Stolen by the Night
1015 Words
Selene’s heart pounded so violently she thought it might burst through her chest.
A gloved hand covered her mouth.
The stranger’s breath was calm against her ear.
“Don’t scream.”
“I’m not your enemy.”
His voice was deep, steady, and strangely familiar.
Selene’s body trembled.
Every instinct told her to fight.
She drove her elbow backward with all her strength.
The man caught it effortlessly.
“Good.”
A faint chuckle escaped him.
“You have spirit.”
Before she could react again, he released her and stepped back into the moonlight spilling through the window.
Selene finally saw his face.
He was young, perhaps no older than Kael.
His ash-blond hair fell across his forehead, and his amber eyes glowed faintly with wolf magic.
He wasn’t one of Kael’s guards.
Nor was he the Shadow Alpha.
He wore black leather armor marked with a silver crescent moon.
“I don’t know you,” Selene whispered.
“You don’t.”
“But I know exactly who you are.”
He gave a respectful bow.
“My name is Lucien.”
“I serve those who remained loyal to your family.”
“My… family?”
Before Lucien could answer
Boom!
The bedroom door exploded inward.
Kael stormed inside, his silver eyes blazing.
His wolf had sensed another male close to his mate.
The air instantly filled with killing intent.
Lucien sighed.
“I was hoping we’d have a few more minutes.”
Kael’s voice was ice.
“Get away from my wife.”
Lucien smiled.
“You’ve started calling her your wife.”
“Interesting.”
Kael’s claws extended.
“I won’t repeat myself.”
Lucien raised both hands.
“I didn’t come to fight.”
“Then why are you here?”
“To warn her.”
Kael laughed coldly.
“The last man who claimed that nearly destroyed my library.”
“I am not the Shadow Alpha.”
“I know.”
Lucien’s smile disappeared.
“And that’s exactly why you should listen.”
He reached slowly into his cloak.
Every guard outside the room drew their swords.
Kael’s muscles tensed.
Lucien pulled out… a folded piece of cloth.
“No weapon.”
He carefully unfolded it.
Selene gasped.
It was an old royal banner embroidered with a silver wolf beneath a crimson moon.
The symbol on the banner matched the pendant around her neck perfectly.
“My mother…” Selene whispered.
Lucien nodded.
“This belonged to Queen Elara.”
“My mother.”
The words caught in her throat.
“You knew her?”
“I swore an oath to protect her bloodline.”
Kael’s expression hardened.
“If that’s true, where have you been for twenty years?”
Lucien lowered his eyes.
“Hiding.”
“Waiting.”
“The Queen ordered us never to reveal ourselves until the Blood Moon awakened.”
“And now it has.”
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Kael studied Lucien carefully.
For the first time, he sensed no deception.
Only grief.
Far away…
In the Crimson Pack’s fortress…
The hooded king stood before a giant map.
Red pins marked destroyed villages.
Another pin rested on the Lycan Palace.
A messenger knelt before him.
“My King…”
“We have found the Moon Priestess.”
The hooded figure smiled.
“Bring her.”
Within moments, an elderly woman in silver robes was dragged into the throne room.
Despite the chains around her wrists, she held her head high.
“You’ve grown impatient,” she said calmly.
The hooded king removed his hood.
His face was strikingly handsome but a jagged scar ran from his forehead to his jaw.
Golden eyes burned with hatred.
“You know why I brought you here.”
The priestess met his gaze.
“You seek the Blood Moon Queen.”
“I seek revenge.”
“You seek both.”
He walked toward her slowly.
“For twenty years I’ve searched.”
“Now she’s finally awakened.”
The priestess closed her eyes.
“You cannot change destiny.”
“I don’t intend to.”
He leaned close.
“I intend to own it.”
Back at the palace…
Selene sat quietly while Lucien explained.
“Your parents were not ordinary rulers.”
“They united wolves, Lycans, and shapeshifters under one kingdom.”
“Many feared their power.”
“So they betrayed them.”
Selene felt tears sting her eyes.
“My parents were murdered?”
Lucien nodded.
“The palace burned.”
“The King and Queen died protecting you.”
Kael watched Selene’s face fall.
Without thinking, he moved closer.
She didn’t notice.
She was too overwhelmed.
Lucien continued.
“A loyal nurse escaped with you.”
“She hid your identity.”
“The pendant suppressed your scent.”
“That’s why no one recognized your bloodline.”
Selene looked down at the glowing moon pendant.
“So… my entire life has been a lie.”
“No.”
Lucien smiled sadly.
“It was a sacrifice.”
Suddenly
A piercing scream echoed through the palace.
“Help!”
Then another.
And another.
Kael rushed toward the window.
Black smoke rose from the eastern courtyard.
“The barrier!”
A guard burst into the room, covered in blood.
“My King!”
“The palace barrier has fallen!”
Kael’s face went pale.
“Impossible.”
“The barrier was powered by ancient moon magic!”
The guard swallowed hard.
“Someone…”
“…opened the gates from the inside.”
Kael froze.
An inside betrayal.
His mind raced.
Only a handful of people knew how to disable the barrier.
He turned sharply.
“Seal every exit!”
But it was already too late.
Outside, thousands of crimson eyed wolves poured through the broken gates like a flood.
The invasion had begun.
From a nearby tower, hidden beneath a dark cloak, Vivienne watched the chaos unfold.
A slow smile spread across her face.
She whispered to herself,
“Welcome to the palace…”
“…my allies.”
- Writer
