Chapter 1
Selene Wolfe
'Let's make our relationship public at my coronation, Selene'.
Two weeks ago, my boyfriend, Prince Kaelen Wyrmshade, had promised me that he was going to announce our three-year-old secret relationship to everyone. A day I had waited so long for. To be official with Kaelen.
"Selene…" Zara's voice jolted me out of my deep thought, and I looked back to see she had walked inside my room.
A deep playful frown settled on my face. "You didn't knock."
"I did. You were too busy to hear me."
She scoffed, placing her hands on her waist, eyes on me. "You are always clumsy, Selene. Look at your messy hair.." she rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Come here, let me help you style your hair."
She dragged me to sit in front of my small table mirror.
"Thank you."
"Have you heard, Selene?" Zara's eyes widened as she paused and looked at me.
She leaned close, and whispered. "I heard Kaelen will choose his mate tonight. I wonder who is going to be the lucky shewolf."
Her words made my heart flutter. The thought of being the chosen mate of the future alpha of Wyrmshade Pack in a bit made my breath stutter. Gosh! It felt so surreal.
Waves of guilt spurred through me, knowing that I had kept my relationship with Kaelen a secret from Zara too. I was waiting for the right time to tell her.
'Should I just tell her now?'
Without giving it a second thought, I blurted out. "Actually, Zara…" I paused, and gestured for her to come close. "Kaelen and I have been dating for a while now…"
She gasped, her eyes widening as she quickly pulled away.
"Huh?"
"I'm sorry for not telling you earlier. He asked that we keep our relationship a secret… I just feel like it won't be fair that you find out later at the event."
She glared at me, her eyes flickering with disappointment. "That's not fair, Selene. How could you keep such a thing from me? We've been friends for—"
"I'm sorry, Zara. I didn't mean to." I cut her off, and she sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Fine! I will forgive you." She said, with a dramatic eye roll.
"Thank you."
'Hey, babe. You're good? I missed you'.
My last text to Kaelen last night which he hadn't replied to yet was still displayed on my phone when I checked to see if he had replied.
"Is he okay?" I exhaled.
"Did you say something?" Asked Zara, and I shook my head.
"It's all done now." Zara clapped her hands once she was done styling my hair into a ponytail. It was better looking than the previous one I did.
"Thank you, Zara."
"Don't mention, my lady."
"Silly girl."
Just one last glance at my reflection in the mirror, and we were out of the room, heading to the hall.
Whispers brushed through my ears as we walked through the hallway, and they were particularly about my dress. How beautiful it looked and stood out. I had saved up to buy the silver colored fitted gown particularly for tonight. I didn't want to wear a worthless cloth tonight of all days.
My breath quickened and my legs trembled slightly beneath me as we approached the hall, so I held Zara's hand tightly for support.
The two tall doors to the grand hall opened, and my breath hitched as we were welcomed into the hall. The air was mixed with different scents. Blood, smoke, flowers, and perfumes of different kinds. Werewolves from Wyrmshade and neighbouring Packs were invited.
My eyes were busy searching around for Kaelen, not minding to take in the beauty of the interior decor.
Then my heart skipped when my eyes met with hers. My sister, Seraphine Wolfe. She stood out in the crowd, coincidentally wearing the same dress as mine, hugging her body tightly, and revealing her gorgeous body. Her lengthy brown hair cascading down her shoulders and at her waist level.
I noticed the shift in her mood the moment she saw me. From a soft smile to a flicker of… what could I call it? Anger? Disgust? Maybe disappointment.
Zara's whispers cut through my thoughts as she leaned close to me. "Is that not your sister?"
By then, Sera had started approaching me.
She halted right in front of me, her eyes briefly scanning my body before finding their way to my face, a smirk tugging at the corner of her small lips. "You look annoyingly good in that dress, sis."
My hand clenched tightly around my purse, staring at her with no words.
"Kaelen is choosing his mate today. Did you know?" She crossed her arms in front of her, her grey eyes boring at me as a soft smile played on her lips.
Heat caught in my throat at the mention of that. Why is she telling me that? Did she know about our relationship?
"Who do you think he is going to choose?" She turned her face away, her eyes on something.
I trailed her eyes to where they were staring, and it was then I noticed Kaelen. He stood in front of a few werewolves, discussing indistinctly with them.
My heart raced at the sight of him. He looked as charming as ever. Graced in black expensive velvet suit, with a black cloak hanging loosely from his shoulders.
'Why didn't he look for me if he had been around?'
I wondered.
Sera's fingers brushed through my hair, drawing my attention back to her, as I flinched.
"There was something on your hair." She said softly, holding a small piece of thread in my face
"Thank you."
"Have fun, sis." Sera winked at me before leaving, and I sighed.
"Your sister is really a nutjob. I can't stand her." Zara gritted silently, and I only forced a smile.
As I looked at Kaelen again, our eyes met this time, and he smiled. A smile that didn't reach his eyes and only lasted for a split second.
My heart was beginning to beat strangely. Something didn't feel right.
'Chill, Selene. You'll have him to yourself after tonight,'
I whispered to myself, and smiled back.
"Excuse me… Prince Kaelen asked to give you this." One of the waiters walked up to me with a glass of wine.
My phone pinged with a text from Kaelen at that moment.
'I'm sorry I can't be with you now. You should drink the wine while waiting for me. It's from my most expensive collection. You will love it'.
Just that one text from him convinced me that I was making things up in my head. He didn't give me attention because he was busy.
And as I collected the wine, I smiled at the waiter who bowed slightly and walked away.
"That looks good. Can I have a taste?" Zara begged, but I declined immediately, taking a sip.
"It's from my man. He made it especially for me, so I can't share."
She rolled her eyes, muttering 'whatever!'.
Kaelen was shortly invited on the stage, a proud smile played on my lips as I watched the priest crown him as the Alpha of Wyrmshade.
"And I present to you today, the Alpha of Wyrmshade Pack, Alpha Kaelen Wyrmshade…"
The hall erupted in a loud applause, cheers, and screams.
My mind and ears skipped every other detail, waiting for him to invite me to the stage, and as he finally collected the microphone, I felt loud poundings in my chest. My breath hitching. As if my heart was fighting for an escape.
"Let me introduce to you tonight, my fated mate and Luna of Wyrmshade Pack…"
My heart galloped. My breath hitched. A second stretched into eternity.
"…Seraphine Wolfe."
I froze.
The murmurs in the hall slowly faded into silence, the air around me thickened, my body went cold and numb.
The sound of heels clicking against the marble floor echoed in my ears as Sera walked elegantly to join Kaelen on the stage.
A sharp pain tore through my chest, my heart tightening, and my breath hitching as I watched them hold hands. Like they were lovers.
'Who do you think he is going to choose?'
Her question rang in my head again, putting the pieces together this time. She knew from the onset that this was going to happen. That was why she asked me that.
As Seraphine's eyes met mine, a smug smirk curled around her lips. A triumphant smile followed. One that screamed 'I won, Selene'. But what did she win? I was never in a competition with her.
And Kaelen too. His eyes were piercing at me unapologetically. Like this whole thing was planned by them.
"This is the Luna of Wyrmshade Pack." He held her hand and raised it, his eyes not leaving mine.
Tears burned in my eyes, but I held them back. I won't cry in front of them.
"Wh…what is going on?" Zara's voice cracked, her face frozen with confusion, her eyes demanding for something… Maybe an explanation?
Kaelen pulled her close, and claimed her lips, to seal their bond or whatever.
I had been humiliated several times in the twenty-four years of my existence, but this… This silent humiliation was louder and heart wrenching than any humiliation I've had to face.
Without a word, I turned on my heel and dragged myself out of the hall, not listening to my tired legs that kept begging for rest.
My breath stuttered, my limbs weakened, my eyes heavy and spinning, and my body was strangely hot. My cores tightened, warmth seeping through my legs.
My hand found its way to my heavy head weakly, trying to force my eyes open, but my body grew weaker.
"What is wrong with me?"
I didn't remember eating anything to have me this hot, so what… It clicked right then. The drink! The one Kaelen sent to me. He spiked it.
"Shit!" I cursed, dragging myself through the hallway. The only thing on my mind at that moment was to get out of this place.
Finally! I found the exit, and without wasting another second, I pushed the door open and stumbled inside, but the supposed exit only led to another room. A hazy dark room.
"Shit!" My hand trembled, my heart racing in my chest with every pound heavier than the last, my eyes were heavy, and as I tried to reach the doorknob in a bid to leave the room, my hand only made it midair and dropped back beside me.
"Who…are you?" A deep voice spoke, and I was welcomed by a shirtless figure standing in front of me when I managed to open my eyes. My vision was blurry as I was barely conscious, but he was tall enough to make anyone short around him. With a strong and unfamiliar scent.
"Help me, please." His voice cracked, his palms were crazily hot as he held my hand, sending a tingling sensation in between my legs.
Everything happened so fast, and the next minute, we were on the bed, his arms wrapped dominantly around me, our tongues fighting for dominance as we kissed like we were both starved.
Slowly, my vision went blank, my head pressed hard against the soft pillow, a soft and silent moan escaped my lips as something thrust inside me. In between my legs…
*****
My buzzing phone jolted me out of sleep, and my head banged with a headache as I forced my eyes open.
"Who's that?" I groaned silently, reaching for the bedside table, but my hand only collapsed midair, and I had to sit up. However, my eyes widened and I froze on the bed when I found myself in a strange room.
A gasp tore through my throat as memories of last night came flooding back in, but just then, I noticed something beside me. I wasn't alone. A shirtless man was lying next to me, his eyes closed.
Each fragment of last night's incident replayed in my head. The memories were hazy, but my naked body under the duvet was enough to confirm everything that happened… I slept with a stranger. Fuck!
My face burned with shame.
Tears brimmed in my eyes, my hands trembled as I packed my things, threw them on carelessly, and without another second in the room, I stormed outside. I didn't bother to check who the person I had sex with was. It was already embarrassing, and allowing myself to see his face and have it in my head forever? Hell no!