Page 7 of Demon Seed (Mated to the Monster: Season 3)
Selene
I jolt awake, disoriented and engulfed by the foreign touch of silk sheets against my bare skin. Vesper's intoxicating scent saturates the pillow beneath my head, enveloping me in a fragrant cloud that suffocates my senses.
Gods, what have I done?
The strange clock on Vesper's nightstand ticks three hours past midnight. Mother will be in a frenzy. She'll never understand what's happened or how my life has been forever changed.
I slip out of bed, suppressing a gasp as the icy stone floor bites into my bare feet. My clothes lay scattered—a discarded dress lazily hanging over a chair, one shoe lying near the door, the other vanished beneath the bed.
Gripped by anxiety, I hastily dress, my fingers trembling as they grapple with my laces, trying to ignore the memory of how they were undone. Last night feels like a vivid haze, a dream that clings to my skin, like the remnants of passion that linger, sticky and relentless on my thighs.
The castle corridors will undoubtedly be swarming with Vesper's loyal demons, but I must make my way home. I need to explain that I've found my mate.
My heart pounds as I slowly push open the heavy door, bracing myself for what awaits. I peer into the hallway, my breath catching in my throat. It's empty—for now—but I suspect the oppressive silence must be the calm before the storm.
I take a deep breath and slip into the corridor's shadows, becoming one with the darkness, as my mother taught me.
The mountain path home is etched into my very being, so much so that I could traverse it blindfolded. Yet now, in my current state—utterly drained, my mind a chaotic storm, haunted by the lingering phantom of Vesper's touch—I fear my legs will give out before I reach the mountain. No doubt, my parents will be stationed by the window, eyes scanning the horizon for my return, their disappointment growing with every agonizing second I delay.
I clutch my cloak tighter as the wind whips around me, nearly stealing my breath. Vesper's castle shrinks behind me with each step I take through the woods, the imposing spires of the Blackthorne Mountains still visible against the moonlit sky.
The Divine Peaks—my home—rise in the distance like sleeping giants. Between us stretches a dense forest, home to demons and other creatures of the night. I've never felt so far from home. Fortunately, nymphs are light on their feet, and I’m able to descend the steep slopes with the grace of a gazelle.
"One foot after another," I whisper to myself, the sound of my voice immediately swallowed by the vastness around me.
Something shifts in the forest behind me. I freeze, every muscle tense, every sense alert. The Forbidden Forest certainly lives up to its name. With every step, a feeling of dread consumes me, warning me to depart before danger finds me.
I know I'm not alone.
I catch that prickling sensation at the nape of my neck for the third time since I left Vesper's castle. Eyes on me. Watching. Waiting.
I spin around, my hand instinctively reaching for a large stone on the ground. Nothing but ancient trees and dancing shadows greet me. But I know better.
"Show yourself," I command, my voice steadier than I feel.
Silence answers. Then, a rustle of undergrowth to my left. I turn slowly, deliberately, and finally see him—a massive black wolf, his amber eyes meeting mine without fear or aggression. He stands partially concealed by a prehistoric oak, his midnight fur blending with the shadows. He makes no move toward me.
“Who are you?” I whisper.
The wolf blinks once, slowly. There's an intelligence in those eyes that unsettles me—and yet, strangely, I feel no threat from this creature. Instead, I sense… protection? Guidance?
I take a cautious step forward. The wolf remains still, watching.
“Why are you following me?” I say, releasing the stone and letting it fall to the ground. The wolf's ears twitch at the sound of my voice. “Are you going to help me find my way home, or did Vesper send you to bring me back? Please tell him I'll return tomorrow.”
As I journey deeper into the Forbidden Forest, the wolf follows at a respectful distance. But I don’t get far before I feel another presence.
Through the darkness, I see a black cloud of smoke crawl toward us like a living thing, tendrils reaching out as if testing the air. I step back, my hand instinctively finding the wolf's coarse fur.
"What is it?" I say, though I know he can't answer me. Not in words, anyway.
The smoke thickens, coalescing into something almost solid at its center. My breath catches as two pinpricks of crimson light appear within the darkness. Eyes, watching us with cold intelligence.
The black wolf presses against my leg. He doesn’t seem frightened–but I suspect he knows who it is.
Suddenly, recognition catches up to me—Vesper.
"You followed me," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
The cloud ripples, almost like a shrug. It brushes against my skin, cool and familiar—the sensation comforting and unsettling.
"I had to." His voice is everywhere and nowhere. "You can't escape me, little moon.”
I clutch my heart with a sudden, electrifying realization, and an overwhelming wave of understanding crashes over me. The undeniable truth pulses beneath my fingertips. We are already connected—two hearts beating as one.
I take a step back, but his misty form simply flows around me, enveloping me in a gentle embrace that I can feel but not touch. "I'm not asking permission," I tell him, squaring my shoulders despite the tremor in my hands. "I need to see my family. They must be worried about me.”
The cloud darkens slightly, condensing until I can almost make out the outline of his face. “They know where you are and are already planning to separate us. I can’t allow that.”
“I just need to say goodbye,” I declare, although my voice holds little conviction. I have no intention of staying away forever. I can’t. The thought of life without my mate feels like a fate worse than death.
Vesper shakes his head. “Not yet, Selene. Before the next full moon, we’ll go together.”