Chapter 2

From Alexandre's POV

"Beep beep beep, my phone alarm sounds off, signaling 4 a.m., time for a run.

Three years have passed since I last slept past 4 a.m. It was not easy to get used to the alarm, but now it is music to my ears.

I was about to throw the cover off me when I felt something on my waist. I looked over to the right side of the bed and saw Jessica fast asleep, her arm lying on my abdomen. Her blonde hair covered her face as she slept next to me—a sad excuse for a woman so desperate and annoying. Wearing only a red-colored baby doll, she would do anything to get my attention in hopes of being Queen. If only she had just realized her sight disgusted me. She wasn't fit to be Queen. The thought of my mother's crown upon Jessica's head made my stomach twist.

I tossed her arm off me and quickly jumped out of bed, heading straight for the bathroom, not even glancing back so as not to look at her if she woke. I quickly shut the bathroom door, changed into sweatpants, and headed for my morning run.

The house was quiet; no one was awake at this hour. The staff didn't start work until 6 a.m., so I knew no one was around, but my Lycan was driving me crazy. I walked out the back door after going down the staircase and heading to the kitchen. I was completely woken up by the early morning air as it hit my face. I crossed the yard and headed toward the forest surrounding the pack's territory. There was no better place to run and escape the chaos of the pack than here. 

I removed my sweatpants and t-shirt to avoid ripping them when I shifted. Being naked is not a problem for us as we tend to be exposed more often than I'd like to think. Usually, I wouldn't care if I walked around naked after shifting. We tend to do so, especially after training. However, the last thing I wanted was to step back into my room and have Jessica adorn me.

I shook the thought away and let my Lycan D'Artagnan take over. My bones cracked as they stretched to take the shape of a feared beast. Black fur began to cover my entire body, and a howl erupted from my snout. I had never heard D'Artagnan howl like that before. 

"What's wrong, old man?" I asked him, but he didn't respond.

He had ignored me for the past few weeks, which is unacceptable, especially if the pack is under attack. It had been up to me to pick up the slack since he hadn't been at his best. As I finished shifting, I surrendered to his control and retreated to the back of my mind. 

Unlike wolves, Lycans stand on two feet. Lycans are faster than wolves and more robust than our cousin species. Watching the trees blur by, I feel the cold wind hit my whole body as we speed up. 

D'Artagnan runs for hours until he stops at a small pond. He looks around to make sure it is safe. As he relaxes, I hear something rustle in the trees, but I can't make out anything. A white, cloudy place suddenly appears around me as the forest fades away.

"Hello, Alexandre," says a soft voice, almost whispering.

I turned but couldn't see where it was coming from when suddenly, a woman emerged from the bright cloud-like space. She was surrounded by white light. Her white flowing dress touched the floor, and her long platinum-colored hair flowed behind her in slow motion. She was beautiful, more beautiful than anyone I had seen in years. She stared at me with icy blue eyes, but no evil was present in them. Her pink lips smiled as she extended her hands to me. Friend or foe, I was unsure of, but I sensed D'Artagnan trusted her, so I didn't question him as he walked towards her.

"You have been restless for too long, child, but don't worry," she said. "All will be revealed soon."

"Selene"? I asked.

She nodded and smiled. "You seem surprised that I would show myself. Your Lycan called me, which is why I am here," she says.

I was surprised to hear her say D'Artagnan called out to her.

"Allow me to bring you peace. You may ask me two questions,"

she says.

I thought about what I wanted to ask.

"For the past three years, I've felt uneasy and restless, and I can't figure out why. There seems to be something I'm searching for, but I have no idea what it is." I told her.

She nods and looks up at the sky before turning to me.

"You are uneasy because there is trouble ahead, not just for you but for all. I cannot reveal everything without changing the future," she replies.

"That doesn't tell me much," I muttered. 

"It might not say much now, but it will all make sense in time," she replies.

Her response would have been more comforting if she had been more specific. I remained silent momentarily as I thought about what I wanted to ask her.

"Selene, My Lycan and I seem disconnected, and I can't think of why he would be this way with me. Did I do something unworthy of him?" I asked.

The light around her got brighter.

"You did nothing wrong, and he is not upset with you. Your Lycan senses something that will reveal itself soon," she says before disappearing into the light. "Time to wake up, Alexandre." I hear her faint voice.

"Time to wake up, Alexandre." I hear some say as I open my eyes to find Thiago standing before me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him, trying to understand where he came from. I looked around and found I was fully dressed. Thiago looked at me and cocked his brows in confusion.

"I called to tell you that the Alpha of the Shadowborne Pack had died, but you didn't answer. I figured you had gone for a run," he says as he stretches his hand to me.

"Alpha Zeno died? When did he die?" I asked as I stood up from the ground.

"He died three years ago, but no one knew until now. His mate Luna Eleni took over and kept a low profile until," his words trailed.

"Until what?" I asked, sounding annoyed. 

"One of his omegas was attacked and nearly killed. She ended up in the hospital. Blood had to be collected from the surrounding packs." He replied.

"So she needs our help?" I asked.

"Well, yes, but something just doesn't seem right," Thiago replied.

I looked at Thiago questionably. He shook his head and sighed. "I can't put my finger on it, but it feels like she's not being honest with us," he said.

I nodded in understanding as we began to head back to the packhouse.