Selene still lay in bed, her thoughts a storm of pain and betrayal. She couldn't bear it any longer. She had to escape, even if only for a moment. The lake—Crystal Lake, she thought to herself. It had always been her place of peace and comfort. She decided to go there, hoping it would bring her some comfort.
As she crept down the stairs, she heard them. Orion and Anna. The unmistakable sound of skin slapping against skin, accompanied by loud and annoying moans of pleasure. Selene froze, her heart pounding in her chest. She bit her lip, trying to keep from crying out. Did Orion ever really care about her? Was everything they had just a lie? Even after going through so much, he still chose to be with his mistress instead of by her side.
Her hand flew to her mouth, stifling a sob. She couldn't stay there any longer. She needed to be outside, even if it wasn't safe because of the recent rogue attacks. She pushed open the door and ran into the woods, tears streaming down her face, her hair whipping in the wind. She tried to be as silent as possible, her sobs swallowed by the night.
She ran until she reached Crystal Lake. The moonlight danced on the water's surface, casting a calming glow. She quickly stripped off her clothes, leaving them in a pile by the shore. Stepping into the cold water, she felt a wave of relief. It was as if the lake was washing away her sorrows, one tear at a time.
As she submerged herself deep in the water, she closed her eyes. Good memories of her and Orion started to flood back; she smiled. Then everything went blank, and images of her being attacked started to resurface. She quickly popped out of the water, breathlessly gasping for air.
Then she suddenly caught a scent. It was strong, masculine—a mix of deep coffee wood, peppermint, and rainfall, a combination of her favorite scents. Her heart raced. She looked around, trying to see through the darkness. Then she saw it—a huge figure, its hair blowing in the wind, standing on the hill right above her.
"Nyx?" she called to her wolf in her mind. From the time she lost her child, she hadn't spoken to her wolf. "Nyx?" she repeated, but there was no answer.
Panic surged through her. Instead of running, she decided to stay still in the water, hoping the figure wouldn't notice her. But she could feel its eyes on her, roaming over her body, taking in each and every inch. She tried to remain calm, not wanting to give herself away. After a tense moment, the burning gaze sensation left. She looked up and saw the figure was gone.
Taking her chance, she climbed out of the water, shivering from the cold. She didn't grab her clothes and started running back to the pack house naked. She ran without even looking back. She was close to the pack house when she heard footsteps. Her heart pounded, fear gripping her.
A figure emerged from the woods, and she braced herself for an attack. But then she saw who it was—Ryan, the Delta. Relief washed over her.
"Selene," he said, worry etched on his face. "I went to your room and didn't find you. I was worried but knew you'd be by Crystal Lake. When I got there, I only found your clothes. Do you know it's dangerous for you to be out here alone?"
He handed her the bundle of clothes, he was used to seeing her naked by now. "Here, take these."
Selene grabbed the clothes, quickly dressing herself. "Someone was watching me, Ryan. I don't know who, but I saw and felt it."
Ryan's eyes widened with shock. "Who would dare watch the Luna take her bath? This is dangerous. We need to get you back to the pack house."
Then he asked her one last question, "Than running... Commando in the woods , why didn't you shift?"
She just looked at him blankly with no intention of responding. He understood her, and decided to leave it there.
He guided her back, his grip firm and reassuring. As they walked, he kept glancing around, his senses on high alert. Ryan was Orion's delta, he was assigned to protect Selene. He treated her like his own , he supported her and never let anyone or anything mess with Selene. Ryan adored her, treated her with full respect and honor and Selene reciprocated.
"Are you okay?" Ryan asked, his voice gentle but concerned.
"I don't know," Selene admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "I just needed to get away, to clear my head."
Ryan nodded. "I understand. But you can't take risks like this, especially not now."
They reached the pack house, and Ryan led her inside, making sure the doors were secure.
Selene paused, looking up at him. "Make sure the guards check that area tomorrow. We need to find out who that was. And tomorrow please get my schedule together I want to get back to work."
Ryan nodded, his expression serious. "I will. Don't worry. But I don't think it's right for you to start…"
Before he could finish she interrupted, "It's an order, don't worry about me, I'm fine, trust me."
As Selene turned to go inside, she hesitated, looking back at Ryan. "Ryan... did you know?"
"Know what?" he replied, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"About Orion's affair, him not loving me... everything," Selene said, her voice trembling.
Ryan paused for a moment, then sighed deeply. "Yes, I knew."
Selene's heart sank. "And you didn't tell me?"
"I didn't know how," Ryan admitted. "But he loves you, Selene. He loves you a lot."
Ryan had always been like a second best friend to her, someone she could confide in, though not about everything, because his loyalty ultimately lay with the Alpha.
"If you need anything, I'm here. Always," Ryan said softly, his eyes full of sincerity.
Selene nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "Thank you, Ryan."
He he gave her a reassuring warm smile and Said" anytime my Luna ,"
He helped her up to her room, ensuring she was settled before he left. "Try to rest, Selene. We'll get through this."
As he closed the door behind him, Selene lay down. The night had brought more questions than answers, but at least she knew she wasn't entirely alone.
However, she couldn't shake the feeling of those eyes watching her. As she lay down, her thoughts drifted to the mysterious figure. A figure that big would be capable of killing her. Who was it? Why didn't they attack her? And what did they want?