Chapter 139 Late Night Guard Duty
POV: Luna
The nurse released me the next morning with strict orders to take it easy.
I immediately ignored her and went to find Selene.
She was in her suite, surrounded by guards. The Headmaster had doubled her security after the attack.
"Luna!" She hugged me carefully. "Are you okay?"
"Fine. A little sore, but fine."
"You saved my life."
"That's the job."
"It's more than that. You could have died protecting me."
"But I didn't. We both survived. That's what matters."
The Headmaster arrived with Professor Cael.
"Miss Eclipse," he said. "We need to discuss security measures."
"Okay."
"The rogue attack was coordinated. Professional. Someone inside the Academy gave them information about the princess's schedule and location."
My blood ran cold. "A traitor?"
"Possibly. We're investigating." He looked at me seriously. "Until we identify the leak, the princess cannot be left alone. Ever."
"I understand."
"Your pack has volunteered to rotate guard shifts. Twenty-four-hour protection."
"When do we start?"
"Tonight. You and Mr. Castellan will take the first shift."
Liam. Of course.
"Sounds good."
That evening, I met Liam outside Selene's suite.
He was leaning against the wall, looking relaxed despite the serious situation.
"Ready for guard duty?" he asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
We settled in outside her door. The hallway was quiet. Empty.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Then Liam said, "So... this is new. Playing bodyguard."
"Everything about this year is new."
"Fair point." He shifted, getting comfortable. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Cole. What's his deal?"
I tensed. "What do you mean?"
"He watches you. Like, all the time. Even when he's supposed to be teaching other students, his eyes always track back to you."
"He's my boyfriend. That's normal."
"Is it? Because it feels less like affection and more like surveillance."
"You don't know him."
"You're right. I don't. But I know people. And something about him doesn't sit right."
I wanted to defend Cole. To argue that Liam was wrong.
But I couldn't.
Because he was right.
"It's complicated," I said finally.
"Complicated how?"
"He's hiding something. I found evidence that he's connected to Victoria's clan. That he might be working against us."
Liam sat up straighter. "Against you or against the princess?"
"I don't know. Maybe both."
"And you're still with him?"
"We're bonded. Pack bonded. I can't just walk away."
"Actually, you can. Bonds can be broken if both parties agree."
"I don't want to break the bond. I want answers."
"What if the answers are worse than you think?"
Before I could respond, Selene's door opened.
She stood there in silk pajamas, looking exhausted.
"I can't sleep," she said. "Mind if I join you?"
"Of course not," I said.
She sat between us, pulling a blanket around her shoulders.
"This is weird, right? Having guards outside my door every night?"
"Probably," Liam said. "But necessary."
"I hate it. Everyone watching me. Protecting me. Like I'm fragile."
"You're not fragile," I said. "You're valuable. There's a difference."
"Is there? Because it feels the same." She looked at both of us. "Everyone wants something from me. My kingdom. My bloodline. My political connections. No one sees me."
"We see you," Liam said.
"Do you? Or do you see the princess?"
"I see someone who's scared but trying not to show it. Someone who's lonely despite being surrounded by people. Someone who just wants to be normal." He smiled. "That's not the princess. That's Selene."
She blinked back tears. "Thank you."
"Anytime."
We sat in comfortable silence for a while.
Then Liam said, "Can I ask you something, Your Highness?"
"Selene. Just Selene."
"Okay. Selene. Why does someone want you dead so badly?"
"Political power. If I die, my younger brother becomes heir. And he's weak. Easy to manipulate."
"So someone wants to control your kingdom through him."
"Exactly."
"Do you know who?"
"I have suspicions. But no proof."
"What about Victoria's clan?" I asked. "Liam found evidence that her family was connected to some of the assassination attempts."
Selene's expression darkened. "The Thornhearts. Yes, they're on my list."
"Why would they want you dead?" Liam asked.
"Because my cousin rejected Victoria's brother. Humiliated their family publicly. They want revenge."
"That seems extreme."
"You don't understand royal pack politics. Humiliation is worse than death. It damages legacy. Reputation. Everything powerful families care about."
"So they're trying to kill you to restore their honor?"
"Essentially."
"That's messed up."
"That's politics."
We talked for another hour. About kingdoms. About pressure. About what it meant to carry expectations you never asked for.
I found myself relaxing. Opening up in ways I hadn't with anyone except my closest friends.
Liam was easy to talk to. Genuinely interested. Non-judgmental.
And Selene seemed lighter too. Less guarded.
"This is nice," she said eventually. "Talking like normal people."
"We are normal people," I said.
"Are we? Because right now, I feel like a princess, you're the Eclipse wolf, and Liam's the mysterious new student with suspiciously good combat skills."
Liam laughed. "Fair point. We're all kind of weird."
"At least we're weird together."
Around midnight, Selene finally admitted she was tired.
"Try to sleep," I told her. "We'll be right out here."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
She went back inside, closing the door softly.
Liam and I settled back into silence.
Then he said, "You're good at this. The protecting thing."
"Thanks."
"I mean it. You care. Really care. That's rare."
"Someone has to."
"Why you, though? You could have refused this assignment."
"The Guardian Bond chose me. I don't think I could have refused even if I wanted to."
"Do you regret it?"
I thought about it. The danger. The politics. The constant pressure.
"No," I said finally. "Selene deserves protection. Deserves friends. I'm glad I can give her both."
"You're a better person than most."
"I don't know about that."
We fell silent again.
I was starting to drift off when Liam suddenly tensed.
"Did you hear that?" he whispered.
I focused my wolf senses. At first, nothing.
Then I heard it. Footsteps. Quiet. Careful.
Someone was approaching.
We both stood, ready to fight.
The footsteps stopped at the end of the hallway.
Then we heard scratching. Like claws on wood.
I moved toward the sound, Liam right behind me.
When we rounded the corner, no one was there.
But on Selene's door, burned into the wood, was a symbol.
A wolf surrounded by thorns.
The Thornheart clan symbol.
"They were here," Liam breathed. "While we were sitting right outside."
"How? The wards should have alerted us."
"Unless someone disabled them."
We both looked at the symbol, understanding settling like ice in our stomachs.
Someone inside Silverwood was helping the Thornhearts.
Someone with access to the wards.
Someone we trusted.
And they were getting bolder.