THE JEALOUS ALPHA LUNA

The Silver Moon Pack was alive with celebration. Thousands of wolves had gathered beneath the bright full moon, their laughter filling the air as music played throughout the pack grounds. Silver lanterns hung from the trees, illuminating the grand palace that stood at the center of the territory. Tonight was the Moon Festival. It was the most important celebration of the year. And for Selena, it was supposed to be a special night. She stood on the palace balcony, looking down at the crowd. Her long silver dress flowed around her body as the cool night breeze gently moved her dark hair. A delicate silver crown rested on her head, marking her as the Luna of the most powerful pack in the Northern Territory. For three years, Selena had stood beside Alpha Adrian. Three years as his mate. Three years as his wife. Three years as the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack. She had everything other women could only dream of. Yet tonight, something felt different. "You're doing it again." Selena turned. Her best friend, Mia, stood behind her with her arms crossed. "Doing what?" "Watching your husband." Selena frowned. "I wasn't watching him." Mia laughed. "You've been staring at Alpha Adrian for the past ten minutes." Selena looked down at the celebration. Her eyes immediately found him. Alpha Adrian stood among the pack members, tall and powerful in his black suit. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his sharp features made him impossible to ignore. Even after three years, Selena's heart still beat faster whenever she saw him. "He is my husband," she said proudly. "I'm allowed to look at him." "Of course you are." Mia walked closer. "But you should also enjoy the festival." "I am enjoying it." "You're standing on a balcony." Selena rolled her eyes. Before she could answer, she heard laughter from below. Her eyes moved toward the sound. And she froze. A woman was standing beside Adrian. Selena had never seen her before. The woman was beautiful. She had long golden hair that fell over her shoulders and bright blue eyes that seemed to shine beneath the moonlight. She wore a simple white dress, but there was something about her that immediately caught Selena's attention. More importantly... She had Adrian's attention. Selena's smile disappeared. "Who is that?" Mia followed her gaze. "I don't know." "Find out." Mia looked at her. "Selena." "What?" "Don't." Selena turned toward her. "Don't what?" "Don't start being jealous." Selena's eyes widened. "I'm not jealous." Mia raised an eyebrow. "You haven't even looked away from that woman since you saw her." Selena turned back toward the crowd. The woman was saying something to Adrian. He smiled. Selena's heart tightened. She had seen Adrian smile thousands of times. But something about this smile bothered her. It seemed different. More relaxed. More genuine. "Who is she?" Selena whispered. "I told you, I don't know." "Then I want to know." Mia sighed. "Selena, you trust Adrian, don't you?" Selena didn't answer immediately. Of course she trusted him. She had to. He was her mate. But recently, things had changed. Adrian had become distant. He was spending more time away from the palace. He had stopped telling Selena about some of his meetings. Whenever she asked questions, he would simply tell her that everything was fine. But Selena knew her mate. Something was wrong. She just didn't know what. Suddenly, the mysterious woman touched Adrian's arm. Selena's eyes narrowed. "She touched him." Mia looked at her. "Yes." "Why?" "Maybe because she's talking to him." Selena turned sharply. "Mia." "I'm just saying." Selena looked at the woman again. Something inside her wolf stirred. Mate. Selena's hands tightened around the railing. He's mine. She knew she shouldn't feel this way. Adrian had never given her a reason to doubt his loyalty. But jealousy wasn't something she could simply switch off. Especially not when another woman was standing so close to her mate. Selena lifted her dress slightly. "I'm going downstairs." Mia grabbed her arm. "Selena, don't make a scene." "I'm not making a scene." "Where are you going?" "To welcome our guest." Mia stared at her. "You don't even know if she's a guest." "Exactly." Selena pulled her arm free. "I intend to find out." She walked toward the staircase. As soon as Selena entered the celebration, everyone immediately noticed her. The pack members bowed respectfully. "Luna Selena." She smiled and nodded. But her eyes remained fixed on Adrian. The Alpha saw her approaching. His expression changed. "Selena." She stopped in front of him. "Hello, my love." Adrian glanced at the woman beside him. Then he looked back at Selena. "You left the balcony." Selena smiled. "Am I not allowed to?" "That's not what I meant." "Then what did you mean?" Adrian sighed. "Nothing." Selena looked at the woman. "And who is your friend?" The woman lowered her head. "Luna Selena." Selena studied her carefully. "You know my name." "Everyone knows who you are." Selena smiled. "Of course." She turned toward Adrian. "You haven't introduced us." Adrian's jaw tightened slightly. "This is Elena." Selena waited. Nothing else came. She raised an eyebrow. "Elena what?" "Just Elena." Selena's eyes narrowed. "Which pack are you from?" Elena opened her mouth. But Adrian interrupted. "She's a guest." Selena slowly turned toward him. "I didn't ask you." The moment she said it, Adrian's expression hardened. "Selena." His voice was low. A warning. The people nearby had begun to look in their direction. Selena immediately smiled. She refused to let the pack see her lose control. "Of course." She looked at Elena. "Welcome to the Silver Moon Pack." "Thank you, Luna." Selena nodded. Then she looked at Adrian. "Can I speak with you?" "Now?" "Yes." Adrian glanced at Elena. That small movement didn't escape Selena. Her heart sank. "Is there a problem?" "Selena, I'm busy." The words stung. She forced herself to smile. "Busy?" "Yes." "With her?" Silence. Adrian's expression changed. "Enough." Selena stared at him. Her heart was breaking, but she refused to show it. "I am your wife." "I know." "Then why are you treating me like I'm a stranger?" For the first time, something flashed in Adrian's eyes. Pain. But it disappeared quickly. "Go back to the palace." Selena couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You're ordering me to leave?" "Selena." "Because she asked you to?" Adrian's eyes darkened. "Don't bring her into this." Selena laughed bitterly. "She's already in it." Adrian stepped closer. "You're embarrassing yourself." The words silenced her. Selena felt as if the entire world had stopped. Adrian had never spoken to her like that. Not in private. And certainly not in front of the pack. She looked at him for a long moment. Then she stepped back. "Fine." Adrian seemed surprised. Selena turned around. She refused to let him see the tears gathering in her eyes. But before she could walk away, she heard Elena speak. "Alpha." Selena stopped. She turned slightly. Elena was looking at Adrian. "We need to leave." Selena's heart dropped. Adrian nodded. "I know." Selena turned around completely. "Leave?" Adrian looked at her. "I have something to take care of." "With her?" "Yes." Selena stared at him. "Where are you going?" "I can't tell you." Her heart shattered. "What?" Adrian's expression softened. "Selena, trust me." She shook her head. "Trust you?" "Yes." "You're leaving a celebration with another woman, refusing to tell me where you're going, and asking me to trust you?" "She's not what you think." Selena looked at Elena. "Then what is she?" Neither Adrian nor Elena answered. Selena's jealousy burned hotter. She looked at Adrian. "Who is she?" Adrian remained silent. Selena felt something inside her snap. "Fine." She stepped closer. "Go with her." Adrian's eyes widened. "Selena." "Go." She turned away. But this time, Adrian didn't follow her. Selena walked through the crowd with her head held high. She didn't cry. She wouldn't. She was the Luna. She had a reputation to protect. But when she reached the palace entrance, she looked back. Adrian was still standing beside Elena. And then something happened that Selena would never forget. Elena reached for Adrian's hand. And Adrian allowed her to hold it. Selena's heart broke. Her wolf growled inside her. Mate. Selena clenched her fists. He's mine. She didn't know who Elena was. She didn't know why she had come to the Silver Moon Pack. But Selena made herself a promise. She would uncover the truth. Even if it meant following her mate. Even if it meant breaking his trust. Because Selena would never allow another woman to take Alpha Adrian away from her. What she didn't know was that Elena had not come to steal her mate. She had come with a warning. A warning that would change the Silver Moon Pack forever. Because someone was planning to kill Alpha Adrian. And the traitor was already inside the pack.