r chest, but she refused to look away. The instinct inside her was primal, alive-fierce. She could feel the call of her

he rogue alpha, his posture rigid, protective. "Stay back,"

hed out, grabbing Rowan's arm. "No. I'm

enderness she hadn't expected. But there was no time for softness. The rogue alpha was still sizi

illed with undeniable command. "You don't know w

een waiting for this moment to finally reveal itself. She shook her head, her chest tight with det

is movements were lightning-fast, a blur of muscle and hunger, and Selene saw the ch

ogue alpha came at them with a ferocious snarl, she could feel the earth beneath her s

within her, a wave of energy that sent the rogue crashing back, his body slammed against a nearby tree

!" Rowan exclaimed, his voice full of surprise, but his ex

n her chest as she felt the wild rush of energy, the echo of something ancient and untamed coursing through her.

ith a new, dangerous glint in his eyes. There was recognition in that gaze-a realization that s

his voice deep and guttural. "But you're n

ged gasps, but her mind was clear. She wasn't just a girl caught in the middle of some

planting her feet firmly into the earth. The energy around her swirled

the rogue alpha. "We fight together, Selene," he said

st blinding. Selene reacted instinctively, raising her arm as though to pus

ight of her will. The earth itself seemed to tremble with the force of her power, the ground shifting beneath their feet. She cou

of energy in the air. Selene stood, breathing heavily, her body trembling from the e

n his golden eyes. "You'll regret this, little girl,"

force. For the first time since they had faced him, the alpha seemed unsure.

. "This is your last chance," he said coldly. "Leave now, an

gave a low, defeated growl and turned, retreating into the shadows from which he came. Th

Selene's heart was still racing, her breath shallow, but her mind was clearer now, sharper than it

ipher. There was pride there, but also something else-something deeper, mor

. The fight was over-for now. But she knew the battle wasn't truly

e stillness. He stepped forward, his gaze flickering

eight of his gaze, the unspoken words between them. There was something deeper between the

little too fast. She had crossed a line tonight-one that she couldn't uncross. But that didn't

knew, was just