Chapter two
1588 Words
CHAPTER TWO
THE BLACK MOON PACK
Liana followed Alpha Kael through the enormous entrance of the Black Moon estate, trying not to stare.
The inside was even more intimidating than the outside.
Dark wooden walls rose toward a ceiling decorated with silver chandeliers. Huge paintings covered the corridors, showing generations of Alphas standing beside their wolves. Everything looked expensive, ancient, and strangely cold.
Liana tightened her grip on the handle of her suitcase.
She had expected a home.
Instead, she felt as though she had stepped into a fortress.
Kael continued walking without looking back.
“Do you always walk this fast?” Liana finally asked.
He stopped.
Liana nearly walked into him.
Kael turned slowly.
“I have a lot of responsibilities.”
“So do I.”
One of his eyebrows lifted.
Liana immediately realized how bold she had sounded.
“I mean... I have a suitcase.”
An attendant stepped forward and took the suitcase.
Liana looked around again.
“How many people live here?”
“My pack.”
“That isn't an answer.”
Kael stared at her.
“You ask many questions.”
“I was told I was marrying you. I think I'm allowed to know where I'm living.”
Silence.
Then Kael continued walking.
“Three hundred and eighty-seven members live within the estate grounds. More live in the surrounding territory.”
Liana's eyes widened.
“That many?”
“Yes.”
She hurried after him.
“And you're their Alpha?”
“Yes.”
“So everyone has to obey you?”
“Not everyone.”
“Who doesn't?”
Kael glanced at her.
“My enemies.”
Liana decided not to ask another question.
They reached a long corridor with tall windows overlooking the gardens. Several pack members were outside, but the moment they noticed Kael, they bowed their heads.
Then their eyes moved toward Liana.
Whispers followed.
“That is her.”
“The Omega?”
“She looks so young.”
“Why would the Alpha marry someone like her?”
Liana's cheeks warmed.
She lowered her head.
Kael stopped walking.
Every whisper disappeared.
He didn't raise his voice.
“Anyone who has something to say about my wife can say it to me.”
The hallway became silent.
Liana looked at him.
Wife.
The word felt strange.
Kael resumed walking.
Liana followed, but this time she noticed something different.
People weren't only afraid of him.
They respected him.
Maybe even trusted him.
They finally reached a large set of double doors.
Kael opened them.
“This is your room.”
Liana stepped inside.
Her mouth fell open.
The room was larger than the entire house she had grown up in. A huge bed stood near the windows, and a balcony overlooked the gardens. There was a wardrobe, a writing desk, a small sitting area, and a fireplace.
She slowly turned around.
“This is mine?”
“Yes.”
“All of it?”
“Yes.”
Liana looked at Kael suspiciously.
“Why?”
“Because you're my wife.”
She blinked.
He sounded almost annoyed by the question.
“I thought this was a political marriage.”
“It is.”
“Then why give me such a huge room?”
“Would you prefer a smaller one?”
“No.”
“Then stop complaining.”
“I wasn't complaining.”
Kael looked at her for another moment before turning toward the door.
“Dinner is at seven.”
“Wait.”
He stopped.
“Do I have to eat with you?”
His expression became unreadable.
“You're my wife.”
“That doesn't answer the question.”
“Yes.”
Liana sighed.
“Fine.”
Kael left.
The door closed behind him.
Liana stood in the middle of the room.
She had been married for less than a day, and she already felt as though she had walked into a mystery.
She crossed the room and stepped onto the balcony.
From there, she could see almost the entire estate.
But something caught her attention.
Beyond the gardens stood a line of ancient trees.
Behind them was a stone wall.
And beyond that wall was a forest.
A strange feeling passed through her.
Her heart began beating faster.
She didn't know why.
Then she heard a whisper.
Not from outside.
From inside her own mind.
Run.
Liana froze.
She looked around.
“Hello?”
Nothing.
She touched her chest.
Her heart was pounding.
The strange feeling disappeared as quickly as it had come.
She shook her head.
“I must be tired.”
That evening, Liana changed into a simple dress and went downstairs.
The dining hall was enormous.
Kael sat at the head of the table.
Beside him stood a man with dark hair and a serious expression.
“Liana,” Kael said. “This is Ethan, my Beta.”
Ethan bowed politely.
“It's good to finally meet you.”
“Finally?”
Ethan's expression changed.
Kael gave him a warning look.
Ethan cleared his throat.
“I mean, we've heard about you.”
Liana sat down.
“What exactly have you heard?”
“Nothing bad.”
“That's not what I asked.”
Ethan looked at Kael.
Kael looked back at him.
Liana almost smiled.
The Beta was clearly afraid of his Alpha.
Dinner began.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Liana tried to ignore the uncomfortable silence.
Finally, she asked, “What happens tomorrow?”
Kael looked at her.
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes. Am I allowed to leave the estate?”
“You can walk around the grounds.”
“And outside?”
“No.”
Liana frowned.
“Why?”
“It isn't safe.”
“I grew up in a pack.”
“This isn't your old pack.”
“I'm not helpless.”
“I didn't say you were.”
“You're treating me like I am.”
Kael put down his glass.
“Liana, you don't understand what you've walked into.”
She stared at him.
“Then explain it to me.”
His expression hardened.
“The Black Moon Pack has enemies. Some of them would like to use you to get to me.”
Liana's confidence disappeared.
“Why would they care about me?”
“They wouldn't.”
He paused.
“They would care because you're my wife.”
Liana looked down at her plate.
The answer frightened her.
Kael continued.
“Until we know who can be trusted, you stay within the protected grounds.”
“That's a prison.”
“It's protection.”
“It doesn't feel like protection.”
Kael said nothing.
Ethan suddenly looked toward the doors.
Liana noticed.
“What is it?”
Ethan stood.
“Someone is outside.”
Kael was already on his feet.
Within seconds, the entire atmosphere changed.
The doors opened.
A guard hurried inside.
“Alpha.”
Kael's eyes narrowed.
“What happened?”
“We found something near the eastern boundary.”
“What?”
The guard swallowed.
“A symbol.”
Kael's face became cold.
“Show me.”
The guard hesitated.
Then he looked directly at Liana.
Kael noticed the direction of his gaze.
“What does it have to do with her?”
The guard lowered his voice.
“The symbol is the same one found on the old records concerning the Vale bloodline.”
Liana's heart stopped.
“My family?”
Nobody answered.
Kael looked at her.
For the first time since they met, she saw genuine concern in his eyes.
“Liana,” he said quietly, “what exactly did your family tell you about your parents?”
She swallowed.
“Nothing.”
Kael stepped closer.
“Nothing?”
“My parents died when I was little.”
“How?”
“I don't know.”
His expression changed.
“You don't know?”
“My aunt refused to talk about it.”
Silence filled the room.
Kael looked toward Ethan.
“Bring me the old records.”
Ethan nodded.
Then he left.
Liana stood frozen.
“What is happening?”
Kael looked at her.
“I don't know yet.”
“You said you didn't want to lie to me.”
“I haven't.”
“Then tell me what you know.”
Kael's jaw tightened.
“I know that your family disappeared from pack records nearly twenty years ago.”
Liana stared at him.
“Disappeared?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“We're going to find out.”
Before she could respond, a loud howl echoed from the forest.
Everyone in the dining hall froze.
It wasn't an ordinary wolf's howl.
It was deep.
Powerful.
And close.
Kael's eyes changed instantly.
His wolf had surfaced.
“Lock the estate,” he ordered.
The guards moved immediately.
Liana's breathing quickened.
“Kael?”
He looked at her.
“Stay here.”
“What's happening?”
His expression was grim.
“Someone has crossed the boundary.”
Then he walked toward the doors.
Liana watched him disappear into the corridor.
She should have stayed where she was.
She knew that.
But the strange whisper returned.
Run.
This time, another word followed.
Home.
Liana looked toward the dark windows.
And somewhere beyond the estate walls, something answered with another howl.
She didn't know who was calling her.
But deep inside, she knew one thing.
Her arrival at the Black Moon Pack had not been an accident.
Someone had been waiting for her.
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