CHAPTER 109: CHAPTER 109: BRINGING HIM HOME

Selene’s POV ~

The dishes spread across the table made my eyes widen again. Bowls of steaming soup, warm bread, roasted vegetables, and even some simple meat dishes. My stomach gave a loud growl at the smell, betraying me completely.

I had not eaten properly yesterday. The running, the exhaustion, the pain—none of it had allowed me to think of food. But now, faced with the sight, my body remembered its hunger all at once.

Kieran noticed. His lips curved, and he gestured toward the table. "Sit. Eat before it gets cold."

I hesitated for a moment, but hunger won over pride. Slowly, I sat down and picked up the spoon. The first taste made me pause.

It was... good.

Warmth spread over my tongue, a gentle flavor, rich and comforting. I blinked down at the bowl in surprise, then stole a quick glance at him. "You... cooked this?"

He gave a small nod, his expression calm, though a faint glimmer of something softer lingered in his eyes.

"It’s good," I admitted quietly.

Something inside me loosened as I took another spoonful, then another. The food disappeared faster than I had expected, and before I knew it, I was eating more than I usually did. It was the first time I had tasted something made by him, and though I hated to admit it, I couldn’t stop.

Across from me, Kieran watched with a smile tugging at his lips. He looked pleased, even a little amused at how quickly I was eating. But beneath that smile, there was something else. A shadow in his eyes.

It was the smile of someone hiding pain.

He knew She didn’t remember anything. He knew her mind had erased the haze of last night. And for that, maybe he was relieved. That she wouldn’t have to live with that shame, and he wouldn’t have to explain. But the weight of it still pressed on him.

But there was an ache in his gaze, quiet and heavy—as though a piece of him wished she remembered, wished she knew. But the thought was gone almost as soon as it came, tucked neatly behind the soft curl of his lips.

We ate in silence after that. For me, it was a peaceful silence, filled only with the sound of clinking dishes and my stomach finally being satisfied. For him, I wasn’t sure what it was.

Just as I finished, my phone buzzed loudly against the table. The sound broke the moment. I picked it up quickly and saw the name flashing across the screen.

Sara.

I looked at Kieran, then stood from the table. "I’ll be back," I murmured. Before he could answer, I slipped away, pressing the phone to my ear as I hurried down the hall.

Behind me, I felt his gaze linger for a second longer, heavy and unreadable. Then it was gone, leaving only the warmth of the food on my tongue and the strange ache in my chest.

I picked up the call quickly. Sara’s cheerful voice came from the other side, and after a short talk, I placed the phone down and walked back to the dining table.

"Kieran," I said carefully, "Sara called me. Her parents are hosting a small party at their house tonight. Just family and a few friends. She asked me to come... Do you want to come with me?"

He looked at me silently. His eyes did not move away from mine, but he didn’t say a word. The pause stretched, and my palms grew clammy.

"If you’re busy, then don’t come," I added quickly, my voice suddenly nervous. "I can just go alone." I wasn’t even sure why I had asked him in the first place—maybe it was because of that lonely look that had crossed his face when my phone rang.

"I would come," he said suddenly. His voice was calm and steady. "I am free."

I blinked at him, taken aback. It was the first time he had agreed to go to the coven. Until now, he had only ever visited our house in the human race’s town. Never once had he stepped into the coven itself.

"Alright," I said softly, still a little surprised.

We left the house together. As I walked to the driveway, I noticed something strange. My car was the only one parked there—the same car I had brought the last time. There was no sign of his.

I stopped and turned to him. "How did you come here without a vehicle?"

He only smiled, faintly, like it was nothing. "Someone dropped me off before leaving. My assistant, actually."

I nodded slowly, deciding not to press further. The answer felt off, but I didn’t want to ask more.

We both sat in my car, and I started the engine. The road stretched ahead, quiet and clear. As we drove, I felt uneasy in the same clothes from yesterday. The fabric clung uncomfortably, reminding me of everything I wanted to forget.

So on the way, I pulled into a mall. "I need to change; you can wait here." I told him. He only gave a small nod.

Inside, I quickly picked out a simple but fresh outfit, something light that would make me feel presentable in front of Sara’s parents. I changed in the fitting room, folded the old clothes, and returned to the car.

When I slid back into the driver’s seat, he was waiting, calm as always. Without another word, we continued the drive.

The closer we got to the coven, the tighter my chest felt.

When we entered the coven’s area, I glanced outside the window. It was not like the stories people always whispered. Everyone imagined witches lived in deep forests, hiding in caves or dark cottages. But that was not true.

The coven was land—just like how humans divided their towns, or how werewolves marked their territories. Ours belonged to witches. It was protected everywhere by spells and magic, so hardly anyone dared to come near. Those who stepped in without knowing the right path often lost themselves... or their lives.

For me, there was no fear. The protection recognized me. That was why I could pass through safely and why I could bring Kieran with me without worry.

I parked the car without trouble, the barriers opening for me as though I were simply returning home.

When we stepped out, Kieran looked around quietly. His gaze moved over the place, calm but curious.

The coven wasn’t wild or hidden as outsiders believed. It looked almost the same as human towns—organized, structured, buildings lined up properly, and streets paved and neat.

Children were playing near the houses, elders sat outside talking, and shops stood open with herbs, books, and potions displayed like any normal market.

It wasn’t a secret village buried in the woods.

I walked beside Kieran, and for the first time, I wondered what he thought of it.