Fated To Not Just One, But Three

Chapter 435: Taken

Lord Frederick’s POV

"Selene!"

Her name ripped from my throat before I could stop myself. I shoved past Olivia, the echo of the door slamming behind me. My boots pounded against the floor, the sharp sound chasing her retreat down the corridor. She was fast, but not fast enough to outrun me. She never could.

I caught her wrist at the top of the stairs. Her body jolted, stiffening, her breath ragged as she turned on me with eyes that were—hurt, betrayed, and so goddamn alluring.

"Let go of me!" she snapped, yanking at my grip. "I don’t want to hear another word from you. Not one."

I tightened my hold instead, dragging her closer. Her scent coiled around me—sharp, wild, intoxicating. It made my chest ache, made the hunger in me roar.

"You think this is easy for me?" I bit out, my voice low and rough. "You think I used you?"

She laughed, but it was angry, bitter. "What else was I? A fling, remember? A mistake? You said it yourself!" Her chest rose and fell hard, her lips trembling. "All you wanted was to fuck me. Again and again. And like a fool, I allowed you. And when you whispered you were falling—"

Her voice cracked, and she cut herself off. But I heard it. I knew what she almost said. I had no idea she heard me saying that. I thought she had fallen asleep.

Damn her. Damn me.

I pulled her flush against me as I hugged her, my heart hammering with a rage I didn’t know how to aim. At her. At myself. At the truth clawing at my insides.

"You drive me mad," I growled, my breath hot against her hair. "What do I do, Selene... I have fallen for you."

She angrily pushed me away, her eyes flickering, pain flashing in her eyes. "Then why lie? Why call me nothing? Why parade your marriage to her in front of me?"

Because I had to.

Because admitting the truth—that she was the one who set fire to my veins—would ruin everything I’d built.

I shoved the thought down, hard, forcing my voice to turn cold again as I took another step towards her. "Because you are dangerous, Selene. I can’t love the way I love you... Olivia is the perfect one for me."

Her breath hitched, her body stiffening. For a second, I thought she would snap, spit on my face. But instead, she shoved me away with a strength that surprised even me.

Her frown deepened. "Then let me go."

And before I could react, she spun and bolted down the stairs, leaving me with my chest heaving, my fists clenched, and one truth I couldn’t escape:

let

Not now.

Not ever.

gripped the edge of the table so tightly the

What was I doing?

I had wanted to push her away. I had needed to—for Olivia, for the plan, for the prophecy that promised the greatest

with those wild, hurt eyes, everything

my knees. "Damn it," I muttered under my breath. "Do I let Olivia go? Do I give

I swallowed hard.

I had hopelessly fallen

alone made my

power, the child, and the legacy. But with Selene, I would have the fire—the maddening, consuming fire that made me feel

head pounded. The choice suffocated me, making it difficult to

And then—

frantic knock

barked,

voice came

my feet, my anger flaring. "I

could cross the room. One of my guards stood there,

"Lord—there’s trouble."

eyes narrowed, my body tensing. "Speak," I

she was going for a walk.

Ice shot through me.

voice booming through the room as my claws itched to emerge. "Are you stupid? What if she leaves?" My heart hammered as I closed the distance between us. "Do you know

all, my lord!" he blurted. "I was watching the CCTV feed... and I saw it

stomach dropped.

moment Lady Selene stepped out of the gates, masked men appeared. Six of them. Before she could shift

The world tilted.

everything went silent except for

rage hit,

I yelled as I shoved past the trembling guard. My anger lashed through the hall, sending the staff scattering as I stormed toward the surveillance

it or not—and the thought

inside scrambled to their feet, their faces paling at

I snapped, my voice deadly