Selena.

The first thing I felt was pain.

Not the sharp kind that came and went, but a heavy, throbbing ache that settled deep inside my skull, making it feel like someone had struck my head against stone repeatedly.

My eyelids felt heavy as I forced them open, and for a moment, I didn’t recognize the ceiling above me.

It wasn’t my chamber. The air was different too. It smelled of herbs, and something bitter that immediately made my nose wrinkle.

I tried to move, but my body protested. Every muscle felt exhausted, and my throat was dry.

"She’s awake." The unfamiliar voice startled me.

I turned my head slightly and saw two women standing beside the bed. They were dressed in healer robes, their faces calm but their eyes filled with concern.

"Where am I?" My voice came out weaker than I expected.

One of the healers stepped closer. "You are in the infirmary. Do not try to move too quickly."

The infirmary. The moment she said it, pieces of my memory began crashing back.

My eyes widened as I suddenly pushed myself up. "Sally."

The healer immediately placed a hand on my shoulder, stopping me from sitting fully. "You need to remain still."

"Where is Sally?" I asked, ignoring the pain.

They exchanged a glance, and that alone made my stomach twist. "What happened to her?" I demanded.

"She is being treated," the other healer finally answered. "Please calm down. The Alpha is handling everything."

The Alpha Kael. The mention of his name—though they didn’t say it—made my chest tighten.

I closed my eyes and tried to remember everything. I remembered waking up and I remembered seeing him.

One of those men who had tried to kill me was standing inside my chamber like he belonged there.

I remembered screaming and Sally woke up trying to stop him. And then, he hurt her!

My fingers clenched against the blanket at the thought.

I remembered the sound of something hitting the floor. I remembered the fear in Marqee’s voice. I remembered trying to fight, but the assassin was stronger, dragging me away like I weighed nothing.

The cold floor beneath me. The roughness of it scraped against my skin as they dragged me through the castle while they laughed.

"Do you really think your Alpha will save you?" one of them had mocked.

I remembered the sound of another laughing. "Maybe he will. After all, his little maid seems important enough."

I had hated how powerless I felt. I had fought and I had screamed but slowly, my body started giving up.

By the time they reached the throne room, I could barely feel my own limbs then Alpha Kael appeared.

The memory of him walking into that room remained clear. His face, his eyes, the anger and the fear.

I had never seen him look like that before. This was different and was personal.

Then I remembered the dagger having wolfbane on it. My breath caught as I remembered the exact moment.

The blade coming closer... the sharp pain and then blank out.

"Where is the Alpha?" I asked.

The healer suddenly became uncomfortable. "He is busy."

Busy? I almost laughed.

Alpha Kael had been the one who saved me. The one who risked everything to get to me. Yet here I was being told he was too busy.

Something was wrong. "Why are you acting like his name is forbidden?"

The healer looked away. "Focus on recovering."

I narrowed my eyes. So that was it? Alpha Kael had done something or perhaps everyone had finally started noticing what Sally noticed.

The way he protected me. The way he looked at me. The way he always seemed to appear whenever I was in danger.

Hours passed and I was given herbs to help with the pain, but my frustration only grew.

I hated lying there. I hated being treated like someone fragile.

Finally, I lost patience. "Does the Alpha know I’m awake? He would want to know."

The healer sighed. "We already informed him."

My heart jumped slightly before she continued. "But he is not coming."

I stared at her. "Why?"

She hesitated before saying, "Because you are a servant."

The words were sharper than they needed to be. I slowly turned toward her. "A servant?"

She looked almost annoyed. "You should understand your position. The Alpha has many responsibilities. Do not let your pride make you forget that."

My eyebrows lifted. "My pride?"

She crossed her arms. "Many people would be grateful for the attention you have received. But constantly demanding more will only bring trouble."

I stared at her. There was a time those words would have angered me immediately.

But now, all I could think about was how wrong she was. "Do you know why I am here?"

She remained silent as I continued. "Because someone broke into this castle and tried to kill me. Because your guards failed to stop them. Because the same Alpha you claim has no reason to care was the one who saved my life."

The healer looked away as I softened my voice. "I know what I am. I know my place. But don’t mistake being a servant for being worthless."

She said nothing after that. Soon, Beta Bastian arrived. The moment he entered, I knew something was wrong.

He closed the door behind him and looked at the healers. "Leave us."

They obeyed immediately as I watched him carefully. "Where is Alpha Kael?"

His jaw tightened. "He wanted to come but he shouldn’t."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course."

"Selena—"

"No."I said and looked away. I was tired of everyone deciding what I could and couldn’t know.

Beta Bastian sighed. "I need answers."

I glanced at him. "About what?"

"The assassins."

I stiffened. "They’re still alive?"

"Yes."

I looked surprised. "They attacked me, tried to kill me, and they’re alive?"

His expression remained serious. "We need information."

I looked away. "What do you want to know?"

"What did you tell them when you visited the dungeon?"

My heart skipped. "I told them nothing."

Beta Bastian studied me. "Selena..."

"I told them nothing."

He didn’t look convinced. "You were there."

"I was..." I hesitated.

Because I wanted answers. Because I thought I could handle it myself. Because apparently I had a talent for making terrible decisions.

"I was just curious but I didn’t have the chance to talk to them that day because you pulled me away before I could."

Beta Bastian sighed and after a moment, he leaned back. "Fine. You are stubborn!"

"So I’ve been told." I said and a small flicker of amusement crossed his face before disappearing.

I looked toward the door and said. "I want to leave."

"You can’t leave." He immediately disagreed.

"Why?" I try to know.

"There are things happening."

"What things?" I asked and he didn’t answer.

Of course, another secret. Another situation where everyone knew something except me. "Unbelievable."

"Selena—"

"No. I’m done." I cut him off immediately and he had to leave.

I waited until the healers were distracted and out of sight, and that’s when I finally had the chance, I left the infirmary quietly.

The hallway was strangely too quiet. Usually, servants filled the castle but now there were only guards.

I moved carefully, barefoot against the cold floor. I stayed close to the wall, trying not to draw attention.

I didn’t get far when a hand suddenly grabbed me and before I could react, another hand covered my mouth.

I struggled immediately but then I smelled him. Alpha Kael... and the anger disappeared.

He pulled me through a doorway, closing it behind us. I looked around and discovered it’s his chamber.

I turned toward him. "Did you just kidnap me?"

His expression was unreadable. "Did you just sneak out of the infirmary?"

I folded my arms. "I was leaving."

"You were walking through a castle full of guards while injured."

"I was fine."

"You were attacked yesterday."

"And I survived."

His eyes darkened as that answer clearly annoyed him. I was about to continue arguing when I finally noticed his expression.

His eyes weren’t angry. Instead, they were intense and then I noticed something else. The gown I was wearing.

The healers had given me a simple satin gown. It was thin and loose.

I noticed Alpha Kael’s eyes were almost stripping the gown off my body.

The silence between us changed as the mate bond pulled. I hated how easily it affected me.

So instead of stepping away, I stepped closer to him in a sultry way. "Thank you for saving me."

His jaw tightened. "You were reckless."

I smiled faintly. "Yet you still saved me." I lifted my hand, tracing my fingers lightly over his arm and I felt his entire body tensed.

"You are capable of more than you pretend."

His breathing changed. "Move away."

I tilted my head. "Why should I move away?"

His eyes flashed as he said, "Because you know exactly what you’re doing."

Maybe I did. Maybe I didn’t. But for once, I didn’t want to run.

"You saved me again," I whispered. "I think I should be allowed to thank you."

"That is not gratitude."

"Then what is it?" He didn’t answer. Instead, he stepped closer and the space between us disappeared.

A second later, my back met the wall. Alpha Kael trapped me between his arms, his eyes glowing with restrained emotion.

"Selena." His voice was a warning but I could hear the struggle beneath it.

The same struggle I was feeling... the impossible connection we kept denying.

I looked into his eyes and instead of stepping away, I challenged him.

"I dare you to ’do it’."