Chapter 11Damien
Chapter
Eleven
DAMIEN
F rom the shadows, I watch her.
Selene is surrounded now—Adrian, Lucien, and Ronan closing in on her like wolves circling prey. My pulse quickens as I see the wild desperation in her eyes, the way her chest heaves with panic and confusion. But it’s Ronan’s aggression that twists a knot of anger deep in my gut. I know his type, always reckless, always hungry for the kill, and with Selene… the desire to claim her is pouring off of him like heat.
I should intervene. I’m supposed to be the facilitator, the neutral party ensuring that the Hunt follows the rules. But watching her, something else stirs in me. Something dangerous .
I should stop Ronan.
And yet, I don’t move.
You’re just a spectator, Damien. Let it play out.
Ronan snarls, pushing his way forward, his tone dripping with impatience. “What are we waiting for? Let’s take her now. Whoever’s strongest can have her soul.”
Adrian gives him a sharp look, but even he can’t deny the tension rising. They’re drawn to her power, just like I am. Her soul, if it even is a soul, is unlike anything we’ve ever encountered before. But they don’t see what I see. They don’t feel the ripple of her magic beneath the surface, the way she holds back as if even she doesn’t understand the danger she’s in.
Or the danger she presents.
“No,” Adrian cuts in, his voice smooth but firm. “We need to understand what she is before we act. If we rush in, we might ruin everything.”
Ronan’s snarl deepens. “Cowards. She’s ours to take. You can feel it too. Why wait?”
I feel the familiar rage rising in my chest, my fists clenching at my sides. My eyes lock on Ronan, watching him push closer to Selene. If he touches her— if he dares —I won’t stand by. Not this time.
But just as Ronan’s hand twitches toward her, Selene’s power surges. It’s like a shockwave, wild and untamed, blasting him back into the trees with a force that leaves him crumpled on the ground. The air vibrates with her energy, crackling like electricity. Even from a distance, I feel it—like a hand gripping my chest, squeezing tight.
She’s not just a human. She’s something far more dangerous.
Adrian and Lucien exchange a glance, surprised by her power but not backing off. They want her too. Not for her body, not like Ronan. They want her magic, that raw, unbridled force that she can’t control. But I can’t let them have her. I can’t let her fall into their hands.
Selene stumbles back, eyes wide with fear and confusion, but there’s a fire in her, a strength she doesn’t fully understand. And then she bolts, disappearing into the forest once more, her figure swallowed by the shadows of the trees.
I should stay out of it. I should let her run, let them chase her like the prey she’s supposed to be. But I can’t. Not with Ronan lurking, not with the others so close to discovering what she truly is.
Damn it.
I move, but before I can take two steps, a sharp pain lances through my skull. I freeze, feeling the familiar, unwelcome sensation of the Order’s presence invading my mind.
Their voices flood in, as clear as if they were standing beside me.
You’ re failing, Damien.
I grind my teeth. She’s still part of the Hunt. It’s under control.
Is it? Their tone is dispassionate, cold. Her power is growing. You know what that means. If she’s left unchecked, she could unravel everything.
I squeeze my eyes shut, resisting the urge to snap back. The Order doesn’t like failure. They don’t tolerate it. And Selene is an unknown factor—one they’re clearly nervous about.
You know what needs to be done, the voice continues, slithering deeper into my thoughts. She’s too dangerous. Bring her in, or destroy her. Before it’s too late.
My chest tightens, the weight of their command settling over me like a suffocating blanket. They don’t care about her. They never cared about the prey. To them, Selene is just a tool. A weapon. Or worse, a threat that needs to be eliminated.
But I can’t do it. I won’t.
I understand, I lie, forcing my thoughts to remain steady. I’ll handle it.
The pressure in my mind eases, and then they’re gone, their presence retreating, but the tension remains. I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the aftereffects of their invasion. The Order always demands obedience, but this time... this time they’re scared. They’re hiding something. Something about Selene .
I know it. And I know I can’t follow their orders. Not this time.
I have to get to her first.
I push forward, following the faint trail of her power through the trees. She’s ahead, but I can feel her magic like a pulse, a beacon that’s impossible to ignore. The others will be closing in on her soon. Ronan won’t let that blast of hers go unpunished, and Adrian is far too clever to let her slip away twice.
But I won’t let them have her.
The trees blur as I move faster, tapping into my magic to track her. The air grows cooler, the scent of damp earth and pine filling my senses. The moonlight barely filters through the canopy above, but I don’t need it. I can feel her.
And she’s close. Closer than I expected.
I slow my pace, careful not to alert her to my presence. She’s hiding somewhere up ahead. I can sense her hesitation, the way her power flickers erratically, like she’s trying to control it but failing. She’s scared, but she’s also determined.
I have to make her trust me.
As I step into a small clearing, my eyes narrow, scanning the surroundings. There’s a cave nearby—an old, hidden place, long forgotten. And that’s when I feel it. Her magic, faint but distinct, coming from the mouth of the cave.
I approach slowly, my pulse quickening with each step. The urge to protect her, to keep her safe, overwhelms everything else. Even the Hunt, even the Order’s demands.
I can’t explain it. I’ve never felt this way before, not for any of the prey. But with her...
Everything’s different.
I reach the entrance of the cave, pausing for a moment before stepping inside. The air is cooler, damp, and filled with the soft sound of her breathing. She’s there, hidden in the shadows, but I don’t call out. Not yet.
Instead, I wait, letting the silence stretch between us. She knows I’m here. I can feel her awareness prickling at the edge of my magic, like two forces meeting in the dark.
And then, softly, I speak. “Selene.”
Her breath hitches, but she doesn’t respond. I take a step closer, my voice lower now, more careful. “You don’t have to run from me.”
Still, nothing.
I move closer, my pulse quickening. “They’ll come for you, Selene. But I won’t let them take you.”
Finally, she speaks, her voice shaky but defiant. “Why should I trust you?”
I take a deep breath, trying to ignore the pull, the desire that hums between us. “Because I’m not here to claim you. I’m here to protect you. ”
Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, the tension between us thickens, electric and undeniable.
But before I can say anything more, I sense it—the others. They’re closing in.
We don’t have much time.