Damon's POV
I knew something was wrong the moment I walked into my house.
The silence was too heavy. The guards outside Selene's room were gone. And there was a smell in the air—metallic and wrong.
Blood.
"Where is she?" I demanded, grabbing the nearest servant.
The woman's eyes went wide with fear. "The Alpha—they took her—"
"Who took her? Where?"
"The dungeons, Alpha. There was another poisoning. The young servant girl, Aria. She died, and Lady Selene was there, covered in blood—"
I didn't wait to hear the rest.
I stormed through the packhouse, my wolf raging beneath my skin. Guards scattered out of my way, sensing the fury radiating from me.
When I reached the dungeons, Lyra was waiting.
"Damon," she started. "I can explain—"
"Why is my mate in a cell?" The words came out as a growl.
Her face went pale. "Your... mate?"
"You heard me."
"I didn't know—I thought—" She stammered, actually stammered. "The girl died. Poisoned. Selene was there with blood on her hands—"
