Betrayed By One. Bound To Three Chapter 4: Deliberate Steps

Selena.

I return to my room and close the door quietly behind .

The space is still familiar, just like it’s always been—but it doesn’t feel safe anymore. The soft sll of lavender that used to calm now just makes the emptiness louder. It once felt like comfort. Now it feels like a lie, like another carefully built layer of a life that was never ant to protect .

I move to my vanity stand and slide my fingers beneath the sleeve of my dress. The folded paper is still there.

I tuck it away more securely, behind the false lining in the drawer beneath my jewelry.

The possiblity that everything I have believed in the last decade has been nothing but a lie makes want to run away from everyone and everything.

But, that will be what they want. And I will be a fool to let those bastards succeed the second ti. I will fight for my father’s legacy. I will protect my blood line and I will find soone who loves and deserves to seat with on my father throne.

My hands are steady.

That, more than anything, tells I have changed.

Then, a knock sounds at the door.

My shoulders square before I answer.

"Co in."

The door opens, and Silas steps inside.

He fills the room the way he always does. Broad shoulders, calm expression, the kind of presence that once made my heart settle.

Now, it’s a reminder of what I lost and what I will no longer surrender.

Loretta’s scent lingers on him, faint but undeniable. An image of them together flashes before my eyes, my stomach twisting before I can look away

I keep my face smooth.

"Selena," he says, his gaze sweeping over . "I was looking for you."

"I was done eating, so I ca back to my room."

His eyes linger. Not accusing. Assessing.

"You’ve been distant today."

I turn toward him fully. "I’m allowed to have quiet monts. Aren’t I?"

"Yes," he agrees slowly. "But this feels different."

Of course it does.

I offer him a small smile. Polite. Empty. "I’m fine, Silas. I’m just having a very moody day," I say.

He doesn’t look convinced.

Silence stretches between us, heavy and deliberate. I can almost feel him weighing his words, choosing which question to start with.

He finally speaks, careful and controlled.

"My father said you were in your dad’s office."

There it is.

I didn’t need him to say it. I already knew that was why he was here. His father must have gone straight to him the mont he left my dad’s office.

I keep my face calm, unreadable.

"Did he?"

"Yes." His tone remains mild. Too mild. "That surprised him."

"It surprised too," I admit. "I didn’t think anyone would be going there after I specifically asked that it should be inaccessible," I say calmly. No grudge. No anger.

"He said he suspected soone had been in there... and wanted to prove himself wrong when he found you." He replied calmly.

How he lies so easily should be a talent he has mastered over the years.

"Why were you there?" he asked when I didn’t respond.

I et his eyes. I don’t deflect. I don’t lie outright.

"I missed my father." I say quietly. "I wanted to feel close to him."

The truth, offered in a shape that protects .

Sothing flickers across his face. Doubt, perhaps. Or frustration that there is nothing to push against in my answer.

"I see," he says after a mont.

He does not say I understand.

Before either of us can speak again, the door opens.

Loretta steps inside.

"Oh," she murmurs, feigning surprise. "I hope I’m not interrupting."

Her gaze flicks to Silas, then back to .

He inclines his head politely. "Loretta."

She smiles. "Alpha."

She turns to , her tone bright. "Selena, you didn’t forget our plans for later, did you?"

My heart stills.

The woods.

The mory rises unbidden. Her standing just like this. Her voice casual. My own hesitation. My refusal.

I rember saying no. I chose staying with Silas instead.

I rember waiting for him that night. Waiting until my candle burned low. Waiting until I fell asleep alone because he had "sothing to attend to."

I had never known where he went.

Now, I wonder if I was ant to know sothing else instead.

I look at Loretta closely. The careful way she watches . The expectation she tries to hide.

"I rember," I say.

Her brows lift slightly.

"We’re going hunting," she adds, as if explaining it for Silas’s benefit. "I promised Selena I’d take her."

In my first life, I had used Silas as my excuse.

This ti, I don’t.

"Of course we’ll go sister," I say calmly.

Loretta blinks.

Just for a second.

Then she smiles again. "Good. I thought you might be too tired."

"I’m not."

Silas straightens. "I’ll drive you both."

Both of us turn to him.

"There’s no need—" Loretta begins.

"I insist," he says smoothly. "It’s not safe beyond the inner woods. I won’t have either of you exposed."

His eyes settle on . Not harsh. Not gentle.

Watchful.

"That’s thoughtful of you," I reply. "But don’t you have so other place to be at," I ask.

"So place more important than spending ti with you?" He asks, his tone casual, playful. "I don’t trust any other person to keep you both safe, my love,"

I do not argue.

Loretta nods. "You are so sweet Silas. I wish I can get a man who loves just the way you love my sister."

Oh bitch, please.

The tension hums beneath the polite words, invisible but unmistakable.

After a mont, Silas turns toward the door. "I’ll have the car prepared."

When he leaves, the room feels different again.

Loretta studies openly now.

"You seem... different today," she says.

I et her gaze. "So do you."

She laughs softly, as if I’ve made a joke. Her hand subconsciously rubs her stomach as she muttered "Change, they say, is the only constant thing."

"Yes," I agree. "It is."

She lingers a mont longer, then turns and exits, leaving the door ajar behind her.

The room falls silent, and for the first ti, the quiet does not feel like weakness. I sit on the edge of my bed and release a slow breath.

The woods.

Silas watching. Loretta leading. The past bending in a new direction.

And judging by the looks on their faces, it is not the one they expected.