Chapter 16

Marked by War

The night burned. Flames consumed the village, licking the sky in shades of orange and red. Smoke curled thick in the air, stinging Selene's throat as she ran through the wreckage, heart hammering like a war drum.

The screams of the wounded and dying surrounded her. Shifters fought in the streets—Ronan's wolves clashing violently with Darius's rogues, their bodies a blur of claws and teeth.

Selene had seen war before. She had lived through battles where blood turned the earth to mud, where the dead were left to rot beneath an uncaring moon. But this? This was different.

Because this war was about her.

She had felt it in the way Darius's silver eyes burned into her before vanishing into the shadows. In the way Ronan's grip had tightened around her wrist as if he feared she'd disappear.

This was not a war for territory.

This was a war for dominance.

And she was the prize.

---

Blood and Ash

Selene barely had time to react as a rogue wolf lunged from the side, claws aimed for her throat.

She twisted at the last second, narrowly avoiding the strike. Instinct took over. She pivoted on her heel, dodging another attack before slamming her knee into the rogue's stomach. He staggered, snarling, but Selene didn't give him a chance to recover.

She reached for the dagger strapped to her thigh and drove it deep into his chest.

The rogue gasped, blood bubbling from his lips as he fell to the ground.

Selene exhaled sharply, her grip tightening around the hilt of her blade.

She had spent her whole life fighting for survival, for a place in a world that saw her as nothing more than a tool. She wasn't about to let two alphas decide her fate now.

A low growl rumbled behind her.

She turned just in time to see another rogue barreling toward her—larger than the last, eyes glowing with bloodlust.

Selene braced herself.

But before the rogue could reach her, a massive black wolf crashed into him, sending him flying into the burning wreckage of a nearby house.

Ronan.

He shifted mid-air, landing smoothly on his feet, his golden eyes locked onto hers.

"Are you hurt?" His voice was rough, edged with barely restrained fury.

Selene wiped blood from her cheek. "I can handle myself."

Ronan's jaw tensed. His gaze flickered to the rogue's corpse at her feet, and something unreadable passed through his expression.

Then, his lips curled into a smirk.

"I should have known."

Selene frowned. "Known what?"

"That you'd be more dangerous than half my warriors."

She didn't have time to process the strange warmth his words stirred inside her. A sharp whistle cut through the night air—one of Ronan's warriors signaling from the other side of the village.

"Darius is gone," the warrior called. "The rogues are retreating."

Ronan's eyes darkened. "Coward."

Selene exhaled, chest heaving. Darius hadn't come here to win a battle. He had come to make a statement.

And he had succeeded.

The village lay in ruins, bodies scattered across the streets. Blood soaked the earth.

Ronan turned to her, his gaze unreadable. "Come."

She hesitated. "Where?"

His hand found her wrist, warm and unyielding. "You're coming back with me."

Selene's pulse jumped.

She should refuse. She should fight.

But as she looked around at the destruction—at the proof of what this war was turning into—she realized something.

She didn't have a choice.

---

A Caged Wolf

The journey back to Ronan's territory was silent.

Selene rode beside him, her thoughts tangled. The wind carried the scent of smoke and blood, but beneath it was something else—Ronan's scent, dark and wild.

She hated that she noticed it.

By the time they reached his fortress, dawn had begun to break, painting the sky in hues of pink and gold.

Ronan dismounted and turned to her. "Rest. We'll speak later."

Selene narrowed her eyes. "You don't get to give me orders."

His lips twitched. "And yet, here you are. In my territory."

She clenched her fists.

She wanted to fight him. She wanted to sink her blade into his arrogance and watch him bleed.

But she also knew she needed answers.

She needed to understand what she had become in this war between alphas.

So, instead of fighting, she turned on her heel and walked into the fortress, ignoring the way his gaze burned into her back.

---

The Alpha's Claim

Selene barely had time to settle into the room Ronan had given her before the door swung open.

She tensed, reaching for her dagger—only to pause when she saw him.

Ronan leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, golden eyes unreadable.

"Are you going to stare all night, or did you actually have something to say?" she asked, arching a brow.

His lips curled. "You're restless."

She scoffed. "You brought me here against my will. What did you expect?"

Ronan stepped forward, slow and deliberate.

Selene refused to back away.

"You're not a prisoner, Selene," he murmured. "You're mine."

Her breath caught.

His fingers traced along the curve of her jaw, tilting her chin up. His touch was fire, burning through her like wildfire.

"You don't own me," she whispered.

Ronan exhaled, his breath hot against her skin. "Then why do I feel you trembling?"

Her pulse pounded.

This was a dangerous game.

And she wasn't sure who would win.