Selene's POV

If there’s anything I’ve learned in the last few weeks, it’s that rage is louder than grief.

The moment I parked outside the Alpha mansion, my hands were already clenched around the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I stared up at the building that I used to visit often, courtesy of Damien. It now held so many bad memories and including becoming the place where my mother’s killer ruled.

I wasn’t stupid. I knew if I charged in there, they would throw me out even before I got to see the alpha. The guards at the gate looked bored but hostile, and I knew they’d never let me past those doors if I caused a scene.

So I took a very deep breath to calm myself down first, smoothed down my coat and put on the fakest smile I could muster and approached them calmly.

“I’d like to see the Alpha,” I said in the most respectful voice I could find. “I wasn’t around when the takeover happened… I just wanted to pay my respects.”

The two guards exchanged glances. One of them frowned slightly as he was trying to figure out if I was a threat.

Before either could answer, I heard the one voice I never wanted to hear again.

“Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to crawl back.”

I turned slowly, already knowing who it was.

Amelia Stuffin.

Of course.

She stood with her two major minions, Talia and Janice behind her, looking smug in her tailored outfit, her blond curls bouncing like she was on a fashion runway. Her arms were folded, and her lips were twisted into a cruel smirk. “How could she still be here in the alpha mansion even with the ruthless Alpha takeover?” I thought to myself.

“I’m surprised you’re brave enough to show your face here after that disaster of a party,” she said loudly, making sure the guards could hear.

“Go away, Amelia,” I muttered. I didn’t come here for her.

But she stepped closer. “What’s the matter? Couldn’t stay hidden in the woods forever?”

Her friends giggled behind her like programmed dolls.

I tried to walk away, but she stepped into my path.

“Oh right,” she said mockingly, “You’re here for your poor, dead mommy.”

That was the last straw and I snapped.

“You don’t get to talk about her!” I shouted, stepping forward with my fists clenched.

One of her goons grabbed my arm immediately and another shoved me backwards.

“You little…” I fought against their grip, as anger continued to build inside me. Amelia then raised her hand like she was about to slap me.

“Enough.”

A deep commanding voice sliced through the tension like a blade and everyone froze.

Amelia’s hand dropped immediately as the owner of the voice stepped forward from the entrance and his stormy grey eyes locked on the scene in front of him.

I blinked twice to be sure I was seeing well.

“Wait…what?”

It was him.

The same man who helped me fix my flat tire. The one I’d accidentally bumped into at the party.

What was he doing here? Was he a guard? A top warrior?

“Let her go,” he said.

The girls obeyed instantly. Amelia’s eyes flicked nervously toward him, like as if she wasn’t sure how much trouble she was in.

“You girls should get out of here immediately, I better not catch you doing something like this to someone else.” He barked and Amelia and her posse quickly walked away.

Who was he to give instructions to a whole Amelia, former Luna….or maybe even still the Luna…..who knows, she may have played her way to remain Luna, seeing as she is still in the mansion.

The man looked at me. “You alright?”

I straightened my coat and nodded stiffly. “Yeah. Thanks.”

I studied him for a second longer. But as I opened my mouth to ask who he was, he spoke first.

“If I had known you were headed this way, I could have given you a ride earlier. What is your name and what are you doing here?” he asked as he gestured me inside.

I exhaled slowly as the rage inside me started to boil again.

“My name is Selene Monroe and I came to see the Alpha.”

“That can be arranged. What for?”

“To confront him.”

He stopped walking to look at me and raised a brow. “Confront?”

“My mother is dead,” I said with a trembling voice. “She was found in the woods after the Blackwood pack attacked us. I want to face the man who caused her death.”

He looked confused and then resumed walking.

“You think the Alpha killed her?”

“Of course he did!” I snapped. “She died the same day he invaded. And don’t look at me like I’m crazy, I don’t care how powerful or ruthless everyone says he is. I want answers.”

“I've seen you at the mansion before. You must be a silverback pack guard or a warrior. Why don't you hate him as much as I do?”

He looked amused, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he glanced at a guard beside him.

“Take her to the throne room,” he said simply. “Let her speak to the Alpha herself.”

I blinked. “Wait… you’re not going with me?”

“Oh! I need to get back to my duty post, before the ‘Ruthless Alpha’ punishes me for being absent.” He made a quote sign with his fingers while saying Ruthless Alpha, then turned and walked away before I could say another word.

What the hell just happened?

The guard led me to the throne room, even though I knew exactly where it was. My heart thudded harder as I thought to myself, “what am I thinking coming here to confront him? What could my poor wolfless self do exactly besides rant and scream? I was about to face the man I blamed for everything. I didn’t even know what I was going to say exactly or do. I suddenly realized I didn't think this through.

As soon as we entered the massive room, the guard stood behind me and I began to panic, my breath catching in my throat.

Two figures entered from another door and I instantly recognized one of them.

It was the guard or warrior who I spoke with earlier. Was he now the personal guard to this Alpha Raygar?

They strode to the throne and he immediately sat on it like he’d belonged there forever. The second man stood beside him with his arms crossed.

My stomach and my jaw dropped.

No.

No way.

“You?” I whispered.

He raised an eyebrow. “Selene, I am Alpha Raygar and this is my Beta Hugo,” he said, gesturing to the man standing beside him. “I understand you have something you want to speak to me about.” His expression was cold and serious like he'd never met me before and he crossed his legs and intertwined his fingers like someone with the highest authority.

“You…You’re the Alpha Raygar?!”

“Do I have to repeat myself?”

“You knew I came here to confront you and didn’t say anything? You let me run my mouth like an idiot!”

“You had a lot to say. I wanted to hear it.”

I took a step forward. “You manipulated me. You let me talk about my mom and you behaved like it meant nothing to you.”

“I didn’t say it meant nothing.”

“You didn’t say anything at all!” I snapped. “You just watched me spiral like it was some game.”

“Selene,” he said in a low but firm voice. “I suggest you calm down.”

“Why?” I yelled. “So I don’t embarrass myself in front of your guards? You’re a murderer! You think you can walk in, kill whoever you want, and claim a throne like it’s yours?”

The air in the room shifted as Raygar stood up slowly.

“Watch your mouth.”

“Or what?” I hissed. “You’ll kill me too?”

His eyes darkened. “Last warning.”

I opened my mouth and said something I knew I shouldn’t have, but my anger was getting the best of me.

“Your power is built on blood and lies. You’re not a ruler. You’re a coward.”

He looked at the guards.

“Get her out of here.”

They started moving toward me.

And that’s when everything changed.

A hot pain exploded in my chest and my eyes burned as my hands shook.

Then suddenly, everything snapped.

My vision blurred and my fingers stretched unnaturally as claws ripped through my skin. My teeth ached as fangs forced themselves out.

Gasps echoed in the room.

“What the…” one of the guards muttered.

I was no longer myself and I could feel something ancient pulling itself out of me, something I didn’t even know was there.

Then I lunged straight for Raygar.

I was fast, but he was faster and he raised his arm to block me. My teeth sank into his raised arm and the taste of blood hit my tongue before I realized what I’d done.

I stumbled back, utterly confused as I looked down at my claws and rubbed my tongue against my fangs.

His arm was bleeding, my mouth tasted of fresh sweet blood, and everyone in the room was staring, frozen to their spots.

Raygar looked down at the bite mark and then back at me.

I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t think. The world tilted sideways, and then the edges of my vision went dark.

I was falling but I never hit the floor.

Strong arms caught me before I collapsed and my head rested against a warm chest. I barely registered the way his heartbeat matched mine.

Through the darkness, I heard his voice, soft yet shocked.

“…Mate.”