(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!”

(Selene's POV)

“What are you doing?” He screamed, pulling me into his embrace.

I almost puked at the scent of Elara’s sweat on his body. I wriggled out of his embrace, restraining myself from slapping him.

“Tell me what I saw was hallucinations…Selene…” He reached for my face again.

Hallucinations? No, you haven't begun hallucinating yet Damian, but soon you will.

“Selene….Selene we can go give Amara blood now, Elara’s pup is now better.” His voice carried a hint of guilt and I almost laughed, blood?

After 3 days of her death? Death that you are not even aware of?

“Selene….Don't reject our bond because of that misunderstanding…” he started, gaslighting me again.

“No…” My lips parted.

Then we started hearing frantic voices and restless howls.

“Alpha!!!”

“Alpha!!!”

Before Damian could ask me again if I was rejecting our bond, his Beta and bestfriend, Sam, rushed in, panting.

“Damian….the west wing has been attacked.” Sam panted, the horror in his eyes was impossible to miss and this was just the beginning, the Stormhowl pack would bleed.

Screams erupted from the distance, low at first, then rising like a storm, the grounds were trembling and we could hear the cries with our heightened sense.

“Is it from the rogues?” Damian ran his hands through his hair, frustration in his tone.

“No…it has Bloodmoon pack signature but we are not too sure…” Sam answered, sending mindlinks to other werewolves.

“It’s bad, Damian …they’ve torn through the outer guard. The attack has doubled and we have lost ten wolves already, five are severely Injured.” Sam paced back and forth, visibly shaking.

For a heartbeat Damian simply stared, frozen, as another rumble rolled from the distance. Then his Alpha edge snapped back. “Double the patrols! Seal every door!” he barked, running out with Sam.

As he ran out, I began piling up the evidence that would destroy him, sending it to my brother with a very clear instruction.

[Send this evidence of backsliding to each pack he lied to at dawn.]

After that I went to the locked up room containing Lok’s memories, and took his urn too and a few of his toys and pictures before locking it back up and placing the key where Damian was going to find it.

I reached for the bloodied picture frame and the drive that showed Damian killing Lok, arranging it on the bed with a bitter smile. There was nothing to hold on to anymore.

I sat down on the bed, holding the picture frame of Amara and Lok with a bitter smile. In the next life, I will still choose to be their mother. With that I stood, letting them bear witness as I rejected Damian for the third time.

“I, Selene, reject you, Damian, as my mate and swear to make you pay for every pain you caused me.”

I felt our bond shatter to pieces and could hear Damian’s frantic call in my head but I couldn't care less.

Then for the first time in a long while, I texted Elara. This time not to ask if she had anything to do with Damian or if she still wanted him.

[Say as many goodbyes as you can say to your pup and pregnancy as fast as you can….but most importantly you should go and support your Alpha at the westwing as you are now his new Luna]

Almost immediately, she bombarded me with calls and many messages but I switched off my phone and slept.

~

Dawn came too quickly and every member of the pack had heard of the attack. It was still very dark outside when I packed everything that belonged to me and the pups, ready to leave everything behind.

I sent Lucian a text message, while waiting for Luther to appear.

[Wait for my call before sending out the evidences….I still have many here]

“Selene….”

I turned around to see Luther with his army, his eyes softening with each step he took towards me.

His men bowed for me, not daring to look me in the eyes.

“I didn't know you would bring your army….” I managed to say, following his lead.

“I told you there is no going back….” He leaned in, too close, only for him to open the door to his car for me to get in.

When we crossed Stormhowl’s territory, I immediately called my brother.

“Send the evidence now and double the attack…..”

“Now that's my girl…” Lucian said at the other end, a hint of excitement visible in his tone.

Let the world see how a mother avenges the painful death of her pups.