Chapter 4
1190 Words
4
SELENE
For a moment, everything else seemed to fade. His dark eyes widened almost imperceptibly, and I felt something—a recognition, a pull, a warning—I wasn't sure what. But it was powerful enough to make me grip the edge of the table.
The moment broke when one of Ronan's companions murmured something in his ear. He gave a curt nod, then delivered a mocking bow in Damian's direction.
"We'll take our leave, then. Wouldn't want to upset the prince of Blood Moon on his own turf."
With that, they turned and exited as dramatically as they'd entered, leaving whispers erupting in their wake.
"Did you see how he looked at you?" Maya hissed, gripping my arm.
I nodded slowly, still unsettled by the connection I'd felt. "Who exactly is he?"
"Only the most dangerous wolf in the region," she said with a mixture of fear and excitement. "He's the alpha heir of Shadow Valley, but rumor has it he's been gathering rogues from all over. Some say he's planning to break away and form his own pack." She shivered. "My brother says he's already killed a man."
I frowned. If Ronan was truly one of my destined mates, why hadn't I met him in my previous life? Why had I been so convinced Damian was my only fate?
A commotion from Damian's table drew my attention. He was arguing with his friends, gesturing toward the door the Shadow Valley wolves had disappeared through. After a moment, he stormed after them, clearly unwilling to let the challenge to his authority stand.
"This can't be good," Maya murmured.
My instincts agreed. Without thinking it through, I stood.
"Where are you going?" Maya asked, alarmed.
"To make sure a war doesn't start in the school hallway," I said, moving toward the door.
I stepped into the corridor just in time to see Damian confronting Ronan near the administration offices. They stood toe-to-toe, neither backing down, power radiating from both of them.
"—insulting my father's authority," Damian was saying, voice low and dangerous.
"Your father's authority ends at your pack borders," Ronan replied coolly. "Unless you're claiming this school now?"
I moved closer, drawn by a need to understand these two wolves who were apparently connected to my destiny. Neither noticed me, too focused on their confrontation.
"You know exactly what you're doing, Blackwood," Damian growled. "Stay away from my territory and my people."
Ronan's smile was razor-sharp. "Afraid I'll give them a better option? Not everyone wants to bow to the almighty Blood Moon Pack."
Damian stepped closer, his larger frame looming over Ronan. "Is that a threat?"
"Gentlemen." I spoke before I could second-guess myself, drawing both their attention. "Perhaps this conversation would be better continued somewhere more private."
They turned to me with identical expressions of surprise, quickly replaced by very different reactions.
Damian's eyes softened with interest, his stance relaxing slightly. "You're Selene Harrison, aren't you?"
Ronan, by contrast, narrowed his eyes, looking me up and down with open suspicion. "And who invited you into this discussion, princess?"
The dismissive tone in his voice sparked an unexpected anger in me. If this was indeed one of my destined mates, we were clearly off to a rocky start.
"No one," I said coolly, meeting his gaze directly. "I invited myself. Someone needs to be the voice of reason before you two start a pack war in front of the principal's office."
Damian chuckled, clearly amused by my boldness. "She has a point, Blackwood. This isn't the place."
Ronan ignored him, still staring at me with an intensity that would have made my younger self shrink away. "You smell like Blood Moon Pack," he said, his nostrils flaring slightly. "But something's... off." He took a step toward me, and I held my ground despite the intimidating energy rolling off him. "What are you?"
The question caught me off guard. What did he mean, 'what' was I?
"She's none of your concern," Damian interjected, moving subtly to place himself between us. The protective gesture would have thrilled me once. Now it just felt possessive.
"I don't need you to speak for me," I told Damian firmly, stepping around him to face Ronan directly. "I'm Selene Harrison, daughter of Richard Harrison, Blood Moon Pack. And you're trespassing in my school."
Ronan's eyebrows shot up, surprise and something like reluctant respect flashing across his face. Then his lips curved into a smirk.
"Daughter of Richard Harrison, hmm?" He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Then why do you smell like power that hasn't been seen in the Blood Moon Pack for generations?"
Before I could respond, the principal's door opened, and Alpha Westwood—Damian's father—emerged with another man who bore a striking resemblance to Ronan. Both older wolves paused at the tableau before them.
"What's happening here?" Alpha Westwood demanded, his authoritative voice echoing in the hallway.
Damian straightened immediately. "Nothing, Father. Just welcoming our... guests."
The other man—presumably Ronan's father—snorted. "Looks more like posturing to me." He clapped a hand on Ronan's shoulder. "Come. We're done here."
Ronan stepped back, but his eyes remained locked on mine. "See you around, princess," he murmured, so softly only I could hear. "Something tells me our paths will cross again soon."
As the Shadow Valley wolves departed with Alpha Westwood escorting them out, Damian turned to me with a curious expression.
"That was brave," he said. "Stepping between two dominant wolves."
I shrugged. "Or foolish."
"Perhaps a bit of both." His smile was warm, charming—the same smile that had once made my heart race. "I've been meaning to introduce myself properly. I'm Damian Westwood."
He extended his hand, and I hesitated only briefly before taking it. No spark of recognition, no mate bond pulling at me. Just the touch of a handsome, powerful wolf who, in another life, had destroyed me.
"Selene Harrison," I replied formally. "But you already knew that."
His smile widened. "I make it my business to know everyone in my future pack." He held my hand a beat longer than necessary. "Especially those as intriguing as you."
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. I withdrew my hand. "I should get to class."
"Of course." He stepped back, but his eyes still held mine. "I hope we'll speak again soon, Selene."
I gave a noncommittal nod and turned away, my mind swirling with new information and possibilities. In one lunch period, I'd encountered both my former destined mate and potentially one of my true ones—if my death vision was to be believed.
And neither interaction had gone as expected.
As I headed to my afternoon classes, I couldn't shake the memory of Ronan's penetrating gaze. *Why do you smell like power that hasn't been seen in the Blood Moon Pack for generations?*
What had he sensed in me? Was it simply that my wolf was close to emerging, or something more?
Tonight, under the light of the waxing moon, I would begin to find out. My first shift awaited—and this time, I was ready.
- Writer
