Selene's fingers twitched as she stared at the Alpha standing before her. Come with him, or survive on her own?
Her pride screamed at her to refuse. She had already been at the mercy of one Alpha, and he had crushed her.
But her wolf… her wolf remained still. Watching. Listening.
The rain had slowed to a drizzle, but the cold bit at her exposed skin. Her dress clung to her like a second skin, torn at the hem, dirt and blood staining the once-delicate fabric.
The Alpha hadn't moved, his midnight eyes locked onto her with unnerving patience. He wasn't like Damien. Where Damien used his charm to deceive, this one wore his power like a second skin, unapologetic and absolute.
Selene took a shaky breath. If she went with him, what would he demand in return?
"What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice hoarse from exhaustion.
His lips tilted into something that wasn't quite a smile.
"If I wanted something, you'd already know it."
Her stomach twisted. That was not an answer.
She weighed her options. She could run—but in her condition, she wouldn't make it far. She could refuse—but the rogues would return the moment the Alpha left.
Selene clenched her jaw.
Survival meant making difficult choices.
"Fine," she said at last. "I'll go with you. But I don't belong to you."
His eyes darkened. "No, you don't. But that doesn't mean you're free."
Before she could ask what he meant, the Alpha turned and started walking.
Selene hesitated for only a moment before following.
---
The Journey
The night was eerily quiet as they moved through the dense forest. The Alpha walked ahead, his pace steady, his movements fluid. Selene forced herself to keep up despite the throbbing pain in her legs.
She didn't know his name. She wasn't sure if she wanted to.
After what felt like hours, the thick canopy of trees broke, revealing a massive stone fortress nestled within the cliffs.
Her steps faltered.
This wasn't a pack house. This was a stronghold.
The towering walls stretched high, torches flickering against the stone. Armed wolves patrolled the entrance, their sharp eyes turning toward the Alpha as they approached.
Who was he?
The guards stepped aside without question. Selene swallowed hard as she stepped through the iron gates.
Inside, the fortress was just as intimidating. The scent of warriors and steel lingered in the air. This wasn't the Blood Moon Pack, where luxury covered the stench of corruption.
This place was built for war.
The Alpha led her through the halls without a word. Servants stopped to bow, eyes lowered as he passed.
Selene tried not to shiver. They feared him.
Finally, he pushed open a large wooden door, revealing a lavish chamber with a fireplace, a massive bed, and a bathing area.
She hesitated at the threshold.
"This isn't a prison," he said, as if sensing her reluctance. "But don't mistake it for freedom.
Selene stepped inside. The heat from the fire warmed her skin, and she hated how much she welcomed it.
She turned to him, arms crossing over her chest. "Who are you?"
The Alpha studied her for a moment before finally answering.
"Killian," he said. "Alpha of the Shadowcrest Pack."
Selene stood frozen in the center of the grand chamber, her heart hammering against her ribs. The fire crackled softly, casting eerie shadows across the stone walls. The heat should have been comforting, but nothing about this place felt safe.
Shadowcrest.
She had only heard whispers of the infamous pack.. mercenaries, assassins, warriors who operated outside the laws of the Council. A pack without rules. A pack without mercy.
And now she was standing in the Alpha's den.
Selene exhaled sharply, her fingers clenching into fists. She needed to think. She needed to understand why Killian had brought her here. Why save a rogue? Why save her?
Her stomach churned as memories of Damien's rejection resurfaced. He had tossed her aside like trash. A cruel laugh, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered the words that had shattered her world:
"You mean nothing to me. This pup means nothing to me."
A shiver ran down her spine. No. She refused to let that pain consume her again.
Selene turned toward the heavy wooden door Killian had disappeared through. She had questions. And she wasn't about to wait for him to answer them on his terms.
She marched forward, ignoring the exhaustion weighing down her limbs, and pushed open the door.
+The Alpha's Domain+
The hallways of the fortress stretched endlessly, the walls lined with torches that flickered in the dim light. The scent of wolves, strong, dominant, lingered in the air.
Selene's ears picked up muffled conversations as she moved. Warriors spoke in hushed tones, their voices sharp with tension.
"The Alpha brought a rogue in?"
"She smells different. Not just any rogue..."
"You don't think... "
Selene quickened her pace. Whatever assumptions they were making, she didn't care. She needed answers.
After what felt like an eternity, she found herself outside a massive set of double doors. Two guards flanked the entrance, their gazes sharp and assessing.
"Move," she said, her voice firm despite the pounding in her chest.
The taller of the two guards raised a brow. "The Alpha didn't summon you."
Selene narrowed her eyes. "Then I'll summon myself."
She reached for the door handle—only for a strong hand to clamp around her wrist.
Her breath hitched as warmth seared through her skin.
Not again. Not this feeling.
Her eyes shot up to meet a piercing gaze,.. Killian's.
How had he moved so fast?
He stared down at her, his grip firm but not painful. A warning. A test.
Selene yanked her hand free, ignoring the heat left behind. "You owe me answers."
Killian didn't flinch. "I don't owe you anything."
Her jaw clenched. "Then why did you bring me here?"
For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy and unspoken. Then, Killian sighed, as if indulging a child.
"Because you're carrying an Alpha's heir."
Selene's blood turned to ice.
She stumbled back, shaking her head. "What!.. how do you... "
Killian tilted his head, studying her like a puzzle. "You reek of power, Selene. Not just your own, but his. You might be rejected, but that doesn't erase what's inside you."
Selene's hands instinctively moved to her stomach.
She hadn't told anyone. Not a soul. How did he know?
She took a shaky breath. "So, what? You want the pup? You want to use me as a pawn?"
Killian's expression darkened. "If I wanted to use you, I wouldn't have saved you."
That stopped her.
She didn't trust him. Not for a second. But she had spent enough time around Alphas to recognize deceit. And Killian… he wasn't lying.
Then what did he want?
Before she could ask, a sharp knock interrupted them.
"Alpha."
A warrior stepped forward, his posture stiff with urgency. "Rogues at the southern border. They're searching for something… or someone."
Selene's breath caught.
Damien.
He was looking for her.
For the first time since arriving at the Shadowcrest Pack, true fear wrapped around her like a noose.
And Killian… Killian was watching her.
"Looks like you weren't meant to die after all..."