BOUND BY BLOOD AND MOON

The scent of damp earth and pine filled Selene's lungs as she ran, her bare feet pressing into the cool forest floor. The wind howled through the towering trees, but she barely heard it over the pounding of her heart.

She had left the packhouse hours ago, yet the sting of rejection still clung to her skin like a wound that refused to close.

Her body ached,not from the run, but from the weight of it all. The weight of being unwanted.

She shouldn't have let it get to her.

She had promised herself, after the second rejection, that she wouldn't care. That she wouldn't let another mate's choice define her.

And yet, here she was.

Selene's legs finally gave out, and she sank to her knees near the edge of a small stream. The moon's reflection rippled on the water's surface, fractured and imperfect,just like her.

A bitter laugh escaped her. "Three times," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. "Three fucking times."

Her hands curled into fists against her thighs.

She wanted to scream, to break something, to run until her legs gave out completely. But what was the point? Nothing would change.

She was born a low-rank lycan, an orphan with no prestigious lineage, no powerful family name to back her. In the eyes of the pack, that made her nothing. And if fate kept tying her to mates who saw her as nothing… then maybe fate was just as cruel as the pack itself.

The rustling of leaves behind her snapped her from her thoughts.

Selene's muscles tensed, her senses sharpening. She turned swiftly, her green eyes scanning the darkened woods.

A pair of glowing yellow eyes stared back at her in the darkness.

Her wolf stirred inside her, recognizing the scent before her mind did. Not an enemy. Not a rogue.

Seraphina.

The she-wolf stepped forward, moonlight catching in her fiery red hair. She crossed her arms, her sharp gaze raking over Selene with something between concern and frustration. "I figured I'd find you out here."

Selene exhaled and looked away. "You didn't have to come."

Seraphina snorted. "You say that like I was just going to let you stew in your own misery alone." She plopped down next to her, kicking a pebble into the water. "So. Leon, huh?"

Selene flinched at his name.

Seraphina sighed. "Bastard."

A small, humorless smile tugged at Selene's lips. "You don't even like me talking about them."

"Because they don't deserve a second of your time," Seraphina shot back. "But I'm here, so go on. Let it out."

Selene hesitated.

She didn't want to.

Didn't want to admit that this one hurt more.

Didn't want to admit that, for the first time, she had allowed herself to hope.

That she had let herself believe in the mate bond.

Her throat tightened, but she forced the words out anyway. "He didn't even look at me when he said it."

Seraphina stilled.

"He wouldn't meet my eyes," Selene continued, staring at the water. "Like I wasn't even worth that much."

The silence that followed was thick and heavy. Then Seraphina spoke, her voice laced with quiet anger.

"You are worth more than that, Selene. So much more."

Selene swallowed, her fingers gripping the damp earth beneath her. "Then why does this keep happening?"

Seraphina's expression softened. "Because they're cowards. And because fate is an asshole."

That actually made Selene laugh,a real laugh, short but genuine.

Seraphina smirked. "There she is."

Selene rolled her eyes, nudging her playfully. "Shut up."

But warmth settled in her chest.,It didn't erase the pain, but it dulled it.

For now, that was enough.

 ...._Back at the Packhouse_ ....

Selene and Seraphina returned just before dawn, the towering structure of the packhouse looming over them.

Most of the pack would be asleep by now, but a few wolves lingered near the entrance, their gazes flicking toward Selene as she passed by.

Whispers followed.

"She got rejected again."

"Third time now, isn't it?"

"Maybe fate keeps messing up with her."

Selene ignored them.,

She had learned a long time ago that silence was her best armor.

Seraphina, on the other hand, shot a glare toward the wolves, baring her teeth slightly. The whispers stopped.

They climbed the stairs to Selene's small room,barely more than a storage space with a bed. It wasn't much, but it was hers.

Seraphina leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "You okay?"

Selene exhaled. "I will be."

Seraphina nodded. "Good. Because I have a feeling shit's about to get worse."

Selene raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

Seraphina hesitated, then sighed. "There've been rumors. Rogue sightings near our borders. More than usual."

Selene frowned. "The alphas haven't said anything."

"Because they don't want to cause panic," Seraphina muttered. "But I overheard a few of the higher ranks talking. Something feels… off."

Selene's stomach twisted.

Rogues were always a problem. But if even the higher ranks were concerned, that meant it was bad.

"Just… be careful," Seraphina said quietly.

Selene nodded.

Neither of them knew then how true those words would be,or that fate was already in motion.