Inhumanly Yours

✧3. Forbidden Connection✧

The grove by the old temple was hidden deep within the woods, a sanctuary untouched by time. Centuries had passed since mortals worshipped there, and the gods’ presence had faded from its crumbling stones. It was a place where secrets were kept safe, shielded from the prying eyes of heaven.

Leander arrived as the first light of dawn began to filter through the trees. The air was still, thick with the scent of wildflowers and damp earth. A canopy of ancient oaks loomed above him, their branches entwined like the fingers of forgotten gods. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, unsure if Selene would keep her promise.

He waited, his breath catching with every rustle of leaves. Just as his hope began to wane, the air shimmered, and Selene appeared before him—her hair a cascade of silver, her eyes gleaming with a light that made the morning sun seem pale. She moved towards him with an ethereal grace, as if she belonged to the air itself.

“You came,” Leander said, his voice choked with relief. He stepped closer, desperate to touch her, to confirm that she was real and not some dream conjured by his longing.

She did not retreat this time. Instead, she allowed him to draw near, her gaze never leaving his. “I should not have come,” she said, but her voice lacked conviction. “We are playing with forces we do not understand.”

“I understand enough,” Leander said firmly, his fingers brushing against hers. “I know that I have found something precious in you, something worth defying the gods for.”

Her expression softened, and she laced her fingers with his. “You are a fool,” she said, though there was a tenderness in her words. “But you are not alone. I too feel what should not be felt.”

They sank to the soft grass beneath an ancient olive tree, and she told him stories of the gods—of their rivalries, their power, and their cruelty. Leander listened, entranced by the sound of her voice, the way her eyes sparkled when she spoke of the stars and the tides she guided. She was a being of immense power, yet sitting there with him, she seemed more human than divine.

Hours slipped away unnoticed, the sun climbing higher as they talked and laughed. Leander told her about his simple life by the sea, of his family’s struggles, and the ache he had carried in his heart since they fell ill. For the first time, Selene was more than a goddess—she was a friend, a confidante, someone who saw him not as a mere mortal but as a man with a soul that burned as brightly as her moon.

As the day grew warmer, they shared a stolen kiss, their lips meeting in the dappled sunlight. It was soft and tentative, a promise and a question all at once. Leander’s hand cupped her cheek, feeling the cool, delicate skin beneath his fingers. The world around them seemed to still, as if nature itself was holding its breath, unsure whether to celebrate or mourn this forbidden connection.

But just as quickly as it began, the moment shattered. A low, ominous rumble echoed through the grove, and the ground trembled beneath them. Selene pulled away, her eyes widening with sudden fear. “No,” she breathed, her voice trembling. “They have sensed it.”

“Who?” Leander asked, panic rising in his chest as he felt the earth shudder again.

“The gods,” she said, standing abruptly, her face paling. “They are watching us. They know.”

Before he could respond, a brilliant flash of light illuminated the grove, and a figure stepped out from the shadows—a tall, imposing man draped in golden armor, his eyes blazing with the fury of the sun. Apollo, the god of light and prophecy, stood before them, his presence radiating anger and disapproval.

“Sister,” Apollo said coldly, his voice like thunder. “What madness is this? You would taint yourself with a mortal’s love?”

Selene moved in front of Leander, shielding him with her own body. “He is not what you think, Apollo,” she said, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. “I have chosen him.”

“Chosen him?” Apollo’s laugh was cruel and mocking. “You are blinded by your own foolish heart. Do you not see how this will end? Mortals are weak, fleeting. They die, and you will be left with nothing but regret.”

Leander, though trembling, stepped forward, his gaze locked with the sun god’s. “I may be mortal,” he said, his voice clear and unbroken, “but my love is not weak. It is not fleeting. I would stand against the heavens themselves for her.”

Apollo’s eyes narrowed, his fury intensifying. “Then you are a fool, human,” he said, raising a hand as if to strike. “Do not presume to challenge the will of the gods.”

“No!” Selene cried, stepping between them, her arms outstretched. “I will not let you harm him, Apollo. If you wish to punish someone, then punish me.”

The tension in the air was suffocating. For a long moment, Apollo stood motionless, his gaze shifting between the defiant goddess and the determined mortal. Finally, he lowered his hand, his expression twisting with disdain.

“You are both fools,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “But the other gods will not be so merciful. If you persist in this folly, you will bring only ruin upon yourselves.”

With that, he turned and vanished in a blaze of golden light, leaving behind an ominous silence. Selene’s shoulders slumped, and she let out a shaky breath, tears glistening in her eyes.

“They will not stop,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I have defied the gods, and they will come for us. I cannot keep you safe.”

Leander took her hands, his grip firm. “Then we will face them together,” he said, his eyes burning with conviction. “I am not afraid. Whatever comes, I will not leave you.”

Selene looked at him, and for the first time in her immortal life, she felt true, helpless fear—a fear not for herself, but for him. For this mortal who had become her anchor in a world that no longer made sense.

“I am afraid,” she said, a tear slipping down her cheek. “I am afraid of losing you.”

They held each other there, in the grove hidden from the gods, knowing that they had set in motion a chain of events that could not be undone. The future was uncertain, shadowed by the anger of the divine, but they had each other. And in that moment, it was enough.

                       ✷✷✷✷

Author's note

Thank you for reading. I know I'm going too fast. But, I am a beginner writer. I don't have any idea of what you all would like. This story will last only for 10 to 12 chapters. From the next story, I'll try to make the storyline longer and the chapters lengthier.

If you’re enjoying the story, please don’t forget to vote, comment, and share. Your support and feedback mean so much to me and keep me motivated to write more.

With love,
hadria_lucine01