CHAPTER SIXTEENI knew I had to be careful, i had to keep my identity hidden from prying eyes. I grabbed my black hooded sweatshirt and my black nose mask, the tools of my secret trade. I couldn't let my father suspect a thing, or he'd be furious. But I had a responsibility to my people, to keep them safe, even if my wolf was still dormant. I pulled on the sweatshirt and mask, feeling a sense of anonymity wash over me. I was no longer the Alpha's son, but a shadow, a protector. I ran down the stairs, my footsteps as silent as possible, as my eyes scanned the darkness for any sign of danger. I had a mission to complete, and I couldn't let anyone stand in my way.________I stepped out into the night, as the cool breeze caressed my skin and sent shivers down my spine. I ran towards the outskirts of my mansion, as the trees stood high above me like sentinels. The wind rustled through the leaves, and my heart kept beating hard in my chest. I had to see it for myself, the strange e
CHAPTER SEVENTEENAs I called out, a group of rogues emerged from their hiding places, as their eyes gleamed with feral intensity. They looked fierce, and ready to pounce, as though they were waiting for an instruction to strike. But it was what came next that made my heart skip a beat. A figure on horseback rode out of their midst, dressed in a black cloak that billowed behind him like a dark cloud. His face was obscured by a hood, and his presence seemed to command the attention of everyone around him. The rogues bowed immediately as they parted to let him through, and he rode up to us with a deliberate slowness, his eyes fixed on my father. I could feel the tension in the air thickening, as Beta Jay and Viktor were poised to strike.My father stood tall, as his eyes were fixed on the mysterious figure, making his expression unreadable. I stood frozen, as the figure in black brought his horse to a stop before us.The stranger's voice was low and gravelly, as he called out, ''D
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN I sustained a deep gash on my leg, and as I fell to the ground, I felt a searing pain that made my vision blur. Beta Jay came to my rescue, fighting off the rogues with ferocity. But even as he fought, I could sense his weakness, and his vulnerability. He was no match for the rogues' strength, and I knew that we were in grave danger. My father joined the fight, and together, they managed to kill all the rogues, but one escaped, fleeing into the woods. And then, I saw the direction he was heading - straight for my mansion on the outskirts of our town and pack. I had immediately forgotten my pains, as I suddenly sprang to my feet. I sprinted after the rogue, as my heart raced with a mix of anger and fear. I couldn't let him get away, not when I knew Selene was alone in the mansion. I had to protect her, no matter what. I pushed myself to run faster, with my legs pumping hard as I chased after the rogue. I could hear his footsteps ahead of me, but I didn't dare l
CHAPTER NINETEEN ''You knew how much it hurt me to be wolfless, and yet you kept this secret from me? I'm the future Alpha, for crying out loud!'' My father looked at me with a defeated expression, he could sense my anger. I demanded, ''And who is this Ryker man?'' My father sighed loudly, raking his hand through his hair in frustration. I repeated my question, sounding as firm as possible. ''Who is Ryker?''My father stood up and walked to the window, turning his back to me. ''Have the night off, Orion. Meet me at the pack headquarters tomorrow.'' He dismissed the topic, as he stepped away from the table towards the door. As he turned to leave, he paused with his hand on the door knob. ''Selene, Orion... that girl is a key. She must be protected.''My eyes widened in surprise, but before I could ask him how he knew my maid's name or what he meant by 'key', the door slammed shut behind him. I was left sitting in the chair, with more questions than answers. I sat there for a l
CHAPTER TWENTYI gritted my teeth, determined not to show weakness in front of Ryker. 'I don't know what you're talking about, and I don't care,' I spat, trying to sound braver than I felt. Ryker's laughter grew louder, more maniacal, and I felt my heart race with fear. 'Oh? You really don't care?' he sneered. 'You die...' he whispered, his laughter cutting off abruptly. I felt a jolt of terror, and I screamed 'No!' but it was too late. I was already jolting awake, as my heart beat raced, and my bedsheets were already drenched in sweat. I lay there, panting, as the morning sun struggled to peek through the curtains. I let out a sigh of relief, realizing it was just a dream. But the memory of Ryker's maniacal laughter lingered, haunting me. Making me worry more for my safety and that of my people as Selene was important too. Oh, speaking of Selene! I hadn't seen her since I left her yesterday night, locked up in the room. I sighed softly as I pulled myself on the bed to sit a
CHAPTER TWENTY ONESELENEI was taken aback by Mr Orion's question. 'Did the man in your dream look like... Ryker?' he asked, his eyes searching mine. I was lost, unsure of what to say. Who was Ryker? And how did he know about my dream? I shook my head, trying to clear the confusion. 'I don't know who Ryker is,' I admitted. Mr Orion's expression turned serious, as his eyes narrowed. 'He's a dangerous man, Selene. Remember I told you I had a dream? He was there, And if he's in your dreams, it means he's connected to you somehow.' I felt a shiver run through me, as Mr Orion's words sent a chill through me. Connected to me? What did that mean? And why did it feel like my dream was trying to tell me something? I looked at Mr Orion, searching for answers. 'What does it mean?' I asked, as fear gripped me. Mr Orion's face was grim. 'I don't know yet, but I promise to find out.' I sighed, looking at Mr Orion with a mix of frustration and desperation. He turned to me, his eyes fill
CHAPTER TWENTY TWOI was excited to get to know her better, too. As I had to change into my own clothes.I rummaged through my clothes, searching for something that felt like me. My fingers stumbled upon a white gown, a gift from my aunt on my seventeenth birthday. I smiled, remembering the happy memories, and decided to wear it. I slipped on the dress, feeling the soft fabric hug my body. I headed to the vanity, applying a subtle touch of lip gloss - I never was a fan of heavy makeup. I tied my hair into a high bun, and with a satisfied glance in the mirror, I stepped out of the room into the grand mansion. As I descended the stairs to the first floor, I ran into Beta Jay, who bowed briefly in my direction. I was taken aback by the sudden gesture, feeling a mix of surprise and gratitude. 'Hello, Beta Jay,' I said, trying to sound calm. He smiled and nodded, 'Lady Selene, it's a pleasure to see you looking so well.' I smiled back, to cover the awkward title that was included in
CHAPTER TWENTY THREEJust as Elara and I finished talking, my phone rang, and I smiled, recognizing the FaceTime call from my friends. I answered, and Chris's face appeared on screen, with Ariel joining in a moment later. At first, all I saw was Ariel's room, and I could hear scattering sounds as she rushed to sit in front of the camera. When she finally appeared on screen, she looked less than pleased with me, and I pouted at her in response. Chris chuckled and reminded us that he was still on the call, and we shouldn't make it a 'ladies' catch-up time'. I rolled my eyes good-naturedly and settled in for a nice chat with my friends.Chris started the conversation by asking me why we hadn't heard from me in a month, and I sighed as I had a lot to say i thought, looking at both of them. 'I'm sorry,' I said. But Ariel cut me short. 'That's all you ever say, Selene. Sorry. You stood us up on the day we planned to meet, and now you're apologizing again?' My countenance fell, and Ch