Adrian's POV
Selene has an unnatural talent for getting into trouble.
I don't know how she does it, but if there is danger lurking anywhere within a ten-mile radius, she will find it. Or worse, it will find her.
Which is exactly what happens tonight.
The moon is high when I hear the scream.
It's distant too far from the packhouse, but I know it's her.
Of course, it's her.
Cursing under my breath, I sprint toward the sound, my wolf already clawing beneath my skin. The scent of blood and adrenaline thickens in the air, and I push myself harder.
When I break through the trees, my stomach drops.
Selene stands frozen in the clearing, eyes wide, hair tangled, her usual confidence gone.
And just a few feet away, something was watching her like prey.
A Vargrim.
The beast is massive, its hulking body covered in thick, matted fur, its eyes glowing an unnatural shade of red. It looks like a wolf, but bigger, uglier, with long, jagged fangs dripping with saliva.
It lets out a deep, rumbling growl.
Selene blinks at it.
Then, to my absolute horror.
She waves.
"Hello there."
Oh, for f*ck's sake.
The Vargrim lunges.
I don't think, I just move quickly, In a single leap, I crash into the beast, slamming it sideways before it can sink its teeth into her. We hit the ground hard, rolling through the dirt, claws tearing, fangs snapping.
It thrashes beneath me, snarling, trying to throw me off. But I dig in, pinning it down, my own fangs sinking into its thick hide. The taste of blood floods my mouth, but I don't let go.
Not until I hear the crack of its neck snapping.
The Vargrim goes still.
I shove it off and turn sharply toward Selene, still catching my breath.
She's watching me with mild interest.
"Impressive," she muses. "Very violent. But impressive."
I stare at her. "Are you out of your mind? That thing almost killed you."
She tilts her head. "I had it under control."
I let out a harsh laugh. "You waved at it."
She shrugs. "It looked friendly."
I run a hand down my face, trying to control my rising frustration. "That was a Vargrim, Selene. A killing machine. They don't do 'friendly.'"
She frowns slightly, glancing at the beast's corpse. "Hmm. Well, that's disappointing."
I groan. "Why the hell were you out here alone?"
She smirks. "Would you believe me if I said I was trying to befriend the wildlife?"
"No."
She sighs. "Then I guess we'll never know."
I grab her wrist. "You're coming back with me."
She blinks up at me, and for a brief moment, her playful mask slips.
She looks at me like I just confused her.
Like she doesn't understand why I care.
I ignore the strange feeling in my chest and pull her back toward the packhouse.
I'm keeping my eye on her from now on.
For her sake and mine.
The moment I step into the packhouse, dragging Selene behind me, Hazel is already waiting. Arms crossed, her nails digging into her skin, and her gaze? Sharp enough to cut through steel.
Her eyes flick between me and Selene, then land on my torn shirt and the blood on it, her nostrils flare.
"What the hell is this?" Her voice is calm.. way too calm.
I drop Selene's wrist, exhaling. "She almost got eaten. A Vargrim attacked but I handled it."
Hazel's gaze locks onto Selene, then back to me. "And why were you there to save her? Where exactly were you, Adrian?"
I frown. "What does it matter? She was in danger…"
Hazel laughs. A dry, humorless sound.
"It matters," she bites out, stepping closer. "Because every time something happens with her, you're there. Every single time. Why is that, Adrian?"
I stiffen. "Hazel…"
"Do you think I'm an idiot?" Her voice rises, a sharp, biting edge to it. "I see the way she looks at you. And now, you? You're always with her. Always protecting her." Her jaw clenches. "Tell me. What the hell is going on between you two?"
Selene blinks. "Oh. Are you asking if we…"
"Shut up, Selene!" Hazel and I snap at the same time.
She pouts. "Touchy."
Hazel's attention is back on me. But now, there's something else in her eyes. Something that makes my stomach twist.
Hurt.
"I can't believe this," she mutters, voice shaking. "You of all people, you're actually falling for her, aren't you?"
I inhale sharply. "That's not…"
"You protect her like she's more than just a stray we picked up." Hazel's voice cracks, but her eyes burn with fury. "You train her, you risk your life for her, and now? You're out in the middle of the damn forest with her?"
"It wasn't like that.."
"Then what the hell was it like?" she demands. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you'd rather spend all your time saving her instead of being with me."
The words hit like a punch to the gut.
I run a hand down my face. "You're being irrational."
Hazel laughs again. But this time, it's cold.
"Irrational?" she echoes. "Adrian, you think I don't notice how you've changed since she got here? You think I don't see the way you look at her?"
"I don't.."
"Then tell me," she cuts me off, stepping closer, voice shaking with rage. "If it had been me out there instead of her, would you have come running just as fast?"
I went silent for a beat too long.
And Hazel's expression shatters.
She steps back like I just hit her.
Selene, to her credit, actually stays silent, watching and just observing us.
Hazel swallows, her hands clenching at her sides. "You went silent."
I exhale. "Hazel, you're twisting this.."
"No," she whispers. "I'm finally seeing it."
I reach for her, but she slaps my hand away.
"Don't," she breathes. "Just don't."
She steps back again, eyes filled with hurt and fury.
"You've already made your choice, Adrian," she says, voice trembling. "I just wish you had the guts to admit it."
And with that, she turns and walks away.
Leaving me standing there, heart hammering in my chest.
And for the first time since this all began, I don't know if I can fix this.