Chapter 45 Montclair's Alpha
“Selene,” Cariel called as she knocked on the door of her room.
Selene immediately straightened, pulling herself into a sitting position despite the dull ache in her ribs. Her eyes went to the door.
“Come in,” she replied.
Cariel slipped inside with a wide smile on her face, almost glowing with excitement. The moment Selene saw that smile, a familiar unease settled in her chest. After almost a month of being bedridden, she already knew that look far too well.
That smile always meant trouble.
Not bad trouble—Cariel was never cruel—but playful trouble. The kind that usually ended with someone sighing in defeat while Cariel laughed it off and somehow made everyone feel better after.
Still, Selene felt her nerves tighten.
“What are you up to now?” Selene asked, eyeing her carefully.
Cariel stopped beside her bed, hands clasped behind her back, rocking slightly on her heels.
“The Alpha wants to see you.”
The words landed heavily.
Selene froze.
“…The Alpha?” she repeated.
Cariel nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! Right now.”
Selene’s heart skipped, then started pounding hard against her ribs. Her fingers dug into the blanket without her realizing it.
The Alpha.
Her mind immediately spiraled.
Why now?
What does he want?
Did he finally find out?
Her thoughts raced faster than she could stop them. The Montclair Alpha wasn’t foolish. He was powerful, careful, and known to be strict when it came to enemies. There was no way he hadn’t started looking into her background already.
Maybe he had questioned the warriors who found me?
Maybe he had checked missing person reports.
Maybe he already knew that I wasn’t just some random injured woman by the river.
What if he knew I was from the West Pack?
What if he knew who I really was?
Her chest tightened as darker thoughts crept in.
What if this meeting wasn’t a conversation… but a sentence?
What if he planned to lock me away? Use me as leverage? Or worse—kill me quietly before I could return?
She swallowed hard.
“I knew this would happen,” Selene thought. “I knew this care wouldn’t last forever.”
The warmth. The kindness. The safety.
All of it suddenly felt fragile, like glass about to shatter.
Cariel watched her closely. “Hey,” she said gently. “You okay?”
Selene forced a small smile. “Yes. Just… surprised.”
Cariel beamed. “Don’t worry! The Alpha isn’t scary. Well—he is, but in a handsome way.” She giggled. “You’ll see.”
Selene didn’t laugh.
Instead, she nodded slowly. “Can I… prepare first?”
“Of course!” Cariel said quickly. “Take your time. I’ll wait.”
Selene slid off the bed carefully and headed toward the bathroom. Every step reminded her that she wasn’t fully healed yet, but she pushed through it.
Inside, warm water filled the tub, steam rising softly. Selene sank into it with a quiet sigh, letting the heat ease her aching body. She closed her eyes, breathing slowly.
“Calm down,” she told herself. “Panicking won’t help.”
She washed carefully, avoiding her injuries, letting the water ground her. As she dressed afterward, she chose simple clothes—nothing too plain, nothing too bold. Clean. Neat. Respectful.
When she looked at herself in the mirror, she barely recognized the woman staring back. She became thin and somehow, she lost her spark.
The Selene she used to know would’ve walked into an Alpha’s office without lowering her eyes. This Selene… wasn’t sure who she was anymore.
“Get it together,” she whispered.
When she stepped out, Cariel clapped her hands happily. “You look great!”
“Thank you,” Selene replied softly.
As they stepped out of Selene’s room, the air in the hallway felt different. The soft sounds of footsteps echoed gently against the polished floor as they walked side by side. The hallway stretched long and wide, lined with tall pillars carved from pale stone. Each pillar was engraved with symbols Selene didn’t recognize, but she could feel the weight behind them, like stories pressed into the walls.
Sunlight poured in through high arched windows, casting long shadows across the floor. The light reflected softly, giving the place a calm and almost sacred feeling. Between the windows hung banners of deep blue and silver, embroidered with the Montclair Pack’s crest. They moved slightly with the passing breeze, like they were breathing.
Selene’s steps slowed without her noticing.
This pack… it didn’t feel cruel.
The walls were clean, cared for. Portraits hung neatly—past Alphas, warriors, Luna figures. None of them looked arrogant. They looked strong. Grounded. Protective. It made her chest tighten.
“This is my enemy pack,” she reminded herself silently. “Don’t forget that.”
Yet everything around her felt safe.
Servants and warriors passed by, bowing politely to Cariel and offering Selene curious but gentle looks. No hatred. No suspicion. Just quiet respect. That alone made Selene’s thoughts spiral faster.
Why was she treated like this?
Why hadn’t anyone questioned her more?
Why hadn’t they locked her away?
Her heart pounded harder with every step. The hallway seemed endless now, stretching forward like a path she couldn’t turn away from. The closer they got, the heavier her chest felt. Each breath was shallow, controlled.
“What if this is where it ends?” she thought.
She imagined the Alpha already knowing everything. Her name. Her pack. Her bloodline. Maybe this walk was just a formality before judgment was passed.
She clasped her hands together, forcing herself to keep walking.
Beside her, Cariel kept talking cheerfully, unaware of the storm inside Selene’s head.
“I’m so excited for you to meet him,” she said. “I mean, technically you already have, but not like this. He’s usually busy, so this is kind of a big deal.”
Selene’s stomach twisted.
“That doesn’t make me feel better,” she thought.
“He’s really smart,” Cariel continued. “And calm. And when he smiles—oh! You’ll see!”
Selene nodded, barely listening. Her focus was on keeping her breathing steady.
They stopped in front of a large wooden door.
“This is it,” Cariel whispered dramatically, then knocked.
“Come in,” a deep voice answered from inside.
Selene’s heart thudded.
Cariel opened the door and gently guided Selene inside before stepping back out, giving her an encouraging thumbs-up.
The door closed behind her and Selene stood still.
The office was spacious but simple. Shelves lined with books. A large desk near the window. The scent of wood and clean air filled the room and behind the desk sat the Alpha.
Selene bowed her head slightly. “Good afternoon, Alpha.”
Her eyes stayed on the floor.
“Good afternoon,” he calmly replied.
“Please,” he said, “have a sit.”
She did, carefully lowering herself into the chair across from him. Her hands rested on her lap, fingers intertwined tightly.
“You seem nervous.”
Selene swallowed. “I apologize.”
He hummed softly. “You don’t need to.”
She felt his gaze on her, heavy but not threatening.
“Look at me,” he said gently. Her breath caught.
“I want to speak to the woman I helped,” he continued. “Face up.”
Selene hesitated. She wasn’t used to feeling this unsure. She wasn’t used to lowering her head but slowly, she lifted her face and the moment she did, her heart skipped.
Not from fear but from recognition. The Alpha was leaning back slightly now, studying her. Her eyes slowly widened as her breath left her lungs in a quiet gasp.
Standing in front of her, grinning widely, “Ryzen?!”