Shattered Moonlight (Maeve and Dominic) novel Chapter 44

Chapter 5

Selene’s POV

Julian bent down to retrieve the fallen scroll, but before his fingers could touch it, my hand moved faster, snatching it up

and tucking it against my chest.

His gaze followed the motion, landing on the parchment now cradled protectively in my arms.

Understanding flickered across his face.

“That’s the document you asked me to sign last time, isn’t it?” he said, a smile tugging at his lips, relieved.

I realized then–he hadn’t seen clearly what it was.

I nodded, feeling a weight lift from my chest even as a fresh wave of bitterness rose behind it.

Julian laughed softly, the tension draining from his body.

“Why are you treating it like such a treasure?” he teased. “I told you, Selene. Anything I gave you is yours. I can handle

whatever it means.”

I didn’t answer, afraid that if I opened my mouth, the truths buried in my heart would come spilling out.

Instead, I changed the subject.

“You said you got me a gift,” I said, keeping my voice light. “What is it?”

His face brightened instantly.

“Come on, I’ll show you,” he said, reaching into the drawer and pulling out a set of keys.

He jingled them playfully before leading me outside.

The destination was a newly built estate on the outskirts of the Pack’s residential territory.

Julian’s hand rested lightly on my lower back as he guided me through the front gates.

“You always said the old house felt too formal, too cold,” he said warmly. ‘So I bought a new one. Designed everything the

way you like.”

As we passed through the back garden, a sea of violet orchids swayed gently in the breeze.

My breath caught.

Butterfly orchids–my favorite.

Chapter 5

42.31%

“I remembered you liked them. Julian said softly beside me. “So I had the entire garden transplanted.”

He led me further inside.

At the end of a wide corridor, he pushed open a door revealing a nursery, filled with soft furniture, tiny clothes, and toys

crafted from the finest materials.

Standing behind me, Julian wrapped his arms around my waist and spoke against my ear, his voice low and filled with

visions of a future he had spun in his mind.

“When our pup is born, this will be his room,” he murmured. “Close enough that we can watch over him, but far enough

that we’ll still have our time together.”

He pressed a gentle kiss to my temple.

“Have you thought about a name?” he asked, almost shyly. “I was thinking… you’re Selene, and I love everything about

you. Maybe we can name him Soren, or if it’s a girl, maybe something like Seren.”

He chuckled softly.

But I didn’t laugh.

I didn’t speak

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring the room into a wash of soft pastels and muted shadows.

Julian, misunderstanding, wiped my tears with his thumb, smiling indulgently.

‘Moved you that much, huh?”

I said nothing.

Only I knew I wasn’t crying from joy.

I was mourning

Mourning the dreams I had once dared to believe in.

Mourning the bond that was dying by inches, even as he stood there weaving new promises he would never keep

The fragile illusion shattered moments later

From the doorway, a bright, familiar voice chimed in:

‘Julian! Selene! What a coincidence.”

Claire Lancaster entered, her smile sweet, her eyes locked firmly on Julian.

Chapter 5

42.31%

“I was looking at this estate too,” she said breezily. “The agent told me someone had just bought it. I had no idea it was

you two!”

She laughed lightly, almost carelessly, but the determination in her gaze was anything but casual.

“I just came back to the Pack, and I don’t have a place to stay yet. Would you mind… letting me have this house?”

Her tone was polite, but her eyes gleamed with a confidence that assumed victory.

I didn’t speak.

I didn’t move.

Julian’s hand at my waist stiffened.

His calm facade cracked for the briefest second.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify