Chapter Two:The Secret Meeting
1186 Words
Selena didn't sleep that night.
She lay alone in the enormous bedroom she shared with Alpha Adrian, staring at the empty space beside her.
Adrian still hadn't returned.
The clock on the wall moved past midnight.
Then one o'clock.
Then two.
Selena sat up.
Her heart was filled with anger, but beneath that anger was something much more painful.
Fear.
Where was Adrian?
And why had he left with Elena?
Selena got out of bed and walked toward the window.
The pack grounds were quiet now.
The celebration had ended hours ago.
Most of the wolves had returned to their homes.
But Selena noticed something.
A light was still burning in the old council building.
Her eyes narrowed.
The council building was rarely used at night.
Why was someone there?
Then she saw them.
Two figures emerged from the building.
Selena's heart stopped.
One of them was Adrian.
The other was Elena.
Selena stepped away from the window.
"They're back."
Her wolf stirred.
Mate.
Selena's anger returned.
She quickly left the bedroom and hurried down the stairs.
She reached the palace entrance just as Adrian and Elena approached.
Adrian stopped when he saw her.
"Selena?"
She folded her arms.
"Where have you been?"
Adrian glanced at Elena.
That small movement was enough to anger Selena.
"Don't look at her," Selena snapped. "I'm asking you."
Adrian sighed.
"We had a meeting."
"A meeting?"
"Yes."
"At two in the morning?"
"Something important came up."
Selena laughed.
"Of course."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
"Selena."
"What?"
"You've been acting strangely all night."
She stared at him.
"Strangely?"
"Yes."
Selena stepped closer.
"Maybe I'm acting strangely because my husband disappeared with a woman I don't know."
"She's my guest."
"Then why won't you tell me who she is?"
Adrian's face became unreadable.
Selena looked between him and Elena.
"Who is she, Adrian?"
Elena suddenly spoke.
"Selena, I think—"
"Don't."
Selena turned toward her.
"This is between me and my husband."
Elena immediately fell silent.
Adrian's eyes flashed with anger.
"Don't speak to her like that."
Selena stared at him.
There it was again.
He was defending her.
Something inside Selena broke a little more.
"You care about her."
Adrian froze.
"What?"
"You care about her."
"Selena, that's ridiculous."
"Then prove me wrong."
Adrian shook his head.
"You're being jealous."
"Maybe I am!"
The words came out before Selena could stop them.
Silence filled the entrance hall.
Selena's breathing became heavy.
She looked at Adrian.
"I'm jealous."
Her voice softened.
"Because I love you."
Adrian's expression changed.
Selena continued.
"I love you so much that the thought of losing you terrifies me."
Adrian stared at her.
For a moment, Selena thought he would come to her.
She thought he would hold her.
Tell her everything was fine.
But he didn't.
Instead, he looked away.
And that hurt more than anything.
Selena wiped a tear from her cheek.
"Do you still love me?"
Adrian's eyes immediately returned to hers.
"Selena..."
"Answer me."
"I love you."
"Then why are you hiding things from me?"
Adrian didn't answer.
Selena's heart sank.
Before she could say anything else, a loud growl came from outside.
Adrian immediately became alert.
His Alpha instincts took over.
"Stay here."
Selena frowned.
"What happened?"
Adrian moved toward the door.
"Something is wrong."
Elena followed him.
Selena watched them.
Again.
Always Elena.
Selena's jealousy returned.
"Adrian!"
He turned.
"Stay inside."
"I'm coming with you."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
Selena's eyes flashed.
"You don't give me orders."
"I am your Alpha."
"And I am your Luna!"
Their voices echoed through the hall.
Adrian stared at her.
Then suddenly, a pack warrior rushed through the entrance.
"Alpha!"
Adrian turned.
"What is it?"
The warrior was breathing heavily.
"We found someone near the eastern border."
"Who?"
"We don't know."
"Is he alive?"
The warrior hesitated.
"Yes."
"Bring him here."
"Alpha, there's something else."
Adrian's expression became serious.
"What?"
The warrior lowered his voice.
"The man was carrying this."
He held out a small black envelope.
Adrian took it.
Selena watched as his face changed.
"What is it?" she asked.
Adrian didn't answer.
Selena stepped closer.
"Adrian."
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a single piece of paper.
He read it.
His eyes darkened.
Selena grabbed the paper from his hand.
"Hey—"
She read the message.
Her blood ran cold.
YOUR TIME AS ALPHA IS ALMOST OVER.
Selena looked up.
"Who sent this?"
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"I don't know."
Elena suddenly stepped forward.
"That's impossible."
Everyone looked at her.
Adrian turned.
"What did you say?"
Elena's face had gone pale.
She stared at the letter.
"I've seen that symbol before."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"What symbol?"
Elena pointed to the bottom of the letter.
A small crescent moon had been drawn in black ink.
Selena looked at it.
"What does it mean?"
Elena swallowed.
"The Crimson Circle."
The warrior stepped back.
Adrian's face became cold.
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
Selena looked at him.
Adrian didn't answer.
Selena's suspicion grew.
"You know something."
"Selena—"
"You know something about this group."
"Not here."
"Why not?"
Adrian looked around.
The warrior was still standing nearby.
Elena was watching them.
Selena understood.
There was something Adrian wasn't telling her.
And this time, it wasn't about another woman.
It was something much bigger.
Something dangerous.
Selena stepped closer to Adrian.
"What are you hiding from me?"
Adrian stared into her eyes.
Before he could answer, the sound of a wolf howling echoed from the eastern border.
Then another.
And another.
Adrian's face changed.
"Lock down the pack."
The warrior immediately bowed.
"Yes, Alpha."
He ran out.
Selena looked at Adrian.
"What's happening?"
Adrian grabbed her hand.
"You're coming with me."
Selena stared at him.
"Where?"
"To the council room."
"What about Elena?"
Adrian looked at Elena.
"You stay here."
Elena nodded.
Selena's jealousy returned for a brief moment.
But something was different now.
For the first time, Selena noticed the fear in Elena's eyes.
Elena wasn't trying to steal Adrian.
She was afraid.
And Selena had a feeling that whatever was happening to the Silver Moon Pack...
Elena knew more than she was saying.
Selena followed Adrian toward the council room.
But just before they entered, Elena suddenly called out.
"Selena."
Selena stopped.
She turned.
Elena looked directly into her eyes.
"Don't trust everyone who calls you Luna."
Selena froze.
"What does that mean?"
Elena looked at Adrian.
Then back at Selena.
"Your greatest enemy isn't outside the pack."
She lowered her voice.
"He's already inside."
Selena's heart began to race.
Then Elena whispered four words that changed everything.
"And he knows your secret."
Selena went completely still.
Her secret.
The one thing she had never told Adrian.
The secret about her birth.
The secret about the night she was found abandoned at the edge of the Silver Moon territory.
No one knew about it.
No one...
Except the person who had left her there.
And suddenly, Selena realized something terrifying.
The threat against Adrian wasn't the only danger facing the Silver Moon Pack.
Someone was coming for her, too.
- Writer
