I froze still in my place with my eyes wide. Channing had actually confessed to me despite all the discussions we went through. His eyes shimmered gold and I had to shut mine before I took a safe distance from him. Fang had already informed me about what happened with Channing’s feelings and how they would always be carried on to the person they were directed to. 

There was a momentary silence and I turned around to notice the guards who were now standing as still as a statue. 

I was sure this was going to be a hot topic of discussion in the changing room for the guards. In no time, the news was sure to spread across the Winterwells. That only meant this news was reaching the castle soon.

“Selene,” Channing called out to me, a little taken aback by the way I had retreated. 

The hurt in his heart was evident in his eyes. I could not believe Channing managed to pull so many discomforting moves on me in just one day. In the morning, it was all opposite and his stupidity had spilt out. Right now, it was the same. How can Channing even do this to me? It was the worst. Just when I thought I was going to help simmer down the war, he created a whole fresh problem for me. Somewhere, a thought of Fang crossed my mind. No matter what the situation, Fang never risked us being seen together. 

Yes, claiming me openly was what he did to my face, but it was only when we were all alone. He knew the problems that would come along my way if he took rash steps. 

But what Channing had done was worst. Though he did not know how big of a problem, this action of his was going to cause, it was enough to be a fire in the crowd that the Alpha and Beta are secretly together. “Why did you do that, Channing?” I blurted out what came to my mind first. 

Channing looked visibly confused by the way I was reacting and it only made a nerve pop in my head. 

“I already said it, Selene,” Channing said as he stepped forward towards me, “I love you.” His words were in a whisper, but enough loud that the walls of that silent prison could hear. 

I took a step back and raised my hand in front of me, “Stop, don’t come close. You are not in your right set of mind right now-“

“What is the problem?” Channing sounded like a literal child and anyone could tell his abilities had taken over him. This was the first time I was seeing his abilities elevate so much. Channing was clearly not in his control and his wolf had taken over. The rage, the ego and the possessiveness of an Alpha, everything reeked from him. 

I did not know how to handle him like this, “Channing you need to calm down first.” 

“Why should I?” he asked as if it was not the obvious thing which he should be doing right now. He walked closer and before I could step back again, he caught hold of my wrist, “I need answers Selene, because I see it in you…” He stepped closer and ran his other hand over my cheek, “you have it for me as well. I have been waiting for a person like you for a long time.” 

“Channing, let’s talk about this later,” I said, while trying to turn away from his hand. My eyes went to one of the guards, but he did not dare look at the Alpha’s business. 

This was taking a wrong turn and I seriously needed someone to help me out. Channing was overpowering and his hold on me just continued to get stronger and stronger to the point that I knew there would be marks of his fingers around my wrist when he would let go. I tried twisting my wrist out of his hold, but Channing only held on strongly. “Is it Fang? Just because he is your soulmate?” Channing asked with authority, which I had never seen in him before this. 

“You are hurting me,” I breathed in my words as I closed my eyes. 

Channing gently brushed the back of his other hand over my cheek while his hand holding my wrist continued to strengthen, “I can see it in your eyes, Selene. I know you hate him. You like me, Selene, I can feel it.” 

Every passing moment and every word which left his mouth was scaring me right now. This was not the Channing I knew. 

I looked at my wrist before glaring at him, “Let go, you are hurting me!” My words almost resounded through the cells of the prison and it was enough to get Channing out of his daze. He immediately let go of me and stepped back while covering his mouth. 

“I-I am sorry,” he was light with his words but the emotions still lingered inside of him. 

He walked ahead and I was not cautious this time. I knew this was a different Channing. The one whom I met every day and the one who cared for everyone equally. He gently held my hand and brought it up to see the marks which had formed on my wrist before his breath quickened. Channing frowned, looking at the red lines. He opened his mouth to say it again but I cut him this time.

“It’s okay,” I withdrew my hand awkwardly from his hand and rubbed the sore part. 

I walked past him without any thought. It was already going to be a blunder and I had to leave this place tonight itself. I had better goals in my mind and better places to be in right now. 

“Selene,” Channing called out to me and I stopped in my track. 

I did not want to turn around and look at him. It was a little horrifying, thinking about what he looked like a while back. But that did not mean I was free to ignore him. It was a fault of his overbearing abilities that he had to face so much of emotional turmoil. 

My back faced him while I heard his steps slowly catchup to me. M breath was already heavy and I closed my eyes trying my best to face him. 

Channing came to stand in front of me and I raised my head to look into his now grey eyes. He was visibly disturbed but he still mutter up, “Selene, I know I was wrong with what I did but do you really find your soulmate better than me? I know what you had felt around me. I have heard every beat of your heart as it skipped beats. Do you really feel that with Fang?” 

My lips trembled but I found it hard to speak it out. I knew Channing would know a lie but I had to get away from him.

I had to go for the good. 

My mouth moved but only air escaped my throat before I cleared my throat, “Channing, this will never work out-“

“But why Selene? That is all I want to know,” his voice was gentler and pleading, “Why?” Channing kept his desperation on hold and tried his best not to lose his control. 

I closed my eyes before I whispered, “I am marked.” 

“We both know that is not what I am asking,” Channing had his answers ready. It only made me more conscious of the fact that Hailey was possibly enjoying our conversation and the prison guards were sure to make it a headline tomorrow. But Channing was right, marked or not marked, what mattered was we chose our partners well. He still had that choice with him but I can’t even choose my soulmate over my marriage option. I was marrying death and that future was barely changing. 

“Channing I….” there was nothing for me to say. I did not know how to deviate this. 

He waited for me to speak; the silence filled with my heart beat which thumped through my ear. The silence was awkward and compelling. “Yes, Selene?” Channing provoked me again. 

I sighed, “I… I am already be-….” I stopped myself before saying that word. Betrothed was a word for the royal kids, “I already belong to someone else now. You know very well in werewolves marking is as good as marrying.” I had to turn the tide somewhere. I had to get Channing off the high horse he was riding. It was wrong to pull Fang into this and tell a lie but what I was stating was just facts. 

“So you…” Channing asked in anticipation and for a second there was silence. 

I did not understand what he was trying to say when it suddenly clicked to me. What I had said and what meaning he had derived from it, “No… I mean Yes but not that.” 

He was trying to talk about whether I had sealed the bond with Fang while here I was being a pure minded idiot who had not thought it through. 

“What are you trying to say?” Channing creased his brows. 

I bit into my lower lip. This was just another direction it was all headed into. All I was planning was for Hailey to be released and taken to Zelda. With Channing having done the worst thing at the worst time in front of the worst people, it had all turned into a situation of truth and lies. I had no choice but to tell him the truth.. I had to get him away from me for good.