Unlikely Alliance; The Alpha’s Spy

The air lingered with the scent of acrid betrayal. Selene fought her instincts as she weaved through the palace corridors, her heart raced with the hope that there was some kind of mistake, that the whispers she had overheard were nothing but lies. But truth had a way of cutting deeper than any blade. She stood frozen outside his bedroom, her breath seizing for one heart-stopping moment. Inside, Cross was not alone. His hands worked smoothly on another woman's bare body, his fingers caressed her in a way that made bile rise high in Selene's throat. His lips moved against hers with the same hunger he had once reserved for Selene. A similar hunger that once made her feel desired. She felt devastated. Her stomach twisted. Disgusted. “You bastard,” she breathed, storming inside. Cross jerked away, eyes wide with guilt before his face hardened. No remorse. No regrets. Just pure unbridled annoyance. “Selene! What the fu—” “Don't”, she cut him off, her voice shaking with fury. “I trusted you.” The woman in his arms smirked amusingly, but was unruffled by the confrontation. “Maybe you should've been better at keeping him satisfied.” Selene saw red. Selene's hand moved impulsively. A loud slap echoed in the room. Cross snarled, “Enough, Selene. This isn't what it looks like.” But it was. And the worst part? Selene had known for some time. The way he kissed her with his eyes open; the growing lack of attention; the way his touch felt more formal rather than needy. She had just refused to see it. No, it wasn't the sight that she lacked, it was the courage to accept it. Selene's gaze snapped back to Cross. “For how long, Cross?” Her voice was barely audible. “How long have you been lying to me?” Cross sighed. “Does it matter?” Selene’s breath shook, her heart pounding. “You know what? "It doesn't," she said a little louder. “But you could have ended things instead of making me look like a damn fool.” Cross had the audacity to look irritable. “And what, deal with your crying ass? Begging me to stay?” She shot him a glare. However, had she thought he was worth her? “You're pathetic,” she declared. “I should have seen it sooner.” Cross snorted. “The signs were there, but you chose to ignore them.” Her hands trembled at her sides. “Because I loved you.” Cross hesitated for just a second, something flickering across his face. Guilt? Regret? It did not matter anymore. He could not have her anymore. But did he care about that? No. “Yeah, well,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “Love doesn't change anything.” Selene felt something inside of her finally snap. Her fists clenched. This was not worth her pain. He was not worth her pain. Spinning on her heel, Selene stormed out only to collide into a hard, familiar chest. Marcus. Her brother loomed over her. His cold green eyes would have frozen hell twice over. “Little sister? What happened?” Selene swallowed. “I want to leave the pack. I want to leave right now!” Marcus' gaze flicked past her, taking in Cross, still half-dressed. The woman, upon seeing Marcus, gathered her clothes and fled. Cross allowed her. Understanding dawned on his features, and his jaw clenched. “You betrayed my sister.” His voice was calm. Too calm. Cross scoffed. “It was nothing. She’s overreacting.” Selene flinched. Marcus said nothing. He just moved. And in one swift, brutal motion, his claws slashed across Cross’ throat. A wet, gurgling sound filled the room. Blood sprayed the walls. Cross staggered, his hands clutching at the deep gash as if he could contain the liquid. A strangled sound left him before he collapsed, lifeless. Blood pooled on the bed. Selene's breath hitched. She should have felt satisfied. Instead, she felt nauseous. “You didn't have to-” Her voice broke. Marcus wiped his bloody hand against his tunic, his expression unreadable. “He didn't deserve to live.” Tears burned Selene's eyes. This was not what she wanted. She had only wanted to go, to leave this pack and all its sad memories behind. “Let me go, Marcus,” she begged. “I don't belong here anymore.” But Marcus shook his head. “You are my sister. This is your home.” Selene stepped back. “No, it's my prison.” Marcus huffed loudly. “You're not going anywhere little sister.” Then a guard burst into the room, breathless. “Alpha! Our spy in the Red Moon Pack has been discovered. He's dead.” Selene's body went rigid. The Red Moon Pack. Their sworn enemy. Marcus’s expression darkened, his voice cold and measured. “How did it happen?" "The guard took a steadying breath. “Nina discovered him. But before they could get anything out of him... he took his own life.” Selene's stomach twisted. She knew the man who had died. He had given his life for their pack. Marcus turned to her, his fury transmuting into something else. A calculation. A plan. Selene straightened. This was an opportunity. This was her moment. It was now or never. “You need a new spy.” Her voice was soft but sure. Marcus frowned. “What?” “You need a new spy,” she repeated. “I’ll do it. I'll infiltrate the Red Moon Pack.” He stared at her like she had lost her gad damn mind. “You think I'd send you into enemy territory?” “You don't have a choice.” Her heart pounded as she said so. “No one would suspect me.” Marcus merely shook his head. “No, it’s too dangerous." You are not even trained for it.” “But I can do this,” she pressed further. “Marcus, I am no longer a child.” His green eyes finally landed on her, with all kinds of skepticism. And finally, he nodded. “Alright, you're now the Crescent Moon Pack's new spy,” he muttered. Selene exhaled, relief washing over her. She was going to leave. She would no longer feel like a prisoner. She would no longer feel betrayed or sad. But as she prepared to step into this new reality, she failed to realize one thing. This mission would not just test her loyalty and boundaries. It would change everything. And it would bring her face to face with the man who would ruin her carefully laid plans. Alpha Ethan.