“I won’t allow this decision, Selene,” Channing said those words, and I took in a deep breath, knowing this was somewhere coming. All that I had told him was I would be consulting with Hailey about her sister Zelda but the reality was I planned on bringing her along with me. 

It was the most stupid decision as Hailey could easily escape my clutches but I felt like this internal sisterly feud needed a settling too. Not that it mattered to my case but Hailey would be a good asset. 

“Oh sounds interesting,” Hailey commented before leaning on the short window frame of the prison cell, “What decision was it, Selene?” All Hailey received was cross-eyes from me and Channing at the same time. Hailey raised her eyebrows in amusement and whistled, “Woah, look at you already on the same wavelength with each other.” 

I rolled my eyes, “There is an option to keep quiet Hailey.” 

She chuckled lightly as if I had cracked a joke, “Yes there is, but I choose chaos.” The sentence from her psychotic mouth with that bloodthirsty expression was enough to send chills down the spine. She winked at me as if she understood exactly what was happening with my insides. Hailey was not a simple woman to deal with. It reminded me of how she had broken my ribs in my wolf’s form with just her human strength. That was something worth having in your hands but Hailey was not a bird that can be caged. 

If anyone dared to cage her, she will chew the cage before killing that person and fly away in search of another fight for her own pleasure.

I ignore her provoking and focused back on Channing, “Look, I know it is risky but Zelda could be a formidable opponent-“

“Pfft- she is still a baby in an egg,” Hailey commented in between us again. 

I sighed before grabbing Channing’s hand and pulling him away from in front of her cell. Channing tensed up at my touch but when I let go of him, he was back in his Alpha of the Winterwells form. “Selene, it is not easy to handle the Cermesi clan!” Channing almost squeaked with his whispering voice, “I don’t know what you are planning but the Cermesi clan come second to the royal family, unless you are from one there is no way they would hand over Zelda even if they had her.” 

My lips curled as I bit the inside of my cheek. I knew Hailey was a princess and she was supposed to serve me as I was once the royal heir but I think she held a better place than me in this kingdom. 

“Channing, I understand, but did you not see what Zelda was capable of?” I exclaimed. 

Channing was so frustrated to the point that he turned around and hit the metal bar of the railing before turning back to me, “Let me handle this, Selene. The evidence you brought was enough to set out a court order to arrest Ellie… Zelda.” 

There was so much he held in his eyes, not just for that girl who had trampled his trust and love but also for me. I could see the desperation that laid behind his gaze. He wanted me to stay but he couldn’t say it. He wanted me to be safe but he held it all back. His eyes spoke of every emotional turbulence he went through and yet he refused to open his mouth and ask me to stop. He stepped closer to me and I gulped hard. 

His scent was thick in the air as he came closer before holding me by my shoulders, “No matter what happened between us, Selene, you will always be in my heart. I can’t allow this as the Alpha of Winterwells that my Beta risks her life-“

“This is selfish, Channing,” I reacted immediately, taking my steps back from him. “It is important for me, this is like a golden chance where I can clear out the dispute.” 

“Why do you want to do it at the risk of your life?” Channing asked, knitting his brows. 

I shook my head, “Every decision starts with a risk, Channing. More than solving this case for Winterwells, it is important for me that I take this opportunity and complete my mission for which I had come here.” 

“Isn’t that selfish of you now?” Channing whispered. 

I looked at him and opened my mouth as if the words were dangling by the cliff. My mouth closed as I gulped. I closed my eyes before drawing in a deep breath, “If I was selfish, I would not be thinking about ending the feud but how to cower in and sit in my house waiting for the war that you are preparing for…”

Channing looked at me as if he did not know what I was talking about but when I did not say anything more he was frozen still. 

“Aren’t you preparing for an unreasonable war, Channing?” I asked, narrowing my eyes, “Just because the elders ordered and so you should follow. Even you know what that war will bring and how this was all a fault of one person.” I waited for Channing to speak but he kept quiet as if he knew how wrong it was. He wasn’t ready to speak it out loud that what I was doing was right. “I hope you know that people in Waterwoods are also riled up.” 

Channing bit into his lower lip and his eyebrows contoured, “But, Selene-“

“I understand you are under the obligations to follow the elders rule,” I said immediately as I heard the ‘but’ from his mouth, “But don’t you forget, they also ordered me to solve this case. I decide how I solve it whether you help me or not. I am taking Hailey with me.” My point was clear and Channing stood speechless in front of me. His chest heaved and the guards on this floor were already sharing awkward looks with each other, understanding only half of our conversation. 

Channing looked at me with a plea in his eyes, but my eyes held the shine and determination which I had come here with.

It was a selfish thing that I wanted to do something for this kingdom. I just wanted to go away from here with satisfaction that I lived a short yet a worthwhile life. I did not know what my future held and neither the fact that whether I even had a long future, so I wanted to be successful with this mission I had taken in my hand.

“Channing,” I called out to him, even though he was standing right in front of me and looking into my hazel eyes. 

Channing hummed and sighed simultaneously before closing his eyes in defeat. When his eyes opened, he turned to the railing, looking down from the third floor towards the empty gathering room. 

  I walked ahead to come and stand beside him. Both of us looked ahead and not at each other, “Is it too much to ask, Channing?”

He briefly turned towards me and our eyes met when I turned to him as well. But Channing turned back to look at the empty wall in front of us, “I can’t help but worry about you, Selene. I know how powerful the Cermesi clan is and sending you there with Hailey is like sending you on a death mission.” He slowly turned his frame to face me and I did the same. I did not know what I saw in the dark but Channing’s eyes glistened for a moment and I saw him lean closer. 

It was so fast I did not even realise till it actually happened. 

Channing pulled me closer and kissed me softly. Our lips did not move but he just stayed there as if he had been waiting for this moment since we both had met. I was so shocked my eyes kept wide and my breath held in my chest. Channing moved his hand around my waist but he moved his hand upwards instead of awkwardly keeping it on my waist. He slowly pulled me towards him while his hand rested on my back and his lips broke the contact before kissed me again. 

“Channing,” I whispered as I tried to push him away. The longing in him was so strong I felt it radiate on me as well. His emotions and his attraction. 

I wanted to reciprocate and I wanted to give him back what he was giving me. But this did not feel right. This felt like I was being pulled into his endless embrace and his calling, the yearning for me. I never knew Channing loved me this much until he kissed me. My brows knitted and when Channing was about to kiss me again, with all my force, I brought my hand between our lips. I had to stop him or even I would go in that flow. He had not cared at all about the environment and the eyes that were on us. 

Worst part was Fang would totally read this from my head when we meet again or when he meets Channing again. 

I did not know what crazy Fang had for me but I could tell one thing that he would never handle this situation lightly. When Channing realised what he had done, he slowly let go of me. His hand released from my back, “I… I am….” Channing’s words stuck in his mouth before he said, “Selene, I am not going to say I am sorry because I know I love you.”