Selene Makes A Stunning Decision

Selene sat by Kael's bedside, her hand resting on his, her thumb brushing lightly over his knuckles. His once-strong frame lay limp, his breathing was now deeply shallow. The old woman's words echoed in her mind: Do not let your bond with Kael falter and do not defile yourself with another.

Her chest tightened as she watched him, her heart breaking a little more with every passing moment. She closed her eyes and whispered, "I won't let him go. No matter what anyone says."

The decision settled in her heart like a heavy stone. She would marry him. She would bind herself to him completely, even if he couldn't say the words back.

Lila Dunehart, her best friend, sat beside her, her eyes filled with worry. "Selene, you've been here all day. You need to rest."

"I can't, Lila," Selene whispered. "Every moment I leave him, it feels like he's slipping further away."

Lila reached over and touched Selene's shoulder. "You're doing everything you can. But this is breaking you."

Selene shook her head. "I've made up my mind. I'm going to marry him."

"What?" Lila's voice rose in surprise, and she quickly lowered it, glancing at Kael. "You're not serious?"

Selene nodded. "I won't let him go. The bond matters. If this is what keeps him tethered to me, I'll do it."

When she told her parents that evening, their reactions were immediate.

"What?" Her mother, Liana, gasped, her hand flying to her chest. "Selene, you can't be serious!"

Her father, Elias, leaned forward, his brows furrowed deeply. "You want to marry him? Like this? While he's… unconscious?"

Selene stood her ground, her voice steady but firm. "Yes, Father. I've made up my mind."

Liana shook her head, pacing the room. "This isn't about love anymore, Selene. Think of your future. What kind of life will you have tied to a man who can't even stand beside you?"

"It's not about my future, Mother," Selene replied, her voice rising. "It's about Kael's. He needs me. And if this is the only way to keep our bond strong, then I'll do it."

Elias frowned, leaning back in his chair. "You're making this decision too quickly. Have you thought about what this will mean for you? For us? The pack might not understand."

"I don't care what the pack thinks," Selene snapped, her emotions spilling over. "I love him. And I refuse to give up on him, even if the rest of you do."

Elias frowned, leaning forward. "Selene, think this through. He's unconscious. How can you call this a marriage?"

"I've thought it through, Father," Selene replied, her voice steady. "This is the only way to keep our bond strong. If I don't do this, we might lose him forever."

Lila stepped forward cautiously. "Uncle, Aunty, I know it sounds… unusual. But Selene isn't doing this for herself. She's doing it because she believes it's the right thing for Kael."

Liana turned to Lila, her voice strained. "And you agree with this madness?"

"I didn't at first," Lila admitted. "But seeing how much she loves him… I understand now."

Elias sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Selene, this will bring talk, the pack will whisper."

Selene's eyes softened as she looked at her father. "They can say whatever they want. Kael needs me, and I won't abandon him."

Lila gave Selene a small smile of encouragement. "You're braver than most people, Selene."

Her parents exchanged a worried glance, but Selene could see the conflict in their eyes. They loved her and wanted what was best for her, but they also knew how stubborn she could be.

Finally, Elias sighed. "If this is truly what you want, Selene, then we'll support you."

Liana hesitated, tears welling in her eyes. She reached out, gripping Selene's hands. "I just hope you know what you're doing."

"I do," Selene whispered, her resolve unshaken.

The next day, Selene went to see Liora, Kael's mother, to tell her about her decisions. Lila walked beside her, clutching Selene's hand.

"You don't have to do this alone," Lila said softly as they approached the house.

Liora opened the door, her face weary from sleepless nights. "Selene? Lila?"

"Can we talk?" Selene asked.

When Selene told Liora, the older woman's reaction was starkly different. Liora's face crumpled as she took in Selene's words, and then she broke into soft, grateful sobs.

"You're willing to marry him… like this?" Liora asked, her voice trembling.

Selene nodded, swallowing hard. "I am. I love him, and I won't abandon him now. This is the only way I can help him."

Lila spoke up, her tone gentle. "Mrs. Wynther, I know you've been through a lot. But Selene's heart is in the right place. She's doing this for Kael."

Liora stepped forward, wrapping Selene in a tight embrace. "Bless you, child. I don't deserve your kindness after the things I said, but… thank you. You're giving me hope when I had none left."

Selene hugged her back, feeling the weight of Liora's gratitude. "We'll bring him back, together."

The day of the ceremony arrived, and the pack gathered in the sacred clearing beneath the full moon. The air buzzed with whispers and speculation, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

Selene stood at the centre, her white dress flowing softly around her. The fabric was adorned with delicate patterns of moon flowers, each petal carefully stitched by hand. Her hair was braided with silver threads and small charms to signify her bond with the Moon Goddess. Lila stood beside her, adjusting her veil and whispering encouragement. "You look beautiful, Selene. Kael would be proud."

Selene gave a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Lila. For everything."

Kael lay on a ceremonial slab draped in wolf pelts, his body still as if he were carved from stone. They wore a simple tunic on his unconscious body, adorned with the symbols of his rank—a golden wolf crest pinned over his chest and a leather band around his wrist.

The pack watched in silence as the ceremony began. The High Priestess, an elderly wolf with piercing eyes, stepped forward and raised her hands to the sky. She began the ritual, her voice rising above the whispers of the pack. 

"Tonight, under the light of the Moon Goddess, we witness a union of love and loyalty," she proclaimed, her voice echoing through the clearing.

Selene stepped forward, her hands trembling as she knelt beside Kael taking his hand in hers. She turned to Lila, who gave her an encouraging nod.

"I, Selene Dunehart, vow to stand by you, Kael Wynther, through all trials and joys," she said, her voice steady despite the tears in her eyes.

The priestess continued, binding their hands together with a silver ribbon. "The bond you share transcends the physical. It is a bond of the soul, unbreakable even in the face of darkness."

As the final words of the ritual were spoken, Selene leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Kael's forehead. Her tears fell onto his skin, shimmering like tiny stars in the moonlight.

The pack murmured softly as the ceremony ended.

"I can't believe she actually did it," someone whispered.

"She must really love him," another said.

"Or maybe she just wants power," a voice muttered bitterly.

Selene stood, her head held high, ignoring the whispers. Lila stepped forward, taking her hand and squeezing it. "You did it, Selene. You're incredible."

Liora approached her, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you," she whispered, pulling Selene into a tight embrace. "Thank you, Selene. You've given me hope again."

As the days passed, the pack's unity began to fray. Without Kael's steady leadership, disputes broke out among the members.

"I'm telling you, we need to focus on protecting our borders," one warrior argued during a pack meeting.

"And I'm telling you that we need to focus on finding a cure for Kael!" another snapped.

Selene stepped forward, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Enough! Fighting among ourselves won't solve anything. We need to work together."

The Beta Aldric nodded in agreement. "Selene's right. We need to stay united, for Kael's sake and for the pack's."

Later, as Selene and Aldric walked back to the packhouse, he glanced at her with admiration. "You're handling this better than I expected," he admitted.

"I don't have a choice," Selene replied, her voice weary but determined. "Kael would do the same for me."

Aldric placed a hand on her shoulder. "We're lucky to have you, Selene. Don't forget that."

The weeks following the marriage were anything but peaceful. Without Kael's leadership, the pack began to unravel.

"This can't go on," one warrior growled during a heated meeting. "We need someone to step up!"

"I agree," another chimed in. "But who? The Beta can't handle everything."

Selene stood at the head of the table, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Enough!"

All eyes turned to her.

"We don't have time for fighting," Selene said firmly. "The Beta is doing his best, but he needs our support. We need to work together if we're going to keep the pack strong."

Lila stood beside her, nodding in agreement. "Selene's right. We've faced worse before. We can get through this."

After the meeting, Selene and Lila walked back to the packhouse.

"You're a natural leader," Lila said with a grin.

Selene shook her head. "I'm just doing what needs to be done. For Kael. For the pack."

"And you're doing a damn good job of it," Lila said, giving her a playful nudge.