Hearts of Ice and Fire

Selene couldn't sleep after Ivy's shocking words. The little girl had finally dozed off in her bed, clutching her stuffed wolf, but Selene paced the room all night. Her mind raced with terrible thoughts. Elara wanted to sacrifice her to open some mysterious door to a shadow world. And she was using Ivy to do it.

When morning sunlight streamed through the window, Selene made a decision. She had to tell Dante, even if he hated her.

She found him in the training yard, watching young wolves practice fighting moves. His powerful arms were crossed over his chest, his face serious as always.

"Alpha," she said quietly. "I need to speak with you. Alone."

His blue eyes flicked to her, then back to the training wolves. "Not now."

"It's about Elara. And Ivy. It's important."

Something in her voice must have reached him because he nodded curtly and led her to a small clearing behind the training area.

"What is it?" he asked, keeping a careful distance between them.

Selene took a deep breath. "Ivy told me something last night. She said Elara is the 'Silver Lady' who kept her in darkness all these years. She's using dark magic, and she plans to—"

"Stop." Dante's voice was like ice. "Elara is an ally. She's been helping our pack for years. Your sister is confused, traumatized. She doesn't know what she's saying."

Selene stared at him in disbelief. "You don't even want to consider it might be true?"

"I know Elara. I don't know you." His words stung like a slap. "Maybe you're manipulating Ivy to make these claims. Maybe you're trying to cause trouble between our packs."

"Why would I do that?" Selene cried.

"Because you want something you can't have." His eyes were cold as winter. "You think if you remove Elara, I'll accept you as my mate. I won't."

The mate bond between them throbbed like an open wound. Selene forced herself to stand tall despite the pain in her chest.

"This isn't about us," she insisted. "It's about protecting Ivy and your pack. Elara is dangerous."

Dante stepped closer, towering over her. "You've been here less than a week. Don't presume to tell me who's dangerous in my own territory."

His scent—pine and winter frost—wrapped around her, making her wolf whine with longing. Being this close to him was both heaven and torture.

"Fine," she whispered. "Don't believe me. But please, at least watch Elara carefully. For your pack's sake."

Something flickered in his eyes—doubt, perhaps—but it vanished quickly.

"Stay away from Elara," he ordered. "And keep your sister's wild stories to yourself. I don't need rumors disrupting my pack."

With that, he walked away, leaving Selene alone with her fears.

Over the next few days, Selene tried her best to fit in. She helped with pack chores, working in the kitchens and garden. Some pack members warmed to her, especially after seeing how hard she worked. Others still viewed her with suspicion, whispering when she passed.

"Alpha's rejected mate." "The rogue who brought trouble." "Her sister gives me the creeps."

Ivy stayed close to Selene now, but she refused to talk more about Elara or the dark place. Sometimes she'd wake screaming from nightmares, and only Selene could calm her.

Meanwhile, Elara was always at Dante's side, smiling her snake smile. She touched his arm often, laughed at his rare jokes, and shot triumphant looks at Selene when no one else was watching.

Jace became Selene's only friend in the pack. He trained with her in the early mornings, teaching her to fight better.

"You need to be ready," he said one morning after she'd pinned him to the ground for the first time. "The rogues will come back."

"Dante thinks I'm making it all up," Selene confessed, helping Jace to his feet. "About Elara, the rogues, everything."

Jace frowned. "He's blinded by his past. Claire's death broke something in him."

"Tell me about her," Selene said as they walked back toward the pack house.

"Claire was kind, fierce, loved by everyone. She and Dante were childhood friends before they became mates. When hunters killed her, Dante went crazy with grief. He tracked down every hunter involved and..." Jace stopped, looking uncomfortable. "Let's just say he made them pay. When he came back, he was different. Colder. He swore he'd never love again."

"But we're fated mates," Selene said softly. "That's stronger than a chosen bond, isn't it?"

"Yes," Jace admitted. "And that scares him more than anything."

That evening, the pack gathered for dinner in the great hall. Selene sat with Ivy at a table far from Dante's. She could feel his eyes on her sometimes, but whenever she looked up, he was deep in conversation with Elara.

After dinner, Lyra approached with news. "Alpha wants to see you in his office."

Selene's heart jumped. "Just me?"

"Yes. Now."

She found Dante alone, standing by the window. Night had fallen, and moonlight cast silver streaks across his handsome face.

"You wanted to see me?" she asked, closing the door behind her.

"Yes." He turned, his expression unreadable. "Elara has invited our pack to a full moon celebration at her territory next week. A sign of our alliance."

Selene tensed. "And?"

"I want you and Ivy to stay here."

"You're leaving us behind?" The rejection hurt worse than she expected.

"It's safer. The rogues are still out there."

Selene stepped forward. "Or maybe Elara doesn't want me there because she's planning something."

Dante's jaw tightened. "We've been over this."

"No, you dismissed me without listening!" Anger gave her courage. "Why can't you see what's happening? She's using you, using your pain over Claire to blind you!"

"Don't say her name!" Dante growled, suddenly furious. "You know nothing about my pain, nothing about love or loss!"

"I lost my sister for ten years!" Selene shouted back. "I've lived with guilt and shame every day! And now that I've found her again, I'll do anything to protect her—even from your precious Elara!"

They were standing toe to toe now, both breathing hard. The mate bond flared between them, hot and demanding. For one heart-stopping moment, Selene thought he might kiss her.

Instead, Dante stepped back, his face hardening.

"I will never love you," he said, each word like a knife. "Even if we are fated mates. I refuse this bond. I refuse you."

Selene felt something inside her crack and break. The pain was physical, radiating from her chest throughout her body.

"You don't mean that," she whispered.

"I do." His voice was flat, final. "When I return from Elara's celebration, I expect you and your sister to be gone."

Tears burned behind her eyes, but she wouldn't let them fall. Not here. Not in front of him.

"Fine," she said, her voice surprisingly steady. "If that's what you want, Alpha."

She turned to leave, but his voice stopped her at the door.

"Selene." Something in his tone made her look back. For just a second, his mask slipped, and she saw pain equal to her own in his eyes. "It's better this way. For both of us."

She didn't answer, just walked out with her head high.

In the hallway, she nearly collided with Elara, who smiled like a cat with cream.

"Trouble in paradise?" Elara asked sweetly.

Selene wiped away a stray tear. "Enjoy your victory while it lasts."

Elara's smile vanished. "He'll never choose you. I've made sure of that."

"What do you mean?"

Elara leaned closer, her voice a cruel whisper. "Poor Dante, so broken after Claire died. So vulnerable to suggestion. So easy to make him believe that fated mates are a curse, not a blessing."

Ice spread through Selene's veins. "You've been poisoning his mind against me."

"For years," Elara admitted proudly. "Long before you arrived. I've been preparing him to reject his true mate whenever she appeared. And it worked perfectly."

Selene's hands curled into fists. "You won't get away with this."

"I already have." Elara's eyes glinted with malice. "Soon he'll be mine completely. And you... well, the full moon ritual requires a special sacrifice."

"Like a rejected mate?" Selene guessed, her voice hollow.

Elara's smile was answer enough. "Sleep well, little rogue. Enjoy your last days in this world."

After Elara glided away, Selene leaned against the wall, her broken heart somehow still beating. She'd lost Dante. She might soon lose her life. But one thing was clear—she had to protect Ivy.

Back in her room, she found her sister playing with the stuffed wolf.

"We're leaving," Selene announced. "Tonight."

Ivy looked up, her eyes suddenly ancient in her child's face. "We can't run from her. She'll find us anywhere."

"Then what do we do?"

Ivy held out her small hand. When Selene took it, a strange warmth spread up her arm. "There's something inside you," Ivy whispered. "Something sleeping. She knows it. She fears it."

"What are you talking about?"

"Your wolf isn't just any wolf." Ivy's eyes began to glow with an unearthly light. "You have power, sister. Power you've never used. Time to wake it up."

As if answering Ivy's words, something stirred deep inside Selene—ancient, powerful, and hungry for freedom. Her vision blurred, her skin tingled, and she heard her wolf howl with newfound strength.

"Ivy," she gasped, "what's happening to me?"

Her sister smiled, but it wasn't a child's smile anymore. "The moon rises in three days. By then, you'll be ready to fight for your mate."

"But Dante doesn't want me," Selene whispered, the pain fresh again.

"It doesn't matter what he thinks he wants," Ivy replied. "The bond cannot be broken. Only corrupted. And Elara has corrupted it with lies and dark magic."

Selene looked down at her hands, shocked to see them glowing with a soft white light. "How do you know all this? You're just a child."

Ivy's smile turned sad. "I haven't been 'just a child' since the day I drowned. Death changes you. So does coming back."