Rowan's POVSlumping back into my chair, my eyes locked into Raven's. Her expression was calm, but her eyes couldn't help betray a flickering of concern."A she?" she asked, her eyes narrowed and her voice measured. "Maybe you didn't hear him well." I shook my head. "Or maybe he addressed her as such as a mistake," I waved my hands gently in the air, dismissing her words. "No, not at all, Raven," I muttered, sucking in air through my teeth. "I know it can't be. An Alpha making a mistake twice?!! Nahhh." I gulped down the remaining drink and tossed the empty across the room. It landed on the floor with a soft clink and rolled away. I still was very much a clear contrast to what I had picked the bottle up for. Rowan's gaze drifted towards the bottle, her mind obviously filled with everything I had said. Walking to the other side of the room, she grabbed another gin bottle and a glass from the wine shelf. "The name of the Seer is being celebrated by our pack members for helping them
SELENA'S POV "Limited?" I muttered, the fine on my face deepening as I looked around the forest, still searching where the voice was coming from. "What do you mean by that?" Just then, I heard loud chatters come from behind me. A small gasp escaped my lips as I soon realized that I was without my masks. Luckily, I brought it with me, hidden in my gown. The voices were getting closer. Hurriedly, I placed the mask over my face and muttered some spells, sealing the disguise in place and causing my entire features to change. I turned right after to see three warrior wolves walking towards me. They had their claws shot out and we're covered from head to toe with blood. "And the rogues thought they could get me," one of the warriors said with a laugh, causing the others to join him. "The fool came at me and I swiped my claws at him..." he swiped his claws in the air, staining some of the trees around him with drops of blood, "... and it didn't take too long for him to drop dead." The
Selena's POVAs we walked into the pack house, I tried to avoid Zane's gaze. His gentle talk as we walked and genuine interest in my affairs only made me more determined to conceal my fears.Telling him about what the warrior wolf said before leaving would surely cause a dispute between the two and I wasn't sure I was ready to do that all because of a feeling. "Selena. What's eating you up?" he asked, seemingly jolting me out of my inner struggles.My eyes widened, and my jaws clenching in surprise. "Oh, nothing, I just didn't hear your call," I said, my mouth parting only slightly."I can see that you're really deeply worried about something but you decide to hide it from me." He stopped abruptly on his tracks and looked around suspiciously. "Tell me," he whispered, "are you fed up with their faces?" He pointed at the faces of the guards and werewolves around. "At the slightest command any one of your choice would be slain."I forced myself to chuckle slightly at his attempt at a jo
Selena's POVIt all all happened so fast. The stab, the blood."Zane!!" I screamed, running up to him. His hands were wrapped expertly on the cut as he tried to wade off the masked intruder of the room.Grabbing a nearby candelabra, I hurled it at the assassin, striking him off balance. Zane took advantage of his position, landing a decisive blow on him and tearing the mask off his face.The intruder stumbled backwards, his hood falling away. He tried to cover his face with an arm, the shadows playing a role in obscuring his face.Zane landed another fatal blow on him, sending him finally to the ground. The force of his blow however caught him off balance, causing him to fall beside the intruder, the impact of the cut weighing him down."Zane, no!" I exclaimed, running towards him and dropping on my knees beside him. Blood seeped between his fingers, staining his shirt. The cut had really left a deep gash.Without hesitation, I placed my hands gently on the wound, trying to concentra
Selena's POVAll eyes turned towards the entrance as a figure emerged from the darkness, walking steadily towards us. All the warriors stood up, their claws shooting up simultaneously as they prepared for defence against the intruder."Gentle now, friends, I've not come to harm you," he paused, then added, "not yet at least. "Rowan!!I recognized his voice instantly, jolting as I did so. "No, he must not see my face," I said, bending my head and putting on my hood. "You just walked into our council, our most secret gathering. You must leave at this instant." Zane's brow furrowed as he said this, his fangs shooting out."Now, now, Alpha Zane. I've not come all the way here for you to send me out. You must hear me. " He walked towards the throne, walking past me be stopping."Hmm, you smell familiar.""Cut to the chase and leave, we are in the middle of a serious meeting that would determine the safety of our pack!! " Zane roared."Of course," Rowan replied, passing me and walking ste
Rowan's POVThat smell, it was just too strong. I stopped halfway through the hallway. Trying hard to recall where I had seen that wolf, I felt a part of me bonded partially to the wolf."Now I miss my old wolf," I said, my eyebrows slightly furrow, conveying a hint of longing. I walked past the hallway, my mind drifting to memories of my former mate.Selena.Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me. I stopped, stretching my hand towards the fire torch and putting it off. I masked myself with the darkness around the hallway, reducing my breathing.The sound of the footsteps became louder as I stood there. I sniffed slowly, perceiving a similar smell with what I perceived back in Zane's chamber."Time to unmask the wolf behind the cloak," I said to myself as I stood there in the darkness.The sound of the footsteps suddenly wasn't heard again, and I took a deep breath. The werewolf must have noticed that it was being stalked.Without thinking much, I stepped out with speed out of my hidin
Selena's POVThe trees and leaves were all scattered around as I trekked through the dense forest, trying to find the right path. I had walked for hours, the urge from my wolf inconsistent. Whenever I tried to turn back or reverse my footsteps back to the pack the urge to find whatever I was to find would come back, stronger and more refined than the previous. The forest grew darker, the sounds of nocturnal creatures intensifying. As I trudged deeper, I stumbled over roots and fallen branches, the strange silence in the forest boarders swallowing me. I thought about the guards that were assigned at the boarder, and a sudden tension gripped me. "They'll be fought if the need arises," a sudden voice whispered. Obviously noting that despair had begun to overwhelm me, the voice broke out into a melodious song, one that was hauntingly beautiful, with a gentle soothing quality that seemed to calm my frizzled nerves."You sing too?" I said, more to myself as I didn't expect a reply from
Selena's POVI turned around, carefully observing the dungeon and it's marks. It was definitely a labyrinth of abyss shrouded in darkness and despair. My mind drifted back to the strange unfamiliar figure sitting on the floor opposite me, his knee angled and his hand resting on it. He had blisters and sores on them, testaments to the time he had spent down here. His head was bent when he called my name. Walking up to him, I couldn't fail to recognize the chains that bounded his ankles. Iron cuffs circled his wrists, etched with runes. The chains rattled as they scraped the ground, following his every toss and turn on the ground. Clearly, he was discomforted."You've come as destiny permits," I heard him say said, his head still bent low. Somehow I could detect an aura of quiet power surrounding him. "Destiny? What destiny?" I asked him, feeling drawn as I squatted beside him. The air was heavy with a stench of decay, mold and forgotten centuries. It took an effort to stabilize in t
Zane's POVI sat on my throne, my eyes fixed on my sister Karen as she paced back and forth in front of me. Her face was twisted with anger and hatred, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity."Zane, you have to do it," she said, her voice low and urgent. "You have to sentence Selena to death."I nodded solemnly, trying to keep my expression neutral. I knew Karen had no idea that I was the one who helped Selena on that fateful night. And I was not about to let that secret out now."I understand your concerns, Karen," I said, trying to sound as serious as possible. "But we have to make sure that we follow the proper procedures. We can't just sentence someone to death without a trial."Karen's face turned red with rage. "You're not taking this seriously, Zane," she spat. "Selena is a threat to our pack, to our very way of life. She has to be stopped."I nodded again, trying to appease my sister. "I understand that you're upset, Karen. But we have to be careful. We can't let our emotion
Selena's POVAs I struggled to get a hold of my composure, Elara's voice cut through the silence like a knife, snapping me into reality. "So Seer," she said, her eyes slightly narrowing as she turned toward me. "What is your intended course of action in our pack?A feeling of wariness rose up, as though there was something not quite straightforward about her question. I didn't immediately answer, taking a little extra time with my choice of words."I plan on helping the pack however I can," I said, trying to be as vague as possible. "I have certain. abilities that may be useful to the pack."Elara's eyes seemed to bore into mine, as if rummaging for any hidden motives inside me. "I see," she said, her tone dripping with skepticism. "And what makes you think you can help us, Seer? We have struggled with certain issues, and we have not been able to find a solution for them.I sensed that Elara was trying to probe me, testing whether I knew more than I was letting on. So I decided to pla
Selena's P.O.V.As we rode through the pack on horseback, Rowan took the lead on his own horse while I was on my horse right after him. The pack watched as we passed, curiosity and reverie upon their faces.He led the horse along twisting pathways, showing me landmarks and various other features. I followed him on horseback, scanning the surroundings.We passed a huge stone fountain where some of the young wolves were playing and laughing with each other. We passed several cabins built of wood, every one of them having various wood carvings with colors and bright tapestry.As we approached the Great Pack House, I could feel the strange energy emanating from that building-a sense of power and history that seemed to seep from the very stones themselves.Rowan drew rein, stopping us in front of a large pack house. Turning to me, his pride showed in his shining eyes. "Welcome to the Royal Pack House, Seer," he said, proud, his voice low. "This is the centre of our pack, our family home wh
Selena's POV"You've master the art of horse riding, I can tell," Rowan complimented as we approached the large gates of his pack. "There's more to you than a seer."I gave no reply to him as I silently led the horse to into the pack, trying hard to avoid the gazes of the people."The Seer's here. It's him," the pack members murmured as I rode alongside Rowan into the pack."The Seer would bring fortune and good tidings, blessings to you Seer," a little werewolf exclaimed, waving at me with full energy. I smiled down at her little face, memories of the pack I was born and bred flooding me. A wave of nostalgia washed over me at that point as i still galloped on the horse. The familiar buildings, scent damp earth and wildflowers enveloping me.I was home.Still on the horse, I closed my eyes, letting the memories flood into my heart and consume a greater part of me. I instantly recalled running through these woods as a young werewolf of the royal lineage, my paws pounding against the fa
Selena's POV"Why do you look bothered?" Rowan asked, peering into my eyes intently as he leaned closer to me."There's something I feel I should know, Seer."I couldn't hide my surprise at his question, and I quickly looked away, trying to compose myself. "I'm fine," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Just a little...preoccupied with the construction plans."Rowan raised an eyebrow, his eyes glinting with skepticism. "I see," he said, his voice dripping with doubt. "Well, if you're sure you're okay...then I'll let it drop. For now."I felt a shiver run down my spine at his words, and I quickly looked away, trying to hide my reaction. But as I glanced back at Rowan, I couldn't help but feel like he had seen right through me.And as I turned my horse around, preparing to leave, I couldn't shake the feeling that Rowan was watching me, his eyes boring into my back like a brand.I urged my horse forward, feeling a sense of relief wash over me as I put distance between myself and Rowan. B
Selena's POVAs I rode alone on the horse, the rhythmic thud of the horse's hooves on the earthly terrain lured me into a state of deep contemplation.My mind seemed to be in a conflict between my desires for Zane and Rowan. Earlier on I thought my mind had been long occupied with nothing but my planned revenge against Rowan, but seeing him this past few days, all my mind could think of was the way his attention on me sent shivers down my spine.Zane, ever loving and caring, also occupied my mind, the feeling of his flexible muscles on me whenever he wraps me with his arms, his gentle deep commanding voice and his tall stand. His piercing blue eyes and chiseled features etched on my memory as the trees seemed to close in behind me, it's branches tangling together in it's own pattern.One thing was for sure, Rowan would get what's coming to him. Raven too. But it would take a greater courage than I thought to fulfil my long desire of revenge and complete conquer.I sat still on the sad
Selena's POVAs we walked silently through the corridors, the howling of long condemned prisoners rented through the air. I paid attention to the sounds they made, hoping to perhaps hear the familiar growling of Xaren.But I heard none."We need to get you disguised," Zane said, turning towards me and cutting through my thought process. "We can't have Rowan see you as you are, your true Identity."I nodded, understanding fully.Surprisingly, Zane reached into his cloak and pulled out a small bag."Take, this would be enough disguise while you are away," he said, handing me the bag.Taking the bag, I zipped it open, pulling out a pair of male fits. I quickly went into an enclosure and changed into them, feeling an odd sense of familiarity as I dressed into the male clothes. I was already getting use to the male's perspective.Zane handed me a cloak as soon as got out, which I wrapped round my shoulders. "One more thing," he said, putting his hand into his pocket and pulling out a sma
Selena's POV "But Zane," I started, looking into his eyes. "The Aeges stone cannot be wielded without the authority of the Seer. " " That's what we thought, but she insisted that there are other ways of using it to determine the truth," Zane replied. "No, that can't be true," I said, taking a step backwards. Things were just happening so fast. "Take it easy Selena, come," he said, drawing me closer to him, the metal bars our only demarcation. "Whatever happens, I'll make sure your life and existence comes before mine." That was so sweet of him. At least I felt protected, but not from the Aeges stone I knew. If wielded wrongly it could harm or kill even an innocent werewolf. Then I remembered. "Zane. There's something I think you should know. The Aeges stone, " I paused, looking into his eyes. " The last time I observed it, it looked... fake." I had expected him to flare up, to react, but he kept calm, his entire being in rapt attention. "We'll get to the bottom of that. But
Selena's POVAs the day passed by, the silence in the cell became more and more oppressive, it's thickness seeming to overshadow me. Pacing back and forth in the cell, my mind raced with thoughts and doubts. Would Zane ever come for me? Would I end up here forever?Karen would surely desire that greatly. As the hours passed by, my thoughts quickly turned to desperation. I was hungry and thirsty, and the cold, damp air was starting to seep into my bones."Help, anybody," I managed to cry with the last breath that I could possibly muster. But there was not reply from anyone.I wrapped my hands around myself, trying to warm myself up, but it was no use. The darkness seemed to press around me, prompting me to close my eyes and try to focus on breathing. At least that was the only process I could hold on to for survival.I slowly began to lose hope. Maybe I'd be left to die here. Maybe it was my fate, written in the stars.But just as I was about to completely give up, I heard the sounds