The Girl The MOON Shouldn’t Want

📖 Chapter Five: What Shouldn’t Matter

Daphne

The first thing she felt when she woke up was pain.

Not sharp.

Just… there.

Like it had been waiting for her.

Her body ached in places she had stopped trying to count. Her arms felt heavy, her back stiff, her legs sore from the day before—and the day before that—and the one before that.

It never really stopped.

Outside the room, the house was already awake.

Footsteps moving fast.

Voices sharper than necessary.

Doors opening and closing like no one had time to breathe properly as the preparations for the guests that would soon come, were being made.

“Daphne!”

Her eyes closed for a second.

Of course.

She stood and stepped out.

Mara was already waiting in the corridor, arms folded, face twisted with impatience.

“You again,” Mara said immediately. “Do you ever do anything without being told three times?”

“I was just—”

“I don’t care.”

The words cut through without effort.

“You’re useless,” Mara added flatly. “Absolutely useless. The floors are still dirty, and you’re standing here breathing like you’ve done something important.”

Daphne lowered her gaze.

“I’ll clean it now.”

“You always say that,” Mara snapped. “Move, you insolent brat.”

Daphne did.

…obediently

By mid-morning, the house had shifted into controlled chaos.

The visitors were inside now.

The Blood Moon pack.

Daphne wasn’t supposed to think about them.

She didn’t have the right too.

Later, when the sun had shifted higher and the house had quieted just a little—

She got the order.

“Go upstairs,” Mara said, not even looking at her. “The guest rooms. Clean everything properly. Don’t mess it up.”

Daphne nodded.

Guest rooms.

That meant…

Them.

The visitors.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the cloth in her hand.

She didn’t know why.

It didn’t matter.

They were just people.

Important people.

Dangerous people.

But still—

Just people.

She moved anyway.

Up the stairs.

Down the hallway.

Until she stopped in front of a door.

For a second—

She hesitated.

Not out of fear.

Something else.

Something she didn’t understand.

But she pushed it away.

And knocked.

No response.

She waited.

Nothing.

So assuming no one was in, she opened the door slowly.

Inside, the room was quiet.

Still.

Daphne stepped in carefully, closing the door behind her.

And that was when Serge saw her.

He was already there.

On the couch.

Already sat up

His eyes glued to her the very moment she walked in. Her scent immediately invaded his senses. She smelled like rain-soaked forest after a storm—green, alive, untamed—but softened with something sweet beneath it, like wild honey clinging to warm skin. And that for some strange reason triggered something in him.

That strange feeling had become stronger that this time he was certain it wasn’t a fluke.

Daphne hadn’t notice him yet.

She was still facing away, adjusting a curtain, taking the hung jacket and placing it in the laundry basket.

Daphne turned slightly.

Still unaware.

Still working.

Serge’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Like he was trying to solve something that refused to make sense.

She moved closer to the other side of the room.

And only then—

She felt it.

A presence.

Her movements slowed.

Daphne turned.

And their eyes met.

For a second—

Everything stopped.

Not dramatically.

Just… silently.

Daphne’s breath caught.

Not out of fear

But because the person in front of her didn’t look real.

Not in the way people usually meant.

But in the way something could feel… out of place.

Something in her chest tightened.

It wasn’t pain.

Just—

Something.

Strange.

Serge didn’t move immediately.

He just looked at her.

Taking her in.

The thin frame.

The tired eyes.

The way she held herself like she was trying to take up less space.

And yet—

That unfamiliar feeling beneath his skin

This wasn’t—

This wasn’t a mate bond.

He knew what that would feel like.

This wasn’t it.

And yet—

His body reacted anyway.

Subtle.

But there

He just couldn’t describe it. He wasn’t scared of it just intrigued as to way he’d feel that way.

Daphne shifted slightly, her grip tightening on the cloth.

“I… came to clean,” she said softly.

Her voice was quiet.

Careful.

Like she didn’t want to be heard more than necessary.

Serge tilted his head just slightly.

“Clearly.”

His tone not harsh.

But not soft either.

Daphne didn’t know how to respond.

So she didn’t.

She looked away.

But that didn’t help.

Because she could still feel it.

That pull.

Faint.

But there.

And it didn’t make sense.

Serge watched her for another second.

Then—

He stood.

Slow.

Unhurried.

Daphne instinctively stepped back.

Just slightly.

He noticed.

Of course he did.

And something about that—

Almost amused him.

“You always react like that?” he asked.

Her brows pulled together slightly.

“I—no—”

“Good,” he cut in lightly. “Would’ve been disappointing.”

She blinked.

Confused.

Was he… joking?

She couldn’t tell.

Before she could respond—

A knock came at the door.

Sharp.

Annoying.

Serge’s gaze didn’t leave her.

“Enter.”

The door opened.

Lucian stepped in.

His eyes moved between them once.

Paused.

And then—

A knowing look crossed his face.

“Well,” he said slowly, “this looks interesting.”

Daphne immediately stepped back further.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured quickly, already turning. “I’ll finish later.”

And before anyone could stop her—

She left.

The door closed behind her.

Silence.

Lucian leaned against the wall.

“You’re staring.”

Serge didn’t answer.

Because he was.

At the door.

At where she had just been.

“That wasn’t a mate bond,” Lucian added.

Serge’s jaw tightened slightly.

“I know.”

“Then what was it?”

Serge finally looked away.

“I don’t know.”

And he didn’t like that.

Not knowing things wasn’t something he tolerated well.

“The meeting” Lucian reminded him

Serge exhaled

******

The hall didn’t feel like a place for discussion.

It felt like a place where decisions were made before anyone spoke.

Alpha Howell sat at the head, shoulders squared, jaw set tight like he had already prepared himself for resistance.

Kael stood beside him—not seated.

Not relaxed.

Watching.

Waiting.

Lyria sat slightly behind, but unlike the others, her attention wasn’t on the room.

It was on the entrance.

Because everyone knew who was about to walk in.

And then—

He did.

Serge Voltro didn’t rush.

Didn’t pause.

Didn’t acknowledge the tension waiting for him.

He walked in like he had already measured the room and found nothing worth adjusting for.

Lucian followed at his right.

Elara behind.

And the rest of Blood Moon moved in quiet formation, controlled, precise.

No wasted movement.

Serge took his seat.

Only then did anyone else move.

Howell leaned forward slightly.

“You took your time.”

Serge rested his arm along the chair.

“You called the meeting.”

A pause.

Subtle.

But it landed.

Kael’s lips pressed into a thin line.

Howell didn’t react.

“We’ll get straight to it,” he said. “Your messengers made it clear you had concerns.”

Serge’s gaze shifted lazily across the room.

Not searching.

Just… observing.

Then it settled back on Howell.

“Concern isn’t the word I used.”

Kael let out a quiet scoff.

“No, you implied we were overstepping.”

Serge glanced at him.

“I didn’t imply it.”

That was it.

He didn’t raise his voice.

But the correction was sharp.

Kael went still.

Howell’s tone lowered slightly.

“Our pack is growing,” he said. “We are claiming land that is unguarded. That is within our right.”

Serge tilted his head.

“Unclaimed doesn’t mean unimportant.”

“How would it matter to you?” Kael cut in. “It’s not your territory.”

Serge looked at him fully now.

And for a second—

The room shifted.

Because there was something in his eyes that wasn’t there before.

Not anger.

Something colder.

“It’s close enough to become my territory,” he said quietly.

Real silence this time.

Heavy.

Howell’s fingers tightened slightly against the armrest.

“You’re saying our expansion threatens you?”

Serge leaned back again.

“I’m saying,” he replied calmly,

“you’re expanding too fast for a pack that can’t defend what it already holds.”

That hit.

Kael stepped forward.

“We can defend everything we take.”

Serge’s gaze flicked over him briefly.

“Confidence is easy when nothing has tested it.”

Lucian turned his face slightly, hiding the hint of a smile.

Lyria… didn’t even pretend.

Her eyes were locked on Serge completely now.

Like every word he said mattered more than anything her own pack had built.

Howell inhaled slowly.

“You don’t control how we grow,” he said.

Serge didn’t argue that.

He just nodded once.

“You’re right.”

That surprised them.

Just slightly.

Then—

“I control what happens when your growth becomes inconvenient.”

There it was.

It wasn’t loud.

Not dramatic.

But clear.

And dangerous.

Kael’s voice sharpened.

“Is that a threat?”

Serge didn’t even look at him this time.

“If it was,” he said, almost absentmindedly,

“you wouldn’t need to ask.”

At this point the air became heavier

Howell leaned forward.

“What exactly do you want, Alpha Serge?”

This time—

Serge didn’t delay.

“You stop expanding toward Blood Moon borders.”

Kael shook his head immediately

“That’s not happening.”

Serge’s gaze slid to him.

He studied him for a second.

Then—

A faint smirk

Something almost amused.

“You will.”

Kael’s jaw tightened.

Howell stepped in again, voice controlled but strained now.

“This is our land. Our growth. You don’t get to dictate that.”

Serge leaned forward slightly.

“And you don’t get to ignore proximity.”

A pause.

Then his voice dropped just enough—

“If your expansion reaches a point where I have to notice it…”

Silence.

“…I won’t be this patient again.”

That was it.

That was the line.

Not exaggerated

But final.

Lyria exhaled softly—

like she had been holding her breath without realizing it.

Howell looked at Serge for a long moment.

Measuring.

Calculating.

Because this wasn’t a bluff.

It was a boundary.

And crossing it would cost something.

The same thing it cost the Former Black Ridge pack, who till today, cause of extinction was still unknown but deeply tied to the man whose every word garnered attention in this room

“…What are you proposing?” Howell asked finally.

Serge leaned back again.

Relaxed.

Like the outcome was already decided.

“You continue your expansion,” he said.

That caught them off guard.

Even Lucian,whose head snapped towards his direction

Kael frowned.

“What?”

Serge’s gaze didn’t shift.

“But not unchecked.”

Now they were listening.

“Seven days,” Serge continued. “My pack remains here.”

Silence.

“You adjust your expansion routes. We observe.”

Kael let out a short laugh.

“You want to supervise us?”

Serge’s eyes flicked to him.

“I want to make sure I don’t have to correct you later.”

That shut him up.

Immediately.

Howell exhaled slowly.

“And after seven days?”

Serge stood.

“If your expansion stays within reason…”

A pause.

“We won’t have this conversation again.”

And if it didn’t?

He didn’t say it.

He didn’t need to.

Because everyone in that room understood exactly what would happen next.

Howell nodded once.

“…Seven days.”

Kael didn’t agree.

But he didn’t speak either.

Because this wasn’t his decision.

It never had been.

Serge turned to leave.

Lucian and Elara followed.

The Blood Moon wolves moved as one again.

Controlled.

Silent.

At the door, Serge paused.

Just slightly.

Not enough to seem intentional.

Then—

Without turning back—

“Grow carefully.”

A beat.

“Some things don’t survive becoming too big too fast.”

And then he left.

The hall stayed silent long after he was gone.

Because that wasn’t just a meeting.

It was a warning.

And everyone felt it.

***********

Serge didn’t speak until the door shut behind them.

The corridor outside the hall was quieter.

Cooler.

But the tension hadn’t left.

It followed.

Lucian let out a low breath beside him.

“Well,” he muttered, “that was… polite. For you.”

Serge didn’t respond immediately.

He walked.

Unhurried.

Hands loose at his sides.

Elara’s heels clicked softly behind them.

“You let them keep expanding,” she said, her tone calm but observant. “That wasn’t what we came here for.”

Serge turned a corner without slowing.

“It was.”

Lucian scoffed lightly.

“No,” he said, “we came here to stop them before they got bold enough to think they could stand next to us.”

Serge’s lips curved faintly.

“They already think that.”

Silence.

Lucian glanced at him.

“…And you’re letting it happen?”

Serge finally stopped when they reached his room.

He pushed the door open.

Entered.

They followed.

The room felt still.

Too still.

Serge walked in like he owned it anyway.

Which he did.

In a way.

He moved toward the couch and sat, leaning back slightly, one arm draped over the side like the space had always belonged to him.

Lucian remained standing.

Elara leaned lightly against the wall.

“Explain,” Lucian said.

Serge’s gaze drifted—not to them.

To the room.

Something in his expression shifted.

Barely.

Then—

“They’re not strong enough to expand the way they’re trying to.”

Lucian frowned slightly.

“That’s exactly why we should’ve stopped them.”

Serge shook his head once.

“No.”

“They’ll expose themselves faster this way.”

Elara’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“You’re waiting for them to fail.”

Serge looked at her now.

“Or prove they won’t.”

Lucian folded his arms.

“And if they don’t fail?”

Serge didn’t hesitate.

“Then they’re worth watching.”

That… made sense.

But Lucian still wasn’t convinced.

“You don’t usually gamble like this,” he said. “Not on other packs.”

Serge leaned back slightly, gaze shifting again.

“I’m not gambling.”

A pause.

“I’m observing.”

The word sat there.

Familiar.

But something about it felt… off this time.

Elara studied him more carefully now.

Because she caught it.

That slight difference.

“You could’ve shut it down today,” she said quietly. “And you didn’t.”

Serge didn’t answer immediately.

And that—

That was the answer.

Lucian’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“…There’s something else.”

Serge exhaled slowly.

Not irritated.

But not interested in explaining either.

“I said I have my reasons.”

Lucian let out a short breath.

“Right. Your mysterious reasons.”

Serge didn’t react.

But for a brief second—

Something crossed his mind.

Uninvited.

A thin figure.

Quiet.

And something in his chest—

Shifted.

Again.

He stilled

Barely noticeable.

But Elara saw it.

Lucian didn’t.

“…Serge,” Elara said slowly, “this doesn’t feel like just strategy.”

Serge’s jaw tightened slightly.

“It is.”

Too quick.

Lucian raised a brow.

“That sounded convincing.”

Serge’s gaze snapped to him.

Flat.

Lucian lifted his hands slightly.

“Alright. Fine.”

A pause.

Then—

“But if this turns into something unnecessary, we shut it down.”

Serge didn’t argue.

“Of course.”

Because that part was true.

He would.

If it needed to be done.

Lucian nodded once, satisfied enough.

Elara didn’t look convinced

But she said nothing.

After a moment, they both left.

The door closed behind them.

And the room fell quiet again.

He exhaled slowly.

.

That night—

Serge couldn’t sleep.

He lay still on the couch in his room, eyes open.

And saw her again.

Not clearly.

Just fragments.

The way she moved.

The way she looked away too quickly.

The way she seemed… smaller than she should be.

His jaw tightened slightly.

Uncomfortable.

Not because of danger.

But because of concern he didn’t ask for.

He sat up slowly.

Ran a hand through his hair.

This shouldn’t matter.

It did anyway.

And that—

Was the problem.

He was annoyed now.

Because this wasn’t how his mind worked.

He didn’t dwell on things that didn’t matter.

And she—

Didn’t matter.

A servant.

Worse than insignificant.

Forgettable.

And yet—

She hadn’t been.

His eyes closed briefly.

And it came back.

Her big eyes and hollow cheekbones.

She looked and stood like she was in a lot of pain buh somehow still managed to move

Her scent…

That scent…something his senses couldn’t seem to forget.

His eyes opened again.

Sharp.

Frustrated now.

This wasn’t—

Normal.

And he didn’t like things he couldn’t explain.

Serge stood abruptly.

Walked to the window.

Looked out.

Darkness had settled over the pack.

Quiet.

Everything exactly where it should be.

Everything making sense.

Except—

This.

He ran a hand through his hair slowly.

Then stilled again.

Because even now—

He could still see her.

Not clearly.

Just—

There.

And that was enough to keep him awake.

For a long time