Chapter 51 Invitation
Another week had passed, and Selene could finally feel the difference.
Her body still hurt sometimes, especially when she moved too fast, but she was no longer trapped in bed the whole day. She could sit for longer. She could walk around her room without feeling like the floor would swallow her. She could breathe deeper without that sharp pain cutting through her ribs every time.
It wasn’t perfect but it was progress.
That afternoon, Selene sat at the small table near the window in her room. The sunlight warmed the side of her face, soft and gentle, like it was trying to comfort her without asking questions. Outside, the pack estate was unusually busy. She could hear distant footsteps in the hall and voices passing by, like the whole place was preparing for something big.
Tonight was the pack’s dinner—an event that happened only when the Montclair Pack gathered their higher-ups, important guests, and warriors. Ryzen would attend, of course. The elders, the council, the leaders of different groups—everyone who mattered would be there.
Even the town outside would celebrate.
Cariel had told Selene earlier that there would be stalls on every corner, free food, drinks, and music. People would laugh, dance, and talk until midnight. It sounded like a festival more than a simple dinner.
Selene wasn’t sure how to feel about it.
She was still the “enemy wolf” inside enemy land, no matter how kind everyone had been so far.
To distract herself, she grabbed a book with a dark blue cover.
“The Moon’s Secret.”
It was one of the books Jenna had brought her when Selene complained she was dying of boredom.
Selene flipped a page slowly, letting her eyes follow the lines. The silence in her room helped her focus. The words pulled her away from her worries, at least for a little while.
She was in the middle of a chapter when the door suddenly swung open.
Selene jumped slightly, her fingers tightening around the book.
Then she heard the familiar voice.
“Hello, my dear.”
Selene lifted her gaze.
Ryzen stood at the doorway with a huge grin, like he owned the place… which, technically, he did.
She stared at him for a second, then slowly closed her book.
“Do I look like an animal?” Selene asked, her voice flat but playful.
Ryzen walked inside like he hadn’t heard the insult at all. He pulled a chair and sat across from her, leaning forward like this was the most casual thing in the world.
“Nah,” he replied easily. “You’re too pretty to be one.”
Selene scoffed and rolled her eyes, but her cheeks warmed a little. She hated how easily he said things like that, like it was normal.
“Pretty?” she repeated, acting unimpressed. “You just walked in and started saying nonsense.”
Ryzen shrugged. “It’s not nonsense if it’s true.”
Selene lifted her chin. “You’re getting bolder.”
“And you’re getting better,” he countered, eyes scanning her face like he was checking her condition without even needing the doctor. “You look more alive.”
Selene tried to ignore how gentle that sounded.
She crossed her arms. “What do you need?”
Ryzen blinked innocently. “Can’t I visit?”
“You can,” she said, “but you usually don’t enter a room with a grin like that unless you want something.”
Ryzen laughed softly, then leaned back, stretching his arms like he was tired. “There’s too much work today. I needed a short break.”
Selene raised an eyebrow. “You’re the Alpha. What did you expect?”
Ryzen sighed, dramatic and loud. “I expected to be free.”
Selene paused.
His tone was playful, but the words felt heavy.
Then he added, quieter this time, “And I hate being one.”
Selene’s brows furrowed. She didn’t expect him to say that so openly.
“You hate being Alpha?” she asked slowly.
Ryzen’s eyes flickered for a moment, like he almost regretted saying it. But then he smiled again, smaller this time.
“It’s not like I hate the pack,” he said. “I just hate what comes with the title.”
Selene softened slightly, but before she could ask more, Ryzen spoke again, as if he was purposely changing the topic before it got too deep.
“Anyway,” he said, tapping his finger lightly on the table, “I’m here because I want to ask you something.”
Selene narrowed her eyes. “Here we go.”
Ryzen’s lips twitched. “Don’t make that face.”
“What face?”
“That one,” he said, pointing at her. “The one that says you’re about to reject me before I even talk.”
Selene scoffed. “Then talk.”
Ryzen inhaled.
And for the first time, Selene noticed something strange.
He looked… nervous.
Not the cold Alpha. Not the confident Ryzen who teased her whenever he got the chance to. Not the man who walked through halls like the world belonged to him.
He looked like someone who was actually thinking too much.
Ryzen rubbed the back of his neck lightly, then cleared his throat.
“Tonight is the pack dinner,” he said.
Selene nodded slowly. “I know.”
Ryzen’s eyes stayed on her. “I want you to come.”
Selene blinked. “Come? Like… attend?”
“Yes.”
Selene’s heart skipped. “Ryzen, I—”
“I’m not done,” he said quickly, then paused like he realized he sounded too stiff. He relaxed a little. “I want you to come with me.”
Selene stared.
“With you?”
Ryzen nodded.
Then he added, a little rushed now, “As my partner.”
Silence slammed into the room.
Selene’s mind went blank.
Partner?
At the dinner?
With the Alpha?
Her face heated up so fast she felt like her skin was on fire. She immediately looked away, staring hard at the window like it had suddenly become interesting.
Ryzen sat still, watching her.
Selene could feel his eyes on her face, and that only made her blush worse. She pressed her lips together, trying to calm down.
“Why would you ask that?” she thought wildly. “Why now? Why like this?”
Her brain tried to find a logical reason.
Maybe it was political. Maybe he wanted to show the pack he trusted her. Maybe he wanted to protect her from whispers. Maybe he wanted to keep her close so no one could harm her.
But even if it was logical. It still felt too intimate and too sudden.
Selene’s chest tightened with embarrassment.
She stayed quiet for too long and Ryzen misunderstood.
His posture shifted. His smile faltered.
Selene heard him speak quickly, a bit awkward now.
“If you don’t want to, it’s okay,” he said, trying to sound casual. “I just thought— I mean, you don’t have to. I can—”
“Ryzen,” Selene cut him off.
He stopped immediately.