.


    "Frederick…" I breathed, but it came out as a plea instead of a warning.


    He leaned closer, his breath warm against my lips. "Tell me to stop," he murmured.


    I didn''t.


    And then his mouth was on mine.


    The kiss was fierce, desperate, as if he''d been holding it back for years. My hands pushed at his chest at first, weakly, but the moment his lips softened, everything inside me melted.


    My fingers gripped his shirt, pulling him closer instead of pushing him away. He deepened the kiss, one hand sliding around my waist, the other cupping the back of my neck.


    Every thought, every reason to resist, vanished.


    All I could feel was him.