Chapter 537 Come With Me *Selena*


    Silently, I slipped back into my room, the early morning light casting a gentle glow across the space. The stillness of the hour ensured that there were no prying eyes to question my movements. As I stepped inside, a sense of eerie normalcy greeted me. My room appeared untouched as if the events of the previous night were mere figments of my imagination. Zander had my room settled to its previous condition.


    But try as I might, I couldn''t erase the haunting image of L''s blood-covered body from my mind.


    Perching myself upon the bed, I contemted the next step of my n. My duties in the kitchen would soon demand my attention. But I had a few moments to collect my thoughts.


    A gentle knock broke the concentration, rousing me from my contemtion. With


    slow and measured steps, I crossed the room and swung the door open. ir stood before me, her face etched with abination of fear and concern.


    She spoke, her voiceced with regret, "Selena, are you alright? I wanted toe to youst night, but Zander had every pack member confined to their rooms." Offering a reassuring smile, I replied, "It''s alright, ir. I''m fine."


    Her response was tinged with a touch of sorrow, "I''m relieved to hear that you''re safe. But it''s disheartening to think that a rogue managed to infiltrate the packhouse." I shook my head, my conviction unwavering, "ir, it''s not as simple as that. There''s a traitor among us, someone within the pack who allowed them entry."


    A gasp escaped ir''s lips, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Goodness gracious! Could it really be true? If that''s the case, then no one within the packhouse is truly safe."


    Seeking to ease her fears, I spoke in a hushed tone, "Fear not, ir. Security measures have been redoubled. The head of security has taken swift action, reassigning guards and initiating an investigation. Everyone within the packhouse is now safeguarded. No unauthorized entry will be tolerated from this day forward." Though I longed to confide more, to share the information Zander had revealed, caution held my tongue. That secret was a fragile ember, one I couldn''t afford to expose.


    "Yes, you''re right. I suppose they are now enacting heightened security protocols," ir''s expression brightened as a glimmer of hope took root in her thoughts. I chose to nod assuringly, holding back further details.


    "Selena, there''s something I need to share with you about Maddox," she began, her wordsced with hesitancy as if tiptoeing around a fragile subject. "He actually came to see me in my room," she shared tentatively, her gaze seeking mine as if searching for guidance. "What did he want?" I inquired with a sense of urgency as I leaned forward slightly, urging her to continue.


    Her fingers fidgeted nervously, a telltale sign of her inner turmoil. Her voice wavered slightly as she responded, "He... he came to my room, and he exined his reasons for wanting us to reject each other." My brow furrowed.


    "And what do YOU want?" I pressed, my gaze fixed intently on her.


    Her gaze dropped to her fingers, a mixture of emotions ying out across her features.


    She mumbled softly, her words almost lost in the air between us, "He believes that he can''t abandon Emile, and I think, deep down, he might be right. Despite what he did to me, I can''t bear to tear them apart. So, I''ve decided to ept his rejection." A poignant pause hung between us, the weight of her words sinking in like a heavy stone. Her voice, so full of resolve yet tinged with vulnerability, quivered as she uttered the final sentence.


    "ir, you should be immensely proud of yourself," I praised sincerely as my voice carried a warmth that mirrored the genuine pride in my heart. Without hesitation, I drew her into a gentle yet reassuring embrace.


    "You''re truly the embodiment of strength, ir," I murmured softly, my eyes glistening as if my heart were feeling her pain.


    She returned the hug with a fervent grip as if seeking sce and strength. The waves of emotions that pulsed through her were palpable, a turbulent sea of conflicting feelings. It took an immeasurable amount of courage to defy the pull of a fated mate, to choose a path divergent from what destiny had seemingly decreed. "Remember, ir, I''ll always be here for you," I murmured softly.


    ir''s acknowledgment was a subtle nod against my shoulder that conveyed her feeling even as her gaze shied away from meeting mine. I understood the unspoken depth of her emotions, recognizing the turmoil that surely swelled within her. While I knew that her eyes likely glistened with unshed tears, I yearned to shield her from their release. Her resolve was admirable, and if she had steeled herself for this path, I was determined to help her remain resolute.


    As her form withdrew from our embrace, her voice brushed against the air, carrying with it a whisper of gratitude.


    "Thank you, Selena," she breathed with the tears cascading down her cheeks. Her restraint had finally crumbled, the dam that held back her emotions giving way. "Oh, ir!" I shook my head subtly as I gently brushed away the moisture that marred her skin.


    Her pain resonated deeply with me; the memory of my own heartache still lingered vividly. The shared understanding of her plight only intensified my longing to shield her from further sorrow. I knew how hard it was to reject the person you loved deeply. Before our moment of shared sorrow could fully envelop us, an insistent knock pierced the air, dispersing the weight of our emotions like morning mist under the sun''s touch.


    "I will answer the door," I conceded, my gaze lingering on ir who was now wiping her eyes and steadying her breath.


    Drawing a fortifying breath, I turned my attention to the door, a flicker of surprise dancing within my eyes as Damon''s form materialized on the other side.


    The presence of another at this early hour was unexpected, prompting an involuntary mumble of his name. "Damon?"


    His urgency was palpable, evident in


    the way he closed the gap between us and enveloped me in an embrace that caught me off guard. Startled by the unexpected contact, I soon extricated myself, creating a small measure of distance between us. His words tumbled forth, a symphony of relief and concern intermingled. "Selena! I''m so relieved to find you unharmed. Thank the heavens."


    "Yes, Damon, I''m alright. Thank you," I said as my reply was infused with a half-smile.


    "Good morning, ir," Damon''s voice greeted as his gaze noticed ir''s presence in the room.


    "Good morning, Damon. I was just about to leave," ir responded with a polite smile.


    "No, please stay," I urged, my hand gently sping hers to stall her retreat. Her eyes briefly flickered between us, a momentary hesitation evident.


    "Oh, no, really. I wouldn''t want to


    intrude or be a third wheel between


    а


    you two. I''ll leave to give you some privacy," she stated, her gaze lingeringon Damon before she nodded and departed, the closing of the door a solemn punctuation to not safe


    her exit. "Selena, you''re not


    here," his voice carried a note of


    desperation. "I can sense the


    danger. I won''t allow you to remain


    here any longer. Come with me.


    Leave this ce behind."


    "Prince Damon, your concern is touching, but I can''t simply abandon my duties. There''s a job I must fulfill here," I exined.


    "To hell with your job. I won''t let you face this danger alone. Selena,e with me," he insisted, and his frustration was palpable, an undertone of urgency infusing his response.


    "This is entirely illogical. Why would I simply uproot my life because of vague warnings?" I muttered under my breath with frustration as I walked toward the window, seeking momentarily escape from the tension in this room.


    The sound of his exhtion reached my ears before his presence materialized behind me. The touch of his fingers on my shoulder turned me toward him. His gaze bore into mine, carrying an intensity that drew my attention like a ma.


    "I was terrified when I heard about the murder in your room. The thought of what could have happened..." He took a shuddering breath, his voice breaking slightly. His grip tightened, fingers kneading into my shoulder. "You have no idea how precious you are to me." His confession caught me off guard, and I took a step away from him. I never saw thising. I thought he was flirtatious.


    "Prince Damon, you''re taking this far too seriously. I assumed your advances were merely..." My words trailed off as he cut me off, his gaze unyielding and his determination evident.


    "I am very serious, Selena," he dered, his tone unwavering as eyes holding mine with an intensity that brooked no denial.


    I felt the weight of his sincerity


    pressing upon me, and I found


    myself grappling for the right words


    to convey my feelings without


    causing any further


    misunderstanding. "Damon, please understand, I don''t know what might have led you to believe otherwise, but I assure you, any semnce of interest was merely politeness. You''re a guest here, and I was being courteous. Please don''t misconstrue my intentions," I implored in a voice carrying a blend of earnestness and regret.


    He shook his head.


    "No, Selena, you''re mistaken. You never misled me, but there''s something important I need to tell you," he asserted, his features softening into a more sincere expression.


    My brows furrowed as I sought toprehend his words, curiosity mingled with caution.


    "I''m all ears," I replied as I prepared to listen.


    Before our conversation could delve deeper, the abrupt intrusion of Eden''s sharp voice shattered the fragile moment.


    "Selena!!!"


    With an apologetic look, I turned to face Damon as I addressed, "I''m sorry, Damon, but I have to go. Kitchen duties have started."


    His nod was apanied by a hint of disappointment.


    "I''ll... see youter," I murmured, unsure of what else to say in the face of the lingering tension between us.


    "Later, Selena. Because we haven''t finished talking yet," he stated with an air of seriousness, his words lingering like a promise as he exited my room.