Selene's bare feet pounded against the wet earth as she ran through the dark forest, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Every step sent a sharp pain through her chest, but she pushed forward.
The bond was gone. Shattered.
Damien's rejection still echoed in her mind, but she refused to let it break her. Not now. Not when her baby's life depended on her survival.
Thunder rumbled in the distance, and a sudden gust of wind whipped through the trees, sending shivers down her spine. The rain made the ground slippery, but Selene didn't slow down. She didn't dare.
She had spent her entire life within the Blood Moon Pack's borders. Now, she had no pack, no protection—only the dark wilderness ahead of her.
And she wasn't alone.
A low growl rumbled through the trees.
Selene's pulse spiked as she skidded to a stop, her body going rigid. Her wolf instincts flared, warning her of the presence lurking nearby.
The shadows shifted. Then, glowing amber eyes pierced through the darkness.
A rogue.
Selene's breath hitched. She had heard stories—rogues were merciless, driven by instinct and hunger. Without a pack to protect her, she was vulnerable.
The rogue stepped forward, its fur bristling as it bared its teeth.
Selene took a slow step back, her heart racing. Her wolf was weakened from the rejection, but she had no choice.
She had to fight.
With a growl, she shifted, her bones snapping and reshaping as fur covered her trembling body. Her wolf was smaller than most warriors, but she was fast.
The rogue lunged.
Selene dodged at the last second, the rogue's claws slicing through the air where she had just stood. Snarling, she sank her teeth into its shoulder, her jaws locking down hard. The rogue yelped and thrashed, but she refused to let go.
The taste of iron filled her mouth, but before she could finish the fight..
More growls surrounded her.
Selene's stomach twisted as she realized the truth.
It wasn't just one rogue. It was a pack.
She was outnumbered. Outmatched.
Panic surged through her veins as she prepared for the worst. She had fought for her place as a Luna, but now, she was just a lone wolf in the wild.
Then, just as the rogue lunged for her throat..
A deep, powerful snarl tore through the air.
The rogues froze.
Selene turned her head just in time to see a massive jet-black wolf emerge from the shadows.
A new Alpha.
His dominance was suffocating, his golden eyes burning with an intensity that made the rogue wolves hesitate. The rain soaked his midnight fur, but he remained unmoved, his posture exuding absolute control.
Selene felt her wolf stir. A reaction she hadn't felt since Damien's rejection.
But she didn't have time to dwell on it.
The rogues snarled, reluctant to back down, but the Alpha didn't falter. Instead, he took a slow, deliberate step forward.
"Leave," he commanded, his voice deep and laced with a quiet, lethal promise.
Selene shuddered. That voice.
The rogues hesitated for only a moment before scrambling into the darkness, their instincts recognizing the undeniable power of an Alpha.
Selene's breaths came in sharp gasps as her muscles trembled with exhaustion. Her wolf form swayed, her strength drained from the rejection, the fight, and the overwhelming presence of the male before her.
She took a step back, her ears flattening as she tried to regain control.
The Alpha shifted.
The transformation was seamless, powerful. In mere seconds, where the ferocious beast once stood, now towered a man, broad shoulders, a muscular frame, and dark, piercing eyes that locked onto her like a predator studying its prey.
A deep scar ran across his left eyebrow, giving him a dangerous, battle-worn look.
Selene's heart pounded.
His gaze swept over her, and his lips curved into something between intrigue and amusement.
"You're weak."
Selene bristled, her wolf instinctively baring its fangs, but he simply tilted his head, unimpressed.
"You wouldn't have lasted another minute," he mused, his voice dangerously smooth.
Selene forced herself to shift, ignoring the sharp ache of her bones realigning. The cold rain soaked through her thin dress as she stood before him, barefoot, vulnerable, and utterly alone.
Yet, she refused to bow.
Her chin lifted, defiance burning in her eyes despite the exhaustion in her limbs.
"I didn't ask for your help," she rasped.
The Alpha's gaze flickered with something unreadable.
"And yet, you needed it."
Selene clenched her fists, her wolf growling in frustration.
She should keep moving. She couldn't afford to trust anyone, not after what she had just been through.
But then, as if reading her mind, the Alpha took a step closer.
"You're far from any pack's territory. A lone wolf like you won't survive the night."
Selene's breath hitched. She hated that he was right.
The Blood Moon Pack was miles away, and she had no allies, no shelter, no protection.
Still, she held her ground. She didn't trust him.
The Alpha's gaze darkened, as if sensing her thoughts.
Then, to her surprise, his next words were not a demand, but a challenge.
"You have two choices," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Come with me, or take your chances alone."
Selene's heart pounded.
She had spent her life at the mercy of an Alpha who never wanted her.
And now, she stood before one who had saved her.
A new Alpha. A new fate.
A second chance.