“Selena.” Her name comes out sharper this time, edged with something I can’t contain. “I won’t sacrifice her for this pack.”
“Rylan,” Clara, one of the pack elders, touches my arm. “Are you alright? You look like you’re about to shift.”
I realize my claws have emerged, digging into my palms. Blood drips to the floor.
“Fine,” I manage. “Just surprised.”
“It’s always emotional when a mate bond forms,” she says kindly. “Brings back memories, I imagine.”
She has no idea.
The celebration moves toward the main hall, but I circle around, needing to get closer to Selena without being obvious. As I approach, her scent hits me like a physical blow. Vanilla and lavender.
Thunderstorms. Wild magic. Ancient forest.
My steps falter. This isn’t the scent of a weak human girl with a drop of wolf blood. This is the scent of something primal, powerful, apex predator wrapped in human skin.
What happened to her?
When I knew her before, in our past life, she was strong but ordinary. This Selena radiates power that she’s carefully containing, like a lioness pretending to be a housecat.
I move closer, drawn by instinct and memory. The pack is distracted with preparations for an impromptu celebration. Ronan has momentarily released her to accept congratulations. She stands alone by the window, her fingers pressed against the glass.
“Selena,” I keep my voice low, neutral.
She turns, and I see it in her eyes, knowledge, recognition, the weight of two lifetimes. She remembers everything. Just as I do.
“Rylan,” she whispers my name like a prayer and a curse.
“You’re standing too steady,” I murmur.
Her eyes flick to mine. Sharp. Calculating. Not surprised. Confirmed.
“You’re watching too closely,” she replies.
“Do me a favor.”
She looks up at me. “What?”
“Don’t let him touch you again.”
Her breath catches. “But he’s my mate.”
My jaw tightens. “If you want to stop me from killing my little brother… don’t let him touch you.”
“Endure it,” she mindlinks. “If I can, so can you.”
Something dark shifts inside me, pushing against the restraint I’ve barely held onto since the moment I saw her again. “My wolf won’t.”
The air changes.
Subtle. Controlled.
But I feel it.
Her aura brushes against mine, deliberate… directed.
My gaze sharpens as her eyes begin to glow, that power no longer hidden, no longer buried.
