Their Secret Obsession by Pippa Moon

Chapter 0334

Chase's POV

The soft glow of unfamiliar light filtered through my eyelids, pulling me from a restless sleep. I lay still for a moment, the events of the past day swirling in my mind like fragments of a dream. This place wherever we were felt surreal, and the weight of unspoken questions pressed heavily on my chest.

I cracked one eye open to see Liam sprawled beside me on the massive bed, his face relaxed but shadows lingering beneath his eyes. Knox was nowhere to be seen. A flicker of concern sparked within me. Carefully, I slipped out of bed, making sure not to disturb Liam. The cool floor met my bare feet as I stood, stretching out the stiffness in my muscles.

I needed to find Selene. The dreams I'd been having-the ones where she appeared less like a goddess and more like one of us-had been haunting me for months. Now that I knew she was real, I had to speak with her, to understand what they meant. Perhaps she could shed light on the unsettling feeling that I'd inadvertently shared too much about Lottie and the babies.

Glancing back at Liam to ensure he was still asleep, I made my way toward the door. It opened silently at my touch, revealing a hallway bathed in a shimmering white light. The walls seemed to glow softly, guiding me forward. I hesitated for a moment, an inexplicable sense of déjà vu washing over me.

As I stepped into the corridor, the gentle hum of distant voices reached my ears. One of them was unmistakably Knox. Curiosity piqued, I followed the sound, my footsteps light against the polished floor. The hallway stretched on, adorned with intricate carvings and symbols that pulsed faintly as I passed.

Ahead, a door stood ajar with a brilliant light spilling out from beneath it. I approached cautiously, peering through the small gap. Inside was an otherworldly courtyard filled with trees of white bark and leaves that shimmered like silver. At the centre was a pristine pond made of white stone, its surface reflecting the ethereal surroundings.

Knox sat beside the pond, his posture tense. Beside him was Selene, the Moon Goddess herself, her presence both captivating and intimidating. Their voices were soft but clear in the stillness.

I knew I shouldn't eavesdrop, but something held me there. Maybe it was the urgency in Knox's tone or the cryptic nature of their conversation. I pressed myself against the wall, straining to hear without being seen.

"She had no one," Knox roared, his shoulders tense with what I knew would be anger. "Yet she never moaned, never sought vengeance; she smiled, thanked YOU for giving her the strength to get through it, and carried on like her life was not a steaming pile of misery. You, who have asked her to give up the family she now has..."

chest. Each sentence was like a weight pressing down on me, reminding me of all the years I'd missed with Lottie. She had grown up alone, enduring hardships I couldn't even fathom, while I had been

me, mingling with a fierce protectiveness. The thought of her being forced to choose between her mates and her babies was unbearable. That couldn't be right. No one should have to make such an impossible choice, least

guilt for listening in, but I couldn't pull myself away. I needed to know what she was

clamped down on my shoulder. I jolted, barely suppressing a yelp. Spinning around, I

whispered, holding a finger to his

exchanged a glance that conveyed both

and pieces of Astaroth's deal flickered through my memory-the night he approached us, hiring us to keep her safe. We thought we knew what Lottie had been through, but this was on an entirely different level. "She has endured

there another way?" Knox asked, desperation

is not easily swayed," Selene replied. "But perhaps, with the right choices, outcomes can

through my mind, like sunlight piercing through

you think?" Selene's voice echoed inside my head, playful

leaves on the trees halted their gentle sway, and the soft ripples on the pond's surface became still. Knox remained frozen mid-sentence, his expression caught between

could react,

was even more striking-eyes that held the depth of the

stood rooted to the spot, uncertain whether to apologise or explain ourselves. She reached out and

hard on yourself, Liam," she said softly. "The burdens you carry are not yours alone." Liam's eyes searched hers, a mixture of vulnerability and determination flickering

to protect

but also from accepting help." She released him and turned her gaze to me. I felt exposed under her scrutiny ke she could see