BG music recommendation: Arcade - acoustic version by Duncan Laurence.

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Channing left a lot of words unsaid, which surfaced in his eyes. I wanted to cushion the blow as much as possible and I thought this time was better than later. I would be the official Beta of Winterwells post tomorrow's branding and I had a big mission to complete. Trying the feeling of love was never written in my fate.

Channing let out a dry laugh, "No, I understand Selene. It is better before things move ahead. Plus, Fang is your soulmate I would never want to take away the blessing of my brother's."

It was no mystery to me that Fang and Channing considered each other as brothers, although I always questioned how did the two Alphas from two feuding villages become so close. Channing gave an impression that it was because they were both Warchilds, but I doubted it was just that. There was something more to what they had. But that was a question for some other time today I wanted to close the chapter of our potential relationship first.

"It is not about Fang being my Soulmate," I said, so Channing would understand that my mate mark had nothing to do with this conversation.

"Selene," Channing interrupted me before I could continue. He was being serious with his tone, "With Fang being your soulmate, I will never even think about us."

I creased my brows at Channing's words that held some sternness and determination. My voice almost started in a whisper, "It is not about you or Fang. My life is just not simple. That idiot also has a shrill chance of any future with me. He just marked me and I don't think it will go well if people found out about it."

Channing stared at me, thinking about what it could mean. But he dropped that thought quickly, and the pain returned to his eyes as he stepped ahead to close the distance between us.

I tilted my head to look at Channing, letting his guards slip for the last time. His hand came up to cup my cheek and my body tensed under his touch.

Channing did not let go of me this time and lingered close to me despite the way my body somehow rejected his closeness. "Selene," his voice came hurt, "I could never have you, no matter how much I tried. No matter how complicated your life is, you belong to someone else, and that is a truth I will have to accept." Channing whispered as he came closer to me, "it is tough for me, Selene, even though there had been barely any advances. My abilities make everything hard and it's only better you would be staying away from them."

I drew a sharp breath, shifting my eyes between his, knowing how hard it must be for him. As compared to everyone else, Channing carried an ocean of emotions inside of him because of his abilities.

Right now I had a speck of emotions towards Channing, wanting to go ahead and break all my personal barriers and give this a chance. But Channing had liked me before I even started to see him in that light and with his abilities that pushed everything tenfold right now, Channing was watching nothing but his own heartbreak.

"I am sorry," I spoke in a low voice.

Channing shook his head, "You don't have to be. It is what Goddess Luna wants. For you to have a good soulmate like Fang in your life, we can't go against those judgements."

My heart twisted in my chest at hearing him say those words. Fang was nowhere good to have as a soulmate, and yet Goddess Luna had paired me up with him. How were two Alphas with such different personalities supposed to get together? If anything, I wished for Channing to have his soulmate in his life and for him to find comfort and love who would compliment him well. Soulmates are always in a way that they make each other's other half. I wished for Channing to have that for him.

"Didn't you have a soulmate as well?" I blurted and immediately regretted the way I had put it out for him.

Channing took a distance from me after he crinkled his brows questioningly as to how I knew about this piece of information. "I don't have any," his words were firm as he replied. I blinked twice at him like this was completely different information I received from him.

I remembered it well that Arina had mentioned that Channing's ex-girlfriend was his soulmate and from Fang that the girl suffered because of Channing's Blood Noesis.

Had I framed the question wrong?

I waited for him to elaborate, but Channing's lips curled in distaste, as if he did not want to start this topic or talk anything about his previous girlfriend.

"I-I meant your... previous girlfriend," I stammered through my thoughtful words this time. I wanted the truth from Channing, so I did not stop the belief that had formed in my heart about him being responsible for his girlfriend or, worst, his soulmate ending up in jail and away from him. But here Channing outright denied the presence of his soulmate, making me be sceptical about was he being hiding something severe.

Channing did not speak for a long time, waiting for me to change the topic, but as more and more time went on and the clock ticked, I started believing that it was something big.

He sighed, "Selene, how do you know about it?"

I gulped, knowing this question was coming. I couldn't throw Arina under the bus for telling me that little secret Channing had asked her to keep when they were younger. "Fang told about it," I said. It was a half-truth, as Fang had, in fact, told me about it and rather tried to instigate some conflicting feelings inside me about Channing.

If Channing denied it today, then it would only lead me to think there was a blunder that happened because Channing himself lost control of his special abilities.