Chapter Three – The Awakening
The first thing Selene noticed was the warmth.
It wrapped around her like a soft blanket, pulling her from the cold fog of unconsciousness. Slowly, her eyelids fluttered open, heavy and hesitant.
She blinked. The room was unfamiliar—bathed in the soft glow of firelight, the scent of cedar and something wild hanging in the air. Her throat was dry, her body sore and stiff.
Panic swelled.
She tried to sit up, but a gentle hand pressed her back down.
"Easy," a deep voice said. "You're safe."
Selene froze. Her eyes darted around the room until they landed on two figures seated nearby—two men. Identical, like mirror images, but with different energy.
One had golden eyes that burned with fire and fury. The other's gaze was cooler, sharp like winter ice.
"Who… who are you?" she croaked, voice barely more than a whisper.
The one with ice in his eyes smiled softly. "I'm Kairo. And this is Kaien. We found you when you were hurt."
Selene's heart hammered. "Where… where am I?"
"You're in our home," Kaien said, voice low but commanding.
She swallowed hard. "Why am I here? What do you want from me?"
Kairo stepped forward, hands open and calm. "We don't want to hurt you. You're our mate, Selene. We're here to protect you."
Mate.
The word struck her like thunder.
Her mind flooded with memories—the rejection, the humiliation, the pain.
"I'm not your mate," she said firmly, trying to push down the swell of emotions. "I don't belong to anyone."
Kaien's eyes narrowed. "You don't have to say anything now. We know you've been hurt before. We want to help."
Selene's hands clenched into fists. "I don't trust you. How can I?"
Kairo's voice softened. "Because we've been waiting for you. And we won't let anyone hurt you again."
For the first time since she woke, Selene felt a flicker of hope—fragile but real.
But deep inside, a storm was brewing. Because fate had bound her to two powerful Alphas, and the path ahead would be anything but easy.