Eclipse Love

Selene's breath came fast and uneven. The forest seemed to close in around her, the shadows stretching, watching. The Order created the bond?

It didn't make sense. It couldn't make sense.

Lucian was at her side, his presence steady, but she barely noticed. Her mind raced, replaying every lesson, every command, every whispered oath she had sworn to the Order.

"We are the light that stands against the darkness."

"We do not question. We obey."

"Vampires are monsters. They are not like us. They are not us."

But she was. At least, she was becoming one.

Darius stood motionless, his expression unreadable. "I know this is a lot, Selene. But we don't have time for you to fall apart."

Selene snapped her gaze to him. "Fall apart?" Her voice trembled with rage. "You just told me my whole life—my whole existence—was some kind of experiment. And you expect me to just—just accept it?"

Darius exhaled slowly. "You don't have to accept it. But you do have to survive it."

Lucian stepped between them, his silver eyes glowing dangerously. "Why should we believe a word you say?"

Darius let out a short, humorless laugh. "You shouldn't. But the Elders are closing in, and the Order isn't far behind." His gaze hardened. "And if you don't start trusting me, you'll be dead before you get your answers."

Selene's fingers curled into fists. She didn't trust him—couldn't. But she needed information.

She took a slow, steadying breath. "Tell me everything."

Darius hesitated, then nodded.

"The Order has been trying to control the power of vampires for centuries," he began. "They've experimented on hunters, forcing them to bond with captured vampires, trying to create something… stronger." He glanced at Lucian. "Most of the test subjects died. The few that survived? They lost their minds. The bond was too much."

Lucian's jaw clenched. "And Selene?"

Darius met her gaze. "You're the first one it actually worked on."

Selene's stomach dropped.

"No," she whispered. "That's not possible."

Darius's expression softened. "I'm sorry."

Selene's hands trembled. "Who knew?"

Darius hesitated.

Selene's voice shook. "Who. Knew?"

Darius exhaled. "The Grandmaster. The Council." He paused. "And… your father."

The world tilted.

Selene stumbled back. "No. He wouldn't—he wouldn't do that to me."

Darius's expression was grim. "He did."

Selene felt like she couldn't breathe. Her father had trained her, shaped her, taught her to hate the very thing he had bound her to. Had he known the whole time? Had he watched her struggle, knowing she was walking into a trap?

Lucian moved closer, his voice low and steady. "Selene."

She flinched.

Lucian hesitated, then gently reached for her hand. "We don't have time for this. The Order is coming. We need to move."

Selene shook her head. "Move where? If what Darius is saying is true, they won't stop hunting us. We're not just running—we're already trapped."

Lucian's grip tightened. "Then we fight."

Darius sighed. "You don't win against the Order, vampire."

Lucian's eyes darkened. "We'll see about that."

Selene forced herself to focus. She could break down later. Right now, she had to survive.

She turned to Darius. "Where do we go?"

Darius hesitated. "There's a place. A safe house—one the Order doesn't know about."

Lucian arched a brow. "And you expect us to follow you there?"

Darius smirked. "You don't have a lot of options, do you?"

Selene exhaled sharply. "Fine. But if you betray us—"

Darius grinned. "You'll kill me. I know."

Selene didn't smile. "No. He will." She tilted her head toward Lucian.

Lucian's fangs glinted in the moonlight. "And I'll make it slow."

Darius raised his hands in surrender. "Noted."

Selene turned away, forcing herself to move forward. One step at a time.

She didn't know what lay ahead.

She only knew one thing.

Everything she had believed was a lie.

And it was time to find out the truth.

End of Chapter Twelve.