The Moon chose my Enemy

The Journey Home

The door closed. The soft click echoed through the chamber long after Rowan had disappeared. Serena remained exactly where she was.

"I won't kill you."

His voice still lingered in the room.

"I'll make you wish I had."

The words wrapped around her like invisible chains. For several heartbeats, she simply stared at the closed door. This had to be a misunderstanding. It had to be. She had never met Rowan Draven before today. She had never spoken to him, never crossed paths with him. The hatred in his eyes... it couldn't possibly be meant for her.It belonged to someone else. Someone with her surname. And she knew who. Slowly, she lowered herself into the nearest chair. Her hands refused to stop trembling. She thought of the man she had seen in the marketplace that morning.

Silent.

Reserved.

Watching her gather flowers.

For the briefest moment, she'd thought there had been something gentle about him. Now she realized she'd been terribly wrong.A sharp knock startled her. Before she could answer, the door opened.

"Serena!"

Lyra rushed inside, nearly tripping over her own skirts.

"There you are! I've been looking everywhere—"

She stopped. The excitement vanished from her face. Serena was still sitting exactly as she'd been left. Motionless. Her complexion had lost all colour.

"What happened?"

Serena forced a smile.

"It was... a conversation."

Lyra frowned.

"With Rowan?"

Serena nodded once.

Lyra pulled another chair beside her.

"What did he say?"

Serena opened her mouth. Nothing came out.How could she repeat those words? How could she explain a hatred she didn't understand? She simply shook her head.

"I don't know what I've done."

Lyra reached for her hand.

"You've done nothing."

"I must have."

"No."

Lyra squeezed her fingers gently.

"You've spent your whole life helping people, Serena."

A quiet laugh escaped Serena.

"It appears the Moon Goddess doesn't keep the same records you do."

Lyra smiled sadly.

"Then perhaps the Moon Goddess has terrible handwriting."

For the first time since the ceremony, Serena laughed. It lasted only a second. Three firm knocks interrupted them. Both women looked toward the door. It opened before either could answer. A man dressed in black armour stepped inside.A silver wolf was engraved across his breastplate.

Shadowfang. He bowed respectfully.

"Lady Serena."

His voice was formal.

"Alpha Rowan departs shortly."

Serena slowly stood.

"I see."

"The Alpha has ordered that his mate accompany him."

Not requested. Ordered.

Lyra's expression hardened.

"Already?"

"The Alpha leaves within thirty minutes."

Thirty minutes. That was all. Thirty minutes to leave the only home she'd ever known. The knight bowed once more before quietly leaving the room.Silence settled between the two women.

Lyra spoke first.

"I'll help you pack."

Serena owned surprisingly little. A few dresses. Several books. A wooden jewellery box her mother had carved before she died. A bundle of letters tied together with faded blue ribbon. Lyra folded another gown into the travel trunk.

"I still think this is ridiculous."

Serena smiled faintly.

"I don't think anyone asked either of us."

"No."

Lyra shut the lid harder than necessary.

"They certainly didn't."

Serena walked toward the window.

Beyond the temple gardens, the mountains stretched endlessly beneath the afternoon sun. She had climbed those hills as a child. Hidden among those trees. Learned to ride on those winding paths. Every memory she cherished seemed to live somewhere beyond that window. And now...

She was leaving. Without knowing if she would ever return. A lump formed in her throat. She swallowed it back. There would be time to grieve later. If Rowan allowed it. Lyra suddenly wrapped her arms around her. The hug came so unexpectedly that Serena froze. Then she hugged her back.

"I'm going to miss you."

"So am I."

"If he hurts you..."

Serena pulled away gently.

"He won't."

The words sounded far less convincing aloud.

Lyra searched her face.

"You don't believe that."

Serena didn't answer.

Another knock echoed through the room. Much softer this time.

"The carriage is ready, my lady."

The temple courtyard had changed completely. Hours earlier, it had been filled with laughter. Now it was crowded with departing delegations. Warriors loaded wagons. Servants carried supplies. Royal banners fluttered in the mountain wind.

At the center of it all stood Rowan. He spoke quietly with one of his commanders. His expression hadn't changed. Not once.

It was as though the conversation in the private chamber had never happened. As though he'd never promised to destroy her.

A magnificent black horse stood beside him, saddled and waiting. He mounted it in one effortless movement. Only then did he glance toward the carriage. Toward Serena.His gaze lingered for less than a second. Then he looked away. Nothing. Not recognition.

Not anger. Not even indifference. It was worse than all three. It was as if she simply wasn't worth looking at. One of the Shadowfang soldiers opened the carriage door.

"My lady."

Serena climbed inside. The interior was lined with dark blue velvet. Comfortable. Elegant. Completely silent. Outside, soldiers shouted orders. Moments later, the opposite carriage door swung open. A familiar face smiled at her.

"I was hoping there'd still be room."

Rhys Ashbourne climbed inside without waiting for permission. He settled into the seat opposite her with an exaggerated sigh.

"Thank the Goddess."

Serena blinked.

"...For what?"

"For saving me from riding next to Rowan for six straight hours."

She couldn't help smiling. Rhys leaned closer conspiratorially.

"He's even less talkative on horseback."

A laugh escaped Serena before she could stop it.

Outside the carriage...Rowan heard it. He didn't turn around. But for reasons he couldn't explain...The sound lingered in his mind. The caravan rolled through the towering gates of the Moon Temple. The wheels rumbled over ancient stone before meeting the winding mountain road. For a while, no one spoke.

Rhys glanced from Serena to the window, then back again.

"So..."

Serena looked up.

"So?"

"I feel obligated to apologize."

"For what?"

"For Rowan."

She frowned.

"You didn't do anything."

"I know." He sighed dramatically. "Unfortunately, I've known him for twenty years."

Despite everything, Serena smiled.

"Has he always been... quiet?"

Rhys laughed.

"Quiet? No."

"No?"

"He used to be unbearable."

Serena raised an eyebrow.

"He smiled."

"I don't believe you."

"I swear on my life."

"He laughed."

"Now you're definitely lying."

Rhys placed a hand over his heart in mock offense.

"I've been wounded."

She laughed again, softer this time.

"I've never heard anyone describe Alpha Rowan that way."

"That's because no one remembers."

The humor faded from Rhys's face.

"He wasn't born like this."

Before Serena could ask what he meant, the carriage lurched violently.

The horses screamed. The driver shouted.

"Ambush!"

The carriage came to a brutal stop. Steel clashed outside. Rhys's expression changed instantly. Every trace of humor disappeared.

"Stay inside."

He was already reaching for the sword at his side.

"What—"

Before Serena could finish, Rhys had jumped from the carriage.

The door slammed shut behind him. For one terrifying second... There was silence. Then chaos exploded. A wolf howled. Someone screamed. The unmistakable sound of metal striking metal echoed through the trees. Serena's pulse hammered in her ears. She reached for the curtain and pulled it back just enough to see. Shadowfang warriors had formed a defensive circle around the caravan.

Dark figures burst from the forest. Rogue wolves. Their clothes were ragged. Their eyes burned with desperation.

One charged toward the lead carriage—He never reached it. Rowan moved. It happened so quickly Serena almost missed it. One moment he stood beside his horse.

The next...His sword flashed. The rogue collapsed before he even realized he'd been struck. Another attacked from Rowan's blind side.Without looking, Rowan caught the man's wrist. A sharp c***k echoed through the forest. The rogue crumpled, screaming. Rowan didn't even slow down. His movements were terrifyingly precise. No wasted effort. No anger. No hesitation. Every strike ended a fight before it truly began.

He wasn't battling. He was executing. Within moments, the remaining rogues faltered. Fear spread across their faces.

One of them shouted,

"Retreat!"

The survivors scattered into the trees. It should have been over. Then Serena heard glass shatter. A rogue had hidden beneath the carriage. He burst upward, ripping open the carriage door. His eyes landed on Serena.

"There she is!"

He lunged.

Serena barely had time to gasp before a rough hand seized her arm. She tried to pull away. The rogue grinned.

"The Black Alpha will pay dearly for—"

His sentence ended abruptly. A hand closed around his throat. Rowan. He had crossed the distance so quickly Serena hadn't seen him move. The rogue struggled desperately. Rowan's expression never changed.

"You touched what's mine."

His voice was almost conversational. The rogue's eyes widened.

"I'm sor—"

A sickening c***k echoed through the forest.His body fell lifelessly to the ground. Silence. Even the birds had stopped singing. Rowan looked down at Serena. For the first time since leaving the temple...

Their eyes met.

"Are you hurt?"

The question caught her off guard. She shook her head.

"No."

He gave one curt nod.

"Good."

For the smallest fraction of a second... Serena thought perhaps he'd softened. Then he spoke again.

"Stay inside."

Not because he cared. Not because he was worried. Because she was now under his protection. His responsibility. His possession.

He closed the carriage door without another word. The journey continued. No one spoke for nearly an hour. Rhys eventually climbed back into the carriage, wiping blood from the edge of his sword with an old cloth.

"Well..."

He forced a smile.

"That wasn't ideal."

Serena stared at him.

"Does that happen often?"

"Not usually this close to the Moon Temple."

"What did they want?"

Rhys shrugged.

"Food, Money,Weapons."

He hesitated.

"Or maybe they were after someone."

Serena looked toward the window. Rowan rode ahead of the caravan once more. Exactly as before. As though the attack had been nothing more than an inconvenience. She couldn't stop thinking about the rogue's final moments.

"You touched what's mine."

The words echoed in her head. She wasn't sure which frightened her more. The fact that he'd saved her. Or the reason he'd done it.

Hours later...

The mountain road began to climb. Dark pines gave way to sheer cliffs. Mist rolled through the valleys below. Rhys leaned toward the window.

"We're almost there."

Serena followed his gaze. At first, she saw only rock. Then... It emerged.

Shadowfang Castle.Built into the side of the mountain itself. Black stone towers pierced the clouds. Massive walls wrapped around the cliffs like the jaws of a beast. Silver banners snapped in the cold wind. The fortress didn't look like a home.It looked unconquerable.

Beautiful.

Ancient.

Merciless.

Rhys smiled.

"Welcome to Shadowfang."

Serena couldn't answer. Her eyes drifted to Rowan riding alone at the front of the procession. His back remained perfectly straight. He never once looked behind him.As the enormous gates slowly opened...One thought settled heavily in Serena's mind. She hadn't arrived at her new home. She had entered the prison of the man who had sworn to destroy her.