Chapter 6
1420 Words
SELENE
“Yes.”
Zarek nodded, a wide smile playing on his lips. Without another word, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a crisp sheet of paper—an official contract.
“I help you. You help me.” He handed it over.
“Okay,” I said, eyes scanning the terms. “Anything.”
He looked at me, eyes serious, voice calm. “Bear me a heir.”
I blinked. “What?”
“You heard me.”
“That’s… that’s difficult. You’re not even my mate.” I stared at him like he’d grown two heads. “I can’t even smell you.”
“But I can smell you,” he said as he stepped closer, his voice dropping a note. “Your scent is… addictive.”
My breath caught. For a second, I couldn’t move.
“Okay, fine,” I said, not sure if it was courage or desperation that pushed the words out.
He nodded, satisfied. “The Luna’s celebration will be held tomorrow. Officially, you’ll become Luna by nightfall.”
Then he turned and left, leaving me to stare after him with a mix of disbelief and dread.
The next morning, the sound of birds outside my window dragged me out of a dreamless sleep. Before I could sit up properly, a knock landed at the door. A maid stepped inside, arms full of delicate fabrics.
“Your dress, Luna.”
She was young, soft-faced, and pretty. Her tone was respectful, but there was curiosity in her eyes—maybe even sympathy.
I thanked her, trying to ignore the knot twisting in my stomach.
Luna.
Just like that?
I dressed quickly, pulling the tight cream-colored dress over my frame, adjusting the gold embroidery that curled over my chest and shoulders like vines. It fit perfectly. Too perfectly. Like it was picked out weeks in advance.
By the time I made it downstairs, the smell of freshly cooked food hit me hard. My stomach growled.
Zarek was in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, flipping something in a pan.
“You cooked?” I asked, surprised.
He turned, smirking. “Thought I’d make breakfast for my Luna.”
I didn’t waste time. I sat and ate.
He watched me in silence, sipping his coffee, calm as ever.
“You good?” he finally asked.
“I don’t know,” I said between bites. “Is it supposed to feel this weird?”
“Probably.”
Silence fell again, but not the uncomfortable kind.
Just… quiet before the storm.
—-
The night came fast.
The celebration was already in full swing when we arrived.
Laughter, clinking glasses, and music floated through the night air. Lanterns glowed above like fireflies suspended in a dream. Alphas from neighboring packs, their Lunas, betas, and warriors stood in clusters, all dressed in their finest.
Zarek’s hand was firm on my lower back as we walked in together. Heads turned immediately. I felt the tension ripple through the crowd like a slow-moving current.
It didn’t take long before the whispers began.
“…isn’t that her?”
“…Silvermist’s disgraced Luna…”
“…heard she tried to kill Mira…”
I kept my chin up. My heels clicked against the marble floor like defiance. But inside, I was hollow.
“They’ll tire themselves out,” Zarek muttered, eyes scanning the room. “Ignore them.”
I tried. But the moment we entered the central courtyard, the room fell into a sudden, awkward hush. An elder—one of Zarek’s advisors—stepped forward. Tall, gray-haired, sharp-eyed. His name was Dorian.
“She can’t be accepted,” he said loud enough for everyone to hear.
Zarek’s posture changed instantly. His arm dropped from my back, and he moved forward slowly, the smile on his face tight, dangerous.
“And why is that?” Zarek asked, voice polite but laced with steel.
“She was cast out of the Silvermist pack for betrayal,” Dorian said, straightening his spine. “Why would we accept a Luna that was disgraced? This would taint the pack.”
A few murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd.
I opened my mouth, ready to defend myself, but Zarek’s hand slid back into mine. He squeezed it gently. Don’t.
“What happened there was a misunderstanding,” he said calmly. “She didn’t do what they said she did.”
Dorian’s lip curled slightly. “Misunderstandings don’t come with public confessions from your former Alpha.”
“It wasn’t a confession,” Zarek said, his tone dipping. “It was propaganda.”
“Zarek,” I muttered, stepping closer, “what’s the point of telling them what the truth is? It doesn’t matter. They wouldn’t listen. They’ve been blinded by the rumors and the videos.”
More eyes turned to us. I could feel the weight of every stare.
Zarek let go of my hand and stepped forward. “She was betrayed. That’s the truth. Lucien lied to protect himself. To cover up what he did.”
“And where’s the proof?” someone shouted from the crowd. “All we saw was her running away, then Lucien naming Mira as Luna the next day.”
“He said she plotted with rogues,” another chimed in.
I looked around, my heart pounding. “That’s not true—”
“Enough!” Zarek’s voice cracked through the courtyard like lightning. “You speak as if your words are law, yet you’ve heard only one side.”
He turned to the crowd. “Do you all blindly follow gossip, or do you wait for truth?”
Silence.
Then Dorian spoke again. “Even if she didn’t do what they claim, her presence brings division. She’s marked. Tainted.”
I flinched.
“Anybody who wouldn’t support me can leave my pack.” Zarek said firmly, his voice filled with anger,
And just like that, silence fell across the courtyard.
One of the alphas shifted uncomfortably.
Another cleared his throat but didn’t speak.
No one moved.
Zarek’s voice cut through again, lower now, more final. “Good. Let the celebration continue.”
The crowd slowly returned to murmurs and forced laughter. Music picked up again. But it wasn’t the same. The tension still clung to the air like smoke after a fire.
I leaned toward him. “I need to go take a rest. I’m getting tired.”
His eyes searched mine for a second. Then he nodded. “I’ll have a maid take care of you.”
I didn’t wait. I turned and walked back inside the mansion, my heels echoing louder than the drums outside. Every step away from those eyes felt like freedom.
The room was quiet when I entered.
Finally.
I started undressing, pulling off the heavy ceremonial jewelry, loosening the strings of my dress. A soft knock came at the door.
I hesitated. “Come in.”
A maid entered, her head bowed, face covered by a smooth black veil. I blinked.
“I figured you might need help,” she said softly, already walking over to assist.
Something about her voice sounded… off. But I was too exhausted to care.
“Yes. Thank you,” I muttered, letting her unfasten the rest of my dress.
She moved quickly, efficiently, helping me change into a thinner, more comfortable cream gown. My hair was pinned up. I didn’t remember asking her to, but I didn’t stop her.
Then she handed me a glass.
“Water, Luna.”
I reached for it, but paused. “Do all the maids here wear masks now?” I asked, glancing at her face.
She nodded once, stiffly. “Zarek gave the rule.”
“He did?” My brows furrowed. “Since when?”
She didn’t answer. Just extended the glass again.
“Drink that, please, so I can take back the cup,” she said quickly.
I narrowed my eyes. “Why are you in such a rush?”
“I’m not.”
I lifted the cup halfway to my mouth—then the door swung open.
Zarek stood there, looking between us. His expression darkened instantly.
“Are you sleeping here tonight?” I asked, startled.
He didn’t answer. His gaze was locked on the maid. “Why is your face covered?”
I raised a brow. “You told them to, didn’t you?”
His eyes snapped to mine. “No. None of my maids hide their faces.”
His voice turned cold. “Remove that mask.”
- Writer
