8. Selene
8
Selene
I stare at my phone, my pulse hammering in my ears. He hung up on me.
I shouldn’t be surprised, it’s Orion, but he hung up on me!
Shoving my phone into my pocket, I rush to my SUV, my mind racing as I yank open the door and slide inside. My hands tremble slightly as I fumble with my keys, shoving them into the ignition. The engine roars to life, and I barely take a breath before peeling out of the parking spot.
I should have known missing the family check-in was going to come back to bite me, but I didn’t think Orion would fly out over it. I mean, sure, I usually text back when I miss a call, but I got distracted. And fine, maybe I shouldn’t have ignored the string of messages after, but I was caught up in the moment, wrapped up in the rush of my last-minute date last week, and I just—forgot.
I meant to text him back but we had been drinking. Now that I think about it, I’m not sure if saying ‘we’ is correct. I don’t remember if he finished his glass of wine, but I know I had at least two glasses. Besides, wine makes me sleepy, so when I got home I never ended up texting him back.
Groaning I grip the steering wheel tighter as I weave through the quiet streets, my SUV barely stopping at the signs.
Orion doesn’t do anything impulsive. If he came all the way out here, that means he’s been stewing over this since I missed his call… And accidentally ignored his texts. If he’s at my house now, it’s not just because he’s worried—it’s because he’s pissed.
Blowing out a breath I press harder on the gas.
Less than five minutes later, I take the last turn onto my street to see my house. It sits on the edge of town, tucked away into the shadows of the towering pines and rugged cliffs that surround Shadow Grove. This is so similar to the place I dreamed about in the times I needed peace—small, quaint, picturesque. The sage green siding against the white trim on my cottage makes it look like it belongs on the cover of a lifestyle magazine, especially after I strategically placed the Adirondack chairs along the wrap-around porch near the front door to catch the beautiful sunrise.
But out of all the emotions I can be experiencing right now peace is not one of them. As a matter of fact, it’s the opposite of that.
My heart slams against my ribs when I spot the dark SUV parked in my driveway. Just another confirmation that Orion’s here and this wasn’t some sort of twisted joke.
Shit .
I barely throw the car into park before I jump out and jog up the steps. The front door swings open before I even reach for the handle, and there he is—my little brother—all six foot four of him. He towers over me, his giant frame filling the entire doorway with his arms crossed. Orion’s broad shoulders strain against his perfectly tailored jacket, and even in the shade of the trees, I can see the sharp cut of his jawline—partially hidden beneath the ever-present stubble that makes him look both effortlessly rugged and annoyingly put-together at the same time.
His hazel eyes—piercing, always calculating—rake over me like he’s assessing me for injuries, always the mother hen. At least to those closest to him. Orion is a person who walks into a room and immediately sizes everyone up like he’s filing them away into categories: threat, civilian, and potential headache. Right now? I think I fall into the last one. His face is both disapproving and unreadable at the same time, his arms crossed over his chest like he’s already planning my funeral.
I would say I regret giving him a spare key, but he’s the one that taught me how to pick locks, so really, I’d be in this position no matter what.
He looks exactly the same as the last time I saw him—neatly dressed, hair trimmed to precision, exuding that same quiet authority that makes people sit up straighter when he walks into a room. He’s always been the more serious one, the responsible one, the protector. And right now?
He looks like he’s about two seconds away from tearing me a new one.
My stomach twists, heat creeping up my neck. I knew this was coming, I knew it the second I answered his call and he said he was at my house. But knowing doesn’t make it any easier.
I hold up my hands before he can start. “Before you say anything —”
“No, I’m not saying anything, you are the one that needs to start talking.” His voice is clipped, his jaw tight. “You missed the check-in, disappeared for days, ignored my messages, and then you picked up the phone today like it’s nothing?” He steps aside and jerks his head toward the inside of the house. “Inside. Now.”
I groan but step past him, my stomach twisting as he slams the door shut behind me. The air inside suddenly feels heavier, charged, like a storm waiting to break. I barely set my bag down before he rounds on me. Where is Valkyrie when I need her?
“What the hell is going on, Selene?”
His voice is calmer now, but I know better. This is just the first wave. He’s waiting for me to slip, to say the wrong thing that will solidify his belief that my moving was a mistake so he can whisk me back to DC.
I drag a hand through my hair, trying to tamp down my frustration. “Everything is fine, Orion.”
His eyes narrow. “Really? Because if I remember correctly part of you moving out here, far away from everyone was the promise that you would keep in contact so we would know you didn’t fall off the face of the earth or worse.”
Guilt twists in my chest, but I shove it down. I let out a slow breath, trying to find the right words before he spirals further. “I got caught up in something last-minute, that’s all. I meant to text you beforehand but I lost track of time. I was fine. I am fine.”
Orion doesn’t even blink. “It’s been almost a week, Selene. You don’t just forget that long to check in.”
I press my lips together, irritation flaring hot. “But I did! You don’t have to make such a big deal about it.”
His expression doesn’t change, but the weight of his silence is suffocating.
I sigh, lowering my voice. “Look, I was on a date, okay? It was last minute and I got really excited and lost track of what day it was. I wasn’t thinking about my phone, I was just—enjoying myself.” Which I now realize is a foreign concept to my overly serious, and way overly protective, brother. “By the time you called, we were already at his place and my phone was in my purse. I saw I missed the call when I got home. We had been drinking, and by the time I read all your texts I remembered what day it was I planned to text you but I ended up falling asleep and forgetting about it.”
His expression barely shifts, but I know him well enough to see the flicker of emotion behind his eyes. “You missed the call because of a date ?” His tone is deceptively calm, but I can already see the judgment forming.
Here we go.
I cross my arms. “Yes. A date. You remember what those are, right?”
His jaw twitches. “And this guy—he’s the reason you missed check-in?”
I hesitate, thinking of Theo, of the way he smiles at me, the way he makes me feel lighter even when I don’t want to. The way his presence sneaks into my thoughts when I least expect it. “It’s… complicated.”
Orion scoffs. “It always is with you.”
I roll my eyes. “Okay, Dad. ”
His expression hardens, and a familiar pang of regret twists in my chest. Orion has always felt responsible for me, ever since—
Nope. Not going there.
I shake the thought away. “Look, I get why you’re worried. But I promise you, there’s nothing to freak out about.”
Orion watches me for a long moment, his gaze sharp, assessing. Then, finally, he exhales, raking a hand through his hair. “I don’t freak out, Selene.”
I snort. “You could’ve fooled me.”
His glare sharpens, but then his shoulders loosen slightly. “I’m staying for a few days.”
My stomach drops. Oh, hell no.
“Orion—”
“It’s not up for debate.” His tone leaves no room for argument. “You want me to believe everything’s fine? Prove it.”
I groan, throwing my head back. “You are so annoying.”
“Yeah, well,” he mutters, crossing his arms again. “You’d think you’d be used to it by now. Tell me about him.”
I blink. “What?”
“This guy who had you so distracted you forgot we exist.”
Rolling my eyes I sigh, leaning against the kitchen counter. “It’s not like that. His name’s Theo. He owns Bear and Brew, it’s the cafe in town.”
Orion watches me carefully, his expression unreadable. “And?”
“And nothing, my dude. We went on one date, that’s all. He’s funny and always has a smart comment to make. I mentioned that it’d been a while since I put pencil to paper so for our date he set up painting stations and we watched Bob Ross and painted.”
Orion presses his lips together like he’s holding back a sigh, but instead of pushing, he shifts gears. “And the town? Is it everything you thought it was when you packed up and left DC without even looking back?”
I frown, caught off guard by the question. “The town is… weird lately. A lot has happened.”
His brow furrows. “Like what?”
I hesitate, then tell him about my conversation with Aubrey earlier today, how she’s convinced she’s cursed.
Orion listens intently, his expression unreadable, but I can tell he’s filing away every word.
Then, suddenly, there’s a soft rustling noise behind me. My breath catches as I glance over my shoulder. Valkyrie, my fearsome-looking Doberman, slinks out from behind the couch. Her ears are flat, her eyes wide as she cautiously inches closer, watching Orion.
Orion notices and raises an eyebrow. “What’s her deal? Isn’t she supposed to be a guard dog?”
I sigh. “She’s probably freaked out. Knowing you, there’s a good chance you came in here yelling my name like a lunatic.”
Orion scoffs but crouches down, extending a hand palm down for her to sniff before whispering, “I don’t bite, you know.”
Valkyrie flicks her ears back and, after a long moment, finally creeps forward. I hold my breath as she sniffs his fingers, half-expecting her to back away. But then—like the traitor she is—immediately nudges his hand with her nose, her butt giving a slow, uncertain wag.
I huff. “Seriously? I’m the one who feeds you, he’s the enemy right now.”
Orion smirks up at me. “Looks like she has good taste.”
I roll my eyes, but the tension in my chest loosens, just a little.
I walk past Orion, feeling his eyes on me the entire way, like he’s waiting for me to suddenly vanish again. The paranoia is almost comical—almost. I shake my head and kneel at the basket I have beside the back door. I rummage through it and once I find what I’m looking for I call Valkyrie with a shrill whistle. Almost immediately the rhythmic click of her nails against the hardwood follows.
She trots over, ears perked, and I give her a scratch between her ears before pushing open the back door. The cool afternoon air rushes in, crisp with the scent of damp earth and pine. Crickets hum in the distance, their rhythmic chirping filling the quiet. For a second, I close my eyes, letting the sounds of the woods settle around me. I sometimes forget how much I need this—the quiet, the space to just exist.
Orion follows me outside, hands tucked into his jacket pockets as we step into the yard. “So,” he drawls, stretching the word out. “How’s work?”
A slow smile spreads across my face. “Actually, really good. I wrapped up a huge project a couple of days ago, and I’m still riding the high from it.”
Orion nods approvingly. “Nice. I assume that means you finally got some sleep?”
I laugh. “A little. But the best part? Theo found out I work for Umbra when we were on our date, and apparently, he’s obsessed with them. You should’ve seen his face. He just stared at me, completely frozen, like I’d told him I was secretly in the FBI.”
Orion snorts. “You wish you were that cool.”
“I could be if I wanted to! Do you remember when we were in high school and I would religiously watch Criminal Minds every Wednesday? It’s literally my comfort show. I know all the terms and the lingo.” I shoot him with my finger guns
“Oh yeah,” Orion says dryly, shooting me a look that lets me know he is not impressed. “Because binge-watching a crime show totally makes you qualified for federal law enforcement. Should I start calling you Agent Smith now?”
“Hey, it could happen.” I toss Valkyrie’s ball, watching as she takes off across the yard in a blur of muscle and excitement. “If I ever disappear one day, just assume I got recruited for a top-secret mission.”
Orion hums like he’s trying to imagine it. “Or you finally got tired of small-town life and ran off to live in the woods.”
I huff. “That’s also a valid possibility.”
He chuckles, but there’s a softness in his expression when I glance at him. A flicker of relief, maybe. Like he’s reassured that I’m still… here.
Or maybe he’s just relieved I’m talking again. I don’t blame him.
He exhales, rolling his shoulders like he’s shaking off whatever thought he was about to say. Then, in a tone so casual I almost miss it, he asks, “So, Theo, huh?”
I narrow my eyes. “What about him?”
His mouth twitches. “Just making sure I have all the facts. You went MIA over a guy who nearly passed out when he found out who you work for?”
I groan, dragging a hand down my face. “I didn’t say he passed out. He was just excited.”
“I’m just saying, you affect the poor guy.” His grin is all mischief now. “He didn’t, like, drop to one knee on the spot, did he?”
“Oh my god, Orion.”
He laughs, dodging when I swat at his arm. “I mean, I’d understand if he did. You’re a catch, even if you do have a tendency to vanish without warning.”
I roll my eyes, but the words land deeper than I expected. Because for all his overprotectiveness, Orion has never been the kind to hand out empty reassurances.
I shake my head. “You’re so annoying.”
“I learned from the best.” He nudges me lightly with his elbow, and I huff a small laugh despite myself. The tension between us finally, finally starts to ease.
But then his expression shifts slightly, and I know the peace won’t last long.