Chapter 448

Selene’s POV
Frederick took a small step toward me, his voice breaking slightly. “Selene, please… listen to me. I swear on my life—I didn’t poison your mother. I didn’t even know she was gone until now. But I’ll prove it. I’ll find whoever did this. I’ll prove my innocence to you.” He looked so desperate it almost made me falter… almost.
“I don’t believe you,” I said coldly.
He shook his head, his voice trembling. “You have to. Because I love you, Selene. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone.”
A bitter laugh escaped my throat. “Love?” I scoffed. “Don’t insult me.”
He looked stunned, but I pressed on. “You don’t love me, Frederick. You’re drawn to me — the same way you were drawn to her. To Hailee. Maybe that’s why you think you feel this way.”
He blinked, confusion twisting across his face. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m a descendant of Hailee,” I said, my voice steady even though my heart was pounding. “Through my father’s bloodline.”
Frederick froze. “What?”
“Yes.” I took a step closer, my voice cold. “I’m Hailee’s great-granddaughter. Just like Olivia.”
For a moment he couldn’t speak. His eyes widened, disbelief and something like horror flickering in them. I tilted my head slightly. “Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Maybe that’s why you’re so obsessed — because every time you look at me, you see her. The woman you could never have.”
Frederick shook his head slowly, his expression torn between shock and pain. “Selene… no. That’s not true.”
My wolf whined inside me, but I pushed her down and glared at him. “Stay away from me, Lord Frederick. I don’t want to see you ever again in my life,” I spat, and I turned to leave, but he grabbed my wrist, stopping me. His cold fingers wrapped around my warm skin, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. My wolf stirred restlessly. It was maddening — how just his touch could ignite something in me I didn’t want to feel. Damn the mate bond.
I didn’t turn to look at him because I didn’t know what I would do if I did.
“Let me go,” I said, my voice low, shaking more than I wanted it to.
“No,” he whispered, his breath brushing against my ear. “I’m not letting you go. Not now. Not ever.”
I froze.
He stepped closer, his tone breaking, soft but desperate. “You can hate me. You can curse me all you want. But I’m going to prove my innocence, Selene. I will find out what really happened to your mother — and I’ll make whoever did it pay.”
I tried to pull my hand free, but his grip didn’t budge. “Frederick, stop—”
“I mean it,” he said fiercely. “Give me a few days. Just a few. And if I can’t prove myself His voice faltered for a second. “Then you’ll never have to see me again. But until then, I’m not letting go of you.”
His words hit something deep in me, something that shouldn’t have existed. I didn’t want to care. I didn’t want to feel anything — not warmth, not hope, not love. But the way he said it… made it hard to breathe.
“Frederick I whispered, my heart twisting painfully.
He stared at me for a long moment, his gaze lingering like he was memorizing every detail of my back. Then, slowly, his fingers loosened around my wrist.
“I love you,” he said quietly, the words almost breaking apart in the air between us. “And I’ll prove it… even if it kills me.”
Then he turned and walked away.
The moment Frederick’s footsteps faded into the distance, my legs gave out. I fell to my knees on the cold grass, my hands sinking into the damp earth. The scent of rain and soil filled my nose, sharp and heavy. My chest ached, not just from anger, but from something far worse.
“What is wrong with me I whispered to myself, clutching my chest. My heart wouldn’t stop racing. Every word he said kept replaying in my head: I’ll prove it. I’ll prove my innocence.
My wolf stirred softly inside me. What if he’s telling the truth? She asked gently. What if he didn’t do it, Selene? What if… we’ve been wrong all along?
I scoffed aloud, shaking my head. “No. Frederick is a manipulator. He’ll twist anything just to get what he wants.” The rightful source is.net
“But he sounded honest,” my wolf murmured. “You felt it.”
I clenched my fists in the grass, tears stinging my eyes. “He’s good at sounding honest,” I muttered bitterly. “That’s what makes him dangerous.”
The silence stretched, broken only by the rustle of the night breeze. My body trembled — from exhaustion, confusion, and pain. Finally, I wiped my tears roughly with the back of my hand and pushed myself to my feet. I had no right to sit out here falling apart while Olivia was still fighting for her life.
Following her scent down the hallway, I quickened my pace until the familiar smell grew stronger. When I entered the room, my breath caught.
Olivia lay motionless on the bed, pale and fragile. The healers were still working over her, their hands glowing faint blue as they chanted softly. Levi stood near the door, arms crossed, jaw tight. Louis sat at the edge of the bed, his head bowed.
The sight hit me like a punch.
For a long moment, I just stood there in silence, watching as they tried to pull her back from unconsciousness. The glow of magic flickered over her skin, but her chest barely moved.
My anger toward Frederick dimmed, replaced by worry and concern for her. I swallowed hard and moved closer to the bed. Kneeling beside her, I glanced across to where Lennox lay—his life hanging by a thread as well.
My gaze fell on Olivia again, and a tear slipped down my cheek. There was a time I might have wanted to see her like this, broken and weak. But now… now I would do anything to see her open her eyes again. To see her breathe. To see her live.