Seline’s chest heaved with shallow breaths as she stood her ground, facing Austin for the second time that night. The tension between them was palpable, a heavy weight pressing down on the space around them. She could feel the sting of her earlier words still lingering in the air, her bold declaration that she didn’t need him echoing in her mind. For once, she felt good about standing up for herself.
But as she turned to leave, Austin’s voice cut through the silence, stopping her in her tracks.
“Seline.”
She stiffened, her back still to him, her heart hammering in her chest. Slowly, she turned to face him, her eyes narrowing as she waited for him to speak.
“Stay away from him,” he said, his voice low but firm.
Her brow furrowed in confusion. “What?”
“Loyd,” he clarified, his jaw clenching tightly. “He’s dangerous. You shouldn’t be anywhere near him.”
Seline blinked, taken aback by his sudden warning. For a moment, she thought she might have misheard him. But the look in his eyes—dark and intense—left no room for doubt.
And then she laughed. It wasn’t a soft chuckle or a nervous giggle, but a full-bodied, incredulous laugh that echoed through the night.
“You have got to be kidding me,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief. “You don’t have to pretend to care about me all of a sudden, Austin. You made it very clear where you stand.”
“This isn’t about pretending,” he snapped, taking a step closer. “I’m telling you the truth. Loyd isn’t who you think he is.”
Seline crossed her arms over her chest, her lips curling into a bitter smile. “And you think you are? At least Loyd treats me better than you do.”
The words left her mouth before she could stop them, and she saw the flicker of something—hurt, anger, regret?—flash across Austin’s face. But she didn’t let herself dwell on it.
“I don’t need you to warn me about him, Austin,” she continued. “I can handle myself.”
Austin’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t know him like I do.”
“And you don’t know me like you think you do,” she shot back.
The tension between them crackled like lightning, but Seline refused to back down. She wasn’t about to let him dictate who she could or couldn’t spend time with, especially after everything he had put her through.
Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away, ignoring the burning sensation of his gaze on her back.
---
When Seline finally made it home, the weight of the evening pressed down on her shoulders, leaving her exhausted. All she wanted was to collapse into bed and forget about everything, if only for a few hours. But as she approached her front door, she froze, her heart skipping a beat.
Two figures were standing in the shadows near her porch, their silhouettes barely visible in the dim light.
“Evening, Seline,” one of them said, his voice smooth and laced with malice.
Her stomach dropped as she recognized them. They were debt collectors, the same ones she had been dreading for weeks. And judging by the predatory gleam in their eyes, they weren’t here for a friendly chat.
“I don’t have your money,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
One of them chuckled, a low, menacing sound that sent chills down her spine. “Oh, we know. That’s why we’re here.”
Before she could react, they moved toward her, their movements quick and calculated. They weren’t human—she had suspected as much, given that this was an Others town—but the realization didn’t make it any less terrifying.
“Wait—” she started, but her words were cut off as one of them grabbed her arm, yanking her forward.
“We don’t like waiting, Seline,” the other one said, his grip tightening around her wrist. “You’ve had plenty of time to pay up.”
“I just need a little more time,” she said, her voice rising in desperation. “I’m working on it, I swear—”
Her plea was met with a sharp slap across her face, the force of the blow sending her stumbling backward. Pain exploded across her cheek, and she tasted blood in her mouth.
“Not good enough,” the first one sneered, his eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure.
Seline’s wolf stirred inside her, pushing against the surface, but she was too weak to fully shift. Her body ached, her energy drained from the strange symptoms she had been experiencing. She fought back as best she could, kicking and scratching, but they were too strong.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally released her, leaving her bruised and battered on the ground. One of them reached into her bag and took the small pouch of money she had been saving, her last bit of hope.
“Consider this a down payment,” he said with a smirk.
And then they were gone, disappearing into the night like shadows.
Seline lay there for a moment, her body trembling with pain and rage. She felt utterly defeated, her heart heavy with the weight of everything she had lost.
Eventually, she forced herself to stand, her legs shaking beneath her. She couldn’t stay here, not like this. She needed to clear her head, to find some semblance of peace, if only for a little while.
---
The lake was quiet and still, the moonlight reflecting off its surface like liquid silver. Seline sat on the shore, her knees drawn up to her chest, staring out at the water.
She had always found solace here, away from the noise and chaos of the town. But tonight, even the serenity of the lake couldn’t ease the ache in her chest.
She didn’t realize she wasn’t alone until she heard the soft crunch of footsteps on the gravel behind her. She turned her head and saw an older man standing a few feet away, his posture relaxed, his hands tucked into the pockets of his coat.
“Didn’t mean to startle you,” he said, his voice gentle. “Just enjoying the view.”
Seline studied him warily. There was something unusual about him, something she couldn’t quite place. But he didn’t seem threatening.
“It’s fine,” she said, turning her gaze back to the water.
He moved closer, stopping a few feet away from her. For a while, they sat in silence, the only sound the gentle lapping of the water against the shore.
“You’re hurt,” he said eventually, his tone matter-of-fact.
Seline glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, surprised by his observation. She had done her best to hide the bruises and cuts, but apparently, it hadn’t been enough.
“I’m fine,” she said, though the words felt hollow.
The man tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You don’t look fine.”
Seline sighed, too tired to argue. “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
He didn’t respond right away, but there was a thoughtful look in his eyes. “I could help, you know,” he said after a moment. “With the bruises. If you want.”
She shook her head. “Thanks, but I’ll be fine.”
The man nodded, not pressing the issue. “Fair enough.”
For a while, they sat in silence again, the quiet night stretching out around them. Seline found herself oddly comforted by his presence, even though she didn’t know him.
Eventually, he stood, brushing the dirt off his coat. “Take care of yourself,” he said, his tone gentle. “And don’t let them get to you.”
Seline watched as he walked away, disappearing into the night.
As she sat there, staring out at the water, she couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to change. But whether for better or worse, she didn’t know.