Her wolf whispered, He's near.
And then
"Selene."
She spun.
Michael stood just there, half-shadow, eyes burning gold.
Selene's breath stalled. Her wolf howled for him, desperate.
Maren appeared, voice sharp as a slap. "Don't. Don't go with him."
Michael didn't flinch. His eyes were glued to Selene, like she was the only spark left in a dark room. "Come with me."
Selene's lips parted just a breath, but her body was already leaning into the pull before her brain could toss up a warning sign.
Maren's fingers wrapped tight around her wrist. "Selene "
Her voice nearly fell apart. "I have to."
Maren's hold trembled, then slipped away, her face drained to chalk. "If you go, Selene… you might not come back."
Selene's heart beat so loud it was a drum in her chest. She couldn't look away from Michael.
"I'll come," she whispered, barely trusting her own voice.
Michael moved through the trees like he belonged to them, Selene trailing after, pulse thundering. Each step felt like she was tumbling off a cliff and loving the fall.
They reached an old cabin, hidden by shadows. Michael shoved the door open, and Selene tumbled in after, breathless, the air thick as velvet almost suffocating.
He closed the door behind them, turned. His eyes burned, wild and restless, the wolf in him prowling just beneath the skin.
"You feel it too," Selene whispered, tears catching her words. "Don't you?"
Michael's jaw worked, fighting the truth. "Yeah."
Her heart soared and shattered, all at once. "Then why look away?"
He growled, rough and low. "Because it's wrong. You're Moonveil. I'm Shadowfang. Our packs would torch us both before letting this be."
Selene shook, but stepped closer. "I don't care about them. I care about you."
He sucked in a shaky breath, barely holding it together. "You don't get it, Selene. They'll use you against me. Hurt you just to watch me bleed."
Her voice broke open. "Let them try. I would rather die with this bond than live pretending it isn't real."
Michael's wolf howled, echoing somewhere deep. His hands trembled as he reached for her then hesitated, fighting himself.
Selene caught his hand, pressed it to her heart, wild and thundering. "Feel it. Tell me you don't want me."
His breath snagged. Resolve crumbled. In a heartbeat, his lips crashed into hers, hungry and fierce, no turning back.
Selene's POV
Michael's mouth crashed into mine urgent, wild, like he'd finally lost the war with himself. His hands cupped my face, fingers trembling hard enough to make me dizzy. His wolf God, I could feel it in him, clawing up, claiming me.
Fire.
That's what was… fire in my blood, burning me up from the inside. My knees went out. I grabbed his shirt, dragging him closer, needing more, needing everything.
I pulled away, gasping for breath. "Michael "
"Don't say my name." His forehead pressed to mine, voice all wrecked and raw. "If you do, I won't stop."
I couldn't help it. "Then don't stop," I breathed, tears pricking. Please, God, don't stop.
He let out this sound almost a growl, all heat and pain. Then his mouth was on mine again, rougher, hungrier, like he was starving. He shoved me against the cabin wall, hands everywhere, shaking, barely keeping it together.
I shivered. "This… this is real. The bond is real."
His jaw went rigid. "Yeah." He kissed me, softer now, like saying it out loud cost him everything. "You're mine, Selene."
Those words cracked me wide open. My wolf inside yowled pure, shattered joy.
I gripped him, desperate. "Then take me. Please."
A guttural growl ripped out of him, primal enough to make me shiver again. Next thing, he scooped me up, carried me to the bed. He set me down gently, but the look in his eyes, burning gold, haunted and almost scared me.
"You don't know what you're asking."
"I do." My voice shook, but I held his gaze. "If this is it just tonight let me have it."
The last of his control broke. With a sound that was half pain, half hunger, he kissed me again. His hands slid down my body, setting every nerve on fire. Nothing else existed just his touch, his breath, his wolf claiming me in ways words never could.
Clothes came down to the floor as his mouth ravished my whole skin. The first thrust made me throw my head back and bit my lips. I followed his rhythm as he increased the pace.
Desperate.
Starving.
Holy.
And for a second, I let myself believe it might last.
After, only breathing the frantic, shaky kind. Michael lay beside me, staring at the ceiling, every line of him tense as a bowstring.
I rolled toward him, hand on his chest. His heart thundered under my palm.
"Michael?"
His jaw clenched. "Don't."
My heart jumped. "Don't what?"
"Don't say my name like that." His eyes flicked to mine, wounded, pleading. "Don't look at me like I'm yours."
The words stung. "But I am. The Goddess "
He laughed sharply, ugly. "The Goddess screwed up." His voice was low, brutal.
I sat up, clutching the blanket. "No, don't say that. You felt it too "
"Yes, I felt it," he snapped, sitting up, golden eyes blazing. "That's why I have to end it before it destroys us."
Tears blurred my vision. "End it? After what we just ?"
"That was weakness." His voice was a knife. "I let my wolf have me. But this bond " He shook his head, fists tight. "It's poison, Selene. You're Moonveil's shame. Their weak omega. If they knew you were my mate, they would laugh me out of my throne. They'd use you to break me."
His words gutted me. "So you'll just pretend this didn't happen?"
Michael's hands shook. I could see him shattering. "If I claim you, you die. If I don't at least you live."
"But without you " My voice broke. "I won't survive."
Pain flickered in his eyes before he killed it dead. He stood, back rigid, shoulders trembling like he was falling apart.