Chapter 19
Selene’s POV
My parents didn’t stay long.
They booked the earliest flight out of Yoria, summoned back by urgent Pack matters in another territory.
I offered to take a few days off from the Syndicate Research Center to accompany them to the airfield, but they refused with matching
stemmness
“You have your own path to walk, Selene,” my father said, ruffling my hair. “Don’t lose your stride for us.
I knew better than to argue.
I stood outside the hotel as they disappeared into the night, their figures shrinking against the silver–streaked sky.
The old ache returned-
that familiar loneliness that had shadowed me since childhood.
My parents had always been like this.
Fierce. Loving, Distant
Chasing their duties across continents, leaving behind flashes of presence that barely had time to root before being swept away again.
I hugged myself against the cool breeze and made my way back to the Center,
The halls were quiet at this hour, humming only with the suit pulse of the research equipment.
When I slid back into my usual seat at my workstation, my heart still felt heavy, weighed down by old grief I thought I had outgrown.
Then something small and bright dropped onto my datapad.
Llooked up.
Ethan Caldwell stood there, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck, his hand half–extended like he might grab the candy back if I didn’t accept it fast enough
I blinked.
A tiny wrapped sweet sat on my pad–bright red, strawberry–flavored.
Without a word, I picked it up, peeled away the wrapper, and popped it into my mouth.
The sugar burst across my tongue, warm and sweet, flooding my senses until even the lingering sadness melted
I smiled around the candy, the corners of my mouth tugging upward despite myself.
Ethan ducked his head under my gaze.
“Thanks for the candy,” I said, my voice solt
He shuffled his feet, his ears tinting a deep, telltale red.
“Not. not a big deal,” he mumbled. “As long as you like it, Selene.”
I couldn’t help it-
I laughed, a small, genuine sound that echoed lightly through the lab,
Ethan muttered something under his breath and practically sprinted back to his own desk
I stared after him, a little bewildered, a little touched.
Chapter 19
away.
It was just a piece of candy.
Just a moment.
But somehow, it meant more than I expected.
It was simply kindness.
And maybe that was what I had needed most all along.
Our project advanced faster than any of us anticipated.
The day our research paper was officially published under the Syndicate’s seal, the Center buzzed with excitement.
Every Pack communication line lit up.
Messages poured in from across the territories.
Congratulatory howls even echoed faintly in the distance as allied Packs heard the news.
That night, our lead mentor, Elder Clark, couldn’t hide his pride
He booked out a private hall at one of the top Pack–run restaurants nearby and insisted every single one of us attend a celebration feast.
No one declined.
How could we?
Victories like this were rare and precious.
When we arrived, the long wooden tables were already laden with steaming plates–wild roast meats, preserved fruits, herb–seasoned
stews.
A true feast by any standard.
I found myself seated near the end, tucked away between Ethan and a few younger Pack researchers.
I didn’t mind.
The buzz of happiness around us was infectious.
The meal had barely begun when Elder Clark rose with a glass in hand, his voice booming above the chatter.
“Tonight,” he announced, “we toast two of our brightest-
Ethan Caldwell and Selene Hartwell!”
well an
The hall erupted in cheers.
I felt my cheeks flush even before I stood, awkwardly lifting my glass.
Before I could take a sip, the noise shifted.
Whistles.
Laughter.
I turned and realized why.
Every eye was on Ethan
Someone shouted, “I knew it! I told you there was something strange between them!”
Another wolf chimed in from across the table, laughing.
“I saw Ethan cover Selene with his jacket during a night shift! Like she was some rare treasure.”
My face burned.
Ethan’s ears were so red they might have caught fire.
In a flustered blur, he pushed my bowl toward me and barked at everyone,
“Mind your own plates! Eat before it all gets cold!
The teasing didn’t
gdidn’t stop, but the atmosphere was bright, harmless, filled with a kind of familial affection I hadn’t realized I missed until
I glanced at Ethan from the corner of my eye.
He was staring fixedly at his own food, refusing to meet my gaze.
But his hand, resting close to mine, stayed still-
not moving away,
And somehow, that tiny, steadfast warmth against my side telt louder than all the teasing voices around us.
