BOUND BY BLOOD AND MOON

The night air was sharp, cold enough to sting her skin, but Selene barely felt it. She stood there, fists clenched at her sides, heart pounding harder than it should.

Not again.

The man in front of her,her supposed mate .refused to meet her eyes. His gaze was on the ground, jaw tight, shoulders stiff like he was bracing for a fight he didn't want to have.

"Selene," he said finally, voice low, careful. Like he thought she'd shatter. "You understand why I can't ,why I won't."

A humorless laugh escaped her before she could stop it. "Why? Say it. Just say it, Leon."

His lips pressed into a thin line. The hesitation, the pity in his eyes,it was worse than if he had just torn her apart with words.

"You know why," he murmured.

Selene took a slow breath, her chest tight. "Because I'm beneath you?"

Leon flinched. He didn't deny it.

A sharp pain twisted in her stomach, and she hated herself for feeling it. This wasn't new. She had been here before. Three times, three different mates, three rejections.

But this one hurt worse.

Because she had actually believed, for a moment, that maybe , just maybe. Leon was different.

"You'll find someone better," he said, almost gentle.

Selene's nails dug into her palms. "I don't need someone better. I needed you to be brave."

His head snapped up at that, but she didn't care. Whatever he saw in her face made his expression twist with guilt, but guilt wasn't enough.

It never was.

Selene turned on her heel. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her break.

She wouldn't break.

Not for him. Not for anyone.

The cold wind howled through the trees as she walked away, sillencing the sound of his name on her lips.

She didn't look back.