Selene''s POV


    We both moaned in between the kiss, but then my senses snapped back into me, and I withdrew, pushing him away andnding a p on his face. The p was so hard that it echoed in the room.


    Breathing heavily, I took a few steps away from him while I watched him close his eyes for a moment, as ifposing himself, before he slowly opened them and fixed them on me. I swallowed hard but refused to let him see my fear or unease. I expected him to yell or get angry, but he didn''t. Rather, he sucked in a deep breath and turned to leave. I was dumbfounded as I watched him go for the door, but on reaching it, he paused. He didn''t turn, but he spoke.


    "I don''t want to see you with that little boyfriend of yours, Selene," he said softly. "If you want him alive, I suggest you end whatever''s between you. I don''t share—and you should know that by now."


    His tone was calm, almost gentle, but the threat underneath it sent chills racing through me. Without another nce, he opened the door, stepped out, and closed it quietly behind him.


    The moment he was gone, I copsed onto the bed, burying my face in my hands.


    Why did I do that?


    I pressed my hands against my face, trying to stop the flood of emotions crashing through me. Anger, confusion, and guilt—they all tangled inside me until I couldn''t tell which hurt more. I could still feel his warmth, his scent clinging to my skin like a memory I couldn''t wash away.


    "Moon Goddess…" I whispered shakily. "What''s happening to me?"


    My wolf stirred restlessly inside. You shouldn''t have pushed him away, she murmured, her voice soft but using. He was holding back. You felt it too.


    I shook my head. "No… I have to hate him."


    But even as I said it, my voice broke. Deep down, I knew it wasn''t that simple. Frederick wasn''t just any man—he was my mate, the one person my soul refused to let go of no matter how hard I tried.


    My hands dropped slowly from my face, and I stared at the closed door. A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it. I hated him for making me feel weak… but I hated myself even more for still wanting him.


    A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.


    "Selene?" Daniel''s voice came through, gentle and worried. "Are you okay? I heard something."


    I swallowed hard, wiping my face quickly. "I''m fine," I lied, forcing my voice steady.


    But as I looked at my reflection in the mirror—my flushed cheeks, trembling lips, and eyes filled with tears—I knew fine was thest thing I was.


    Daniel entered, shutting the door behind him with care. He sat beside me on the bed, saying nothing for a while. The silence between us was thick, almost suffocating. Finally, he spoke.


    "Will you tell him the truth?" Daniel suddenly asked, and I already knew what he was asking about. He was talking about the mate bond—about me telling Frederick that we are mates.


    "I can''t… If I do… he will never let go of me," I whispered.


    Daniel nodded as if understanding my reason, but then he spoke. "But if you really want to stop being attracted to him, you have to undergo a rejection with him. And how can you do that if you don''t tell him you both are mated?"


    I swallowed hard. Daniel had a point. I could only be free from this chaotic feeling if I severed my bond with Frederick. But how could I do that if I didn''t tell him we were mates? I knew telling him would be a bad idea because the Frederick I knew would never let go of me once he found out. He would never agree to a rejection.


    Daniel sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Then what''s your n, Selene? You can''t keep running from this. You''re hurting yourself."


    His words hit me harder than I wanted to admit. I bit my lip and tried to look away, but his hand gently caught my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. They were full of genuine concern for me.


    "Look at you," he said quietly. "You''re trembling just thinking about him. You say you hate him, but your whole body reacts when his namees up. That''s not hate, Selene. That''s the bond pulling you."


    Tears filled my eyes again. "Then how do I stop it, Daniel? How do I stop feeling this way about a man who ruined my life?"


    "You reject him," he said simply. "It''s the only way to break it."


    I shook my head, my voice barely a whisper. "You don''t know him like I do. Frederick won''t ept a rejection."


    Daniel frowned, concern etching deeper into his face. "Then you have to be smart about it. Find a way he won''t seeing."


    His words nted a seed of fear and determination in me at the same time. Maybe he was right. Maybe I needed to end this bond before it destroyed mepletely. But how could I reject someone who had already taken so much control over my heart?


    I brushed away the tear that escaped and whispered, more to myself than to Daniel, "He''ll never let me go."


    Daniel ced a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Or you don''t want to let go of him."


    I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but the words caught in my throat. Daniel''sst words echoed in my mind like a cruel truth I wasn''t ready to face. Maybe I don''t want to let go of him…


    Before I could reply, a loud knock shattered the tense silence.


    "Selene!"


    It was Louis''s voice—rushed, panicked.


    Daniel and I exchanged a quick, startled nce before I stood up and hurried to the door. The moment I opened it, Louis stumbled in, breathing hard, his eyes wide with worry.


    "Louis?" I asked, my heart jumping. "What happened?"


    He didn''t answer right away. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he tried to catch his breath. Then he looked at me, his expression breaking my heart.


    "Selene…" he said, his voice trembling. "Please—we need your help. It''s Olivia."