The Reborn Luna: Claimed by the Billionaire Alpha

Chapter 3: The Flames of Rebirth

The night was thick with silence, broken only by the crackling of the small fire between Selene and Killian. They had been traveling for hours, and exhaustion clung to her muscles like a heavy weight. But it wasn't just the journey that drained her. It was him.

Damon.

No matter how far she ran, he was still there—in her thoughts, her dreams, the very essence of her soul. Even now, she could feel him, as if his presence was woven into her very blood. The mate bond should have shattered when he rejected her, but something held on, refusing to let go.

She clenched her fists, staring into the flames.

Killian watched her from across the fire, sharpening his blade with slow, deliberate strokes. His silver eyes flickered in the dim light, unreadable as always.

"You're thinking about him," he said finally.

Selene's jaw tightened. "I'm thinking about my future."

Killian gave a humorless chuckle. "Your future is still tied to him, whether you want to admit it or not."

She looked away, her throat burning with unspoken words. She hated that he was right.

Killian tossed his blade aside and stood, his movements fluid and controlled. "You need to break free."

"I already have," she snapped.

Killian smirked. "Then why do you still feel him?"

Selene stiffened.

Killian sighed, stepping closer. "There's only one way to end this for good, Selene. You need to face what's inside you. Burn it out."

She frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Instead of answering, Killian motioned for her to follow.

Selene hesitated, but she knew she had no choice. If she ever wanted to be free of Damon's hold—of the pain, the memories, the lingering bond—she had to do something.

Even if it meant walking through fire.

---

The Trial of Fire

They arrived at the clearing just before dawn.

Selene's breath caught at the sight before her.

A massive ring of fire blazed in the center, the flames roaring high into the sky. The heat was intense, wrapping around her like a suffocating embrace.

Killian stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "Step inside."

Selene's stomach twisted. "What?"

"If you want to sever the bond completely, you need to face it. The fire will strip away everything—your fears, your doubts, even the last remnants of his hold on you."

Her hands curled into fists. "And if I don't make it out?"

Killian's silver eyes gleamed. "Then you were never meant to escape him."

A challenge.

Selene never backed down from a challenge.

Without another word, she stepped into the fire.

---

The Flames of the Past

At first, the heat was bearable. But then—

Pain.

It rushed through her, searing every nerve, every muscle, every memory.

And suddenly—

She wasn't in the clearing anymore.

She was in Damon's chambers, the scent of pine and leather filling her lungs. The walls were familiar, the bed still carrying the scent of their past.

Her heart pounded.

This wasn't real.

It couldn't be real.

A low, familiar chuckle echoed behind her.

Selene turned slowly—

And there he was.

Damon.

His golden eyes burned like embers, locked onto her with a quiet intensity. His presence filled the space, suffocating, overwhelming.

Selene took a step back. "This isn't real."

Damon smirked. "Isn't it?"

She clenched her fists. "You're not here."

He took a step closer, the mate bond thrumming between them like a living thing. "And yet you feel me, don't you?"

She hated the way his voice curled around her senses, the way his presence called to her, even now.

"You think you can run from me, Selene?" Damon's voice was softer now, almost gentle. "You think I won't find you?"

Her breath hitched.

This wasn't real.

She had to remember that.

Selene forced herself to stand tall. "You rejected me."

Damon's expression darkened. "And yet you're still mine."

No.

She wouldn't let him do this to her. Not again.

"You don't own me," she whispered.

Damon's smirk faltered slightly. "Then why are you here?"

Selene exhaled sharply.

She had to break this.

She had to end it.

Closing her eyes, she focused on the fire, on the burning in her veins, on the truth she had spent so long trying to ignore.

Damon didn't control her.

She controlled herself.

And when she opened her eyes—

The fire exploded around her.

---

Rebirth

Selene gasped as she stumbled out of the flames, her body shaking, her breath ragged.

Killian was waiting.

For a long moment, he said nothing—just studied her, as if seeing her for the first time.

Then, he nodded. "You did it."

Selene wiped the sweat from her brow, her pulse still thundering in her ears.

The bond wasn't gone completely.

But something inside her had changed.

She had faced Damon.

And she had won.

For the first time in years, she was free.

And this time—

She wouldn't run.

She would fight.

End of Chapter 3

Selene stood in the ashes of the fire, her breath coming in sharp gasps. Sweat dripped down her brow, her clothes clinging to her skin, but she didn't feel the heat anymore.

She felt light.

Something inside her had snapped—not in a way that left her broken, but in a way that made her feel whole for the first time in years.

The mate bond still existed, but its hold on her was weaker now, like a thread instead of a chain.

Killian watched her carefully, his silver eyes glinting with something unreadable.

"You're different," he said finally.

Selene wiped the sweat from her brow and met his gaze. "Good."

Killian smirked, but there was something serious in his expression. He stepped forward, offering his hand. "Come. We're not done yet."

Selene hesitated before taking it, her fingers brushing against his calloused palm. A strange warmth spread up her arm at the contact, but she ignored it.

She wasn't here for him.

She was here to become stronger.

And that meant she had more battles to fight.

---

The First Test

They traveled deeper into the forest, the early morning mist curling around the trees like ghostly fingers. The only sounds were the crunch of their footsteps and the occasional rustle of unseen creatures moving through the undergrowth.

Selene's muscles ached from the fire trial, but she didn't complain. She had endured worse.

"Where are we going?" she finally asked.

Killian didn't turn. "You're ready for the first test."

Selene frowned. "That wasn't the test?"

Killian chuckled. "That was just preparation."

Her stomach tightened.

She should have known it wouldn't be that easy.

The trees soon gave way to an open clearing, bathed in the golden light of dawn. In the center stood a towering black stone obelisk, covered in strange markings that seemed to pulse with power.

Selene slowed, her instincts prickling. "What is this?"

Killian stopped beside her, his expression grim. "The first test. The Trial of Shadows."

Selene narrowed her eyes. "Sounds welcoming."

Killian crossed his arms. "This obelisk is enchanted. It will pull out the darkest parts of yourself—your fears, your regrets, your guilt. You won't fight them with strength. You'll fight them with your will."

Selene swallowed hard.

She didn't like the sound of that.

Killian turned to face her fully, his voice softer now. "You don't have to do this."

Selene stiffened. "Yes, I do."

She didn't come this far to run.

Killian nodded, stepping aside. "Then go."

Selene took a deep breath, steadying herself before stepping forward.

As soon as she placed her palm against the stone—

Darkness swallowed her whole.

---

The Shadow of the Past

Selene stood in complete blackness. No sky. No ground. No sound.

Then—

A whisper.

You think you're strong?

A shiver ran down her spine.

Then the darkness shifted, swirling like ink in water, taking shape—

And she was no longer in the clearing.

She was back there.

Back in the throne room.

Back on the night Damon rejected her.

She stood frozen as she watched the scene unfold again, as if she were an outsider looking in.

Damon sat on his throne, his golden eyes hard, his expression unreadable.

Selene stood before him, her heart in her throat, waiting for words that would either save or shatter her.

He looked at her—no, through her.

His voice was cold. "I, Alpha Damon, reject you, Selene, as my mate."

Selene felt the same crushing agony she had felt that night. The pain of rejection. The pain of being unwanted.

And then—

A new voice.

Her own voice.

"You're pathetic," the shadow of herself whispered, stepping into view.

Selene turned sharply, her breath catching.

Her own reflection stared back at her—but this version of her was twisted, her eyes dark, her smirk cruel.

"You think you've changed?" the shadow sneered. "You think walking through fire makes you strong?"

Selene clenched her fists.

"You still care," the shadow continued. "You still feel the bond. You still feel him."

Selene shook her head. "No."

"You're weak."

Selene's pulse pounded.

"No," she whispered.

The shadow laughed. "You're lying to yourself."

The darkness rushed at her.

And Selene fought back.

She lunged, pushing against the weight of her own past, against the whispers of doubt, against the memories that tried to drown her.

She wasn't weak.

She wasn't that broken girl anymore.

She refused to be.

With a final, piercing scream, she shattered the illusion—

And light exploded around her.

---

The Dawn of Strength

Selene gasped as she stumbled back into reality, her chest heaving.

The obelisk pulsed once—then went dark.

Killian was there in an instant, steadying her before she could fall.

She looked up at him, her vision still spinning.

His silver eyes studied her, unreadable. "You did it."

Selene swallowed, her throat dry. "It almost had me."

Killian's grip on her arm tightened slightly. "But it didn't."

Selene nodded, breathless.

She won.

She wasn't sure what that meant yet—

But for the first time, she felt like she was truly fighting back.

And she wouldn't stop.

Not until she was strong enough to never be broken again.

Selene's legs trembled, her breaths shallow and uneven as she stared at the black obelisk, now lifeless and dull. The Trial of Shadows had tested every ounce of her strength, but she had emerged victorious.

The weight of her past no longer shackled her.

But the battle wasn't over yet.

Killian remained by her side, his silver eyes carefully observing her every movement. His grip on her arm was firm but not forceful, as if he knew she was moments away from collapsing.

Selene took another deep breath and steadied herself. "I'm fine," she murmured, shaking off his touch.

Killian raised an eyebrow. "You look like you just fought a war."

"I did." Her voice was hoarse, but she meant it.

A slow smirk tugged at the corner of Killian's lips. "And you won."

Selene didn't respond. She didn't feel victorious yet. There was still so much left to do.

She turned her gaze to the horizon, where the first hints of sunrise painted the sky in shades of deep blue and soft gold. A new day was beginning, and with it, a new Selene.

She had faced her past.

Now, she had to face her future.

---

A Warrior's Path

Killian led Selene back to their temporary camp, where the dying embers of their fire still smoldered. The cool morning air did little to soothe the burning exhaustion in her limbs.

"You should rest," Killian said, pulling out a small canteen and tossing it to her.

Selene caught it and took a sip, the cold water easing the rawness in her throat.

"Resting isn't an option," she said.

Killian sighed, crossing his arms. "You don't get stronger by pushing yourself to the point of collapse."

Selene met his gaze, unwavering. "I don't get stronger by sitting still, either."

Killian's expression flickered with something unreadable before he exhaled sharply. "Fine. But if you collapse, I'm dragging you back to camp myself."

Selene rolled her eyes. "I'd like to see you try."

A deep chuckle rumbled in Killian's chest. "Careful, Selene. You're starting to sound like a warrior."

She didn't smile, but something inside her stirred. A warrior.

That's what she was becoming.

And she wouldn't stop now.

---

The Hunter in the Shadows

They left the clearing as the sun rose higher, the forest bathed in golden light. The birds had begun to stir, their calls filling the air with a deceptive sense of peace.

But Selene felt something wrong.

A shiver ran down her spine.

She wasn't sure how she knew—but something was watching them.

Killian felt it too. His movements became sharper, his body tense.

Then—

A snap of a twig.

Selene whirled around, her instincts screaming.

In the next second—

A figure lunged from the shadows.

Selene barely had time to react before a dagger whizzed past her face, missing her by inches.

Killian was already moving. In one fluid motion, he unsheathed his sword, meeting the attacker mid-strike.

Steel clashed against steel, the force of the impact sending vibrations through the air.

Selene's heart pounded.

The attacker was fast—almost inhumanly so. Dressed in dark, fitted leather armor, a mask covering their face, they moved with precision.

A trained killer.

Selene didn't hesitate.

She moved, instincts taking over.

She kicked up dirt as she launched forward, grabbing a fallen branch and swinging it toward the assassin's side.

The attacker dodged, barely flinching.

Selene gritted her teeth. Damn it.

Killian parried another strike, his expression tight with concentration. "There's more than one," he muttered.

Selene's eyes flickered to the trees—

Movement.

More figures emerged, their weapons gleaming in the morning light.

They were surrounded.

---

The Fight for Survival

Selene took a defensive stance, her body thrumming with adrenaline.

The assassins didn't waste time. They charged.

Killian met them head-on, his blade slicing through the first enemy with brutal efficiency. The second assassin lunged for Selene—

She ducked, narrowly avoiding the glinting dagger aimed at her throat.

Using her momentum, she pivoted, slamming her elbow into the attacker's ribs. The impact sent them stumbling, but they recovered quickly.

Selene barely had time to react before another blade came at her.

Too fast.

She braced for impact—

But Killian was there, his sword intercepting the strike with a loud clash.

"Focus!" he barked.

Selene snarled, shaking off her hesitation. No more holding back.

She moved, her body remembering the years of training, the countless hours spent sparring, the pain of past losses.

This time, she wasn't just defending.

She was fighting to win.

---

A Warrior's Awakening

The battle was fierce. Steel met steel, grunts and growls echoing through the clearing.

Selene's heart pounded as she dodged, countered, attacked.

Her body was exhausted, but her spirit burned.

One assassin came at her from the side. She twisted, grabbing their wrist and using their own momentum against them—slamming them to the ground.

Another enemy lunged. She ducked, sweeping their legs out from under them.

Killian was a storm of destruction, his blade cutting through their enemies with ruthless precision.

But there were too many.

Selene's breathing was ragged. They couldn't keep this up forever.

Then—

A sharp whistle pierced the air.

The assassins froze.

For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of heavy breathing.

Then, as quickly as they had appeared—

The assassins vanished into the shadows.

Selene blinked, her body still tense, her blade still raised. "What the hell was that?"

Killian lowered his sword, his expression dark. "A warning."

Selene's pulse thundered.

Who sent them?

And more importantly—

Why didn't they kill us?

She exchanged a look with Killian, and for the first time, fear crept into his usually unreadable gaze.

Whoever was behind this wasn't just hunting them.

They were toying with them.

And Selene had a feeling this was only the beginning.