The night refused to let Selena rest.
Even after waking, the memory clung to her like a shadow that wouldn't fade.
The fire.
The screams.
The blood.
And him.
Those crimson eyes.
That presence.
Selena sat at the edge of the couch, her hands gripping the fabric tightly.
Her breathing had steadied, but her thoughts hadn't.
"That wasn't right…" she whispered.
Her memories had always been clear—at least she thought they were.
Her pack was attacked.
Her parents died.
Vampires were responsible.
She survived.
Simple.
Clean.
Painful.
But now…
Now there was something else.
Something buried.
Something she had never remembered until tonight.
That second figure.
That vampire.
The one who had saved her.
Selena stood abruptly.
"I need answers."
She didn't bother knocking.
The doors to Adrian's chamber slammed open under the force of her push.
Inside, the room was dim, lit only by faint candlelight.
Adrian stood near the window, his back to her, as if he had been expecting her.
Of course he had.
"You remembered."
Selena froze.
Her heart pounded harder.
"You knew."
Adrian turned slowly.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
Selena stepped inside, closing the door behind her.
"You knew this whole time."
"I suspected."
Her fists clenched.
"Don't lie to me."
"I'm not."
Selena's voice sharpened.
"There was someone else that night."
Adrian didn't deny it.
Her chest tightened.
"Someone who saved me."
Silence.
That silence was confirmation.
Selena's eyes burned.
"It was you, wasn't it?"
Adrian's gaze met hers.
And for the first time—
He didn't avoid the truth.
"Yes."
The word hit her like a physical blow.
Selena took a step back.
"No…"
Her mind struggled to catch up.
"You were there?"
"Yes."
"You saw what happened to my pack?"
"Yes."
Her breath grew uneven.
"And you expect me to believe you had nothing to do with it?"
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"I didn't."
Selena laughed bitterly.
"You just happened to be there?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
This time—
Adrian hesitated.
That hesitation ignited her anger.
"Answer me!"
His voice came quieter now.
"I was sent."
Selena's stomach dropped.
"By who?"
"…My father."
The room went silent.
Selena's heart pounded loudly in her ears.
"So you were part of it."
"No."
His voice was firm.
"I was sent to observe."
She stared at him.
"Observe?"
"The Moonfang Pack."
Selena shook her head slowly.
"You're saying this was planned."
"I didn't know it would happen that night."
"Convenient."
Adrian's eyes darkened.
"It's the truth."
Selena turned away from him, pacing.
Her thoughts spiraled.
"You were there…"
"You saw everything…"
"You let it happen."
"I didn't," Adrian said sharply.
She stopped.
Spun around.
"You expect me to believe you tried to stop it?"
"I did."
Selena laughed, but there was no humor in it.
"Then why is my pack gone?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
Because there was no easy answer.
That silence was enough to break something inside her.
"You failed," she whispered.
"Yes."
The honesty in his voice caught her off guard.
Selena's anger faltered—just slightly.
But it didn't disappear.
"You failed… and now you're standing here like nothing happened."
Adrian stepped closer.
"I saved you."
"I didn't ask you to!"
Her voice cracked.
Emotion surged through her.
Pain.
Rage.
Confusion.
"You think that makes up for everything?"
"No."
"Then why tell me now?"
Adrian's gaze didn't waver.
"Because you remembered."
Selena's chest rose and fell rapidly.
"I trusted my memories."
"They weren't complete."
"Why not?"
Adrian's expression hardened slightly.
"Because someone didn't want you to remember."
Selena froze.
"What?"
"You lost consciousness that night."
"I remember that part."
"When you woke up, parts of your memory were gone."
Selena shook her head.
"No… that's not possible…"
"It is."
Her voice dropped.
"Who would do that?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"Someone powerful."
Selena stared at him.
"You're not telling me everything."
"No."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
"Because I don't have all the answers yet."
"That's not good enough."
"It's all I have."
Silence fell again.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Selena's thoughts raced.
"You were sent to observe my pack…"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Adrian hesitated again.
Then—
"Because of you."
Selena's heart skipped.
"…What?"
"My father knew about the prophecy."
Her breath caught.
"He believed the Moonfang Pack might be connected."
"So he sent you to spy on us."
"Yes."
Selena clenched her fists.
"And when the attack happened?"
Adrian's voice lowered.
"It wasn't part of the plan."
She stared at him.
"You expect me to believe your father didn't order it?"
Adrian's silence this time was different.
More complicated.
"I don't know," he admitted.
That answer hit harder than any lie.
Selena took a step back.
"So either your father did it…"
"Or he lost control of his own kingdom."
"Yes."
She let out a slow, shaky breath.
"Both options are terrible."
"I know."
Selena turned away again.
Her mind felt like it was breaking apart.
Everything she believed.
Everything she trusted.
It was all shifting.
"I spent years hating vampires," she said quietly.
"You had reason to."
"I wanted revenge."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"I still do."
Adrian didn't move.
"Then take it."
Selena turned sharply.
"What?"
"If killing me will give you peace…"
His voice remained steady.
"Then do it."
The words hung in the air.
Selena stared at him.
"You're serious."
"Yes."
Her heart pounded.
She stepped closer.
Slowly.
Her hand lifted slightly.
Her claws almost ready to emerge.
Adrian didn't move.
Didn't defend himself.
Didn't even flinch.
Selena stopped just inches away from him.
Her eyes searched his face.
Looking for fear.
For deception.
For anything.
But there was nothing.
Just calm.
Just acceptance.
Her hand trembled.
Then—
She lowered it.
A frustrated sound escaped her.
"I hate this."
Adrian's voice softened slightly.
"I know."
Selena stepped back again.
"You saved me."
"Yes."
"You were part of the reason my pack was targeted."
"I didn't know it would happen."
She shook her head.
"This doesn't make sense."
"No."
Silence.
Then Selena spoke again.
Quiet.
"But there was something else…"
Adrian looked at her.
"What?"
"That vampire."
"The one who was about to kill me."
His expression darkened.
"What about him?"
Selena's eyes narrowed slightly.
"He wasn't like the others."
Adrian didn't respond.
"He felt… different."
"Stronger."
"More dangerous."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
Selena noticed.
"You know who it was."
Silence.
"That's why you looked like that."
Adrian turned away slightly.
"I have a suspicion."
"Tell me."
"Not yet."
Selena frowned.
"Why?"
"Because if I'm right…"
His voice lowered.
"Then your pack wasn't just attacked."
Selena's heart skipped.
"…What do you mean?"
Adrian's crimson eyes met hers again.
"It was targeted."
The room fell into silence.
Selena's pulse pounded.
Targeted.
Not random.
Not accidental.
Planned.
Her voice came out as a whisper.
"Because of the prophecy?"
Adrian didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Selena felt it.
Deep in her chest.
The truth was far worse than she imagined.
Because if her pack was destroyed because of her…
Then everything that followed—
Every death.
Every loss.
Every moment of pain—
Was connected to something much bigger.
Something much darker.
And it wasn't over yet.