THE SEALED LUNA

CHAPTER SIX: QUESTIONS I SHOULDN'T BE ASKING

*CHAPTER SIX: QUESTIONS I SHOULDN'T BE ASKING*

The door shut.

Click.

Not my room.

God, not even close.

Stone walls. Cold. One cot. One bucket in the corner.

No window. Just that little slit in the door.

And eyes. Always eyes.

"For your safety."

Yeah.

That’s what they called it.

I called it a cell.

My wrist burned.

Even through the sleeve.

Like it knew I was hiding it and hated me for that.

I sat down on the cot. Tried to breathe.

In. Out.

Didn’t help.

Didn’t help at all.

Someone did this to me.

I kept saying it in my head.

But who?

Why?

Why would anyone want me tied to... whatever this was?

Too many questions.

They were gonna choke me.

The lock clicked.

Tray slid through.

Bread. Water.

The guard didn’t look at me. Not once.

"Wait."

He paused.

"Can I see my father?"

"Not yet."

"Why not?"

"Orders."

Then the door closed again.

Orders.

From who.

The Alpha?

Or someone telling the Alpha what to do.

I ate anyway. Had to.

My body hurt too much to not eat.

Tasted like ash.

Like dirt.

Hours passed.

Or maybe it was minutes.

Time didn’t work right in here.

I stared at the bucket of water.

My reflection looked wrong.

Tired. Hollow.

And my sleeve had slipped.

I pulled it up.

Just a little.

It was still there.

Faint. Black.

Like dried ink trapped under my skin.

I touched it with one finger.

Nothing.

Pressed harder.

Nothing.

...wait.

Did that move?

Under my skin?

Like something pulled?

I snatched my hand back.

Heart was going crazy.

So it reacted when I got scared.

Okay.

Breathe.

Don’t panic.

Panicking wouldn’t help.

I tried something stupid.

Closed my eyes.

_Wolf?_

_Are you there?_

Nothing.

Silence.

Then —

A flash.

Gold.

Gone.

Just like in the woods.

Just like at the altar.

I shoved both hands into the cold water.

The mark didn’t fade.

But for half a second the water around it went dark.

Like ink bleeding.

I yanked my sleeve down.

Fine.

If they weren’t gonna tell me anything, I’d find out myself.

Footsteps.

Two sets.

Heavy.

The door opened.

Head elder.

And a guard I didn’t recognize.

He looked old.

Older than yesterday.

Like the mark had taken years off him.

"Stand up, Selena."

I stood.

Legs were shaking.

Not from fear.

From being tired.

From being done.

He didn’t sit.

Just looked at me.

At my sleeve mostly.

"Take it off."

"No."

"Selena."

"I said no."

His jaw ticked.

For a second I thought he’d grab me.

He didn’t.

He just sighed.

"We need to see it.

To know what we’re dealing with."

"Then tell me what you think it is."

I crossed my arms over my chest.

"It’s a binding. Isn’t it?"

His eyes flickered.

Just for a second.

Then it was gone.

"Where did you hear that word?"

I didn’t answer.

He glanced at the guard.

The guard stared at the floor.

"Not here," the elder said.

"Not now.

You need to rest."

"I need answers."

"You need to be quiet."

His voice wasn’t mean.

It was just tired.

"Until the Alpha decides what to do with you."

"My father?"

"He’s... occupied."

Occupied.

That’s what they said when they meant lying.

Or hiding.

Or ashamed.

"Can I see Bella?"

"No."

"The Luna?"

"No."

"Anyone?"

His face softened.

Just a little.

"Rest, child."

Then they left.

Lock clicked.

Rest.

How was I supposed to rest

when my own blood wouldn’t even look at me?

I went back to the cot.

Sat there.

Wrist throbbing.

Later, I heard voices.

Muffled.

Through the door.

Arguing.

"...Moon Claw wants answers..."

"...tell Acting Alpha Cyrus nothing..."

"...the alliance comes first..."

Moon Claw.

Cyrus.

He was here.

I pressed my ear to the door.

Wood was cold.

"...she’s not stable..."

"...keep her contained..."

Footsteps.

They walked away.

So he’d heard something.

And he didn’t get to see me.

Which meant he’d go looking on his own now.

Good.

My wrist hurt again.

I didn’t pull the sleeve up.

Didn’t need to.

Whoever put that mark on me wanted me afraid.

Wanted me quiet.

Wanted me to disappear.

They were about to be disappointed.

The guard’s eye passed the slit again.

Watching.

Not to keep me safe.

To keep me in.

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