Insight

Selena explained everything, just as she said she would. Elijah’s distance, Bastian’s reappearance, Tony and Clair’s probable innocence... She even told him about the sequence of events she’d hoped to end. She explained why she set up the Star Dust Hope foundation; along with why she’d reached out to Eve, and not Flint or Elijah.

Her husband took all this information in calmly. At times he’d tell her that her actions were unnecessary. At others he’d grow silent, plunging into thought. Eventually, Elijah told Selena that Flint had found Eve. He told her about the notes, the vine, and the temporary solution Bastian had found.

He told her everything. It felt almost like a relief to him. To be able to share his concerns with someone, for that someone to be Selena... Yes. Relief is what he felt. Even if her explanations gave him no comfort, her very presence did.

Selena returned to his side from the kitchen area, handing him a mug of fresh coffee.

“Do you ever think of coming home?” Elijah asked hesitantly.

“I can’t. I can’t even think about it. Not until Eve is back safe. This is all my fault.” Selena spoke quietly.

“Not all.” He sipped his coffee and put the mug on the table. “Some of it's mine.”

“I didn’t tell you what I was thinking. I should have.” Selena admitted.

“No.” Elijah spoke firmly. “You didn’t think you could talk to me. That’s my fault. You wanted out... That’s my fault too.”

“Elijah-”

“No, Selena. You were attacked. You tried to fix the things I broke. Over and over again. And I made it so that you couldn’t even talk to me.” He gripped the head of his cane until his knuckles turned white.

She didn't know what to say. She wanted to comfort him, but every time she thought to speak; her responses seemed empty. Selena held the hand he gripped his cane with. Her gentle touch eased her mate's grip. The electricity that coursed between them once, was long gone.

Still, the simple gesture brought them both comfort. Elijah turned his head to look at Selena. She found his face very close to hers. The emerald eyes she'd spent most of her life gazing into. The dark hair that had become gray in patches during their years together. The soft smile that pulled on his lips only when they were alone.

It all came back to her. Instinctively, without thought for the consequences or results, Selena leaned forward. She caught his lips with hers. It was just a tender, soft brush of her lips against his. Elijah's eyes widened. He hesitated for a moment, just a single moment, before pulling her into his arms.

His lips claimed hers hungrily as he slid his fingers into her hair. Selena's hands reached for his neck, sliding into the collar of his shirt. Her nails brushed over the mark she'd placed on his skin. This was the only time that the electricity between them could be felt. She had to touch the mark she'd left when they mated. A jolt shot through her mate and ran up her arm, into her chest.

Elijah pulled down on the stretchy fabric of her dress, exposing Selena's shoulders and bra. The sight of her scarred mark gave him pause. As always, the sight of it made his stomach tight. He had failed to protect her and their link had been stolen from them. Elijah then leaned forward to kiss his mate's throat.

He moved his lips to her broken mark, placing a kiss there. Selena smiled, pushing away the memories of her pain. Elijah kept this side of himself buried beneath harshness and anger. She was the only person in the world who would describe him as tender and caring. Yet, to Selena, that's how Elijah had always been.

"I'm sorry." She breathed.

Elijah looked at her immediately. There were tears welling on her lashes but her small, soft smile remained. She wanted his forgiveness. She yearned for it so much that Elijah could nearly feel it. He cupped her face, leaning his forehead against hers.

"I love you." He replied in a whisper.

"Elijah..." She touched caressed his nose with hers. "I love you too."

Selena kissed him again and Elijah wrapped her in his warm embrace. They had been married for thirty years. Whether Selena had run away or not... Whether she had been gone for twenty days or twenty years... Elijah Dolan wasn't simply Selena's husband.

He was her mate, the father of her only child, her Alpha, and the love of her life. She thought she could stay away from him, if she put distance between them. But now she knew, no amount of miles could sever her connection to him.

Elijah wanted to be angry at her for running away from the pack, for leaving him, for freeing Bastian... He wanted to be furious. However, he wasn't. He had been heartbroken when Selena left. He didn't care at the time where she went or why. All he wanted was to find her and bring her home.

Elijah stood, bringing her to her feet as well. Selena smiled at him and took his hand, leading him to the door of her bedroom. Once there, shrouded in darkness, he kissed her again. Elijah sat on the side of the bed where Selena joined him.

"I won't let you go again." Elijah whispered as he discarded his dress shirt behind him.

"Good." Selena ran her fingers over the scars on his torso. "I don't want you to."

"You know, Noah-"

"I know." She interrupted him, kissing his chest.

"Coming home will be more complicated." Elijah placed his hand over hers.

"I know." Selena nodded.

"But you still want to come back to StarLight?" He asked quietly.

"Once Eve is back, safe and sound... Once my mistakes have been fixed..." She brushed her nose against his again. "I'll come back, but not for StarLight. For you."

Again, their lips met. Selena's dress slid off her body, revealing her skin to him. His eyes moved over her like a once-blind man examining his first piece of art. She touched him gently, feeling his muscles tense under her fingers.

The sensation of having him close to her, of his skin against hers, was as intoxicating as it had always been. Selena couldn't deny the truth anymore and she didn't want to. She'd missed Elijah. His touch, his scent, the sound of his breathing...

Together, they felt alive. There could be no parting for them now. Not again. Once Eve was back in Green Tree, Selena would be home as well. The thought alone was enough to push the couple forward. Toward home, toward the truth, and toward each other.