Selene's POV

I didn’t pack many things at all, just a small bag with some clothes, my phone charger, and the pieces of my shattered heart. I needed space and I needed to breathe. Damien’s words, Amelia’s smug smile of victory as she stood proudly beside him and the laughter from the guests, who were mostly kids from school, haunted me.

“Wolfless, weak, not worthy of being Luna.”

The words replayed in my head like a cruel song I couldn’t stop hearing as I drove to my Grandpa's house.

Grandpa Williams lived on the outskirts of the pack territory, in a small cabin surrounded by tall trees and wildflowers. The place smelled like pine and cinnamon. Hardly any cars came this way and the only sounds you would hear were birdsong and the occasional snap of twigs when a squirrel darted by. It wasn’t far from the pack but it felt like a different world.

“Selene,” Grandpa called out to me when I arrived and pulled me into a tight hug. “You don’t have to say a word, your mum already called me. Just stay as long as you need.”

Grandpa was quiet like me. He didn’t push me and he didn’t ask questions I wasn’t ready to answer. Instead, he handed me a wooden practice sword the second day I was in his home and said, “Let’s train.”

That man might’ve been retired from the warrior life, but he still moved like a panther. He was as strong, fast, and sharp as ever. I barely lasted five moves before I was flat on my back each time we sparred.

“You think too much,” he said, offering me a hand to get up each time. “Don’t fight with your head, fight with your heart.”

For the couple of weeks I stayed there and I began training everyday, every morning and every evening. I ran through the trees until my lungs burned and I punched and kicked and learned to shoot arrows until my fingers were raw. It definitely made me feel better and forget about the humiliation and rejection I just went through. It made me numb in a way that helped me survive.

I spoke with my mum everyday, but then seven long days passed without a word from her and her phone was not reachable either.

At first, I told myself she was just busy or something. But I began to panic on the third day.

“I’m going back,” I told my Grandpa as I wiped sweat from my forehead during our evening training.

He sighed and tossed me a bottle of water. “I think you should wait a little longer. You must have seen the Blackwood Pack attack on us on the news. Things are messy right now.”

“Exactly why I need to go. What if she’s hurt? What if …”

He raised a hand to cut me short. “I get it, sweetheart. But we need to be smart about this. What if you get hurt or attacked on the way? She could be hiding safely and you'll just be heading into danger.”

“I can't just stay here and do nothing! What if she's actually hurt and in need of help? The odds are much worse grandpa.”

Alright, I agree with you. But we gotta be smart about this. I’ll stay here in case she shows up, alright?”

I nodded. “Alright grandpa. I'll leave tomorrow.”

The road back to the city was familiar as usual. Trees blurred past my car windows as I tried not to imagine worst-case scenarios of what could have happened to my mum. The news didn't have much to say about the Blackwood attack, and frankly, I could care less about whatever happened. The only thing I was sure of was that Damien fled during the attack and the name of the alpha of the Blackwood pack in charge was Raygar.

Halfway back, I wasn't paying attention and hit a pothole very hard and it made me to swerve a lot as I tried to get the car under control before pulling over. My car was tilted and bumpy before coming to a halt at the side of the road. I groaned and stepped out to find a flat tire.

“Seriously?” I screamed, kicking at the rubber.

I bent down to check the damage, but I had no clue what I was doing. Just as I was about to call Grandpa, a black SUV rolled to a stop behind me.

My stomach did a small flip becauseI thought it was the new alpha's men on patrol. Who knows what they could do to me?

The driver door opened, and out stepped a tall handsome man in a dark jacket and jeans. His dark hair was messy but somehow perfect, and his grey eyes looked almost silver in the daylight.

I knew that face.

It was him, the stranger from the party. The one I bumped into by accident, the one who didn’t laugh at me.

“Need help?” he asked in a deep but calm voice as he walked up to me.

I hesitated at first but then stepped back. “Yeah. Flat tire.”

He walked over without saying another word and got to work. He moved with quiet confidence and strong and precise hands as he loosened the bolts and replaced the tyre like as if he’d done it a hundred times.

I was feeling impatient and I paced the road, losing time and feeling useless. My thoughts were too loud inside my head. Where’s Mom, is she okay, what if she’s not okay?

When he finished, he stood up and brushed his hands on his jeans. “All set.”

“Thanks,” I said quickly as I was already getting back in my car. “I appreciate it.”

He opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but I was already driving off. I didn’t even look back.

By the time I reached the city, the streets were alive like as if nothing even happened. Except for a few force men at major junctions, everyone seemed to go about their normal daily routine. Everything looked… normal.

I didn't know what to think anymore. “Grandpa may be right. She might as well be fine too. Maybe she just lost her phone,” I thought out loud to myself.

I got to the house and walked up to the front door, but it was locked and she wasn't answering the doorbell.

The windows were dark and the curtains drawn. I knocked louder but still nothing.

“Selene?” a soft voice called from across the street.

I turned to see Mrs. Lian our neighbor and one of Mom’s friends. She walked over slowly and I could see her eyes fill with pity.

“I’m so sorry, dear,” she said gently, taking my hands. “We didn’t know how to reach you.”

My stomach twisted. “What happened?”

She hesitated. “Your mother… she went missing the day of the Blackwood pack attack. We searched everywhere for her and found her body a few days later.”

“No,” I whispered. My legs felt weak.

“She was found far in the woods. She seemed to have a fought with someone and lost. Whoever it was killed her.”

I couldn’t breathe.

No. No, this can’t be happening.

I didn’t get to say goodbye.

I didn’t get to hug her or tell her how much I loved her. I left just to have some space from the pack, how could she go and die?

The grief hit me fast, but the anger hit harder.

The Blackwood pack did this. Their Alpha did this. The ruthless Alpha who thought he could just march into our pack and take over like we were pawns in some game.

I stormed back into my car, slamming the door shut behind me.

I didn’t care who he was. I didn’t care how strong or feared or dangerous he might be.

He killed my mother.

And now, he was going to answer for it.