Betrayed By One. Bound To Three-Chapter 10: She knows.

Selena.

The cabin is quiet. Moonlight spills through the window, painting the floor in thin silver lines.

I wake slowly, my body sore and tight from the day’s events. My head aches faintly at the base of my skull, a dull reminder that I am still healing.

Something shifts in the shadows, and I notice Edris standing by the door. He is motionless, framed by the moonlight, his dark eyes fixed on me. My heart stutters at the sight of him.

"How are you feeling?" His voice is low, calm, carrying just enough weight to make me listen.

"Better," I answer after a pause. The word feels small, almost inadequate.

He steps closer, careful and measured.

"Ronan and Kael went out for a hunt," he says. "I stayed back to talk with you."

I blink at him. My wolf lifts her head, alert and tense, and I sense her curiosity. "Talk with me?" I repeat quietly.

"Yes," he says simply. "We need to understand each other. I want to know why your bond is rejecting us."

I swallow hard. My stomach tightens. "I do not know," I admit. My voice is soft, almost a whisper. "I just... I do not understand it myself."

Edris studies me for a long moment. His expression is unreadable, sharp. Then he leans slightly against the wall, keeping his distance but his attention fixed on me.

"And when were you planning to tell us?" he asks, voice edged with something I do not want to name. "When will you tell us that you already have another mate waiting for you in the palace? And that your marriage is barely two weeks away."

I freeze, my throat closing for a second. Then I force myself to speak. "I was not hiding Silas from you guys," I say. "I only thought... I thought you already knew because you knew about me."

He shakes his head, frustrated. "That is not an excuse. You are leading my brothers on, Selena. You are making them believe they have a chance with you."

I sit up straighter, heat rising in my chest. "I am as confused as you are," I say firmly.

"Accusing me of leading them on is wrong." I press my hands to my knees to stop them from trembling. "You have always given me cold shoulders since I arrived here. For some reason, it seems you already have an opinion of me even before you got to know me. If you don’t want me here, then maybe I should leave."

Edris’ eyes widen slightly. He opens his mouth, then closes it again, as if weighing his words. Before he can respond, the sound of footsteps crunching on the forest floor reaches us.

The door swings open and Ronan and Kael appear in the doorway, tense and alert.

"Selena," Ronan says immediately, moving to stand beside me. His gaze sweeps over Edris, sharp and protective. "What is happening? We heard your voice."

Kael steps forward, concern written across his face. "What is going on?"

Edris straightens, his dark eyes flashing with frustration. "She knows why her bond is rejecting us," he says. "You should ask her."

I bite my lip, my wolf growling low inside my mind. My body feels tight, caught between anger, fear, and desire. "I... I am not hiding Silas," I repeat, my voice shaking slightly. "I did not tell you because I thought you already knew. I do not know why the bond is rejecting you. I do not know how to make it work. I am not leading anyone on."

Ronan kneels slightly to meet my gaze. "We are not angry with you, Selena. We just... we want to understand," he says softly, hand brushing mine briefly. The touch is grounding, a quiet reassurance.

Kael frowns, leaning closer. "You need to trust us," he says. "We are your mates. You do not have to face this alone."

Edris exhales sharply, still standing tall, still tense. "I am trying to understand," he admits. His voice is quieter now. Less cold.

"But hiding a mate, even unknowingly, is dangerous. You cannot expect us to feel safe with you if we do not know the truth."

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I am telling you now. I am not hiding Silas. Everyone in the pack knows I am his mate. I am not trying to hurt you or them. I just... I do not know what to do. I am as confused as all of you."

Ronan steps closer, wrapping his hand around mine, anchoring me. "Then we will figure it out together," he says firmly. "No matter what."

Kael crouches to the ground, level with me, his grin soft but reassuring. "We can be patient," he says. "We can wait. But we need honesty, Selena. That is all."

Edris lingers near the doorway, his dark gaze still assessing, still unreadable, but softer now.

He nods once. "Fine," he says finally. "You will tell us everything when you are ready. But do not shut us out again."

I exhale, relief mingling with the tension still coiled in my chest. "I will try," I whisper. My wolf huffs softly inside my mind, calming, intrigued, but still wary.

The night feels different now. Less sharp, less threatening. The bond hums faintly beneath my skin, distant but no longer painful.

I know it will take time to fully connect, and there is still uncertainty. But for the first time, I feel that maybe, just maybe, I am not alone in this fight.

Ronan squeezes my hand gently. Kael grins, playful but tender. Edris remains silent, but I sense him watching, protective in his own way.

Together, they are mine, even though I do not fully understand what that means yet.

But Silas.

That thought flares in my mind, sharp and unrelenting. The palace. The other mate. The bond that refuses them.

I push it down for now, letting the warmth of their presence settle around me.

I have enough to face tonight. Tomorrow, I will decide what to do with Silas.