I didn’t know what to do. My heart raced, torn between love and fear. Finally, I made a decision:

I would ask Damien if he wanted to raise children. If his answer was no, I’d have to choose

when and how to leave.

I waited patiently until Damien came back. As soon as I saw him, I hugged him tightly, forcing

myself to smile. I served him dinner, my hands trembling, and tried to start the conversation

naturally.

“Damien… if I was pregnant for you right now, would you want to raise the baby?” I asked, my

voice barely above a whisper.

He blinked in surprise, then chuckled softly.

“Come on, you’re too young to raise babies. Plus,

things aren’t really working for me right now, so… I don’t think I’m ready. But why are you

asking?”

“Nothing… really,

” I replied quickly, swallowing the lump in my throat.

Trying to change the subject, I asked,

Bloodmoon wolf, and other wolf packs too?”

“But… how will Darkpine wolves know how to identify a

Damien’s expression grew serious.

“Selena, never doubt it, Bloodmoon wolves are the

strongest. Even their blood holds power. If I drank your blood, I’d be stronger than I am now. As

for Darkpine wolves, you can spot us by our eyes. If another pack that’s not Darkpine looks into

my eyes for a full minute, they’ll turn blue. But… they don’t change if I’m with someone I love.

“The Ironclaw wolves? Their ears are shaped like elves’

, pointed and sharp. The Shadowfang

wolves… They're different. No matter their skin tone, their tails are oddly green. I don’t know

why, but they’re not to be associated with, according to mom.

”

I stared at him.

“Wait, does that mean you love me? Is that why your eyes didn’t turn blue?”

He nodded, his voice low but certain.

“Yes.

”

“But… Why do the Shadowfang wolves have tails?” I asked.

Damien shrugged.

He pushed his plate away and sighed.

day.

”

“I don't really know, I can’t say. But trust me, keep your distance from them.

”

“Thanks for dinner, Selena. I need to rest, I had a long

He went upstairs. I stayed in the living room, my mind spinning. I thought about my unborn

child… about how Damien wasn’t ready to be a father. The decision felt heavier now. I had to

leave.

The next morning, I helped Damien prepare for his job. I served him breakfast, hiding my turmoil

behind a polite smile. When he finished, he pecked me on the cheek and said,

“I’ll be home

late.

”

Before he left, I lied.

“I’m going to see my dad. I’ll be back.

”

“Make sure you return,

” he said, hugging me firmly.

I nodded, but in my heart, I knew I wouldn’t. I couldn’t tell him I was leaving for good.

Once he was gone, I packed my things quickly. I didn’t know where I was going, only that I

wouldn’t return to Lupinia. I journeyed through the forest, sleeping under trees, eating wild fruits,

and narrowly escaping dangerous animals. Days passed until I reached a signboard "Fenwold

Town"

.

I didn’t know if Fenwold was home to Ironclaw wolves or Shadowfang wolves. But as I walked

in, I noticed their pointed ears, elf-like. Ironclaw wolves. Their eyes flicked toward me, sharp and

questioning, and I hugged my cloak tighter around me, hoping I would not attract attention.

Back at Vulfen

Damien paced the room.

“Mom, I’ve been waiting. It’s been days. Selena hasn’t returned.

”

“Maybe her father convinced her to stay,

” Clara said gently.

“No, Mom. I love her. I have plans. I want her to be my woman. I’ll save enough and go to

Lupinia for her.

”

Clara didn’t argue. She knew her son never went back on his word.

At Fenwold

I searched for shelter but found none. Eventually, I tried making a small space near the border

between Ironclaw territory and the forest. That’s when a beautiful young woman approached.

“Why are you here? Don’t you have a home?” she asked.

I forced a small smile and lied.

“I left my home to work, but I can’t find my way back. I’m tired.

”

She nodded and led me to her neighborhood. The streets were rough, filled with thugs whose

eyes lingered on me too long. But I wasn’t the same soft, frightened girl I once was. I held my

head high, my spine straight, and walked with quiet confidence.

When we reached her home, she handed me a pair of artificial elf ears.

“You’re not an Ironclaw

wolf, that’s why you need these. But before I let you stay, tell me why you are in Fenwold.

”

I hesitated, then told her about the Moonlight Mate Ceremony and my time in Vulfen, but not

who I truly was.

“What’s your name?” she asked.

“Selena. Selena Veyra.

”

Her eyes widened like she recognized me, but she said nothing and went upstairs.

Months passed. I was six months pregnant, the time wolves gave birth. I wasn’t afraid, even at

eighteen. While cleaning a room one day, my mind drifted to Damien, how I missed his touch,

his voice. But I reminded myself: he didn’t want children, and I had to protect our secret.

While cleaning Liora’s room, I found a photograph, a baby picture. My picture. My heart

pounded.

When Liora returned, I stayed quiet. She went upstairs, and I followed moments later, peeking

into her room. She was holding the photo gently, her eyes soft but unreadable.

I burst in.

“Why do you have that picture? Do you know who I am, Liora?”

Silence.

I stepped closer, my voice sharper, tinged with desperation.

“Do you know me?”

Finally, she said softly,

“Yes, Selena. When you told me your name the first day you arrived, I

recognized you immediately. But I didn’t tell you to leave, because you were pregnant.

”

“Tell me to leave? How do you know me?” I demanded.

Her voice broke.

“Because… I’m your mother, Selena.

”

The words shattered me. Shock, pain, confusion, they all hit at once. I hadn’t felt this way since

Adrian rejected me. And now, I realized I’d been living with my mother… for six months.

Does my dad know she’s alive, or does he still believe she’s dead? Did they have unresolved

issues that pushed her away? And when she left, was it truly of her own accord, a choice she

made for herself?

This thought was on my mind.

A sudden, sharp pain tore through my stomach. I screamed. Liora rushed to my side, calling her

neighbors. Together, they helped me, and just like that, I gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. My

children. My heart swelled with love and awe at the tiny lives I now held in my arms.

For the first time in months, I felt a fragile peace settle over me. Life had twisted in ways I could

never have imagined, but I was stronger now. I had survived rejection, fear, and uncertainty. And

now, with my children in my arms, I knew I could survive anything.