(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!

(Selene's POV)

Luther stared at me like he was daring me to repeat my statement.

“Either you help me or not, Damian is going to pay for the pain he caused me.” I gritted my teeth, brushing past him.

“I am not denying the fact that I crave you but you won't use me as your instrument to destroy Damian.” He finally said after a long pause.

A cruel smile spread across my lips. “ I knew it. You are afraid of him.”

I said that to trigger him but it wasn't working. Luther was the most cruel Alpha with authority that wiped out entire generations of werewolves. He was the most powerful Alpha and rumoured to kill for pleasure, my brother had always wanted an alliance with him but couldn't secure it.

“You are not done grieving.” He simply said, walking out on me.

~

Even after Luther left, I remained at the sacred clearing. The ashes of Amara still clung to my hands, the scent of smoke and death heavy on my skin.

“Time to go.” I muttered, ready to tell my brother to wage the war immediately.

I walked through the forest like a ghost, my heart hollow, and my body numb. That was when I noticed Damian’s car, tucked away deep among the trees where no one should park. The engine was off, but the windows were blurry.

And I caught Elara’s scent.

“Crazy you couldn't get enough of each other and came out here to continue.” I shook my head in disgust when I heard silent moans.

I stepped closer, the window was done and I could see their bodies moving fast in the cramped car, the windows wet with fog. Damian held Elara tight, his breath rough against her skin.

“You like this?” he groaned.

She moaned, nails digging into his back. “I love everything about you. Not like her. She’s weak.”

Damian gave a harsh laugh. “Selene and that cursed daughter… they should both stay dead. I don’t care.”

“Poor Selene….she didn't know you will never stop loving me.” Elara giggled.

My wolf threatened to come out and rip them apart but I just stood there with a smirk. Even when I stood right in front of the car, they didn't notice.

“The healer confirmed yesterday, we are having twins this time…” Elara announced, kissing Damian who kissed her harder.

For a moment, I couldn’t move, my body was paralyzed by what I was seeing and hearing. In less than two years I lost my twins because of Damian, only to find out Elara was going to have twins too?

The urn slipped from my grip to the floor. I wanted to scream, to rip the door open but instead, I left quietly.

I got home and headed straight to Amara's room only to see it upside down. Clothes scattered everywhere with sweat of sex at every corner.

I saw Elara’s lingerie under the pillow like it was purposely left there for me to notice. Amara’s toys were broken and crushed, her crayons and books a mess everywhere.

“You bastard.” I clenched my fist. I reached for the home phone and called my brother.

He picked at the first ring. “ Stormhowl’s west wing is under attack now, the effect will be felt by dawn.”

“Double the attack immediately, attack his weakest point now.”

“ I will be leaving tomorrow. Station your men at every corner of the territory, and destroy it however you please.” I chuckled darkly before ending the call.

Then there was a knock on the door. I headed for the door to see one of the Omegas with a box.

“Someone sent this package.” She bowed before taking her leave.

I opened the package to see Luther's approval letter with his new phone number. I knew Luther wasn't the type to change his mind but I cared less, Damian and Elara are going to bleed heavily for the death of my pups.

I dialled Luther's number on the home phone and he picked at the first ring.

“Don’t you dare back out of this. There's no turning back Selene. Once we mate, there's no turning back.” He said, hanging up.

Tonight, Damian’s bond with me would snap like shattered glass—I would make sure of it. I would mate with his brother and take away his territory.

I stood tall, dagger in hand, voice steady even though my heart was filled with anger and grief.

“I, Selene, reject you, Damian, as my mate.” I started.

“For every lie, every betrayal, for the painful death of Amara and Lok—I reject you, Damian, as my mate.” I gritted.

I was about to reject him for the third time when the door burst open.

Damian stormed in, his eyes wide, “Selene!”