Chapter 94: A Real Chance

Selene’s POV

"What a person has been through doesn’t define them, Selene. At least, that’s what I believe."

Aiden said it with such quiet confidence ... like he had no reason to second-guess it. Like judging me by my past wasn’t even a consideration worth entertaining.

"But you do know the past, right? I was the breeder to the king and all?" I asked.

"Of course I know. I’m in Winterwood and I have the internet." He shrugged. "But you didn’t choose the things that happened to you. They just happened. I don’t view you like that, Selene."

A brightness spread across my face the instant he said those words. If it were visible to anyone else, it would’ve looked like sunlight reflecting off polished steel.

I had never heard a male wolf talk with that kind of intelligence. That kind of grace.

"I like your confidence," I said.

"I like your glasses," he replied, and we both laughed.

Surprisingly, we didn’t talk much about inventions or creativity. We talked about ourselves ... random things, strange things. We joked and laughed a lot. It was easy in a way I hadn’t expected.

I was so deep into conversation with Aiden at the dinner table that I completely forgot I was supposed to be back at the king’s chambers to supervise dinner preparation. I hadn’t just lost track of time ... I had genuinely forgotten.

"Aiden, I have to head home now," I said, and it didn’t come out awkward the way I feared it might.

"Forgive my manners ... I’m sorry for keeping you," he said as he called for the bill and settled everything without hesitation.

"I’ll take you home," he added. I couldn’t decline. It was almost 9:30. He drove me down almost to the front of the chambers, then parked.

"Selene..." He turned slightly toward me. "It was really nice getting to know you today. You’re an amazing and interesting person. I hope you enjoyed tonight."

"I enjoyed tonight," I said. "Thank you. It was nice getting to know you too."

The car door swung open and I stepped out in a rush.

"Chat me when you’re settled," Aiden said.

"Okay," I replied, and he drove off.

I entered the chambers and was about to rush upstairs to my room and change when I heard my name.

"Selene!"

I spun around. It was Lucian. He was the only one still standing.

"Lucian!" I said.

"Where have you been?" he asked. As he spoke, Tessa appeared beside him, sliding her hand into the space near his.

"I went out to see someone," I said.

"But you have a job here." His voice came down like a thunderclap.

"Which I completed and fulfilled before I left, sir." I added the last word deliberately.

"No matter where you go, you’re to come back here and supervise dinner. Do you want us to get poisoned?" he asked.

"We can’t get poisoned," Tessa said softly, touching his arm.

"It won’t happen again," I said finally, and turned and ran upstairs.

I closed the door and slid down against it until I was sitting on the floor, my back pressed to the wood.

How long was I going to keep pretending?

This place was toxic for me. It wasn’t conducive ... not a place I could actually live in, not the way I wanted to live. I had told myself I needed to leave. I felt like I was suffocating, like I was willingly placing myself in a punishment I didn’t deserve anymore.

I hadn’t told Aiden I used to love Lucian. He only knew that we were once supposed to get married.

I messaged Ms. Ashlyn and Valerie to let them know I was home safe, then set my phone down.

When I reached for it again, I saw Aiden’s message waiting.

"Hey beautiful, hope you’ve settled in. Just wanted to check in on you. Please take care of yourself ... bye!"

I typed back: "Yes I have. Thank you so much for everything. You’re so kind."

He reacted with a love emoji. Then: Will call you tomorrow.

I needed fresh air. The chef had handled dinner, so there was nothing left for me in that kitchen. I stepped out into the garden downstairs. The chambers were quiet ... everyone had likely gone to bed. I walked alone in the night with nothing but the sound of crickets and distant birds. No phone. Just me.

"Who was he?"

I startled. Lucian’s voice came from behind me and I hadn’t heard him at all.

"Don’t scare me like that," I said, turning to face him.

"I’m sorry," he said.

"Who’s who?" I asked, even though I already knew.

"The person who dropped you off. Who was he?"

"My friend. Why?" I asked.

"You don’t have friends. You’re an introvert ... you love being on your own. You can’t lie to me, Selene."

I laughed. It came out easier than I expected. "You know me so well, Lucian. Have you ever heard of change?"

"You haven’t changed. You’re still the same Selene I met for the first time. So who was he?"

"Why do you even care? Shouldn’t you be with your wife right now? I don’t..."

"You can’t lie to me, Selene. You’re under my roof, so you have to tell me the truth."

I turned my head away.

"I’m under your roof by compulsion, not by will. Is that why you brought me here? So you could monitor me?" I asked.

"Selene, you’ve always been my responsibility ... from the day I took you from Alpha Roran..."

"More like your property. I’m something you think you own," I said.

"That’s not true, Selene. Where is all of this coming from?"

"This is me telling you that I am not your responsibility anymore. I refuse to be. Please leave me alone. The only thing I owe you is good diet," I said.

"You’re the only one who can talk to me like this." He paused. "I don’t own you anymore. But as long as you’re in my chambers, I’ll keep looking after you."

"Focus on Tessa. Your wife." My voice dropped when I said it.

He was quiet for a moment. "The only reason I’m letting you go is because I love you, and I don’t see you as an object. Love can’t put someone in bondage." He held my gaze. "But please be careful ... there are a lot of rogues out there."

He turned to leave.

"My wife will probably need me," were his final words.

And then he was gone.

What was that?

Was he trying to express feelings? Was that jealousy I had sensed beneath all the questions? And how could he love me and still be married to Tessa?

I stood there in the garden trying to make sense of it. I think I was moving on from everything faster than Lucian was.

Lucian had torn down my walls and left them in pieces on the ground. Aiden was quietly trying to rebuild them ... with his encouragement, his warmth, his effortless personality. People like him were rare, just like Ms. Ashlyn had said.

After I’d taken in all the night air I needed, I went back inside and lay in bed.

Looking at everything I had been through and everything I had survived, I didn’t want to call myself strong. I wouldn’t dare. Because it felt like the problems never ended ... like the moment one wave passed, another was already forming. But Aiden had called me strong anyway.

He said I was resilient. He said he had never met anyone like me. He said I was special.

I lay in the dark and let his words replay.

He said he wanted to know me more, and I already knew where that was leading. Maybe I should consider it. Maybe I should give him a chance.

I had never given anyone a real chance before. My heart had been sold out to books long before I met Lucian. Then I fell for Lucian ... and it had left me trampled, like something discarded on the ground. My heart had gone back to books after that.

But now there was Aiden.

He had proven himself, even in just one evening. He was kind and easy and he didn’t look at me like I was something broken. Maybe that was enough to try. Maybe he was worth the risk.

I fell asleep still thinking about it.