Chapter 6

SELENE

“Yes, please help me.”

Zarek nodded, and then he smiled softly. Without another word, he dipped his hands into his jacket and pulled out a large sheet of paper, looking like an official contract paper.

“I will help you and you help me.” He handed the papers over to me.

“Okay,” I said, my eyes scanning through the papers. “I will do anything just so you can help me restore my image.”

He looked at me, his expression was serious and he spoke calmly. “Bear me a heir.”

I blinked. “What?”

“You said you would do anything.”

“But, that’s… that’s difficult. You’re not even my mate, I can’t bear you a heir, you need to change the terms.” I stared at him awkwardly. “I can’t even smell you, why would I bear you an heir? Besides me being here is only tempor”

“But I can smell you,” he said as he stepped closer, his voice deep and low. “Your scent is ... .so addictive.”

My breath caught. For a second, I didn’t blink or move.

“Okay, fine,” I said, not sure if it was courage or desperation that pushed the words out.

He nodded, satisfied. “The Luna’s celebration will be held tomorrow. Officially, you’ll become Luna by nightfall.”

“Hold on, why don’t we take things slowly? This is so soon, I just got here.” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I don’t want to waste any more time.” He said, his voice deep and husky, then he turned and left, leaving me to stare after at the door.

Few hours later I heard a knock on the door. It doesn’t seem like Zarek, he doesn’t always knock.

“Come in.” I said silently and then the door opened.

“Your dress, Luna.”

She was young, soft-faced, and pretty. Her tone was respectful, but there was curiosity in her eyes—maybe even sympathy that I was becoming Luna.

I thanked her, trying to ignore the way she was glaring at me.

Luna.

So fast?

I dressed quickly, pulling the beautiful black-colored dress over on the bed and then I wore it. Setting the gold embroidery that curled over my chest and shoulders like vines. It looked so perfect on me. Like it was picked out weeks in advance before I even came.

——

The night came fast.

The celebration was already going on when we arrived.

Laughter, the sound of glasses, and music floated through the night air. Lanterns glowed above like fireflies. While Alphas from neighboring packs, their Lunas, betas, and warriors stood behind the table, all dressed perfectly.

Zarek’s hand was firm around my waist as we walked in together. Heads turned immediately. And I could feel everyone’s eyes on me.

It didn’t take long before the whispers began.

“…isn’t that her?”

“….the former Luna?”

“…Silvermist’s Luna that was disgraced?”

“…heard she tried to kill Mira…”

I kept my chin up, I didn’t let those words bother me or made me stumble. My heels clicked steadily against the marble floor like a queen that I was. But inside, I was shaking. Their words got to me but I just didn’t let it show.

“They’ll tire themselves out,” Zarek muttered, eyes scanning the room. “Just ignore them and focus on yourself tonight, I will handle the rest.”

I nodded slightly, trying to do what he said.

But the minute we entered the central courtyard, the room fell into a sudden silence. An elder, one of Zarek’s advisors, stepped forward. Tall, gray-haired, sharp-eyed. His name was Eldric.

“Alpha, I am afraid she can’t be accepted,” he said loud enough for everyone to hear.

Zarek’s posture changed instantly. His arm dropped from my lower back, and he moved forward slowly, the smile on his face faltered.

“And why is that?” Zarek asked, voice polite but laced with anger.

“She was cast out of the Silvermist pack for betraying them and I am sure you know about this too,” Eldric said, turning his gaze between the whole pack and Zarek. “Why would we accept a Luna that was disgraced? This would taint the pack.”

A few murmurs of agreement surged through the crowd.

I opened my mouth, ready to defend myself, but Zarek’s hand slid back into mine. He squeezed it gently and then pulled me back a little bit.

“Okay.” I muttered under my breath.

“What happened there was a misunderstanding,” he said calmly. “She didn’t do what they said she did.”

Eldric’s lip curled slightly and then he turned his gaze to me.“Misunderstandings don’t come with public confessions from your former Alpha, if you didn’t do it, he wouldn’t tell the world about it.”

“It wasn’t a real confession,” Zarek said, his tone dipping. “It was all lies.”

“Alpha,” I muttered, stepping closer, my voice low, “what’s the point of telling them what the truth is? It doesn’t matter. They wouldn’t listen. They’ve been blinded by the rumors they hear and the videos they saw.”

More eyes turned to us. I could feel the weight of every stare they gave me.

Zarek let go of my hand and stepped forward. “She was betrayed. That’s the truth. Lucien lied to protect himself. To cover up what he did to her.”

“And where’s the proof?” someone shouted from the crowd. “All we saw was her running away, then Lucien naming Mira as Luna the next day, if she can provide us better proof, we are going to consider her.”

“He said she plotted with rogues,” another chimed in.

I looked around, my heart pounding. “No…that’s not true, I would never do—”

“Enough!” Zarek’s voice cracked through the courtyard like lightning. “You speak as if your words are law in this pack, yet you’ve heard only one side.”

He turned to the crowd. “Do you all blindly follow rumors, or do you wait for the truth? I am the Alpha of this pack, I know what is right and wrong, so I hope you all trust me on this”

Silence.

Then Eldric spoke again. “Even if she didn’t do what they said she did, her presence brings division to both packs. She’s marked. Tainted already.”

I cleared my throat silently.

“Anybody who wouldn’t support me can leave my pack.” Zarek said firmly, his voice filled with anger,

And just like that, everywhere became silent.

All of them shifted uncomfortably.

Another cleared his throat but didn’t speak.

No one moved.

Zarek’s voice cut through again, lower now, more final. “Good. Let the celebration continue.”

The crowd slowly returned to murmurs and forced laughter. Music picked up again. But it wasn’t the same as it was earlier. The room was still filled with uncleared tension.

I leaned toward him. “I need to go take a rest. I’m getting tired.”

His eyes searched mine for a second. Then he nodded. “You can head in first, I’ll have a maid take care of you.”

I didn’t wait. I turned and walked back inside the mansion, my heels echoing louder, while they all watched me as I walked, I walked slowly so I wouldn’t trip. 

The room was quiet when I entered.

Finally,I started undressing, pulling off the heavy ceremonial jewelry, loosening the strings of my dress. And then I heard a soft knock at the door.

I hesitated for a while and then spoke up. “Come in.”

A maid entered, her head bowed, face covered by a smooth black veil. I smiled at her.

“The Alpha figured that you might need some help, so he asked me to attend to you,” she said softly, already walking over to assist.

Something about her voice sounded… off. But I was too exhausted to care.

“Yeah. Thank you,” I muttered, letting her loosen the rope on the rest of my back dress.

She moved quickly, efficiently, helping me change into a thinner, more comfortable brown gown. My hair was pinned up. I didn’t remember asking her to, but I didn’t stop her either.

Then she handed me a glass.

“Water, Luna.”

I reached for it, but paused. “Do all the maids here wear masks now?” I asked, glancing at her face.

She nodded once, just slightly. “Alpha gave the rule.”

“He did?” My brows furrowed. “He did? And I didn’t notice?”

She didn’t answer. Just extended the glass again.

“Drink that, please, so I can take back the cup,” she said quickly.

I narrowed my eyes. “Why are you in such a rush?”

“I’m not Luna.”

I lifted the cup halfway to my mouth—then the door swung open.

Zarek stood there, looking between us. His expression darkened instantly.

“Why are you here? Are you sleeping here tonight?” I asked, startled.

He didn’t answer. His gaze was locked on the maid. “Why is your face covered?”

I raised an eye brow. “You told them to, didn’t you?”

His eyes snapped to mine. “No. None of my maids hide their faces.”

His voice turned cold. “Remove that mask.”