The Alpha's Curse, The Mafia's Queen

Selena’s POV The fire crackled softly in the middle of the clearing in the Silver Pack. Tiny sparks drifted into the night sky like restless stars, rising above the circle of children gathered around me. Their small faces glowed under the warm orange light, their eyes wide with excitement. I lowered my voice slightly, enjoying the way they leaned closer. “And then…” I whispered dramatically, “the white wolf leaped across the river and saved the entire pack from the shadow hunters.” Several children gasped. One little boy crawled closer, his eyes shining. “Was she scared?” A soft smile touched my lips. “Even the strongest wolves feel fear,” I said gently. “But courage means protecting others… even when you’re afraid.” Another child frowned thoughtfully. “But don’t packs have Alphas?” he asked. “Why did the white wolf save them? Where was the Alpha?” A few others nodded in agreement. I rested my chin on my hand, pretending to think. “Of course the pack had an Alpha,” I said. “But in this story, the white wolf was both the Alpha… and the Luna.” The children froze. Confusion spread across their faces. “How?” they asked together. I chuckled softly. “Because she was special,” I replied. “She was a hybrid. Her strength was greater than two Alphas combined.” Immediately, the clearing filled with noise. The girls began arguing with the boys, voices rising with excitement. “I’m going to be the white wolf one day!” one girl declared proudly. “No! I will!” another argued. The boys quickly jumped in. “We can be the white wolf too!” Laughter and arguments mixed together, filling the night air. I clapped my hands. “Alright, alright! Quiet down.” Slowly, the noise faded. Nyra raised her tiny hand. She had been sitting quietly the entire time, her wide eyes glowing with curiosity and wonder. She had always been my favorite since the day she was born. “Yes, Nyra?” I asked. “I want to ask a question,” she said shyly. “Only one,” I teased. She nodded quickly. “You said the white wolf is stronger than two Alphas,” she said carefully. “So… how can I become a white wolf?” My expression softened. “Oh, Nyra…” I said gently. “White wolves are very rare. Only the Moon can bless someone with that power.” Her shoulders dropped slightly. “But,” I added quickly, “you can still become the strongest wolf in the Silver Pack if you train hard.” Her eyes lit up instantly. She nodded with determination. “Good,” I said, standing up. “Now it’s getting late. You should all go home before your parents start worrying.” The children groaned but obeyed. “Thank you, Selena!” they called happily before running off toward the pack houses. Nyra lingered for a moment. Then she ran toward me and wrapped her tiny arms around my leg. I bent down and gently ruffled her hair. “I want to be the white wolf of the Silver Pack,” she whispered. “You will,” I said softly. “If the Moon decides. But I believe that when you grow up… you’ll be very strong." She smiled brightly and ran after the others. Soon, the clearing grew quiet again. The fire crackled softly beside me. Then... “Great story.” I jumped slightly and turned around. Isadora stood near one of the tall trees at the edge of the clearing. “Oh my God, Isadora. You scared me." She smiled lightly. “Sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to.” The moonlight made her pale skin glow faintly. Her long black hair fell over her shoulders like silk, and her icy blue eyes seemed to shine with an unnatural light. She looked… almost otherworldly. “Have you been standing there the whole time?” I asked. “Of course,” she replied casually. “I wanted to hear the end.” I groaned. “You’re unbelievable." She laughed softly. “Well,” she said, stretching slightly, “it’s getting late. We should head back before the night patrol starts asking questions.” We walked back toward my small house near the edge of the pack. The night air was cool and quiet. When we reached the house, Isadora pushed the door open and walked in like she owned the place. “Now,” she said dramatically, “what did you cook?” I blinked. “I—” She didn’t wait. She went straight into the kitchen. A few seconds later, she returned with a plate of toasted bread and fried eggs. “Oh look,” she said cheerfully. “Breakfast.” “I lost my appetite earlier,” I muttered. She sat down and began eating. “You skipped breakfast again?” she asked between bites. “I was late meeting the children,” I said defensively. She shook her head slightly. “You care about those children more than yourself,” she said softly. Her words lingered in the air. I was about to respond… just about to say what was on my mind, then a knock was heard at the door. The sound cut through the silence. Both of us froze. “Are you expecting anyone this late?” Isadora asked quietly. I hesitated, then shook my head. Another knock came. This time, slower. Quieter. I walked toward the door, my heartbeat picking up with every step. Leaning closer, I peered through the small hole. Darkness. Nothing. I couldn’t see anyone. My hand hovered over the handle before I finally opened the door. No one was there. The hallway was empty. I stepped outside, scanning the shadows. “Hello?” I called softly. No answer. Only silence. After a moment, I turned back inside. Then I saw it. A carton sat quietly beside the door. I froze. Slowly, I turned back toward the darkness again. Still nothing. A strange uneasiness crept over me. Ignoring it, I bent down, picked up the carton, and carried it inside. “Who was it?” Isadora asked. “No one… just this,” I said, placing it on the table. She frowned. “Then what’s inside?” I hesitated briefly… then opened it. Inside was a white gown, neatly folded. At first, it looked normal. Beautiful, even. Curious, I reached in and lifted it. Then I froze. A sharp, metallic scent hit my nose. Blood. My eyes widened as I saw the dark stains spreading across the once pure white fabric. A gasp escaped my lips as I dropped the gown to the floor, my hands trembling. And in that moment… I knew. This night was not going to end well.