Chapter 4 : The Battle of Will

Chapter 4

Selene's breath came in quick, uneven gasps, her bare skin aflame where his hands gripped her as his words enveloped her. "You won't die. Because I will never love you." The cool night air drifted through the open window, but it did little to ease the heat that crackled between them.

Killian's hold on her waist tightened, his body pressed against hers, his touch both commanding and possessive. She could sense his hunger in the way his fingers sank into her flesh, in the way his lips lingered near her throat, in the way his chest rose and fell with barely contained restraint.

Every instinct within her screamed to give in.

Her wolf howled, yearning to solidify the bond.

And yet—

Selene pushed against him, her palms flat against the hard contours of his chest. "No." Her voice came out hoarse and shaky.

Killian didn't release her. His grip only grew firmer. His eyes—stormy and rimmed with gold—held her captive.

"You want this," he said, his voice rough. It wasn't a question; it was a certainty.

Selene swallowed hard, resenting the truth in his words. Every nerve in her body ignited, every part of her cried out for release. The mating bond tugged at her, an invisible force tightening around her throat like a collar. The longer she fought it, the more unbearable it became.

But she couldn't.

Not when she understood the consequences. Not with the curse looming over them like a dark cloud, ready to strike.

The warmth from Killian's body still clung to her skin, his scent enveloping her like a heady trap. She knew she should move away, should create as much distance as possible, but her legs felt leaden, her body betraying her even now.

Something dark flickered in his gaze. Anger. Frustration. But beneath it, something deeper—something primal.

He exhaled sharply and turned her, his hand curling around the back of her neck, pressing her against the cold stone wall of his chambers. The stark contrast between the chill of the stone and the searing heat of his body made her shudder.

"You think you can deny me?" His voice was a low growl, reverberating against her skin.

Selene's heart raced. She should be afraid—any rational woman would be. But fear wasn't what surged through her veins. It was something far more perilous.

Her heart raced as his fingers glided down her spine. A shiver coursed through her, and she clenched her jaw, forcing herself to remain still, to not give in to the urge to react.

Killian's lips brushed against the shell of her ear. "You can deceive yourself, Selene. But your body tells a different story."

The words sent a violent shudder through her. She turned her head just enough to meet his gaze. Their eyes locked, a silent struggle unfolding between them.

For a fleeting, terrifying moment, she almost surrendered.

Then she pushed him away with every ounce of strength she had left.

Killian released her—but not without a fight. His jaw tightened, his breathing uneven, his body coiled like a predator held back from its prey.

Selene stepped back, trembling. "This isn't just about me, Killian." Her voice was softer now, yet resolute. "It's about the curse. How certain are you about what you just said?"

His expression hardened. "You think I wouldn't know about the curse that runs in my bloodline?"

"Whatever, and I don't want to sleep with you, regardless of the delusions you have about me or what my body might want."

Silence hung heavily between them. The tension was almost unbearable.

Finally, Killian turned away, running a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. When he spoke, his voice was quieter but tinged with something menacing.

"The pack is watching, Selene. They're waiting." He turned back to her, his eyes aflame. "And if you keep rejecting me, they will turn against you."

Her stomach twisted, but she forced herself to hold her head high. "Let them."

A muscle twitched in his jaw. "You think you can endure that?"

"I've faced worse."

He stared at her for a long moment. Then he let out a low, bitter laugh and shook his head.

"Suit yourself," he muttered, stepping past her. But just as he reached the door, he paused, glancing back at her over his shoulder.

His gaze roamed over her—her flushed cheeks, the slight tremor in her fingers, the way her chest still rose and fell too quickly.

Then, with a smirk that lacked any real amusement, he said, "We'll see how long your defiance lasts."

With that, he vanished, leaving her breathless, shaken, and more uncertain than ever.

For the first time, she wasn't sure who she was really fighting.

Him.

Or herself.

Selene remained there long after he left, her breath uneven, her skin still tingling where he had touched her. The past few days felt like a fever dream—one she couldn't escape. Just two days ago, she was a rogue, wild and free. Now, she was Luna of a pack that was never meant for her.

And there was no escape.

The title was more than just a name—it was a chain. The Moon Goddess would ensure that. Not as a savior, but as a judge, a force that would twist fate itself to punish her if she dared to defy it. If she ran, she wouldn't just be hunted. She would be cursed.

She was bound—to an Alpha she hadn't chosen, to a destiny she hadn't asked for, to laws written long before she took her first breath.

She had never been free.

Not as a rogue, not as a Luna.

Not even in her own skin.

Selene barely slept that night.

She lay in the dark, her body still buzzing from Killian's touch, her mind a battlefield of conflicting instincts. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt the pressure of his hand at her throat, the warmth of his breath on her lips, the weight of his presence wrapping around her like an invisible chain.

She should have despised him for it.

For the way he made her feel.

For the way he sparked something primal within her, something she couldn't control or comprehend.

But hate wasn't the right word.

And that terrified her more than anything.

When dawn arrived, Selene forced herself to rise, washing away the remnants of the night in a cold bath that did little to quell the fire beneath her skin. She needed distance.

Selene needed to regain the control that slipped away every time Killian got too close.

Even as she scrubbed her skin raw, his presence lingered.

The heat of his touch. The strength of his grip. The way his breath had turned ragged while holding her the night before.

She clenched her jaw, trying to will the memories away.

This wasn't who she was.

She was not some fragile thing that could be unraveled by a man's touch—especially not his.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the chamber, only to find one of the maids waiting.

The girl was small, her movements quiet, almost invisible. Selene had noticed her before—how she barely spoke, how she moved with the other servants but never truly among them.

And then there was the scar.

A thin, jagged line that ran from her brow down to her cheek.

Selene had learned long ago that scars told stories. And this girl's story...

It wasn't a kind one.

For reasons she couldn't fully grasp, Selene found herself stepping toward her.

Big, doe-like eyes flickered up from beneath dark lashes before quickly darting away. The girl bowed her head, fingers tightening around the bundle of linens she carried.

Selene had seen how the other servants moved—quick, efficient, and silent. But this girl?

She carried herself differently.

She wasn't just obedient. She was afraid.

Selene's gaze flicked to the thin scar.

A wound that hadn't healed cleanly.

A wound that hadn't been an accident.

Selene had learned long ago how to read people, how to sense fear in the way someone held themselves.

The maid stiffened, lowering her gaze.

Selene halted a few paces away. "What's your name?"

A beat of silence, then—

"Lila." Her voice was soft, almost too quiet to hear.

Selene tilted her head. "How long have you been here?"

"Two years."

Selene studied her. "And in those two years, has anyone ever asked you that question?"

Lila's fingers curled into the fabric of her apron. She didn't answer.

She didn't need to.

Selene's stomach tightened.

This place had its secrets.

And so did Killian.

Before she could say more, a shift in the air pricked at her senses.

A presence. Heavy. Intense. Him.

Selene didn't need to turn to know Killian was there.

She felt him before she even saw him.

Heat pressed against her back, and when she finally looked, she found him standing a few feet away.

Dressed in dark leather, arms crossed over his chest, his golden eyes burned with something unreadable.

He looked... different.

Worse.

His normally composed features were hard, his golden eyes darker than usual. His jaw was set tight, muscles ticking as if he was barely holding himself together.

Selene's pulse betrayed her, skipping at the sight of him. He looked like a man who had been through hell the night before. A man who had barely kept himself from breaking.

She hated that she understood exactly how he felt. 

Selene met his gaze, forcing herself to remain still, ignoring the way her pulse quickened under his scrutiny.

She hated this. Hated how her body reacted to him, how the tension between them felt alive, clawing at her control.

Killian's gaze flicked to Lina.

The girl instantly bowed her head, shrinking into herself.

Selene's frown deepened.

His attention snapped back to her. 

"You," he said, his voice sharp. "Training grounds. Now." It wasn't a request.

Selene narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me?"

Killian exhaled through his nose, barely restraining himself.

"I need to hit something," he muttered, stepping closer, his gaze sweeping over her as if he could still see the imprint of last night on her skin. "And you're the perfect target."

Something dark and reckless coiled inside her at his words.

Good.

She wanted him angry.

She wanted to wipe that smug, unreadable expression from his face.

Because if he was feeling anything like she was—like his own body was betraying him—then maybe, just maybe, she wasn't the only one losing control. 

Selene didn't move right away. She let the silence stretch, letting the defiance build between them like a challenge.

Selene smirked. "Fine."

She stood her ground. She held his gaze.

And he did the same.