YOU ARE WHAT I NEED [COMPLETED]

32

Selene stood by the door, her bag slung over her shoulder, ready to return to Claire. The trip back to her family had been necessary, but every moment away from Claire felt like an eternity. She was anxious to get back to her mate, to hold her again and feel her warmth. But first, there were goodbyes to be said.

Her mother was already in tears, wiping her eyes with the edge of her apron. "Be careful, Selene," she sniffled, pulling her into a tight hug. "I know you're strong, but I worry. Please, just... take care of yourself and Claire."

"I will, Mom. Don't worry," Selene assured her, giving her mother a comforting squeeze. It wasn't the first time she had left home, but the weight of their concern felt different now. Claire had changed everything.

As her mother released her, her younger brother snuck up behind her, leaning in with a playful grin. "Hey," he whispered in her ear, "don't get Claire pregnant or anything, okay?"

Selene's eyes widened in surprise, and she shoved him off, rolling her eyes. "Shut up, idiot." She chuckled, though the thought was enough to make her cheeks warm. The bond between her and Claire was strong, but there was still so much they hadn't experienced yet.

Her father, as usual, stood stoically in the corner, his arms crossed. He wasn't one for displays of emotion, and Selene had never seen him cry. Still, she could see the subtle nod of approval as their eyes met. It was the closest thing to a goodbye she would get from him, but it was enough.

"I'll be back soon," she said, giving him a small smile. He nodded again, but she could sense the weight of unspoken words. She knew he'd miss her, even if he didn't say it.

Just as Selene turned to leave, the family's maid rushed into the room, her face flushed with urgency. "We have a visitor," she announced breathlessly. "Someone unexpected."

The room tensed. They weren't expecting anyone, and unexpected visitors were rarely a good thing. Her father's eyes immediately sharpened with suspicion. "Who?" he asked, his voice steady but cold.

Before the maid could answer, the door creaked open, and in walked Conner, Devin's best friend. The air in the room changed instantly, thick with hostility. Selene's father moved faster than she could react, slamming Conner against the wall with a speed that sent a tremor through the house.

"You've got a lot of nerve showing up here," her father growled, pinning Conner to the wall by the throat. "Especially after everything your kind has done."

Conner, his face strained but calm, held up his hands in surrender. "I'm not here to fight," he rasped, struggling to get the words out. "I come in peace. I'm not looking for trouble."

Selene's heart raced as she watched the scene unfold. What was Conner doing here? His presence could only mean one thing—Devin was up to something. She had to find out what.

Her father didn't let go, but his grip loosened enough for Conner to breathe. "Talk," he demanded, his voice low and threatening.

Conner coughed, rubbing his neck. "I need to speak to Selene. It's about Claire. Devin's planning something, and it involves her."

Selene's blood ran cold. She had feared this might happen, but hearing it confirmed made her stomach twist. She couldn't leave for Claire just yet. She needed to find out what Devin was planning first.

She stepped forward, her voice steady but laced with anger. "What do you know, Conner? What is Devin planning?"

Conner glanced at her father, who still had him pinned to the wall, before turning to Selene. "Devin can't get to Cathy. She's too well-protected. But he's shifting his focus... to Claire. He's going after her, Selene. He wants to make Cathy suffer the way he's suffering."

Selene's chest tightened. The urgency to return to Claire had just skyrocketed, but she couldn't leave until she understood the full scope of what Devin was planning. She knew now that her visit back to Claire would have to wait a little longer.

Alicia's POV

Alicia paced back and forth along the edge of the forest, muttering to herself in frustration. Her cousin Claire had humiliated her—again. It was bad enough that Claire had beaten her in the duel, but today had been even worse. During their training, Claire had managed to cast a spell that no one their age had ever mastered before, and of course, their aunt had praised her for it.

"She's stealing my spotlight," Alicia hissed, kicking at a rock. "Before Claire showed up, everyone adored me. I was the golden child, the one with all the potential. Now? Now I'm just an afterthought."

Her jealousy burned deep in her chest, fueling her every step. Claire had no right to come into their world and take over like this. She had no right to make Alicia feel small.

"I'll show her," Alicia muttered under her breath. "I'll show them all. I'm the one who deserves the attention, not her."

Still fuming, Alicia decided to leave the family's land for a while. She needed air, needed to clear her head. Maybe a walk in the human world would calm her down.

As she wandered along the busy streets, her mind still spinning with thoughts of revenge, she almost didn't notice the car speeding around the corner.

A screech of tires made her freeze in place, her heart leaping into her throat. Before she could react, strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her out of the way just as the car sped past. She stumbled, falling against the man who had saved her.

"Whoa, easy there," the man said, smiling down at her. "You okay?"

Alicia blinked up at him, her breath caught in her chest. He was tall, dark-haired, with a rugged charm that instantly put her at ease. She had never seen him before, but something about him felt... intriguing.

"I-I'm fine," she stammered, brushing herself off. "Thank you for saving me."

He grinned, his eyes flashing with amusement. "No problem. But since I helped you, you have to help me."

Alicia tilted her head, confused. "What do you mean?"

The man's smile widened, and he leaned in closer. "It's simple. You scratch my back, I scratch yours. I saved you, so now you owe me."

Despite the odd request, Alicia found herself nodding. There was something compelling about him, something she couldn't quite resist. "What do you need?" she asked, her voice soft.

The man's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "We'll get to that. But for now, let's just say you're in good hands."

Alicia had no idea that the man who had saved her was Devin. And like the naive girl she was, she had just fallen straight into his trap.