*Selene’s Pov*

When we returned to the hotel, I took a nice warm bath with occasional sneezes that reminded me of the cold. I just basked in the warmth of the water as I leaned back and let my body submerge in the tub. My mind wandered to what I had heard in the cave and there were a lot of voices for me to remember them all. 

I grabbed the loofah and squeezed the shower gel on it. It was filled with sandalwood scent and an instant relaxation hit me. 

“Huh, this is so great,” I let out a pleasure-filled sigh. As soon as I did that, I shot open my eyes. What was wrong with me? To something like this, even when I was alone, was not acceptable. I cleared my throat as I straightened with a crease on my brows. Fang was outside in the room. He definitely heard me. Speaking of him, he sure must have been waiting, I thought. Both of us were cold when we were back but I ran like a child to claim the first bath. 

There were so many things that I was feeling different from myself and about Fang. 

Even though I was more composed with my thoughts and focused, it did not feel right to draw a line between me and Fang. The line was always there but this time I found it hard to cross. I did accept Fang and our fate but there was a pang of pain which constantly remained in my heart. If anything, Fang was an asshole but he deserved a better soulmate. 

“It would be more helpful if you pitied me in the present to let me have a bath soon,” Fang spoke from outside and I almost jolted. 

“It would be better if you stop reading my mind,” I shouted. 

Fang snickered loud enough for me to hear, “Then think less about me. I find it tough not to hear when my name is mentioned.” 

I rolled my eyes before doing a childish imitation of him. “I’ll be done in five,” I said before rubbing my hand to wash off the soap. There was a need to fid a way to hide my thoughts from him. It was really irritating to have someone in your head and you not knowing about it. “I hope you die from hypothermia,” I whispered, even though it was practically impossible for a werewolf to have hypothermia. Maybe if I could block my thoughts like how Fang had said, it would be much easier. 

He was still finding it difficult to access my memories of what happened in the cave, while I remember it quite clearly. I thought for a really long time and realising that it was possible if one part was locked, then rest of my brain can be locked as well. 

A smile rose on my lips before I hurried myself into a meditating position. I closed my eyes and let consciousness travel inside me. 

Last time when I had used my healing abilities on Dandeline, I was able to travel through her body while visualising her entire structure. I did the same for myself and travelled deeper till I could hear my blood pumping in my veins, my lungs filling up with air and my heart calmed its rhythm. Short electricity that travelled through my spine led me to my brain where there were flashes of white lightening everywhere. For a while, it really fascinated me. This was not something I was expecting to see. 

What I could see now was much more refined and on a molecular level than what I had seen when I was experimenting with Dandeline back in Winterwells. 

Good, now I just had to try blocking my thoughts.

I concentrated on only one thought and as much as I hated to rethink about it; I blocked the time when Channing kissed me. But then I stopped, remembering that Fang had already seen that. So this time I blocked the time I had spent here in Greenland with Hailey. When I thought I had done my job well, I got out of the bath, draining the tub and then reached out for a towel. 

I stepped out of the bathroom in a bathing suit while Fang almost bumped into me. 

“Had fun with yourself in there?” he asked, and I rolled my eyes over his comment. I cleared my throat, but this time I did not say anything. I stared hard into his eyes, thinking about Channing. My brows creased as I focused and Fang twisted his lips, “are you inviting me to be inside you when you specifically asked me to stay out of your mind?” 

“Yes,” I replied, “I was just thinking about Hailey had mentioned about you when we went to her old house.”

A wide grin spread across his lips. His eyes squinted at me. I raised my eyebrows taunting, thinking I had done something here. The smile on Fang’s face dropped as he grabbed my shoulder and pulled me closer, his eyes never leaving mine. My breath hitched because of his sudden invasion of my space. “Hmm, try harder next time,” Fang said in a breathy tone, “besides, I don’t need to read your mind to know you are lying, little one.” He moved forward to kiss me, but I was swift as well to move out of his range. 

He chuckled before grabbing a towel from the side table, “Nice try with your mind though, but you will need a lot more than that to keep me out of your head.” 

  I huffed before going to the bed and sitting down. I will sure get it done one day then we would see who would be grinning then. When Fang closed the bathroom door behind him, I waited for ten minutes before grabbing my clothes. Hailey’s dagger fell to the ground during all the shuffling when I jumped in the air and rolled onto the bed. A mishap to get a big cut was the last thing I wanted. I looked as the dagger calmed down on the ground before remembering I could heal myself. 

My hand went for the knife while I still laid on the bed. “I think that belongs to me,” I heard Hailey’s voice and almost gave me a heart attack. 

“Sheesh, warn you idiot!” I clutched the fabric around my chest as I faced her. 

Hailey strode into the room further, clicking her back boots. She wore an absolutely alluring outfit with a maroon leather jacket and black jeans paired with a black top. Her mouth rolled a stick from one end to another before she pulled the stick out to reveal the ice pop she had wanted that day. “I thought you guys would be ready by now,” Hailey said as she took a seat at the chair in the corner. Something looked odd about her, even though she looked completely badass. 

“Ready for what?” I asked as I got back to dre4ssing myself. 

Hailey tilted her head to the side before crossing her leg and I swear she looked like every man’s dream with that pearl choker around her neck. “Didn’t Fang inform you?” Hailey asked me. 

I shook my head, “The last I remember, he jumped with me into a dark pit with waterfall in it.” 

  “Sounds fun,” Hailey’s eyes twinkled. 

I strained a smile, “sure was. So, what do we have to get ready for?” I asked as I came around to have a seat on the bed, facing her. When I observed her again this time, this up and come, I pounced on her, grabbing her jacket, “Where is your collar?” 

Hailey confidently sat there like a queen while swirling her tongue over the ice pop, “I threw it out. It is really suffocating in that.” 

“That was one condition I got you out with,” I said. 

Hailey rolled her eyes, “geez, calm down. We have a party to attend tonight. It is hosted by Mr Gillard- someone who is closely associated with the Cermesi clan.” She held my wrist to make me let go of her jacket and then corrected her clothing, “the princess of Cermesi clan can’t possibly show her face with a dog tag around her neck.” 

“It is not a dog tag Hailey,” I clicked my tongue, “How am I to believe you won’t run away.” 

Hailey got up from her seat as she started walking to the door, “That is why I gave you that dagger, your insurance to keep princess Hailey by your side. Now if you excuse me,” she pushed me aside before going ahead to open the door, “I would rather go relax in a less talkative environment.” 

“Wait-” but she was gone. 

I sighed before going back to the cupboard. The dagger was still there but knowing Hailey, she was sure to steal it back whenever she wanted it. 

Even so, I did my best to wrap in my clothes and pushing at the bottom of my bag. 

“Fang,” I called out to him from outside the bathroom. 

“Yes babe,” he answered, as if we were some couples living together. A nerve popped on my head as I curled my fingers in a fist to hold myself from killing him. He made me feel so many things, even without doing anything. 

“What party is Hailey talking about?” I asked. 

Fang took his time then said, as if remembering it now, “oh, is that today? It’s some ball some weapon makers are holding at their mansion.” The door clicked open and Fang’s face peeked out with some steam escaping from the bathroom. His hair was wet and messy on his forehead and water dripping from his face, “What a pity I thought I had one more night with you. Since we can’t have that alone time, wanna join the shower and make up for it-” 

I pushed Fang’s face back inside and locked the door, where I could still hear his sinful laughter from inside.

“I am leaving the room for some lunch,” and I rushed out before he stepped out naked to account for his fantasies. As far as Fang had informed me, whatever ordered from this room would be on his tab. I almost ran to the stairs in case Fang was planning on chasing me. The less time we spent alone, the better. For me… as well as for him… especially for him. There was going to be a sad ending to our story if it started and he was already finding it hard to accept. 

I shook my head, dismissing that thought from my mind. 

When I was going down the stairs, I heard someone rushing up, and I immediately went in an alert mode just to see it was Hailey with a surprised look. She saw me and chimed as if she was searching for me, “I think this is my moment Selene,” Hailey grabbed my wrist and dragged me behind her, “I think I found my soulmate!”