The Pain Of A Mate

Invited

Chapter Two - Invited

Selene’s POV

I thought the chaos had passed. That maybe, finally, life could return to some fragile sense of normal.

I was wrong.

A tall, lean man walked into the café, moving with the silent precision of someone used to commanding attention. I froze, my heart thudding in my chest.

“Alden regrets the incident the other day,” he said, voice low, deliberate, almost hollow. “He’s sent replacements. Supplies for your uncle’s café.”

The words hung in the air like a warning.

Jarek stiffened beside me, fingers clutching the edge of the counter until his knuckles turned white. I could feel his tension like static electricity.

“He insists… you must come to the pack hall in person,” the man added, his tone leaving no room for argument.

A sharp tension gripped the room, snapping tighter than a drawn bowstring. Everyone here knew it wasn’t just a simple visit. Nothing from a Wilson came free, and there were always strings attached.

“I’ll go with her,” Jarek said immediately, stepping toward me, ready to protect me.

The man’s gaze didn’t change. “He said she comes alone.”

Kaelen, ever the malicious shadow, let out a low, mocking chuckle and stepped directly in front of me. His eyes gleamed with something dark, something hungry. “Alone, huh? Of course. She’ll go alone,” he sneered. “Listen carefully, Selene. Step out of line, and I will make sure you regret it. Understand?”

Ashen growled deep inside me, claws pressing against my ribs. “I’ll handle him,” he hissed.

“No,” I whispered, pressing my hands against my chest. “Not now. Stay calm.”

Kaelen smirked cruelly. “Careful, little wolf,” he muttered, but stepped back, satisfied for the moment.

I drew in a shaky breath, trying to soothe the raging fire inside me. “Not yet, Ashen,” I murmured. “We’ll deal with him later.”

By the time I stepped out of the café, my stomach churned with anxiety. The journey to the pack hall felt longer than it was, each step heavier than the last. I didn’t belong here anymore—not truly.

The moment I entered the grand hall, I felt it: dominance in the air, thick and suffocating, the scent of strong, powerful wolves marking every corner. My pulse spiked, each step echoing on the polished stone floor.

Portraits of past alphas lined the walls, eyes seemingly alive, tracking me with silent judgment. Memories of childhood flooded me—of when I was welcomed here, when Alex’s parents had treated me like family. Back then, these halls had felt warm, safe.

Now, under Alden’s control, the same walls seemed hostile, accusing, reminding me that I no longer belonged.

I wanted only to collect the supplies and leave—quickly, quietly. But there he was.

Alden. Standing by the vast window overlooking the training grounds. His posture was casual, but every inch of him radiated authority. My chest tightened the moment our eyes met.

“You’ve arrived,” he said, voice smooth, unreadable, yet heavier than anything I’d ever felt.

“Yes,” I answered, voice flat, forcing my hands to remain at my sides. “I’m here for the deliveries.”

He didn’t speak for a long moment, studying me as though measuring my very soul. Then, he turned back toward the window, watching the warriors practice below. “No need to rush,” he said softly, almost teasingly.

I clenched my fists. His calm, deliberate gaze left a burn on my skin.

Your father…" he said finally, his voice somewhat gentler, "he was an honorable man. Even against us.".

I stood still, memories of warfare and tactics returning, heart hurting.

“Though he opposed us,” he continued, glancing at me, “I cannot deny his courage. I hear those who refused to surrender built something new… Alex now leads his pack.”

At the sound of Alex's name, the bitter pang of rejection cut through me. I said nothing.

Alden's eyes tightened, flashing gold, intensity burning within them. "But Alex is not the true threat," he continued, his voice low. "There is someone backing him. Powerful. Unrelenting. A force to be reckoned with.

He swung around completely to look at me, his eyes burning. "They call him Alec," he stated slowly. "Do you know him?

Ashen stirred violently, heart thrumming in my chest. Of course I knew. Alec—my hidden self, my secret warrior identity.

Alden did not recognize me. Note that.

I could not respond before his hand darted out, seizing my arm in a tight grasp.

A shock coursed through my veins, fierce and startling. The mate bond blazed—raw, wild, unmistakable.

Ashen yipped sharply in surprise and delight.

I gasped.

This bond… this connection… it was not something that I could resist or ignore.

And with that, everything was different.