YOU ARE WHAT I NEED [COMPLETED]

36

The ground shook as another explosion rocked the land. Selene's senses were sharp, on edge, as she ran through the chaos. Her mind raced, trying to comprehend how the hell Devin had managed to get onto the land so easily. Every little detail she'd overlooked haunted her—Alicia's strange behavior, the cracks in the family's security. How had they been breached?

Her thoughts were interrupted by Claire's panicked breathing beside her.

"Selene... oh my God... this is all my fault! If I would've stayed away none of this would be happening." Claire's voice cracked, tears streaming down her face.

Selene whipped her head toward her, grabbing her shoulders. "No, Claire. This isn't your fault! None of this is your fault. Don't you dare think that." Her voice was firm, but Selene knew that Claire wouldn't believe her. 

Before Claire could respond, another deafening explosion ripped through the air, sending dirt and debris flying. Selene's instincts kicked in. She grabbed Claire's arm and pulled her toward the door. "We need to go. Now!"

They sprinted down the hallway, Selene's heart racing with every step, her senses in overdrive. Just as they rounded the corner, they came face-to-face with Alicia and Claire's aunt. Alicia's eyes were red, tears streaming down her face, while her aunt was hysterical, shrieking with rage.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Alicia wailed, her voice breaking as she tried to explain herself to her furious mother.

"You're sorry?" her aunt screamed, slapping Alicia across the face. "Sorry won't bring back the lives you've destroyed! You've betrayed us all!"

Selene stepped forward, putting herself between them. "Stop it! This isn't the time for fighting. We need to get out of here."

But Claire's aunt wasn't having it. She grabbed a fistful of Alicia's hair and dragged her forward, her voice venomous. "This is all your fault! My own daughter... a traitor. You sold us out to hunters, didn't you? You let them in!" The accusation rang out like a death sentence.

Alicia sobbed harder, trying to speak through her tears. "I didn't... I thought... I just wanted... I'm so sorry!"

Before Selene could intervene, a gust of swirling smoke filled the room, and a figure stepped out of it. Cathy, Claire's mother, emerged from the haze, her presence commanding the space as everyone froze.

Selene instinctively bowed her head as Cathy approached. Her expression was unreadable, but her gaze flicked to Claire for a moment before turning back to Selene. "Do you remember the promise you made to me, Selene?" Cathy's voice was calm, yet full of unspoken weight.

Selene nodded, her throat tightening. "Yes, I remember."

"Good." Cathy's eyes softened as they rested on her daughter for a fleeting moment. "Take care of my daughter. I'll handle this."

The tension in the air thickened as Cathy turned to Alicia, her face now hard with disgust. Without a word, Cathy raised her hand and slapped Alicia across the face. The sound echoed through the room. Alicia crumbled, but Cathy barely acknowledged her, turning back to Selene. "A car is waiting for you outside. Get Claire out of here now."

Selene didn't hesitate. She grabbed Claire's hand and led her through the chaos, dodging debris and running past the bodies of fallen hunters and family members alike. Explosions continued to shake the ground, the scent of blood thick in the air. Hunters appeared from the smoke, but Selene cut them down without mercy, her vampiric reflexes a deadly blur as she fought to protect Claire. Her only focus was keeping Claire safe, her senses on full alert for any danger.

Claire, on the other hand, was visibly shaken, her face pale with horror as she witnessed the violence around them. Every explosion made her flinch, and the look in her eyes was a mix of fear and heartbreak.

"Selene..." Claire whispered, her voice breaking. "This... this is really all because of me..."

"No," Selene growled, her voice thick with emotion. "This is because of Devin."

They finally made it to the car, and for a brief moment, Selene allowed herself to think they were safe. But as they opened the door and climbed in, she felt a sickening sensation in her gut. The driver turned around, and Selene's heart sank. It was Devin.

He smiled coldly at them, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Did you miss me, Claire?" His voice was dripping with mockery.

Claire gasped, shrinking back as she recognized him. "Devin..."

Without warning, he pulled out a gun and shot Claire. The sound was deafening, and everything seemed to move in slow motion as Selene watched the bullet tear through Claire's chest. But it wasn't just any bullet. It was a Kaden bullet—crafted specifically to kill witches.

"No!" Selene screamed, her vision blurring as Claire slumped over, her eyes wide with shock.

Devin laughed, the sound cruel and heartless. "Now her mother would know what it is like to lose a child."

Selene's world went red. Her humanity shut off as she looked at Claire's body. She gently lowered Claire onto the seat and turned, her eyes blazing with fury. Devin had already bolted from the car, but it didn't matter. She would find him. And she would kill him.

Selene bolted after him, her speed very inhuman. Every hunter that got in her way was torn apart—limbs ripped from bodies, blood painting the ground as she rampaged through them like a force of nature. Devin's men tried to slow her down, but they were nothing compared to her fury. Her only thought was to kill the man who had taken Claire from her.

Devin finally realized there was no escaping. He stopped, breathing heavily, as Selene closed the distance. He turned to face her, his eyes filled with smug superiority.

"You people really thought you were untouchable, didn't you?" he sneered. "Royal blood, centuries of power—and you never saw it coming." He laughed bitterly. "I'll admit, Selene, you put up a good fight. But Claire? The look in her eyes when I shot her? Priceless."

Selene's fists clenched, her entire body trembling with fury. "You're a coward, Devin. Hiding behind your men, manipulating everyone around you. You think you're powerful? You're nothing."

Devin smirked, the condescension clear in his voice. "I might be nothing, but at least I didn't lead my mate to their death. Tell me, Selene—how does it feel knowing you failed her? You let Claire die because you weren't strong enough to protect her."

That was it. Selene snapped.

With a roar, she lunged at Devin, her hands becoming claws as she tackled him to the ground. He fought back, managing to land a few blows, but it was useless. Selene was stronger, faster. She pinned him down, her face inches from his, her fangs bared.

"Go to hell," Devin spat, his voice shaking with fear.

Selene's smirk was cold, deadly. "I'll see you there."

And with that, she tore him apart. Piece by piece, limb by limb, she ripped Devin's body apart, the blood splattering across her as she gave in to her rage. His screams echoed through the night, but they were drowned out by the pounding of her heart and the roaring in her ears. When she was done, there was nothing left of Devin but a bloodied heap of flesh and bone.

Breathing heavily, Selene stood over his remains, her hands shaking, her mind slowly coming back to reality. She barely registered the sound of footsteps approaching until a soft voice broke through her haze.

"Selene..."

She turned, her heart lurching. Cathy stood before her, tears streaming down her face. "Selene, stop. He's gone. Devin's gone."

Selene's humanity crashed back into her, and with it, the overwhelming grief. She collapsed onto the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. "He killed her... he killed my baby..."

Cathy knelt beside her, wrapping her arms around Selene. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, her own voice thick with emotion.

The war around them had stopped, but in that moment, all Selene could feel was the unbearable weight of her loss.