RAINA

The water ran down my body in calming rivulets, steam curling around me like a misty embrace.

I stood under the showerhead, unmoving, letting the warmth numb my skin and soothe the gnawing ache in my chest.

My hands moved slowly across my abdomen, stopping at the scar that stretched across my lower abdomen.

My thumb traced it gently, the memory flashing back like a lightning strike.

Silver tools. Screaming. The scent of blood. The twins pulled from me in a haze of agony and silver-burned flesh.

This was the second scar I had from silver. The first...

Might seem older...

Longer even.

It had been five years, and still, I remembered it all.

The branding on my back.

The searing heat as the metal kissed my skin. The way it clung to my skin as the sizzling sound covered my ears alongside the smell of burning flesh.

My flesh.

The cold rejection in Kaelin's eyes. My mate...no, not my mate.

Not anymore.

Five years.

Some days it felt like yesterday, others like a lifetime ago.

A tear fell, followed by another. I did not wipe them away. Let them fall. Let them remember.

The pain and struggle it had taken for me to be here.

When I finally stepped out, the mirror was fogged and blurred, as if refusing to reflect the woman I had become.

I dried off silently and moved into the bedroom.

My fingers grazed across the open drawer, ignoring anything that exposed my back or stomach. I chose the purple bodycon dress. It hugged my curves modestly and fell just below the knees. It had long sleeves. Perfect.

I picked up my handbag, giving my reflection a last glance...lip balm, a little eyeliner, a lot of silence.

Then I started out.

From the hallway, giggles floated in like light.

"Uncle Fenrir, look! I made a paper boat!"

I smiled despite myself. The boys.

And their favourite uncle. My saviour.

"Uncle Fenrir, why don't we have a father?"

I froze.

"Yeah," Added the first twin, the one with the paper boat, "All my classmates have one."

There was silence. Then, a stumble of words.

"Well... um... that's... complicated," Fenrir stammered.

That's it. Best to get him out of that complicated atmosphere.

I stepped into the room. "Boys, time to go to school."

They turned with a groan.

"Mummy, just a few more minutes!"

"No minutes left," I said, then glanced at Fenrir. He caught my look.

"Hey, hey," He said, crouching to their level, "If you get ready now, I'll take you to the mystery house this weekend."

That did it. Eyes widened. Smiles exploded.

"Really?!" One exclaimed.

"Yes, really. But only if you go to school right now."

Backpacks were grabbed.

"Josette, they're ready." I called out.

The nanny came in, gathering them with practiced ease. She usually dropped them and I picked them up.

I ruffled their hair one at a time and turned to leave.

"You look beautiful," Fenrir said quietly.

It was a lovely compliment. But knowing what encouragement does to him, I tugged it away.

"We'll be late," I replied, but my tone softened.

He followed me out, not letting the silence stretch.

"How long will you keep pushing me away, Raina?"

I paused at the front door. "We'll be late, Fenrir."

He did not reply, just opened the door for me like he always did.

My car had not started that morning, and like always, Fenrir was already at the door before I could dial a mechanic.

Even when I say I would get a uber or something, he always maintained how unsafe it was out there.

His driver waited by the curb, engine running.

We entered.

Inside the car, the city blurred past in a haze of morning light and honking chaos.

He did not press again, not right away.

I watched buildings pass, watched children with lunchboxes and mothers tugging little hands.

"I'm sorry," He said suddenly. "For pushing again."

I did not look at him. Just smiled faintly.

"It's okay. You never push too hard."

I knew he loved me. I had always known. But love was not the only weight I carried.

Besides, he needed to find his mate.

"You know," He added after a pause, "The twins... they don’t ask much about him, but when they do, it’s always so innocent. I never know what to say."

He was referring to their father. Kaelin.

Yes, he knew everything.

I told him.

"Neither do I," I whispered.

"They’re smart. They deserve the truth one day. So do you."

I nodded but gave no answer. My fingers found the edge of my handbag and held it tightly.

The truth?

I was not even sure I knew what that was anymore.

We arrived at the summit building, a sleek, towering structure of glass and steel. I stepped out first, heels clicking against the marble.

Then...

A scent.

Old. Familiar. Buried.

My shoulder burned. The scar where the branding iron had touched me throbbed like it was fresh.

Something in me shifted.

Like...like my wolf was stirring.

Selene?

No. That's impossible.

I lost contact with her when my abilities were sealed shut with silver and then banished.

After the twins, it was like that last silver sealed the deal.

I had tried but eventually gave up.

"Ah!" I gasped, stumbling.

"Raina!" Fenrir was instantly beside me, steadying me. "Are you alright?"

I nodded but could not speak. My heart was pounding. The world tilted sideways.

He took my arm, gently, and guided me up the steps.

"Maybe we shouldn’t go in yet," He said. "You don’t look..."

The mechanical doors hissed open.

And I saw him.

Kaelin.

A ghost dressed in flesh.

My breath caught. The world froze. The pain, the memories, the scar, all pulsed in unison.

He was standing in a crisp black suit, silver crest at his collar, speaking to a council member.

His posture had not changed. Still regal. Still cold.

Still...Kaelin.

But it was his eyes that caught me; the way they flicked toward the entrance, drawn by something unseen.

Our eyes met.

And everything inside me shattered all over again.

"Kaelin..." I whispered.

Fenrir followed my gaze. I felt his hand stiffen on my elbow.

The world narrowed, the hum of the summit fading behind the roar in my ears.

Kaelin took a step forward.

And I...

I did not know whether to run or scream.