Chapter 004

RAFE

The next day arrives with a sense of anticipation that I haven't felt in years. The thought of seeing Selene alone, away from Damon and the pack politics, fills me with both hope and anxiety.

I make my way to the Haven shopping mall without my bodyguards, taking extra precautions to ensure our meeting remains discreet. My driver drops me off a block away, and I walk the rest of the distance, blending into the crowd.

As I reach the agreed meeting spot, I see Selene already waiting outside the mall.

'Mate,' Kael growls in my head.

She's dressed casually, yet there's an air of quiet elegance about her that never fails to captivate me. Her eyes scan the crowd until they lock onto mine. She doesn't say anything or acknowledge me. Instead, she turns and walks into the mall. I take it as a signal to follow her and keep my distance, trying not to draw attention to us.

Selene moves through the mall with purpose, her steps quick and confident. I stay a few paces behind, weaving through the shoppers. She soon enters a small boutique, and I follow her inside, my curiosity piqued.

She approaches a sales associate and discreetly offers her some cash. The sales associate nods without saying a word and leads her through a door marked "Employees Only."

I hesitate for a moment, then follow them, hoping I don't raise any suspicion.

The sales associate guides us to a private room at the back of the store. It's a small space, tastefully decorated with a sofa and a few chairs. Once we're inside, she closes the door, leaving us alone.

Selene sits down on the sofa and extends her hand, inviting me to sit across from her. I sit opposite her, adjusting my suit before she finally breaks the silence.

"Alpha Rafe," she begins, her voice steady but soft, "thank you for coming and being discreet about our meeting."

I nod, my eyes fixed on hers. "Of course, Selene. I believe this is our first private meeting. It was only fair that I agree to see you knowing how our packs have been at each other for years," I note, unable to hide my surprise when the maid handed me that note yesterday.

"Well, our grandparents made it so that we both became thorns in our flesh even passing it on to our parents," she acknowledged. 

"And you as well. I am aware of your hatred for me and my pack. I believe we can both speak freely now that we are alone."

Her eyes soften slightly. "Well things have changed, Alpha Rafe. I don't have time for hatred anymore. There's too much at stake now."

Too much at stake? 

I watch her intently, the way her bottom lips tremble slightly as she speaks, her thighs rubbing at each other and her hands fidgeting at the side secretly. She is reacting to the mate bond differently, I can almost feel her wolf calling out to me.

Something has indeed changed, but I can’t be sure what.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

She takes a deep breath, her expression serious. "My pack is in danger."

I frown, confused. "In danger? How?"

She looks away for a moment hesitant, then back at me, "My hus ... Damon is cheating on me," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. 

The words hit me like a punch. Damon, the man she chose over me, the man who I assume she would find her happiness in, is cheating on her? It seems unbelievable, yet the pain in her eyes tells me it's true.

"Damon?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

She nods, her eyes welling up with tears she fights to hold back. If she dares to cry for that bastard, I will finally lose it. 

"He's plotting with Lyra to take over the pack. They've been having an affair behind my back."

Anger surges through me, hotter and more intense than anything I've felt in a long time. My vision blurs slightly, and I can feel Kael, my wolf, pushing to the surface. My eyes glow red, the wolf inside me ready to take control and unleash his fury. 

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm and suppressing Kael with sheer willpower."Why tell me this? What do you want from me?" I ask, my voice strained but controlled. 

She takes a deep breath, steadying herself. "I need your help. My pack is vulnerable, and I can't trust anyone within my own ranks. I need an ally."

I lean back, considering her words. Aligning with Selene against Damon and Lyra would be risky, but the thought of protecting her, of standing by her side, is more than tempting.

"You trust me enough to ask for my help?" I ask.

She nods. "I don't have much choice. You're the only one outside my pack who might have the power to help me."

I pause, weighing the options. An alliance with Selene could shift the balance of power in our favor. But more than that, it could bring us closer, something I've wanted for a long time.

"You realize I could use this information against you, right? This could be seen as treason, lying about your husband," I say, my tone firm.

Selene looks me in the eye, her voice unwavering. "I'm not lying, Alpha Rafe. This is the truth."

"I never said you were lying," I respond, keeping my tone gentle but serious. "But if anyone found out about this meeting, it could be seen as you trying to undermine Damon without concrete evidence. You could be accused of treason."

Selene sighs, her shoulders sagging slightly. "That's why I need your help, Alpha Rafe. According to our laws, I can't divorce Damon or accuse him without solid proof. If I act without it, I'll be the one punished, not him."

I nod, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Alright. Let's say I agree with these, what is your plan?"

She takes a deep breath, composing herself. "I want you to track Damon and gather the evidence we need. Follow him, find proof of his affair with Lyra, and his plans to take over the pack. I'll help from within, keeping an eye on their activities and feeding you information. This way, if the plan fails, it wouldn't be seen as treason. It would just look like our packs are feuding, as always."

I nod, impressed by her strategic thinking. She has always been a hidden gem despite how fragile she looks, "Impressive. Using our rivalry as a cover is clever," I commend her. "But what do I gain from this? Helping you is risky, and I don’t want to do it just because you need me. I need to know what’s in it for me."

She hesitates for a moment, but I am certain she must have thought this through as well, "What do you want, Alpha Rafe? Power? Territory? I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my pack."

I shake my head, my voice calm. "I don’t want power or territory, Selene. I want two things from you. If you can grant me those, I’ll not only help you now, but I’ll be your ally whenever you need me in the future."

"Anything, Alpha Rafe. Just name it."

I raise an eyebrow. "Are you sure? You haven’t even heard my terms yet."

She nods, her voice unwavering. "I'm certain. This is for my pack, I am willing to offer you anything."

Anything? Later on, I will have to teach her not to use those words, they could be dangerous in the wrong ears.

"Alright," I say, leaning forward slightly. "First, I want you to stop calling me Alpha Rafe. Just call me Rafe."

Selene's eyes widen slightly, then she nods. "I can do that. And the second?"

"Secondly, I want a kiss."

Her cheeks flush a delicate pink, her eyes widen and she looks taken aback by my words.