C12 Twelve

Selena's POV

And of course... my prayers to the Moon Goddess fell into deaf ears.

My mother pushed her way to me with a fake smile stretched across her face as she actually waved at me. Her other hand was dragging someone behind her, and when my eyes followed... my blood turned to ice.

Because those hard brown eyes staring back at me belonged to my father, Augustus Walt.

I hadn't seen them in forever, not since I bailed to the human world.

And honestly? I'd kept it that way on purpose.

Being threatened by using the most important person in your life to force you into marrying a man twice your age just to clear your father's debts, while your mother practically cheered him on, is the kind of thing that slams a door shut and bolts it from the outside.

Shit. How could I have forgotten that a general meeting meant facing them?

I wasn't prepared. Not even close.

Quickly shoving to my feet, I hunted for an exit, aiming to slip past them. Thank the Goddess, the entrance was mostly clear.

But of course I didn't make it two steps before a hand clamped around mine.

The next second, I was yanked into a crushing, suffocating embrace. How she moved that fast, I'll never know. My ribs screamed, and my lungs begged for air.

I shoved back, teeth clenched. "Mother... really?"

Tilting her head, she held onto me like I might shatter or something, that fake smile still plastered on, all sunshine bullshit, but her eyes were ice cold. "You weren't trying to run away from us, Selly baby, were you?"

I forced my own tight-lipped smile. "Oh, of course not, mother. You know how it is, former Luna, super important, highly required in these kinds of events. Just didn't want to keep the Alpha waiting."

She said nothing, just stared at me for a long, uncomfortable beat. Then, finally, she let go–well, almost–not before pinching my damn cheeks and looping an arm over my shoulder, yanking me close.

This woman never, ever took a hint.

"Of course, of course!" she chirped, "But Selly! Look at you! How've you been? It's been forever! Why don't you ever come see us, huh?"

My blood hit boiling point. Seriously? She's really gonna play that dumb card?

Fine. Let's play.

Slipping out of her grasp, I turned to face her and slapped on a sad little mask like a pro. "Mom... I'm fine. Really wanted to come see you guys, but work's been... a lot."

She nodded, all fake sympathy plastered on. "Yeah, understandable. I hear you're a doctor for Alpha Adrian's hockey team now. Must be so exhausting."

"It is."

"Anyway," she chirped way too cheerfully, "our 40th wedding anniversary's coming up a week from today, and we're throwing a big party. It's going to be so much fun, everyone's gonna be there. We'd love for you to come. It'll be just like old times."

Celebrate the two people I hate the fucking most? Yeah, not in a million fucking years.

"I'd love to, mother," I said, keeping it smooth, "but with the big game coming up, training, injuries, and all that... it's just not possible."

The fake smile finally dropped from her face. "Oh... that's fine then, but we'd really have loved for you to be there, you know. Your father and I missed you a lot, right honey?"

My stomach flipped as I glanced at Father who'd been silent the entire time, he looked like he'd rather be anywhere but here.

When he remained silent, she nudged him. "Right, honey?"

"Sure," he said at last, but in a flat tone, like my presence–or absence–was the least of his worry.

Forcing the same polite tone, I tried my absolute best not to let my voice give away how much his nonchalance had stabbed at my heart. "Sorry, I really would love to, but, you know... busy."

Mother's fake sadness dialed up a notch. And because of course, goddess Selene wanted to remind me how badly she wasn't on my side, father finally decided to 'care', sliding a hand to her waist and shutting her up before a single dramatic syllable could reach me.

"I'm sure you can find a way to make it work, Selly darling," he said in a cold but calm tone. "After all... family comes first. Isn't that what you always say?"

The hairs on the back of my arms stood at attention. I never said that.

That was my baby brother Nick's line, long before our parents showed their true colors.

I thought we were done with this threat, but apparently not. It seemed father was going to use him, like always, to bend me, to pull me back, to trap me.

I forced down the bile climbing my throat and plastered a too wide smile on my face, "Of course. I... wouldn't miss it for the world."

Mother clapped, all bright and cheerful again. "Goodie! We'll be expecting you then!"

Without another word, they strode through the now-cleared entrance like my chest hadn't just been crushed into a million pieces.

I stayed frozen for a moment, every single nerve of mine on fire. Dread, anger, guilt, and five other feelings I didn't even have names for tangled together inside me.

Slowly, I squared my shoulders, sucked in a shaky breath, and forced myself forward, one agonizing step at a time, through the entrance.