Selene's POV
I woke to darkness and the smell of mildew.
My head throbbed where something had struck me, and when I tried to move, I realized my hands were bound behind my back with rough rope.
"She's awake," a voice said from somewhere to my left.
I blinked, trying to clear my vision. Slowly, shapes emerged from the darkness—three figures, all wearing masks that concealed their faces.
"Who are you?" I demanded, proud when my voice didn't shake. "What do you want?"
"So many questions." The one in the middle stepped closer. Even through the mask, I could see the cruel smile. "And here I thought you'd be grateful. We just saved you from the big bad Nightshade Alpha."
"I didn't need saving."
"Oh, but you did." The figure crouched down, tilting their head. "See, you've become quite the problem, little Selene. A Crescent wolf living in Nightshade territory? That's not how this was supposed to go."
"What are you talking about?"
"You were supposed to die that night. Caleb's bullet was supposed to find your heart, and this whole messy situation would've been over." The figure sighed dramatically. "But you ran. And worse, you survived crossing into Nightshade."
My mind raced, trying to piece together what they were saying.
"This was planned? All of it?"
"Of course it was planned." Another figure laughed, the sound cold and hollow. "Did you really think Caleb suddenly decided to betray you out of nowhere? That your perfect sister just happened to seduce your mate?"
The words hit like physical blows.
"Lila..." I breathed.
"Was following orders. Just like Caleb. Just like everyone else involved." The leader stood, circling me slowly. "You were always meant to die, Selene. You just refuse to cooperate."
"Why?" The question tore from my throat. "What did I ever do to deserve this?"
"It's not about what you did." The figure paused behind me, and I felt cold fingers brush against my neck. I flinched away. "It's about what you are."
"I don't understand."
"You will. Soon enough." The leader moved back into view. "But first, we need to deal with another problem. Your new Alpha is proving to be more... protective than we anticipated."
My heart stuttered. "Damon has nothing to do with this."
"Oh, but he does now. The moment he decided to keep you alive, he made himself part of this game." The figure gestured to one of the others. "Bring it."
One of the masked figures disappeared into the shadows, returning moments later with a small vial filled with dark liquid. Even from a distance, I could smell it—bitter, acrid, wrong.
Poison.
"No," I whispered, pulling against my restraints.
"Don't worry, this isn't for you. Not yet." The leader took the vial, holding it up to the light. "This is for tonight's celebration."
Celebration?
"What celebration?"
"Did no one tell you? Lyra returned today from her patrol. The pack is throwing a feast in her honor at the main hall." The figure's voice turned mocking. "And Alpha Damon will be there, drinking wine, giving speeches, playing the role of the strong, untouchable leader."
Horror bloomed in my chest. "You're going to poison him."
"Very good! See, you're not as slow as Caleb claimed." The leader tucked the vial away carefully. "One drop in his drink, and the mighty Alpha Damon will be dead before midnight. Nightshade will fall into chaos, Crescent will sweep in to 'restore order,' and everyone will forget all about the weak little wolf who caused so much trouble."
"You can't." I struggled harder against the ropes, feeling them cut into my wrists. "Please, he doesn't deserve this—"
"He doesn't deserve it?" The leader's voice turned sharp. "He's a Nightshade Alpha. His father killed dozens of our wolves twenty years ago in that raid. Damon himself has executed countless Crescents since taking power. And you think he doesn't deserve to die?"
"That war wasn't his fault! He was just a child—"
"So were the children his father burned alive!" The shout echoed through the space, raw with old pain and newer rage.
Silence fell, heavy and suffocating.
When the leader spoke again, their voice was cold and controlled. "Alpha Damon dies tonight. And there's nothing you can do to stop it."
"Then kill me too," I said desperately. "If I'm such a problem, if I was supposed to die anyway, just finish it. But leave him out of this."
"How noble." The leader laughed. "The Crescent wolf willing to die for her Nightshade captor. Almost romantic, if it wasn't so pathetic."
"Please—"
"Enough." The leader waved a hand dismissively. "Gag her. I'm tired of listening to her beg."
Rough hands grabbed me, forcing a cloth between my teeth and tying it tight. I tried to scream, to fight, but it was useless.
"We'll be back after the Alpha is dead," the leader said, already moving toward the exit. "Then we'll decide what to do with you. Maybe we'll send you back to Caleb in pieces. He'd probably enjoy that."
The three figures disappeared into the darkness, their laughter fading into the distance.
And I was alone, bound and gagged, with the knowledge that Damon was going to die and I couldn't warn him.
The bond between us pulsed frantically, as if sensing the danger he was in. My wolf howled inside my mind, desperate to reach him, to protect him.
"Mate. Our mate is in danger."
I pulled against the ropes until blood ran down my arms, but they wouldn't budge. Tears of frustration streamed down my face.
Think, Selene. Think.
The window. There was a broken window across the room, I could see moonlight filtering through. If I could just reach it, maybe I could find something sharp to cut the ropes.
I shifted my weight, trying to move, but the ropes had been tied to something heavy behind me—a pipe, maybe, or a support beam.
I was trapped.
"No. I didn't survive Caleb's betrayal and cross into enemy territory just to die here helplessly while my mate walks into an assassination."
Wait. My mate.
The realization hit me like lightning.
The bond. I could use the bond.
I'd never tried it before—Caleb had always dismissed the idea of mental communication through the mate bond as romantic nonsense. But the old stories claimed true mates could speak to each other through their connection.
I closed my eyes and focused on the golden thread I could feel connecting me to Damon. I grabbed it with my mind and pulled, sending every ounce of desperate energy I had down that connection.
"Damon!"
Nothing.
"Damon, please, if you can hear me..."
The bond flickered, like a candle in the wind.
And then, faint as a whisper, I felt him on the other end.