Chapter two (The Alpha’s warning)
1472 Words
The cell is cold.
Luna sits on the hard floor, her back against the stone wall, her knees pulled to her chest. The wooden chair was too uncomfortable, so she gave up on it. Her wrists are bruised from the rough grip of the guards. Her throat is dry. She hasn’t had water since yesterday.
She stares at the tiny window high up on the wall. The moon is gone now. Only the pale light of morning pushes through.
Her wolf is still quiet inside her. That scares her more than anything else.
She’s never felt this weak before.
Not just in her body — but in her spirit.
Why did he look at me like that?
Alpha Zayn’s cold grey eyes still haunt her. The way he stared at her like he knew something… like he could see through her skin and into her soul.
She shakes the thought away.
Suddenly, she hears footsteps. Her ears twitch as they come closer.
A key turns in the lock.
Her head snaps up.
The door creaks open.
A young woman in a maid's outfit steps in, holding a tray.
She places it on the floor without meeting Luna’s eyes.
Bread. Water. A piece of cheese.
Luna stares at it.
“Why are you giving me food?” she asks softly.
The girl flinches a little. “Alpha’s orders. He said you can eat now.”
Luna blinks. He changed his mind?
The maid turns to leave.
“Wait,” Luna says.
The girl stops.
“What’s your name?”
The girl hesitates. “Nina.”
“Nina… are they going to kill me?”
Nina turns around slowly. “If they were, you wouldn’t still be breathing.”
And then she’s gone.
Luna eats quickly, her hands shaking. The bread is stale, but it’s better than nothing. The water tastes like heaven.
Just as she finishes, the door opens again.
This time, it’s not the maid.
Two guards stand outside.
“Get up,” one says. “Alpha wants to see you.”
Her stomach tightens.
She rises slowly and follows them. The hallways are wide and clean, made of polished stone. The pack house smells like pine and ash, mixed with wolf musk.
She walks in silence, trying not to show fear.
They lead her upstairs to a heavy wooden door. One of the guards knocks.
“Enter,” comes a deep voice from inside.
The door opens.
And there he is again.
Alpha Zayn.
He stands near a large window, wearing a black shirt and dark jeans. His arms are crossed. His face unreadable.
The guards push Luna forward and leave.
The door shuts behind her.
Silence.
He doesn’t look at her yet.
He just stares outside, like he’s waiting for her to speak.
But she doesn’t.
Finally, he turns around.
His eyes fall on her.
She stands tall, even though her legs feel weak.
“You ate?” he asks.
She nods.
He walks towards her, slow and steady.
“Why are you really here?” he asks again.
“I told you. I was passing through.”
“I don’t believe you,” he says simply.
She lifts her chin. “Then don’t.”
His eyes narrow. “You have fire. Most rogues beg and cry when brought before me.”
“I’m not most rogues.”
“No,” he says, circling her. “You’re not.”
He stops behind her. She can feel the heat of his body close to hers.
“I don’t know what’s strange about you yet,” he murmurs, “but my wolf… reacts to your scent.”
Luna stiffens.
What does that mean?
She turns to face him. “I don’t know why. I’m just a rogue.”
“Are you?” he asks, looking at her closely.
“I’ve been one all my life.”
He tilts his head. “Where were you before now?”
She hesitates. “With my guardian.”
He raises a brow. “And where is this guardian?”
“Dead.”
“How?”
She swallows. “Rogues attacked our camp… six months ago.”
He watches her eyes, searching for a lie.
“What did your guardian tell you about your past?”
She hesitates again.
“Nothing,” she says. “Only that I was special.”
Zayn chuckles darkly. “They all say that to make you feel better.”
She looks down.
But inside… something flickers.
That word. Special.
Her guardian always said, “You are more than what you think, Luna. The moon watches you.”
And the name.
Why Luna?
“Is that your real name?” Zayn suddenly asks.
She nods. “I think so.”
“You think?”
“It’s the only name I’ve ever been called.”
Zayn steps closer again.
His hand lifts. He touches her chin, tilting her face upward.
His fingers are rough and warm.
“You have a crescent mark,” he says.
She flinches. “How do you know?”
“I saw it when your cloak was torn off. On your shoulder.”
Her heart pounds.
He leans in.
Their faces are inches apart again.
“Do you know what that mark means?” he whispers.
“No…”
“Neither do I. But I’ve seen it once before.”
Her eyes widen.
“Where?”
“In an ancient drawing… buried deep in the royal archives. A mark like that was said to belong to the children of the Moon Stone.”
She pulls away. “I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I,” he admits. “But I intend to find out.”
He walks to his desk, picks up a file, and flips through it.
“You’re going to stay here,” he says.
Her eyes widen. “What? You’re keeping me prisoner?”
“No. I’m keeping you under watch. For now.”
“I can’t stay here. I don’t belong.”
He looks at her again. “You crossed into my land. That makes you my responsibility. And possibly… my problem.”
Luna clenches her fists. “I don’t need your protection.”
“Good,” he says. “Because I’m not offering it.”
She frowns.
“I’m offering a deal,” he adds.
She waits.
“You stay. You follow my rules. You eat, rest, and train with my warriors. And in return, I’ll find out who you are.”
“And if I say no?”
He smiles — not kindly.
“Then I’ll chain you in the dungeon until you beg to accept.”
She glares at him.
“You’re cruel.”
“I’m an Alpha,” he says simply.
“I don’t trust you.”
“Good,” he says. “That means you’re not stupid.”
There’s a moment of silence.
And then…
Her stomach twists.
Not with fear — but something else.
He’s too close again.
Too intense.
Her body reacts in ways she doesn’t understand.
His scent… it’s like pine smoke and danger. Masculine and wild.
She turns away quickly.
Zayn notices.
“You feel it too,” he says quietly.
She says nothing.
“Go to the guest chambers,” he orders. “Guards will show you the way. You’ll have a room. Clothes. Food. But don’t try to run.”
She doesn’t reply.
As she turns to leave, he says one last thing.
“Luna.”
She pauses.
“You are not what you think you are.”
Her heart skips.
“What am I then?”
He doesn’t answer.
She walks out, confused, shaken… and burning with questions.
Outside, two guards wait and escort her down the hall to the east wing. The walls here are lined with paintings and silver lanterns. Everything smells fresh.
They open a door and let her in.
The room is warm, with a soft bed, a wooden dresser, and a window overlooking the forest.
She walks in slowly, touching the soft blanket. It’s been months since she slept in a bed.
She turns toward the mirror.
She looks pale. Her lips dry. Her body bruised. But her eyes… they still hold fire.
She pulls down her top slightly and sees the mark.
A silver crescent moon on her left shoulder.
It glows faintly.
“What are you hiding from me?” she whispers to herself.
Meanwhile…
Zayn sits in his office, holding a small crystal pendant.
He frowns.
“She smells like moonfire,” he mutters.
His wolf paces inside him.
She’s ours.
No. She’s a mystery. And mysteries are dangerous.
But he can’t stop thinking about her.
The mark.
Her scent.
The way her voice trembled, yet didn’t break.
She isn’t just a rogue.
He knows it.
He just doesn’t know what she is.
Yet.
- Writer
