Charles' POV:
On the way back to the packhouse, I replayed every moment of my encounter with Selena. Despite everything, she still felt connected to me. The gentle way she had nudged her nose against my fur—it was almost like a dream.
In that instant, I realized that I couldn’t give her up. I loved her, I missed her, and I wanted her back in my life. Thoughts of reconciliation flooded my mind, but I forced myself to hold them back.
Our relationship had never been built on a stable foundation; it was a transactional arrangement from the beginning. Even without the complications with Penelope, it might have still ended in heartbreak. Selena was unlikely to forgive me anytime soon, and the looming issue of the Moonstone mine was a sword hanging over us both.
I had to tread carefully. Any further aggression on my part would only push her further away. If giving up on the Moonstone mine meant having her back, I’d gladly do so.