Chapter 8

SELENE

“Yea, she is,” Zarek confirmed, his voice firm.

“What a twist,” Evelyn said, turning toward me. “We’ll be great friends, won’t we?”

My expression was  calm. “Yeah.” I said with a wide smile. “I was hoping to make new friends in the pack.”

“Great right,” Evelyn said, smiling as she dipped her hand into her bag. “Before I go, I wanted to give you something. A small gift, I didn’t want to hand it over to my maid, I wanted to give you myself as a welcome gift.”

She pulled out a small round moon.

“The moon,” she said. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

I took it hesitantly. “Oh wow, thank you, this is beautiful.”

The moment my fingers touched the glass, a strange warmth radiated from it.

Zarek stepped closer. “What is it made of?”

“Just something I picked up from the eastern coven markets,” Evelyn said breezily. “Blessed by the moon goddess. Supposed to bring peace and strength.”

He took it from my hands gently. “Thank you for this but i will have the healer inspect it if you don’t mind.”

Evelyn’s smile disappeared for a second,only for a second.

“Of course,” she said, then leaned forward to kiss Zarek’s cheek. “We’ll catch up later.”

And then she walked away.

Zarek placed the moon down on the side table and looked at me.

“Why do I feel like you have something to explain to me?” I asked, my gaze locked on his.

“Get some rest, I will be in my quarters.” He said, and turned to leave but I stopped him.

“Zarek, who is she?” I asked, my voice firm and low.

He paused for a while, we didn’t talk, he didn’t say anything either he just glared at me.

“Selene….” He called.

“Yes.” 

“You don’t have to know, we had a deal, remember? Anything that happens in this pack is none of your business, bear me a heir that’s your duty.” He said firmly but something about the way he said it made me fear.

“That’s right, I shouldn’t meddle in any of your businesses, I will bear you a child and you help me.” I said and then walked towards the door, I opened it and then gestured for him to leave.

Then he gently sat on the couch behind the bed. “If we are to make babies, we should at least sleep together.” He said and then he sipped the coffee placed on the table in front of him.

I didn’t say anything, I closed the door and then walked back to the bed.

——

Down the hallway, Evelyn was already back in her quarters, her fingers curled around a glass of red wine and then she smashed it at the wall.

The maids flinched.

Karina took a few steps forward. “Do you think it will work out?”

“It should, I am not like these dumb maids that can’t get things done easily,” Evelyn said smoothly. “No wolf can survive that toxin. Not even the one blessed by the moon goddess.”

Karina raised her brow. “But… the Alpha. What if he stays in her room tonight?”

“If he dies with her,” Evelyn said, sipping another wine poured into the cup by Anna, “then they can be buried together. Their love life would end tragically.”

Karina nodded lightly. “Understood.”

“Very soon, Selene will feel dizzy. Then weak. Then pain will crawl deeply into her bones and squeeze the life out of her. By morning…” Evelyn smiled wider. “She’ll be dead.”

——

Back in the bedroom, I shifted uncomfortably under the covers. My fingers were still hot from the touch of the moon ball earlier.

Zarek stood by the window, his phone pressed to his ear.

“Yes. I need a sample test done immediately… no, not just magical tests. Poison, Herbs, roots, toxins—everything.”

A pause.

Then, “You can come check it now. And don’t say a word to anyone. Especially not Evelyn.”

He hung up and turned toward me. I saw it in his eyes, he was worried.

“What did they say?” I asked.

“They’ll check it soon. Until then, don’t touch that thing again.”

I nodded. Then a sudden chill crawled up my spine.

And I knew.

Something was wrong.

“Zarek…”

He crossed the room instantly. “What is it?”

I didn’t talk, I went silent for a few minutes while he glared at me waiting for a response. 

“It’s fine, I should sleep now.” I said firmly as I lay on the bed, my eyes weren’t fully closed because it didn't look safe, Zarek didn’t sleep, he kept his eyes straight on his cellphone.

The sound of his ringtone echoed through the room, I wasn’t asleep yet.

Zarek cursed under his breath, his thumb sliding across the screen. Before he could speak, I leaned closer, my voice was low and firm.

“Who could be calling you at this hour? As the Alpha don’t you get to have your own personal life?”

He didn’t glance at me.

His words came cold, clipped, meant to annoy me.

“We are together by contract Selene,” he said quietly. “My business isn’t yours.” 

I leaned back on the bed stand like I had been slapped, the sleep draining out of me immediately.

He stood, answering the call like he wasn’t in the mood to talk. 

“What?”

His voice had lost all its roughness, it was completely flat now, professional and deep.

I pulled the bed sheet tighter around myself, the cold in the room suddenly became unbearable.

“No, keep him there,” Zarek said into his phone, his voice low and deep. “Don’t touch him. I am on my way.” 

He ended the call without another word, then he turned his gaze back to me. 

“I will be back by dawn, don’t wander around the pack hall.” He said firmly and then he walked out.

He didn’t even give me time to talk back, all I heard was the sound of the door that was shut.

Before I could sleep back a young lady walked in, her gaze was sharp and she bowed her head.

“It’s Nine pm, has he left already?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes, Luna.” Brielle said gently, her hands folded in front of her. “The Alpha just stepped out of the mansion not long ago.”

“Did he say anything before he left?” I asked firmly.

Brielle shifted slightly, her heels echoed against the marble. “No, Luna. Just that you should rest.”