Tangled Hearts - The Alpha's Baby Mama-Chapter 296: The invitation...

Selene POV

The gate was sealed tightly as ever, But it wasn’t just the gate now. It was Belinda’s presence, her smug grin as she blocked my path, her eyes flickering with amusement.

The dim light from the safe house cast shadows across her face, making her expression even more menacing as she finally stepped forward.

Vina and Maeve huddled behind me, and I could feel their fear radiating through our bond. The warriors and servants in the room tense, ready for my command, but I hold them back with a subtle gesture.

"Alpha Jared sent me," she drawled, inspecting her nails as if this whole visit were nothing more than an inconvenience. "You’re to come with me. Now."

I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me. It was bitter, sharp, a sound that felt right in the tension between us. " Come with you? Really? Did you come all this way for that? To get another ’no’ from me? I’ve already told Jared time and again that I’m not interested in whatever madness he’s planning. What’s the point of this, Belinda? Did he think sending you would change my mind?"

She her eyes, and I caught the words she muttered under her breath, " You haven’t changed at all, have you?" just loud enough for me to catch it. "Always too proud for your good. I can’t believe you have all this power."

The words stop me cold.

I cocked my head, folding my arms as I matched her stare. "What’s that supposed to mean? What power?" I demand, taking a step forward. "What are you talking about?"

Her eyes light up, seeing she’s caught my attention. "It means, Selene, that you have more power than you realize. Jared’s been telling you this, and you keep shutting him down. I’m here to tell you it’s real. And that it’s time you accepted it." She paused.

"We need you to help restore our practice, our birthright. Think about it," she leans forward, her voice dropping to a seductive whisper. "We could rule over all these werewolves who’ve treated us like dirt. The ones who’ve hurt us betrayed us..."

"Power?" I let out another incredulous laugh, glancing back at the sealed gate, and at my frightened children hiding behind me. "If I’m so powerful, then why am I locked in here, at your mercy? Why don’t I just wave my hand and make all of you disappear?"

A flicker of impatience crossed Belinda’s face. "Because you don’t even know what you are, Selene. Do you think that Alpha blood is nothing special? Do you think you’re just another werewolf with a few decent moves? No." She stepped closer, eyes gleaming with something almost feral. "You’re one of us. One of the few who could restore our true power to this realm."

I scoffed, trying to ignore the sudden, cold feeling settling in my stomach. "Restore? Do you think I want to join some delusional attempt to ’restore’ whatever you and Jared are talking about? Look around, Belinda. I’m not interested. I’m with Kragen now—I have a new life."

What about Xavier?" she interrupted, her smile growing wider. "Don’t you want revenge for how he treated you? How did he cast you aside? We could make him pay."

I feel my hands trembling, but I clench them into fists. "If you’re trying to manipulate me—" fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

The mention of Xavier’s name sends an old, familiar pain through my chest, but it’s duller now, more distant. "No," I say firmly. "I’ve moved past that. I’m with someone else now—someone better."

"Oh, please." Belinda’s laugh is like broken glass. "I can see it in your eyes, Selene. The resentment is still there, burning away. You can pretend all you want, but I know you. I know how deeply he hurt you."

"You don’t know anything about me."

"Of course I do." A slow, mocking smile spread across her face. "You’re with Noah, sure. But are you really over the past? Are you truly past what Xavier did to you?" She raised a brow, her gaze glinting with malice. "Tell me, Selene. Wouldn’t it be satisfying to make him pay for how he treated you? To finally put an end to the pain he caused you?"

The words hit harder than I wanted them to. Memories of Xavier’s betrayal, of every sharp word, every look of disgust he’d thrown my way, stirred something deep inside me. But I pushed it down, keeping my face cold, my voice firm.

No, Belinda. I don’t need revenge. I’ve moved on, and I have no desire to get tangled up in your twisted plans."

She laughed, and the sound was colder than I remembered. "Moved on? Really?" She leaned closer, her voice a mocking whisper. "I see the way you tense up every time his name is mentioned, Selene. I see the anger you still carry, no matter how much you try to hide it."

"Shut up!" I snap, feeling my power surge beneath my skin. "You don’t know anything about me anymore, Belinda. Now leave. I won’t tell you again—I’m not going anywhere with you."

Belinda only smirked, crossing her arms. "You can lie to yourself all you want, but that fire inside of you? It’s real. You’re powerful, Selene, more powerful than you know. And that power was meant to be used, not wasted playing house with Noah and his half-baked promises of safety."

I took a step back, swallowing hard as her words wormed their way into my mind. She was lying, of course. She had to be. Whatever power Jared thought I had, whatever ’destiny’ they’d concocted in their twisted minds, it was nothing but fantasy. Yet, somehow, the doubts nagged at me, making my heart race.

"Do you believe I’ll leave my children behind and run off with you?" I asked, forcing a scoff. "I’d rather spend the rest of my life locked in here than give into Jared’s delusions."

Belinda tilted her head, an unsettling smile on her face. "Oh, but that’s the beauty of it, Selene. This power—our power—isn’t something you can walk away from. It’s in your blood, in your very being. You can’t escape it. And as much as you might hate it now, one day, you’ll want to use it. You’ll need to use it."

She takes a step closer, and I instinctively move to shield my children. "You think you’re so much better than us now, don’t you?" she sneers. "Playing happy families with your new mate, pretending you’re just a normal wolf. But you’re not normal, Selene. You never were. You’re special—powerful. And you’re wasting it all on these... these mongrels."

"Don’t you dare," I growl, feeling my wolf rise to the surface. "These ’mongrels’ are my family. My pack. Something you wouldn’t understand because you’ve never cared about anyone but yourself."

"That’s rich, coming from you," she spits. "You’re just scared. Scared of your true potential, scared of what you could become. Jared could help you understand your gifts, help you control them—"

"I don’t want or need Jared’s help," I interrupt. "And I certainly don’t need yours. Get out. Now."

But she didn’t move. Instead, she watched me, a twisted smile playing on her lips. "You’re scared," she murmured, her voice soft, almost pitying. "You’re terrified of what you might become. And that fear, Selene, is what’s keeping you locked in this prison."

My hands tightened at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. She didn’t know anything about me. She didn’t understand the love I had for Kragen, for my family, the life I’d worked so hard to build.

"Go back to Jared and tell him this—he can keep his ambitions and his plans. I’m not interested. And if he or you come near my family again, I’ll show you just how much power I do have."

But Belinda doesn’t move. Instead, her lips curl into a cruel smile that sends chills down my spine. "Oh, Selene," she says, chuckling darkly. "Did you think I came here to sweet-talk you into coming with me?"

For a moment, Belinda’s eyes flickered, something like doubt crossing her face. But then she laughed, shaking her head as if amused.

"You think this is a choice, don’t you?" she said, her voice low and mocking. "You think I came all this way just to ask you to come with me?"

She takes another step forward, and suddenly I notice the strange glint in her eyes, the way the shadows in the room seem to deepen and writhe around her.

Before I could even process her words, she stepped forward, her eyes glinting with a cold determination that sent a shiver down my spine. I tried to step back, but she reached out, gripping my arm with surprising strength, her fingers digging into my skin.

"Get your hands off me!" I hissed, struggling against her hold. But she only tightened her grip, pulling me closer until her face was mere inches from mine.

"You’ve played the victim for long enough, Selene," she murmured, her voice a deadly whisper. "It’s time to embrace who you are."

I tried to pull away, but her strength was unnaturally strong, her grip unbreakable. Panic surged within me as I struggled, desperate to free myself from her grasp.

"I told you, I’m not interested in your madness!" I spat, my voice filled with fury. "Let go of me, or I swear—"

"You’ll come with me," she continued without catching a break "Whether you want to or not."