est clearing. The silence was suffocating, broken only by the faint rustling of leaves in the br

he key t

n't let her wake up. And Lucian, the man who had haunted her thoughts for years, was now telling her that s

ught to control the storm of emotions raging within her. Anger. Fear. Confu

ry passing moment. She could feel it deep inside, like a par

as if the words could chase the thou

's grip on her life, on her fate, was undeniable. And no matter how mu

She needed to think, to understand what Lucian had meant by the prophecy. And if it was true-if she was truly the key to sto

her. Her blood thrummed in response to it, the curse pulsing in her veins like a wa

ut it was just the wind, pushing the branches of the trees. Yet, for a moment, she swo

itched. She

len

t was. Lucian's presence filled the air like a storm, his power a force she couldn't escape. Slowly,

moonlight, watching her with an intensity that made her stomach twist. He didn't speak right away, h

lene asked, her voice

small, almost sad smile. "I

e could read her so easily. "I told you already, Lucian.

is voice low and serious. "You're a part of someth

embling as she fought to keep her composure. "I didn'

, before his expression hardened again. "

he snapped, her eyes flashing. "You think you kno

em with effortless grace. Selene's heart skipped a beat as he drew closer,

er want to pull away, to run from it. But the bond-the damn bond-held her in place. He

omething that felt almost like regret. "I want you to understand. This isn't a

"Fate didn't ask me if I wanted this. Fate didn't ask me if

ou think I wanted this?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous. "You think I asked for a mate tied to

she knew they were hollow. The truth was that the bond between them-

h escaping his lips. "Maybe not

ld never accept him, never accept this. But deep down, a voice whispered in her mind that Lucian was

er voice barely audible, her chest ti

atched her, as though weighing her words agai

, Selene. But you will hav

s presence lingering in the air long after he was gone. Selene stood the

a

e

prop

e in al

Lu

ma

ling the leaves, but it couldn't drown out the roar of her thoughts. The reality of what Lucian had told her was

y the light of the moon to guide her, Selen

aping the storm