Chapter 15 A Secret?
The forest seemed impossibly quiet as the Alpha finally arrived. His steps were swift, purposeful, each movement radiating the same overwhelming presence that had always marked him as a leader. But when he laid eyes on Selene, the tension in his muscles shifted instantly into raw worry.
“Selene!” he growled, his voice cutting through the night air like a blade. Without hesitation, he crossed the distance between them in a few powerful strides, his eyes scanning her from head to toe. His hands were on her before she could respond, gripping her arms gently yet firmly, checking for any sign of injury.
“I’m fine,” she said softly, but he didn’t let her finish. His hands brushed her shoulders, tracing the blood staining her clothes and silver fur as she shifted back to human form. His eyes darkened, filled with concern and anger. “I said I’m fine!” she insisted, though her voice wavered under the weight of his scrutiny.
He didn’t respond with words. Instead, he scooped her up in his arms, carrying her as if she weighed nothing at all, yet his strength and protectiveness made her feel entirely safe.
“You’re going to tell me why you were out here alone, Selene,” he said, his voice low, tense, each word measured. “Right now.”
Before she could answer, his eyes snapped to the Delta, who had followed closely behind. His gaze was filled with fury, sharp enough to cut steel. “And you,” he said, his tone like rolling thunder, “why would you think it’s a good idea to investigate her? My Luna, my girlfriend, and soon to be your Luna. Why the hell would she be investigated before I even knew what happened?”
The Delta bowed his head slightly, his pride wounded by the Alpha’s anger. “Sir, we—”
“No!” the Alpha barked, cutting him off. “Do you understand what you’ve done? She could have been hurt. She could have been killed!”
Selene pressed a hand lightly against his chest, trying to calm him, but he didn’t seem to notice. His jaw tightened as he turned, carrying her through the forest with a speed and determination that left no doubt about his intentions. “To the main hall,” he commanded the Delta, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Then to the infirmary. Now.”
The trip to the main hall was silent except for the crunch of leaves beneath their paws and the steady rhythm of his stride. Selene could feel the steady beat of his heart through his chest, strong and sure beneath her hand. Her own heart, which had been hammering in fear and adrenaline, began to slow, soothed by the unwavering protection surrounding her.
Once they reached the infirmary, the Alpha gently set her down on a soft bed. The healers rushed over immediately, checking for scratches, bruises, or any deeper injuries. Selene allowed it all, leaning back against the pillows, feeling simultaneously overwhelmed and comforted by the care.
The Alpha sat beside her, his hand brushing back a stray strand of hair from her face. “Talk to me,” he said, his voice softer now, though it still carried an edge of intensity. “What happened out there?”
Selene recounted the encounter as best as she could, her voice calm but her eyes distant at times, thinking of the black wolf whose power and presence still lingered in her mind. She left out what she couldn’t understand, the mysterious Alpha who had appeared without a name.
The Alpha listened in silence, jaw tight, eyes narrowing every time she mentioned the rogues. “You scared me,” he said finally, his hand tightening on hers. “Do you understand that? You have no idea what I would have done if something happened to you.”
“I’m okay,” Selene whispered, resting her hand over his. “And I handled it. Really.”
He leaned closer, brushing his forehead lightly against hers. “You’re reckless,” he murmured, a hint of frustration mixed with relief. “And stubborn. Just like I knew you’d be.”
Selene chuckled softly, warmth blooming in her chest despite the tension. “And you’re just like I expected, overprotective, impossible to reason with, and ridiculously handsome.”
His lips curved into the faintest smile before he captured hers in a tender kiss. The kiss deepened, slow at first, then urgent, filled with the relief of finding her safe. Her hands curled around his shoulders as he held her close, pressing his forehead against hers after the kiss ended. They stayed like that, wrapped together, letting the world fade outside the infirmary walls.
For a moment, Selene let herself forget the black wolf, the rogues, and the danger. The Alpha’s presence, strong and constant, grounded her, gave her comfort, and allowed her to feel safe. She melted into his embrace, letting herself rest.
But even as she cuddled against him, her thoughts drifted. The black wolf lingered at the edges of her mind, a shadow she couldn’t shake, the raw power of his presence and the memory of his strength weaving itself into her consciousness. The Alpha beside her was real, strong, and protective—but the other wolf had been… different. A spark she couldn’t ignore, even if she didn’t understand it.
Days passed. Selene rested in her room, the infirmary having confirmed she was physically unharmed, though emotionally and mentally she carried the weight of everything that had happened. She spent long hours staring out her window, moonlight spilling across the floor, her silver hair catching the light. Her mind wandered from one thought to another—Christopher, always watchful; Kai, cunning and unpredictable; Rosetta, selfish and cruel; her aunt, who worked tirelessly to support her; and finally, the mysterious black wolf with his aura of authority, whose image haunted her even in moments of calm.
Her hands absently traced the edge of her bedspread as she considered everything. She thought about Christopher’s touch, his words, his kisses, and the comfort she had felt. Everything about it was absolutely disgusting. Yet the memory of the black wolf, the power and intensity he radiated kept tugging at her thoughts.
She closed her eyes, letting the moonlight wash over her, letting herself drift through memory and imagination. It was a rare moment of quiet, almost peace, but it was fragile, filled with tension beneath the calm surface.
The knock at her door broke her from her thoughts.
“Selene?” Her aunt’s voice was gentle, cautious.
Selene blinked, gathering herself. “Come in,” she said softly.
Her aunt stepped inside, eyes sweeping over her with quiet concern. “How are you feeling, my dear? Truly.”
“I’m… okay,” Selene said, still sitting on the edge of her bed. “It’s just… a lot to think about.”
Her aunt nodded, moving closer to sit beside her. “I can imagine. You’ve been through a great deal in the last few days. But you are strong. I always knew you were.”
They sat together in silence for a few moments, the warmth of her aunt beside her a balm to her restless thoughts.
Her aunt smiled faintly, a faraway look in her eyes. “You know… when your mother and father had you, they were… so happy. So full of love for their only daughter.”
Selene tilted her head, confused. “I… don’t understand. What do you mean by that?”
Her aunt’s smile faltered, and for the first time, Selene noticed something unspoken in her expression—something heavy, almost painful. “I… I shouldn’t have said that,” her aunt murmured, eyes widening in shock as if she had revealed too much. “I… I need to—excuse me.”
Before Selene could ask another question, her aunt rose and hurried from the room, leaving Selene staring after her. Confusion knotted in her stomach, twisting her thoughts. What had her aunt meant? Why had she reacted like that?
Selene leaned back against her pillows, staring at the moonlight spilling across her floor. Her mind spun with questions and emotions.
Her fingers absently traced the edge of her blanket as a question bubbled up, unbidden and insistent. “What does she mean by ‘only daughter’? Why is my life full of secrets?”
Selene’s eyes narrowed. She tried to recall what her aunt had said, the brief smile, the sudden shock, the hurried retreat. Why had she left so abruptly? Was it something about her parents? Or something about Selene herself that she wasn’t ready to reveal?
Her thoughts turned inward, circling the unanswered questions. Her parents that she barely remembered, only fragments of warmth, whispers, and fleeting touches from a childhood that seemed both near and impossibly distant. And now, even her aunt, someone she had always trusted, seemed to guard secrets behind a polite facade.
Selene sat up, hugging her knees to her chest, the weight of confusion pressing on her. Her mind raced with possibilities, each one more puzzling than the last. “If I’m the only daughter… what does that mean for me? Why would she react that way? And Who is Kai?”
Her chest tightened, the uncertainty gnawing at her. She leaned back again, staring at the ceiling, the moonlight bathing her room in pale silver. Everything felt connected yet obscured, a tangle of memories, dangers, and mysteries that refused to let her rest.
Selene exhaled slowly, closing her eyes. The questions weighed heavily on her, but there was also a spark of determination that had been growing inside her.. Secrets or no secrets, she would uncover the truth—about her parents, about the mysterious wolves, about the world she was only beginning to understand and after that, she would have her revenge.
Her whisper was soft, almost a vow to herself. “I’ll find out… everything.”