Selena POV:The rest of the day was spent in peace. We talked as little as possible, which was probably a good thing, since any type of conversation that we attempted led to some sort of battle. I also sensed that neither of us wanted to talk, so the silence was welcomed. After breakfast, we lay on the couch together for a few hours. I read while he watched television. Our physical contact brought that hum of calm and we both accepted it, letting it wrap its tranquility around us. The only time we moved away from the couch was if it was necessary.While we appeared calm, and for the most part, felt each other’s calm through the bond, there were sparks of other emotions that came through occasionally. I knew Duncan could feel the tension in my body every time we had to speak as I could feel his wariness when I saw he was lost in thought and he didn’t see me looking at him. Then there was the strange warmth coming from him when I caugh

Selena POV:Duncan took me to the clearing where everything was set up. As we approached, I noticed that there were lights hanging from the trees to illuminate the park. They weren’t switched on yet, but by the time the meeting started, they would be. There were chairs and a table with a velvet cloth that held various items, which I assumed would be for the meeting later. “The meeting will happen here?” I asked him as he continued down the path towards it. “Yes. It will start soon,” he answered simply. “We are coming early to set it up for the others.”I heard voices in the forest as we entered the clearing. Automatically, we looked towards the sound to find the Sentinels rushing around, directing each other with the trays of finger foods.They looked like miniature works of art and too pretty to eat. “Do you guys need any help?” Duncan called loudly. They twisted slightly to l

Selena POV:I couldn’t say I was surprised that Duncan followed me. He walked beside me and waited for me to stand still. His focus had just fallen on me, but mine had never wavered for him. I was too afraid of witnessing anything but devotion for me in his eyes. He turned me to him slowly and his face slowly started to lose some of its hardened expression as he searched my eyes. I could feel a trickle of concern flow towards me through our bond. “Are you okay?” he questioned. “I’m fine,” I said. Both of his hands moved up to cup my face, but I couldn’t give a thought to the tender gesture as my mind whirled with all the possibilities that Ruth had presented. I knew she was trying to get back at me for speaking against her, but why would she sink so low? What was wrong with her?“Selena, if I ask you to go back to the cleaning and wait for a bit without questioning anything, would you do it?” he aske

Selena POV:Weighing the alternatives in my head, about ordering a banishment and letting her stay here, I needed to know more of the reality of the situation. If Ruth was thrown out, where would she go, exactly? How would she support herself? Could she support herself?“Does she have any family living outside pack land?” I asked. “Yes. She has an older brother. He lives with his mate in her pack. Once a wolf is asked to leave, it is usually a permanent situation. You are not allowed to contact that person. She would be considered a threat to another pack and would not be welcome. A wolf is on their own in that case,” he explained. “I see,” I said, going into my thoughts. I remembered what it was like to be alone in the wilderness, knowing that I had no one to protect me. To be cut off from everything that I knew. The security that a family brings or the pack had in a twisted way was taken away. I had gotten lucky fin

Selena POV:Duncan and I must have been extremely tired, as we woke in the same position as we fell asleep the night before. I tried to untangle myself from Duncan’s sleeping body but inadvertently woken him the moment our fingers unclasped. Half-asleep, Duncan jerked his head up from the pillow as I felt a wave of distress come from him. He grabbed my hand back in some inherent gesture of reassurance as his eyes took a moment to focus on me. “Selena?” his morning voice croaked. His emotions calmed to an even level as he saw I was still next to him. Glancing over at the clock, I could see it was ten. “We slept late, there is a lot to do today. I need to go talk to Meredith,” I told him slowly, pulling away and off the bed to stand beside it. He watched me for a few seconds. “Do you want me to go with you?” he asked softly.I knew he wasn’t offering out of politeness, he wanted to support me.