The Divine Lycan

Chapter 7

The following morning, the pack’s settlement was alive with the usual activities—training, hunting, and preparations for the day ahead. But beneath the surface, a current of unease flowed through the wolves, whispering doubts and questions about their alpha’s recent decisions. The rogue’s new role in the pack was a topic of heated debate, one that simmered just out of earshot of Selene’s quarters.

Inside her room, Selene was already awake, her mind focused on the day’s tasks. The rogue stood quietly in the corner, his posture tense but outwardly calm. He had complied with her orders without complaint, but Selene could feel the defiance still burning within him.

As she dressed, Selene’s thoughts drifted to the challenges she faced—not just with the rogue, but within her pack. She knew the unusual arrangement she had enforced would not sit well with everyone, and she needed to be prepared to address their concerns.

She turned to the rogue, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him. “Follow me.”

The rogue nodded silently and fell into step behind her as she led him out of her quarters and into the morning sunlight. The pack members they passed gave them wary glances, some filled with curiosity, others with barely concealed suspicion. But no one dared to speak out of turn.

Selene brought the rogue to the large communal kitchen where the day’s meals were prepared. The head cook, an older wolf named Greta, looked up in surprise as they entered.

“Alpha,” Greta greeted, her tone respectful but puzzled.

“This is the rogue’s new assignment,” Selene said, gesturing to him. “He’ll be working here under your supervision. Make sure he does what’s needed.”

Greta hesitated, her eyes flicking between Selene and the rogue. “As you wish, Alpha,” she finally replied, though her voice held a note of uncertainty.

Selene nodded, her gaze shifting to the rogue. “You have your orders. Follow them.”

The rogue met her eyes, his expression carefully neutral. “Understood.”

Without another word, Selene turned and left the kitchen, leaving Greta to instruct the rogue on his duties. 668

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of voices ahead, and as she rounded a corner, she came face to face with a group of her pack members—some of the older wolves, including Darius, her beta.

“Alpha,” Darius greeted her, his expression a mixture of concern and respect.

Selene nodded in acknowledgment, her eyes sweeping over the group. “What is it?”

One of the older wolves, a grizzled veteran named Thorne, stepped forward, his brow furrowed. “We need to talk about the rogue, Selene. The pack is… uneasy.”

Selene’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Uneasy about what?”

Thorne exchanged a glance with the others before continuing. “This arrangement with the rogue—it’s not normal. He’s an outsider, and yet you’ve given him a place in our pack. A place close to you.”

Selene’s jaw tightened. She had anticipated this, but it didn’t make the confrontation any easier. “I understand your concerns, but this is my decision. The rogue is under control, and his presence is necessary for now.”

Darius stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. “Selene, we trust you, but we also need to understand. Why is this rogue so important? What are you hoping to achieve?”

For a moment, Selene considered how much to reveal. She had always been cautious about sharing her deeper thoughts, especially when it came to matters as personal as this. But she knew that if she wanted to maintain the pack’s trust, she needed to give them something.

“The rogue looks like my former mate,” Selene admitted, her voice steady. “It’s a resemblance that’s too close to be a coincidence. I need to understand why he’s here and what it means for our pack.”

Thorne frowned, his eyes dark with thought. “And you believe keeping him close will give you the answers you seek?”

“Yes,” Selene replied. “I’m not just acting on impulse. There’s something more at play here, something we don’t yet understand. But I won’t allow it to be a threat to us. That’s why I’m keeping him under strict control.”

Darius nodded slowly, his gaze searching hers. “And what if he’s more dangerous than we realize? What if keeping him close puts you at risk?”

Selene met his gaze steadily. “That’s a risk I’m willing to take. I need to know the truth, and this is the only way.”

There was a long silence as the group absorbed her words. Selene could see the doubt in their eyes, but she also saw the respect, the trust they had in her leadership.

Finally, Thorne sighed and nodded. “We’ll follow your lead, Selene. But we’ll be watching the rogue closely. If he shows any sign of being a threat, we’ll act.”

“Understood,” Selene said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

With that, the group began to disperse, and Selene was left alone with Darius. He watched her carefully, his eyes filled with concern.

“Are you sure about this, Selene?” he asked quietly.

“I am,” she replied, though the weight of her decision pressed heavily on her. “But I need you to trust me, Darius.”

He nodded, though his worry was clear. “I do trust you. Just… be careful.”

Selene offered him a faint smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I will.”

As Darius walked away, Selene felt a pang of loneliness settle over her. She was the alpha, the one who bore the burden of leadership, but it came at a cost. She couldn’t afford to show weakness, couldn’t allow herself to be vulnerable. Not now.

The day wore on, and as the sun dipped lower in the sky, Selene returned to her quarters. The rogue was there, as ordered, his face and hands clean, his clothes neat. He looked at her with a calm, unreadable expression, as if resigned to his new reality.

Selene felt a strange mix of emotions as she looked at him—anger, curiosity, even a hint of something she couldn’t quite name. She needed to stay focused, to remember why she had made this decision.

“You’ll continue your duties tomorrow,” she said, her voice steady. “And you’ll remain here each night.”

The rogue nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. “Understood.”

Selene turned away, unable to meet his gaze any longer. She needed to keep her emotions in check, to stay in control. But as the night deepened, and the rogue settled into his corner of the room, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was playing with fire.

She was in control. But for how long?