Chapter 16

SELENE

I heard a knock on the door and then without permission. The door opened and the person walked in.

I didn’t bother turning. I was seated at my vanity table, I was half dressed, brushing out the tangles in my hair with slow movements. Afternoon light showed into the room, sharp and gold. Outside, in the pack mansion, a training bell rang twice, midday.

I saw his reflection in the mirror before I heard his footsteps.

Zarek.

He was just standing there, silently watching me.

“Didn’t know you’d come,” I said casually, still facing the mirror. “Figured you’d be busy right now.”

“I am,” he said, his tone sharp. “But the Luna should be in her office by now.”

I stopped brushing my hair. “You are right,” I muttered, placing the brush down. “The Luna.”

Zarek stepped further inside, the door closing slowly behind him. “You’ve missed the morning report two days in a row.”

“Didn’t know you started counting my attendance because no one told me about this, the same thing happened during the fit day.” I said my voice low and firm.

“You hold a title now, Selene. People are going to notice everything you do.”

“I’m sure they will.” I stood slowly, straightening the thin strap of my blouse and putting it at the hem of my trouser. “But then again, I wasn’t exactly elected.”

“No,” Zarek said simply. “You were chosen.”

“Hmm.” My lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “That sounds so much better.”

He walked toward the center of the room, not too close, but not far enough to pretend this was a distant conversation.

“You think I don’t see what you’re doing?” he asked quietly.

I raised my eyebrow. “And what’s that?”

“Selene.” He called, but as he was about to speak up, we both heard a knock on the door.

“Who is that?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Anna.” She said firmly.

I turned my gaze back to Zarek who was still standing in the middle of the room.

“What’s she doing here?” I asked.

“I don’t understand.” Zarek said firmly.

I raised my hands on my waists. “Don’t play innocent here, what’s Anna doing here? Isn’t she the one who claimed she was sick back then? The day I got elected as the Luna, the maid who covered her face. What the hell is she still doing here?” I snapped.

Zarek rolled his eyes. “Oh. I called her here, she will serve you now.”

I scoffed. “What about Brielle? That girl has done nothing wrong for you to replace her.” 

Zarek waved his hand, maybe he was already tired of my actions and how I take things too far. “Relax, no one is leaving, Brielle still remains your personal maid, I was trying to protect you by giving you more maids.” 

I shook my head. “Oh, is that so?” I asked my expression filled with guilt.

Zarek nodded. “You sound so aggressive everytime I try to talk to you.” He said.

I scoffed. “What?” I said my voice barely above a whisper and then I continued.“ Zarek…” I said but he cut me off.

“You are being paranoid right now.” He said, walking past me.

“I don’t want her, dismiss her.” I said, my voice firm and sharp.

“No.” He said, his voice sharp and deep.

“Why not?” I asked, genuinely shaken by the sudden coldness in his tone.

Zarek didn’t respond, instead he turned to Anna. “Do your job properly. Teach her the proper ethics of the pack.” He said and then walked away.

I didn’t stop him, I watched him leave and then the door slammed behind him. 

“Luna.” Anna called.

I turned my gaze to her and then went silent for a while, then I spoke up again.

“Who did you work for before Zarek assigned you to me?” I asked, demanding answers from her before accepting her.

She paused for a while, but she didn’t respond.

I let out a deep breath. “Anna!” 

“Beta Evelyn.” She said firmly.

I frowned. “See…you work for the beta?” I asked and she nodded.

She nodded. 

“Okay fine, where is the Luna’s office?” I asked my voice barely above a whisper.

Anna’s eyes shifted, just slightly. 

It took her too long to respond to what I asked her.

“That’s… on the third floor. The right wing,” she said, but her tone was sharp and firm.

I narrowed my eyes, studying her face. “Are you sure about that? Because I wouldn’t want anything that would bring me trouble”

“I wouldn’t lie to you,” she said quickly. 

Everything went silent again, I rolled my eyes trying to start another conversation with her again. Or maybe she could tell me everything I needed to know about Evelyn, Zarek’s beta.

I turned my gaze back to her “You hesitated before answering me about Evelyn. Why is that?”

Anna sighed like she was holding something back, her hands behind her back like she was afraid. “I wasn’t expecting you to ask that question.”

I raised my eyebrow “Oh, so you weren’t expecting to be asked who you were loyal to?” I shook my head. 

“I’m loyal to the Alpha now,” she said, and something in her voice made me believe her. “He made that clear when he reassigned me to you.”

What she said sounded so real but I wasn’t buying it.

“I hope so.” I said firmly.

She looked down, but didn’t reply. Good. I’d hit a nerve.

I exhaled and turned towards my room door, I locked it and then headed toward the hallway that led to the Luna’s wing. “You’re coming with me.”

“Why?”

I stopped, and then turned my gaze to her. “Because Zarek assigned you to show me everything I need to know.”

She didn’t argue. She just followed me.

As we walked, nobody spoke, she kept walking behind me while the other maids stared at us.

“You know what I don’t get?” I asked after a moment.

Anna kept her eyes straight. “What?”

“How someone who worked for the Beta ends up reassigned to me just like that.” I said my voice barely above a whisper.

“Luna, I think the Alpha is the only one who can answer all your questions.” She said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I didn’t say anything.

We didn’t say a word till we reached the Luna’s office.

Anna paused a few feet behind me. “No one’s here.”

“Why would anyone be in here? Isn’t this office meant for the Luna alone?,” I muttered.

She didn’t respond.