Selene's POV
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Mira's voice slammed into me the moment I stepped inside my chambers. She was already waiting, arms crossed, eyes blazing, her entire body vibrating with rage.
I let out an exhausted sigh, shutting the door behind me. "Not now, Mira."
"Yes, now," she snapped, stalking toward me. "I've been watching you. And I don't like what I'm seeing."
I stiffened. "Oh? And what exactly do you see?"
She scoffed. "You, trailing after that damn Alpha like a lost puppy. Laughing at his jokes. Hanging around him like you belong here." She took a step closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Like you've forgotten who you are."
I clenched my fists. "I haven't forgotten anything."
"Then why the hell are you acting like this?" she hissed. "if you are really the damn Moon Goddess, even if I don't believe it , Selene, you're not supposed to be playing these stupid, reckless little games with wolves especially not him."
I narrowed my eyes. "I am not playing any games."
"Oh, really?" She let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Then what is this? What do you call this… obsession?"
My blood heated. "I am not obsessed with Adrian."
Mira's glare burned into me. "Then prove it."
I stayed silent.
And that silence was enough for her.
Her expression twisted into something ugly, something I had never seen before. Disgust, disbelief and betrayal.
"Gods," she breathed. "You really are that stupid."
I flinched.
Mira never spoke to me like this. Never looked at me like this.
Like I was weak, like I was a fool.
She took another step, invading my space, her voice dropping lower. Colder. "Do you know what happens to people who get too close to wolves, Selene?"
I swallowed hard but didn't answer.
She sneered. "They get eaten."
"I can take care of myself," I bit out.
She shook her head. "Not against him. Not against Adrian."
I exhaled sharply, my patience snapping. "Why do you hate him so much?"
Her eyes darkened. "I don't hate him. I hate what he's doing to you."
I opened my mouth to argue, but she cut me off.
"You think this is real?" She scoffed. "You think he actually cares about you?"
My chest tightened. "He saved my life, Mira."
Her eyes flashed. "And you think that means something?" She laughed bitterly. "You think you're special? That you're different from the rest? That just because he pulled you out of danger, he's suddenly some kind of hero?"
I swallowed, trying to ignore the knot forming in my stomach.
Mira's voice turned sharp, vicious. "Let me tell you something, Selene. Wolves don't save people out of kindness. They do it out of possession. Out of territory. Adrian didn't save you because he cares, he saved you because you're his to control."
A flare of anger shot through me. "That's not true."
"Then prove me wrong." She leaned in, voice cutting. "Go one day without seeking him out. Go one day without thinking about him. I dare you."
I opened my mouth then shut it, because I couldn't, and Mira saw it.
Her expression hardened. "Gods, Selene." She stepped back, shaking her head like she couldn't even look at me. "You're already too far gone."
My hands trembled at my sides. "I'm not…"
"Stop lying to yourself." Her voice was cold now. Final. "Because if you don't, this…" she gestured at me, at my entire existence, "... is going to get you killed."
Silence fell between us, my heart pounded against my ribs.
Mira stared at me for a moment longer, waiting for me to say something to fight back.
But I didn't, because for the first time, I wasn't sure if she was wrong.
With one last look, she turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
And I stood there, alone, drowning in my own confusion.
I woke up determined.
One day, that's all Mira had asked for.
One day without seeking him out, one day without thinking about him.
I could do this.
At least, that's what I told myself.
Morning training felt longer than usual. I focused on the drills, on the ache in my muscles, on anything but the absence of Adrian. Usually, at some point, our paths would cross, whether by accident or because he sought me out. But today?
Nothing, I told myself I didn't care.
By noon, I found myself lingering near the war room, a place I knew he frequently visited. I had no reason to be there, no business, no excuse. But still, my feet dragged me in that direction before I forced myself to stop.
I turned away, I wouldn't do this.
Afternoon came and went. I ate lunch in silence, my eyes never once straying toward the head of the table where he usually sat. He wasn't there anyway, but it didn't matter.
I wasn't looking for him, I wasn't.
The problem was, he wasn't looking for me either.
Not once did he send for me. Not once did I catch his gaze across the courtyard. Not once did I hear anyone mention my name in connection to him.
By evening, my stomach twisted with an unfamiliar feeling.
Was this what it felt like to be forgotten?
I wasn't expecting anything, at least, that's what I tried to convince myself but some irrational part of me had assumed Adrian would notice. That he would realize I wasn't there, that something was missing.
That I was missing.
But the hours passed, and he never came.
The realization settled deep in my bones.
He hadn't noticed, or worse he had, and he simply didn't care.
Mira's words echoed in my mind. Go one day without seeking him out, go one day without thinking about him. I dare you.
I had failed, I had spent the entire day waiting for him.
Waiting for a glance, a word, a sign that I mattered even the slightest bit.
But there was nothing.
The night stretched on, and still, no message came. No knock on my door.
The alpha hadn't looked for me.
And maybe… maybe that was the proof Mira had been waiting for.