RISE OF A FORBIDDEN LUNA

Chapter 3

Selena’s POV

By the time we reached the borders of the Storm Pack, my legs could barely hold me up.

The forest felt very different like it was watching us.

Julian raised her hand suddenly like she was haunting something.

“Wait” she said

Vera and I frozed on the spot immediately, unsure of the possible event that was about to unfold.

Then we heard low growls like a pack of wolves were circling us from a distance.

My heartbeat started beating so fast and I did not realize that I was holding unto Vera’s sleeves.

“They’ve already scented us,” Julian said quietly.

I knew all along that it won't be easy for us as strangers to enter another Alpha’s territory or pack without being challenged.

“You guys should stay behind me,” Julian added to my amazement.

Because it was funny considering the fact that she claimed to us that she was running away from her own pack, so how she possibly said. Though she did not sound like was afraid at all.

Immediately, I felt that shadows moved around and then they stepped out fiercely, they were six wolves, with their massive height and their eyes glowing in the dark.

Of course they were guards of the Storm pack gate. Then one of them shifted, and transforming back to human. He was naked, unbothered and dangerous.

“Who are you? And what brought you to this territory?” He asked non chalantly. His voice was not welcoming at all.

“Why all this questions?, can't you recognize me? Julian asked stepping forward. “ I'm Julian, daughter of Alpha Dariel”. She continued.

The man paused though he acted like he remembered the face before him but he seemed to wave it off too quickly.

“Alpha Dariel did not inform us of your return” the man insisted.

“I didn’t inform him of my return, so he is not aware thatI'm here,” Julian replied calmly with her voice shaking.

The reply did not solve anything, be I noticed that his eyes moved to me, then shifted to Vera.

“Who are they?”he asked

And I knew for a fact that this could actually get us killed

“They’re with me.” Julian answered without hesitation

“That’s not an answer.” the man insisted.

“They helped me, When I had nowhere else to run to. They gave me shelter and protected me from the dangers in their pack”. Julian said softly.

The guards seem not to believe us because he had this sharpened look on his face. So I have to act fast.

“What kind of help” the guard asked.

Just then the initial plan we agreed on with Julian and Vera stuck me

“She lost her memory,” I said. My heart pounded almost betraying me.

“…I don’t remember anything,” Julian said softly as she lowered her head acting up to the plan.

The lie was so strange but have to put up with it in order to survive.

The guard stepped close and leaned slightly, studying Julian like he did not believe what we just told.

“Memory loss?” he asked repeatedly.

“Yes,” Vera cut in quickly. “We found her in the wood like that, she was alone and injured.” she completed.

He quickly looked at Vera inquisitively

“And you?” he asked

Vera remained unshaken

“We ran away from our pack.” Vera answered.

“Why?” he asked again.

Everything was almost getting suspicious before Vera gave a smart answer.

“We were being forced into marriages,” Vera said. “The marriage was for political reasons so we refused and fled”.

The guard looked like he believed what we said for the first time since we got there. But he still had his own doubt.

“And you expect us to believe you just because you by chance stumbled into Alpha Dariel’s daughter and decided to play rescuers?” he asked again.

There was a huge silence in the background because seriously our answers sounded ridiculous.

“You can question us all you want,” Julian said breaking the silence, her voice dropping just slightly. “Or you can chose take me to my father and let him decide.” she continued

And with that response, the guards decided to escort us into the Storm palace.

The Storm Pack palace stood out of the forest like it was carved from power itself. It had cold stone, towering walls which were guarded on every angle. Everything about the palace speaks control.

And we were led inside, I felt that different people were watching us. Their eyes seemed like they were judging us. But I cared less at this point.

We were led into a large hall, that was when I saw Alpha Dariel, he was just seated and his eyes seemed to be calculating everything around him.

“Dad…..” Julian shouted and moving forward to where he was seated

“Stop.” one the guards ordered. And Julian went still.

Julian rose slowly, and descended the stairs with controlled authority. With his fixed on his daughter.

“You disappeared for months without a word,” he said calmly, “and returned with strangers.” he continued with his shifting to me and Vera. His looks were cold and dangerous.

“What do you have to say for yourself?.” he asked referring the question to Julian.

Julian on the other hand hesitated for a moment before she started talking.

“We rescued her,” I said. But her father’s expression didn’t change.

“From what exactly?” he asked

“ Before she completely went blank, she told us that she overheard something about a prophecy before she left, that she overhead a conversation about her being a threat to the pack with the claim that she will destroy the unity in the pack”. I explained

“And she believed all that?” Alpha Dariel replied surprised.

“I think that she didn’t wait to find out the truth, I'm so sorry about that”, I said. Then there was silence in the hall.

“ And now she cannot remember anything that has happened in the past?” Alpha Dariel asked rhetorically without expecting any answers.

He hesitated before speaking again

“ Call the doctors, she needs all the medical care that she can get to know if she can remember anything. And for this two”, he said with his gaze fixed at me and Vera

“Search them.” he ordered.

The words came like a bomb and the guards moved instantly. Obviously they found nothing on us.

Dariel watched the entire process silently. Then he finally spoke

“They will stay but will be watched carefully, they won't be allowed to move freely a d won't leave the underground for any reason. And if I find out that you’ve lied…, he eyes were fixed on mine. “You won’t get the chance to explain yourselves” he ordered

I swallowed hard before answering.

“Y-Yes, Alpha.” we chorused.

“Take them inside.” he ordered.

We were led to room at the underground part of the palace. The room was small and always guarded maybe in a bid to ensure that we don't escape. Palace maids were also assigned to us.

As we were still looking around and admiring everything in the room, Julian entered closing the door behind us. And for the first time since we met at the woods and arrived the Storm Pack palace she smiled.

“You guys did so well, the acting, everything. Thank you so much guys” she said.

Vera took a sharp breath.

“That was too close, we were almost caught.” she said.

Julian shrugged lightly.

“My father doesn’t trust people easily” she replied.

I looked closely at her before talking.

“ But you never told me that part of the story.” I said really expecting an answer from her.

“I never had the time to explain all this things to you people, but the most important thing now is that we are safe.” she replied.

Something about her reply didn’t sit right with me, But I was too tired to ask questions so I had to let it slide.

Days passed at the Storm Pack palace but nothing changed, though we were not prisoners but we weren't free either. The atmosphere in the palace was so tight that you can't walk around without eyes watching you.

Then one of the days, I took notice of a young man. He was handsome and brooding. He was really tall with an outstanding features like is sharp blue eyes and muscular body. I learnt that his name was Luke. But unlike others, he did not hide his suspicions rather he question everything that I had told him.

So one evening at the hallway he summoned the courage to speak to me. When he finally approached me, he hesitated before speaking

I don't why I feel that your stories are not true”, he said bodly without even dropping a word of greeting..

“I don’t understand what you meant by that”. I replied acting like I did not know where his statement was headed.

His eyes were slightly darkened while looking at me

“You don’t smell like someone whom has lost everything.” he continued.

This has always been the statement that I have come to be familiar with since I arrived the Storm Pack. So I was not surprised anymore.

“You’re not confused enough neither are you scared of anything,” he continued.

I had to force an uncertain look.

“I—I don’t remember how to feel anything any more.” I said confidently.

“People like you don’t run for no reason because they always have a secret backstory”. He paused for a bit, “ what was your offence”. He added.

The question hit harder than it should have, because for a second I wanted to give the correct answer and talk about my predicaments at the Moonfang Pack.

I had no other option but to keep mute. He just took a closer look at me before leaving.

Then for a moment I had a sudden and chilling feeling that Luke Rowan wasn’t just watching me to protect his pack but was watching me like I was a puzzle that he has the intention to solve.

Later that night, I woke up to a soft and metaalic sound coming from outside the room. So I paid a closer attention, only to hear a voice from a familiar person whom I knew was Luke

“ I do not think she is who she claimed to b, I don't know how to say this but I am suspicious of everything about her “. He said

“And if I’m right,” he continued quietly, “we will not just let a runaway into our pack, it is dangerous for us all.”

The words I heard made my blood run cold and legs were weak.

And I just realized that my days at the Storm pack are numbered and I need to act fast.