(Selene's POV)

Sleep refused to come. My eyes were raw from crying, yet my heart thudded like a war drum in my chest.. I needed evidence, I needed something to destroy him.

“Mama…” Amara’s timid voice came as she opened the door. I wanted to scold her for being awake when my gaze landed on a picture she held.

It was Elara and Damian. Elara was in lingerie with Damian's face buried in her neck.

“Where… where did you see this?” I asked, my voice breaking and my trembling fingers reaching for the photo.

Amara tilted her head, her eyes wide and trusting. “Papa has papers in his room… with pictures. He hides them in the big shelf. I saw them when he forgot to close the door.”

Her words thundered in my ears.

“Stay here.” I whispered, closing the door.

My feet carried me to the one place he had always forbidden me to go—his study.

The door creaked as I pushed it open. The smell of ink, smoke, and his cologne made bile rise in my throat. Bookshelves lined the walls, neat and commanding like everything Damian touched. But my eyes caught something strange—one shelf jutted out, the wood gnawed at the corner. A rat’s careless teeth had chewed through it, exposing a sliver of iron.

My breath hitched when I saw different pictures of Elara, each having a writing to note the moment it was taken. I collected the romantic pictures of the both of them, tucking it inside my robe.

Then I tugged the shelf, and behind it was a steel safe that was already opened. Just a glance at it made my blood boil.

I saw documents of his agreements with the rogues against the council order. I saw the plots of lands meant for the council developments in Elara’s name.

Not only that but different contracts, records of missing wolves, and proof that Damian sold out warriors for power.

I kept gathering evidence until I stumbled upon his journal. I flipped through it to see that it wasn't the council that ordered for the removal of Lok’s grave — it was him, to please Elara.

“Bastard.”

I couldn’t confront him yet—not until I had everything in place. This was war, and I needed to be prepared.

I collected all the evidence I laid my hands on and headed back to my room when I heard hushed voices.

“I feel so sorry for Selene and her cursed pup.”

“Everyone in the pack literally knows that Alpha loves Elara….”

The hushed voices didn't stop. I leaned on the door to listen more.

“…you think Selene doesn’t know? Everyone else does,” one voice hissed.

“I saw them myself last moon. Elara was on the Alpha’s desk, her claws digging into his shoulders while he took her from behind. The whole study reeked of sex.”

A sharp gasp, then a whispery laugh. “And at the river… she rode him shamelessly, moaning so loud the guards had to turn away. He didn’t even care who heard.”

“He’s addicted to her. The scent of heat clings to him every time he returns. Poor Selene—her bed is cold while Elara warms him every night.”

I pressed my palm against the wall to steady myself, but the walls themselves felt like they were caving in.

He never stopped loving the woman that caused his downfall. He still loved her despite everything.

Elara left him for his ally pack when his position as Alpha was threatened. He had come back injured and crippled that night with all his soldiers dead.

I was the one with him, helping him build everything from scratch. From using all my influence to bring in allies to training by his side and managing the territory till he got back on his foot.

And three years later he bonded with me in front of the pack. Owning his success to me. Except that it was all lies. He was waiting to dump me for his first love.

He never loved me… just lies.

Then I thought of Luther—Damian’s older brother, his enemy—the night he came to kill him. I had kissed him by mistake, thinking he was Damian, and he immediately fell in love with me. He held my gaze, asking why I was ruining myself for his brother.

I grabbed my phone and sent him two messages.

[Your brother is a bastard… I shouldn’t have stopped you from killing him that night]

[Can you destroy him now? I’ll do anything you ask me to.]

He read them at once but didn't reply even though he was online..

Luther’s face stayed in my mind, those cold eyes burning through me, when strong arms suddenly locked around me from behind.

Damian’s scent filled my nose, making my stomach twist. His lips brushed my neck, slow and warm, but it felt like poison. I stiffened, fighting the urge to shove him away.

“Why are you so tense, Selene?” he whispered, his breath hot against my skin. “Have you been crying?”

I wriggled from his hold, taking steps away from him to catch my breath.

“You didn't come home….” I managed to break eye contact with him.

“It was an urgent council meeting…the number of rogues are becoming concerning.” He lied. I could see Elara’s claws on his neck, I could sniff her scent on his body.

“I know…” I gave a sad smile, walking away.

(Selene's POV)

He walked to the dining table, eyes on the untouched dishes I had spent hours preparing.

“Where’s Amara? You both haven’t eaten?” he asked, feigning concern.

I didn’t answer. My trembling hands lifted a plate, then let it slip. The crash of rice against the floor made him freeze.

“Selene, stop this,” he barked. “You’re Luna—you can’t waste food and throw an attitude. It’s just an anniversary I missed.”

I almost laughed. He thought I was blind. Elara’s scent still clung to him.

Jaw tight, he muttered, “I need to check the patrol…I can’t deal with you.”

“The patrol you remembered after smelling of her?” I whispered.

He stiffened. I smiled sweetly, covering—“After smelling the rogues.”

He hesitated, then forced, “I’ll make it up to you,” before leaving.

I wasn’t waiting for promises. Not anymore.

I hastily went to our bedroom, and pulled out the bags. I folded Amara’s little dresses, my own clothes, careful not to think, just moving everything I could touch.

The pendant he forced on me dangled from my neck—mocking me. I yanked it off, skin stinging where it had bruised me, and tossed it away.

I wasn't going to wait two weeks knowing that the man that killed my pup was going to have sex with me soon. Or worse, find out I knew the truth before I avenged Lok’s death.

“Too risky…” I muttered.

I dragged the luggage, on my way to wake Amara up when I heard a loud thud from her bedroom.

“Amara!” fear gripped me. I threw away the luggage and dashed to her room.

“Amara!” My voice cracked as I burst into her room.

She was on the floor, her small body trembling, lips pale, eyes rolled back. The disease had returned and my world collapsed at that moment.

“No, no, not again,” I sobbed, falling to my knees. I gathered her tiny frame into my arms, rocking her as if I could shield her from it. Her skin burned, her breath now shallow.

“Stay with me, baby, please!” I screamed, tears blinding me.

Without thinking, I ran, clutching her to my chest, my legs following the familiar path to the healer den.

“Help please.” I screamed, shivering.

“Lay her here, quickly!” the healer commanded.

“Her fever is burning through the herbs,” one apprentice whispered.

They kept trying their best with each passing hour.

The healer’s face tightened. “Selene… it’s worse this time. The only thing strong enough now….” She hesitated, meeting my eyes. “She will need her father’s blood.”

My throat closed. “No…”

“No time on our side….hurry.” She urged.

My wolf surged forward before I could think. The healer’s words echoed in my skull—her father’s blood or she dies. I ran through the forest, fear and anger pushing me faster.

In a few minutes, I was standing in front of the Alpha’s headquarters catching Damian's scent.

“Damian!” I ran up to him, clutching his arm.

“It’s Amara….she needs blood now, or we’ll lose her….the disease suddenly came and I….”

I trailed off when I caught a glimpse of Elara and the pup that looked just like his mini version.

“You can see I am busy….” He simply said, carrying Elara’s pup up.

He didn't even bother hiding it anymore.

“Our pup is dying…” My voice broke as I begged, the fear choking me.

“She’s dying! Amara is dying!!!!!” I was at the verge of insanity.

I wasn’t going to lose Amara too! I lunged at him and he immediately shoved me backwards.

“I said enough.” His hand ripped free from mine, but I grabbed him again, clinging like my life depended on it, because Amara's did.

“We can’t lose her! Damian, please!” My knees buckled as I held on. “You promised me you would do anything for Amara…”

“She's as good as dead! Amara can't survive next winter!”

His face twisted with irritation and almost immediately he grabbed my neck, choking me till I couldn’t breathe before pushing me to the ground.

My knees scraped against the dirt and the pain was unbearable but nothing hurt more than realising Amara also meant nothing to him.

I forced myself to get up again, my body covered with bruises.

“Damian….please..”

In my frantic pleading, my hand brushed against the boy’s arm and he stumbled a little.

Then the world suddenly paused.

Damian gripped me by my hair, slapping me twice and kicking me till I couldn’t breathe. I managed to wriggle out of his hold, barely alive.

“Damian…Damian!” Elara suddenly screamed.

I followed her voice to see the pup on the floor and I could see through the pretense, Elara was making him cough and wriggle.

“Save my baby!!!” Elara broke down in tears and that was it, nothing else mattered to Damian.

He scooped him up, barking orders to every wolf in sight to meet him at the healer’s den.

“Tell me nothing is going to happen to him….promise me you will do anything to save him.” Elara cried, running alongside him.

I wasn't thinking straight either, I started running behind them, hoping he would save Amara too.

(Selene's POV)

On getting to the healer’s den, Damian demanded they stop everything to attend to Elara’s pup.

“Alpha….this is just a minor cut….we need to save Amara, come with me, she's dying.” The healer advised but he didn’t bulge.

“Save this pup instead…” He gestured to Elara’s pup, ignoring all warnings that Amara was going to die without his blood.

I was held down by his warriors from causing a scene, I could only wriggle and cry bitterly, begging him to see that Amara was going to die.

“I won't repeat myself again.” He said with finality. The healer obeyed and started attending to Elara’s pup.

My world blurred as I couldn’t fight them any longer even though I could hear Amara’s painful cries. I lifted my head to see Elara’s fake tears as she held on to Damian.

“Alpha….please, we have to save Amara now. She just needs your blood.“ The healer pleaded again.

“You can’t leave him….he hasn't woken up” Elara held him tighter, trembling.

And just one second later, we stopped hearing Amara’s cries. I broke free from the warriors’ hold, and started running towards the den when one of the apprentices rushed out, eyes wide.

“Amara is not breathing again!” she shouted.

Just like that the world went black.

~

“She’s getting conscious.” The voice was too close. I tried opening my eyes but couldn't.

“Selene…stay with me…” The voice came again.

I opened my eyes to the smell of herbs and the soft glow of firelight. My body ached, my head heavy, but the only word on my lips was, “Amara…”

I pushed myself up, ignoring the pain, and staggered toward the door. The healer rushed forward, holding me back.

“You can’t move,” she whispered. “You’ve been unconscious for three days.”

But I didn’t care, all I wanted was to see Amara.

“Where is Amara? Take me to her!”

“You need to rest first! You will hurt yourself Selene….listen to me!’ She begged.

I ignored her warnings and headed for the room Amara was in and the sight made me collapse.

It was Amara’s dead body. Her body was full of scars, like she didn't want to die.

A scream tore from my throat as my heart shattered into pieces. This couldn't be happening. I had lost everything—Lok, and now Amara, all because of Damian.

“Alpha said he had to look after Elara and her pup, that's why he isn't here…. “

“I am so sorry Selene….I really tried saving her…I” Tears swelled in her eyes.

“No…” I screamed. Anger, pain, betrayal—everything crashed inside me.

Images of Damian’s hands on Lok’s throat burned in my mind. He killed Lok for Elara. And now… Amara too is dead and Elara’s pup gets to live?

“Damian, I won't forgive you.” I vowed, clutching Amara’s lifeless body to my chest.

My heart shattered, leaving only emptiness.

With that I left the healer’s den with Amara’s body in my hand, turning deaf ears to the condolences. I carried Amara’s lifeless body through the forest. The moon hid behind clouds, as if even it refused to witness this pain.

I wanted to scream, but no sound came.

At the edge of the sacred clearing, I laid her down gently. My fingers traced her face one last time. “I’m so sorry, Amara… they also took you from me,” I whispered, my voice breaking.

“I failed you and your brother.” I sniffed back the tears.

Then I lit the fire and the flames ate her up. For the last time I saw her memories; I saw her smile and innocence in the fire, I saw her pain and hope, I her tears and laughter. I saw everything I lost.

I watched until nothing remained but ashes. My hands trembled as I gathered them inside the urn.

“Damian, you are going to pay for causing me so much pain. You will pay for this betrayal.” I held the urn to my forehead.

A mother’s pain can collapse the world. I would hunt Damian and Elara. I would make him feel what he took from me. I would make them beg for death.

“Accept my condolences…” A voice came.

The voice was low, calm, yet heavy with power and familiarity. I didn’t turn back, but I could sense him approaching.

“Losing both pups at two years intervals must have taken a toll on you.”

I turned to face him, my tears now dried but my eyes blood shot. Luther, Damian's older brother, stood in front of me with his eyes never leaving me.

“Selene…” His voice became softer as he closed the gap between us. My heart skipped and memories flooded —the time I had mistaken him for Damian, that brief, stolen kiss, that heat between us, that confession he made.

“You read my messages after all…” I chuckled dryly.

“I am sorry…I just couldn't watch you go through this pain alone.” He said, reaching for my face.

I took two steps backwards not wanting to have anything to do with anything associated with Damian but on second thought, Damian and Luther were sworn enemies – his greatest rival.

“Help me destroy Damian and I will mate with you in exchange.” I stated, holding his gaze.

I wasn’t the kind Selene anymore, not after this. I would burn the whole world down just to destroy Damian and Elara. And no, Damian wouldn't recover from this, two lives for two lives!