"I don't know what I am doing anymore"
"The hunters were trying to cause conflict among ourselves by framing you," Damien spoke while leaning against the room.
Ryan, who entered just as Adriana left, stood leaning by the door.
"Is that what he believes now?" Selena scoffed. "It took for me to nearly die for him to believe that I was not betraying him... nice." She chuckled softly which later turned into a smirk. Everyone in the room looked at one another when she turned silent again.
'Will she be okay?' Ileana asked her dad through their mind link.
'Honestly, I don't know.'
"You take care, sweetheart," Damien said as he stood and walked to Selena. He leaned down and kissed her head before speaking again, "I am gonna go take a stroll."
With a last smile to everyone, Damien walked out and he also eyes Ryan, giving him the hint to follow him, leaving Selena with Ileana.
"Selena?" Someone rushed into the room, surprising Selena and Ileana, however, what surprised them more was that the person was Stacy. "Oh my god, I am so sorry!"
Stacy had a worried look on her face but Selena just looked at her blankly, Izzy was already up and about in her mind and for some reason, Izzy felt restless. It was nothing related to the arrival of Stacy. But the vibe Selena was giving her reminded her of before the attack, and the wolf was ecstatic.
"I am so sorry that you didn't die while trying to shift. God, that would have made things so much easier for me as well as Xavier." She rolled her eyes and Selena looked at her almost amused.
Selena was amused because Stacy clearly hadn't seen Ileana and what struck her was she should have at least acknowledged the scent of the other female. Another fact was that she now knew that all the bullshit Stacy had been feeding her was not true. And even if it was, she wasn't about to give a damn anymore.
"I appreciate all you did, you know," Selena said, shocking Ileana as well as Stacy who stared back at her. Izzy raised her hackles because of the disrespectful way Stacy was staring but the human didn't pay any heed to it, there was no need for unnecessary drama.
Selena continued, "It must have taken a long time to plan all this out. But, thanks to your schemes, it doesn't matter anymore. Indifference took its course." Selena smirked. Stacy observed her expressions carefully but there was nothing she could make out of it, "I do not care what happens anymore. I'm done with the drama."
"That's good. I guess you can leave then. Cause I promise you drama if you stay here," she said in a sing-song voice.
Selena chuckled. "Let me explain things a bit," she said like she was talking to a child, "When I said done, I meant that I'm done being the victim. You be prepared now, you have seen me post my trauma, when I was all soft and sweet."
Stacy raised an eyebrow and Selena rolled her eyes.
"Don't think for a second that you know me. The person that you have seen till now is only a small percentage of who I am. You haven't seen the real me. The Selena you saw was scared to make a mistake, to lose what she had just received. This one," she pointed at herself, "Doesn't give a fuck. So yes, Stacy, be prepared. You won't even know what hit you." She said smiling at her sweetly.
Stacy tried to keep the smirk on but the fear was still on her face. She didn't forget the fact that the wolf she was facing was supposed to be an alpha, and it did nothing to help her confidence.
She turned around, only to see Connor and Evelyn at the door, Connor glaring at her and Evelyn smirking, and it was then that she noticed Ileana sitting on the couch, only now noticing that she had been there all along.
She gulped and walked out of the room.
"Well, I would like to see which part of you she saw," Connor said as he held Evelyn by the waist.
"I'd rather not talk about that side of me."
"Okay... so..."
"Are you two...?" Ileana said looking at Connor's hand around her waist.
Evelyn nodded with a grin and Ileana cheered as she went up to give her twin a hug. She held her tight before she turned to look at Connor.
"She can be stubborn, and annoying. Just a head's up." She winked.
"I've dealt with annoying and stubborn my whole life," he said looking at Selena from the corner of his eyes, who gave him a sarcastic smile, making him grin. Evelyn noticed how Connor had dimples when he grinned so wide and a blush spread across her face.
"Also, if you hurt her..."
"Oh don't worry about that. I've got a perfect example of how to not treat my mate." His eyes had hardened as he said this making Ileana take a step back.
"Hey!" Selena exclaimed as she looked at Connor, "Don't."
Connor sighed as he saw the look in Ileana's eyes, "Look..."
"No," Ileana said with a sad smile, "It's okay. I understand."
Ileana walked out of the room and Evelyn just looked at him before she turned too.
"Eve..."
She stopped. "Don't."
"I shouldn't have said that." Connor sighed.
"Yes, you shouldn't have." She turned to face him, her face stoic, "He made a terrible mistake. As you said, I know we look a lot like him, and of course we do, we are siblings. But his mistakes are not ours."
Selena stayed quiet as Connor looked down. Evelyn turned towards her, "I am sorry Selena," Selena shook her head but couldn't say anything as Evelyn continued, "I can't say he shouldn't have done it. As my brother, I hate him for what he did to you. But as an alpha, I respect him for he had the strength to take such a step for his pack without thinking about himself. I know that sounds horrible but it is the truth."
Connor looked up at his mate's face which now showed pain and slight confusion as she turned towards him, "She is an amazingly strong person for staying here even after everything she went through. I am not. You ignored me for three days because my brother hurt your sister. I get it. But I won't have you treat me or my family like shit because of what he did. You talked to him, but you're still holding a grudge, and no I am not saying that it's not justified."
Selena wanted to hit her brother on the head. He was always way too protective over his siblings for his own good. There's no way she would let him ruin his life for hers.
"But I am not her, Connor," her voice broke, "I am not as strong as her to stay through you hating me. I can't. I won't put myself through that."
Evelyn walked out leaving the two of them there. She wiped the single tear off her cheek and went to search for her twin.
"Did she, did she just say that I have to choose?" Connor asked dumbfounded.
"No, you idiot." Selena rolled her eyes, "She asked you to not hate her or the family for something Xavier did. You spoke to him; you have a problem, take it out on him, not on the family."
Connor sighed as he rubbed his face with his hands.
"Go apologise to her, and also to Ileana. She is one of the best people I have known and the next time you hurt her or your mate, you will have me to answer to." Selena turned away from her brother and lied down.
"Why am I stuck with all the bossy women?" Connor muttered as he walked out, making Selena smirk.
____|~.~|____
The birds chirped over their head as Ryan and Damien walked from the forest towards the packhouse.
"Connor is a good man, he is currently a lone wolf, and he is mated to my daughter."
"He is mated to Evelyn?" Ryan asked surprised, wondering how he didn't figure it out, then again, Damien was the previous alpha.
Damien nodded, "I will be talking to Xavier about asking Connor to join this pack and also to give him a respective position, he deserves it."
"I don't think Xavier will oppose. He really looks up to Connor." Ryan commented.
Damien nodded, "Connor is very angry with Xavier. But he is still helping him so that they can get to the core of the situation and get their hands on the hunters. He is not really blaming Xavier for everything. But he still is angry."
"Should we keep an eye on him?"
Damien scoffed, "You can't. He is Robert's son. That pack was famous for their speed and tactics. So I don't think our pack members are fast enough to keep up with him."
"I guess then we can ask him to be our Head Warrior." Ryan wondered loudly, "He has the experience of the army too and he is visibly very strong as well. That would suit his character."
"That's a nice idea, Ryan. Talk to Xavier about it."
They had already entered the packhouse. Ryan didn't enter as he wanted to take a run before he went back to talk to Selena, as he didn't get a chance to talk to her before. Damien took up the stairs and opened the door to the alpha's office.
He didn't wait to knock and just walked in.
Damien took a deep breath as he took the sight in. Adriana was saying something to Xavier who sat with his head in his hands. Damien had never seen his son so lost. His hand trembled but he ignored it and took a step forward.
Adriana's eyes watered on seeing Damien who looked at his mate as he rubbed Xavier's back.
Xavier looked up at his dad, "Help me." He whispered and turned to face his mom, "I don't know what I am doing anymore. I don't wanna lose her. Please, help me."
"You won't lose her." Adriana made sure her voice was confident but she wasn't sure.
"Have faith in yourself. You made a mistake. We all make mistakes, son. Have the courage to face the consequences and make things better. That's what makes a good mate and also a good alpha."
____|~.~|____
That night, Selena was all alone in her room. Roy had come in to tell Connor that Xavier wanted to talk to him in his office. So she was waiting for one of the nurses to bring her some food.
However, Selena's mind was constantly working. She had put up the front that she used as a shield before, her front of not caring, but it still very much bothered her.
Selena had received the lingering scent of Xavier in the corridors outside her room, so his thought never really left her mind. However, the scent was only making her angry. She really wished she didn't have to be the one to be in this situation.
What would she do now?
Will they ever get the hunters?
Will she stay here or will she leave?
Everything had been going right for the first time in a year and obviously, the hunters just had to make an appearance and cause problems. Selena had realised that they were not just hanging in the shadows, they were keeping a very close look on her.
Selena shook all these thoughts out of her head and stared at the TV, some movie was going on but she had no idea what it was. The sound of a knock on the door made her look that way.
It was Ryan, he stood there holding a tray of food and stared at the girl she considered his best friend.
"Hey." He whispered.
"Hello, Beta Ryan."
"No please, just call me Ryan. There's no need for these," Ryan said, his voice filled with sadness. He just stood there near the door.
Selena shook her head, "I'd rather not, Beta Ryan. First name basis is for friends. You're a beta, you're not my friend. It would be wrong to call you by your name."
"You're no traitor. I was wrong. We were wrong, so wrong. You're my best friend, the only person apart from Xavier whom I actually consider my friend in this pack."
"I'm sorry, but I'm not capable of friendship. I don't do friends anymore."
"Is there," Ryan's voice trembled as he took a second to make sure his voice wasn't squeaky, "Is there no way for things to back to normal."
"I don't know, Beta. I can't and won't care. Not anymore..."
"Okay, okay, I understand," Ryan whispered trying to be strong, "I messed it up. But you got to eat, Selena. Don't do this to yourself."
Selena saw Ryan's face. He looked so broken that Selena almost forgave him. She knew that it won't be long before she did actually forgive him.
"I'm not hungry." She really didn't want him to think that it was all okay.
"You need food, Luna," he tried again.
"Do not call me Luna," Selena said annoyed but she soon looked away. Ryan had been the friend she needed from the very beginning.
No, but she has to change, she thought.
He came forward and placed the plate on the table and walked back. It had been so quiet for a few seconds that Selena almost thought he left.
However, the silence broke when she heard a thump and turned again to face Ryan. Her eyes widened as she saw the Beta kneeling on the floor, with tears streaming down his face, just a few feet away from the bed.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm so damn sorry. It's just Xavier is like my brother and when he said that you were using him... I just lost it. I..." He choked.
Selena's heart cried out for him. He was her best friend too.
Ryan continued ranting, still kneeling, "Devon... He was a very good friend of both of us and these hunters are the ones who killed him just a few months before your arrival. Then Seth said that someone close to us will be betraying too and I..." he sniffed and took a deep breath, "I miss you. Ileana isn't talking to me and you behave like I don't exist at all. I... I know I deserve it all and much worse, but please, Sel, please..." his voice broke as he started crying again, hiding his face in his hands. His breath became ragged when his cries still didn't stop.
Selena couldn't stop herself anymore. She stepped down the bed, wincing in pain slightly before reaching him. She pulled away his hands and raised his face to make him look at her.
His eyes were still tightly closed and there was no sign of him stopping. Selena waited quietly until he finally opened his eyes. They were all red and his face was pale. It was killing him every second to be like this.
"Ryan..." she whispered and pulled him into a hug, he wrapped his arms around her almost instantly.
"I'm sorry, Selena, I really am. You're like my little sister, I should have believed you. I..." he choked.
"Shhh... It's okay Ryan. We're okay. It's all good. You're not at fault. You were just following you're alpha's orders. It's okay. Don't worry."
He pulled her even closer and Selena too closed her eyes.
"You," he said as he pulled back sniffling, "need to eat." and pointed towards the plate on the table.
Selena laughed and walked back to the bed with the beat right beside her. She picked up a slice. Hanging out with Ryan was one of the things she missed the most.