“What happened to you? How did you survive?”
“The landlord kicked me out of the house soon after. I lived on the street for a while. Did things I’m not proud of to survive. Stole. Hurt people.” She frowned at her plate. “And other things. Whatever I had to do.”
Jason’s face went slack. He stared at her like he’d never seen her before.
“At first, I had this dream that my real father might find me. But eventually, I gave up on that idea. I’d shift alone and always shift back alone. And then one day, a man was there when I shifted back. He insisted I come with him to Rivergate. He introduced me to Artemis, and she took me under her wing. The rest is, as they say, history.”
“Who was the man?”
Selene smiled. “Your brother Silas. He’d been out working a case and shifted outside the grounds. His wolf found me.”
“Silas.” Jason stared absently straight ahead.
“Well, after that happened, Artemis asked me to join Fireborn since I had no claim to any pack. I accepted and decided soon after that I wanted to be just like Artemis. Besides your brother, she is the only person on this earth I ever fully trusted. The only one I do trust with my life and my soul.”
Jason gave her a pitying glance. “You’ve had a rough start.”
“It made me value relationships and the role of the goddess in our lives. Finding a home with Fireborn pack made me believe I was destined to follow in Artemis’s footsteps.”
“You aspire to be the pack priestess.”
“All acolytes do.”
“Some more than others.” He tilted his head.
“There are some who quit early on, but I’ve been doing this for almost three years now and it’s the first time I’ve felt fully connected to anything. Artemis thinks I may be the one to take over her role when she retires.”
Jason selected another piece of burger and successfully brought it to his mouth.
“You’re doing better. I told you that you were hungry.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Something else? I feel like I’m giving you my life history.”
“You said I wasn’t the first man you’d seen naked.”
“You’re not.”
“When you say you did things to survive…”
Selene sighed. He was going to make her say it. “I had sex in exchange for things, to survive. Sometimes by choice. Sometimes by force. Never a good experience. I don’t like to talk about it.”
Jason growled.
“It was a long time ago.” She lowered her chin and stared at him.
His brows knit, and he shook his head. “I’m sorry, Selene. I almost forced myself on you the other night. I was out of control. It must have been terrifying, especially considering your past.” He leaned toward her, his gaze locking with hers. “I’d never hurt you. Not intentionally.”
For a long time, she simply stared at him, sizing him up. “I know.” Her voice was barely audible. She picked at her food. “Now, I’ve answered your questions. You need to answer mine.”
“I thought I did. What other questions could you have?”
“What was it about Ms. Matthews—”
“That allowed her to fuel the darkest part of me?”
Selene nodded. “I feel like I don’t have the full story.”
