Page 90 of The Blood Moon Hunt

Adrian, the first to recognize my strength. When we first crossed paths, he saw me not just as prey but as something more—something powerful, something untamed. His sharp mind and calculated demeanor drew me in, and though I was hesitant to trust him, he gave me the space to discover my own power. Adrian never doubted me, not even when I doubted myself. His constant push for me to dig deeper, to understand the true extent of my abilities, changed me. He helped me realize that strength isn't just about brute force; it’s about strategy, control, and understanding the game. And though he always has a hint of arrogance, Adrian is the warlock who has always played the long game with me. Our eyes meet, and I can feel his thoughts brush against mine."You’ve always been more than they knew,"his voice whispers in my mind, and I can’t help but smile. He was right about me from the start.

Then there’s Lucien, with his wild energy and raw intensity. He was the one who taught me to harness my power, to move with it rather than try to control it. Lucien never held back, never softened his edges for me, and I realize now that was exactly what I needed. Hemade me realize that power isn’t something to be feared or kept at arm’s length. It’s something to be embraced, to be let loose when the time is right. Lucien’s fierce loyalty is unlike anything I’ve ever known—his desire to prove himself, not just to the others but to me, is palpable. As our gazes lock, I sense his mind touch mine."You’re stronger than you know, witch,"he says with a hint of pride. I feel a swell of warmth in my chest. Lucien believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.

And then there’s Ronan. The one who has walked the line between loyalty and betrayal, the one who nearly lost himself in the hunger for power. He’s been both my enemy and my protector, his intentions constantly shifting. Yet even in his darkest moments, I saw something more in him—a warlock caught between the shadow and the light, desperate for purpose, for control over his own fate. Ronan’s struggle with his own desires mirrored my own, and in a strange way, that made us alike. He was the one I feared and the one who could have taken everything from me, but instead, he chose to stand by my side. His eyes meet mine now, and I sense the quiet war raging inside him."You don’t have to be alone in this,"he whispers mentally, his tone softer than I’ve ever heard it. In that moment, I know that he has finally chosen me—not just for his own gain but for something deeper, something real.

And then there’s Damien. He has protected me fromthe very beginning, his fierce loyalty unwavering, even when he was bound to the Order. Damien was the first to make me feel safe, even when I was thrust into this dangerous world. His strength has always been different from the others—it wasn’t just about power or dominance, but about something gentler, something steadier. He has always put me before himself, his quiet protectiveness wrapping around me like a shield. Damien never asked for anything in return, never demanded that I be anything other than myself. And though his connection to the Order has haunted him, he never let it change how he felt about me. I look into his eyes now, and I feel the depth of his emotions, his desire to break free from the chains that have bound him for so long."You were the only thing that ever made me question my place,"he admits silently, his voice low and filled with emotion. My heart tightens as I realize just how much he has sacrificed for me.

These men, these warlocks, have become more than just the ones who hunted me. They’ve shaped me, each in their own way, and now, as I stand before them, I see the truth of what we’ve become. I’ve been their prey, their temptation, their test—but now, I am their equal.

We are bound together now, not by the Hunt, but by choice.

As I release their powers back to them, I do more than just restore what was theirs. I give them a piece of myself, a piece of the magic that flowsthrough my veins, binding us in a way that can never be undone. Adrian, Lucien, Ronan, and Damien—they are part of me now, and I am part of them.

The energy surges through them, amplifying their strength, and I can see the understanding in their eyes. They know what I’ve done. They’ve trusted me with their power, and in return, I’ve honored that trust.

We are bound together now, forever.

Chapter

Fifty-Three

SELENE

The journey back to the manor feels like a blur. My legs are heavy with exhaustion, my mind still spinning from everything that happened at the altar. The warmth of the manor envelops me as we step inside, the tension in my chest loosening ever so slightly. I glance back at the others—Damien, Lucien, Adrian, and Ronan—all equally worn from the battle, but something about them feels different. There’s a quiet sense of triumph beneath the surface.

As we make our way into the grand hall, the fire crackles softly in the hearth, casting a warm glow over the room. The quiet is almost unnerving after the chaos we’ve been through. The manor, for all its grandeur,now feels smaller, more intimate—like a shared space rather than an imposing fortress.

Damien lingers near the doorway, catching my gaze. His eyes are filled with something I can’t quite place, something softer than before. He’s always watched over me, protected me, but there’s more to it now. I wonder if he can sense my own conflicted thoughts, my uncertainty about what comes next.

"Damien..." I start, but the words seem to die in my throat.

He steps closer, his presence comforting but intense. “Selene,” he says softly, “You don’t have to speak. I know.”

I lower my gaze, feeling the weight of everything that’s happened pressing down on me. “I don’t know what’s next. I don’t know how I can just... go back to my life after all of this.”

He looks at me with those piercing eyes, full of unspoken promises. “No one’s asking you to decide anything tonight.”

I glance at Lucien and Adrian, who have moved to sit by the fire, their bodies slumped in exhaustion. Ronan lingers near the door, casting dark glances my way as if still deciding how he feels about everything. There’s tension in the air—different than before. It’s not the tension of battle but of something unsaid, something simmering beneath the surface.

I feel their eyes on me—each of them watching,waiting. The weight of their gaze feels heavier than the weariness in my bones, but at the same time, it sends a thrill through me that I can’t deny.

Adrian breaks the silence first. “Selene, you need rest. We all do.” He shifts in his seat, his eyes searching mine as if trying to gauge what I’m thinking. “What we went through... that was only the beginning.”

I nod slowly, unsure of what to say. My body is aching, but it’s not just from the fight—it’s something deeper. The connection I feel to them all is overwhelming, almost consuming. It’s more than just attraction; it’s something primal, something I can’t fully understand.

Lucien smirks, his voice teasing but with a layer of sincerity beneath it. “You’re not going anywhere, are you?”

My heart races at the implication in his tone. “I... don’t know,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know if I belong here. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

Ronan’s eyes narrow from across the room. “You think you can just walk away after all of this?” His words are sharp, but there’s something else in them—something almost pleading, though he would never admit it.

Adrian leans forward, his gaze intense. “Selene, you’ve tasted what power feels like. Do you really think you could go back to an ordinary life?”

A lump forms in my throat. He’s right. I’ve felt something with them that I’ve never felt before—something I never knew I was missing. And now that I’ve experienced it, I don’t know how I could return to my old life. But I’m scared. Scared of what that means for me. For us.

“I don’t know if I can stay,” I finally say, my voice trembling with uncertainty.

Damien steps closer to me, his voice low and soothing. “You don’t have to decide tonight, Selene. But you know as well as we do that things will never be the same.”

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