Chapter 9

SELENE

Knock Knock Knock Knock

“Luna! Selene!” 

I sat up from the bed, looking so confused, my hair messy all over my face. I heard the knock again, this time it was harder.

“Luna, you have to get up.” 

I threw off the blanket and walked towards the door, I opened it with sleepy eyes and fast breath. “What in the world happened?”

Brielle didn’t wait for me to tell her to walk in, she rushed in herself setting the bed that was roughed by me. 

“You are supposed to be at the fit ground,” she said very fast. “Training started almost thirty minutes ago.” 

I blinked. “What training?”

“The morning training,” Brielle said, moving to the wardrobe. “Everyone trains including the Alpha. It’s the rules, no one should be left aside.”

“Well no one informed me, the Alpha didn’t tell me.” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Didn’t you read the files in your office?.” 

I exhaled sharply. “No I didn’t, I don’t even know if I have an office,wait what time is it now?”

“Almost eight, the training started at seven thirty. The beta is already there.” She said, her voice low and firm.

“Then you should have woken me up sooner. Now I am late for the training, I hope I don’t get scolded by her.” I said my voice barely above a whisper.

This pack wasn’t mine, not yet mine. I was just a Luna in name, not in presence and authority.

“Are you ready?” Brielle asked.

I nodded and then opened the door, Brielle walked behind me very fast, we walked through the hallway, down to the long stone corridor that connected the sleeping quarters to the northern ground.

Then the fit hall came into view, the hall was very wide, full of different wolves, different scents.

Evelyn was seated on the wooden bench at the edge of the training ground, her legs apart, her arms resting on her friend's thigh. 

“Luna, Selene.” She finally said, standing slowly. “Glad you could join us.” 

I swallowed hard. “I—-.”

“Shut up and let her speak first.” One of her friends shot back at me.

“Do you know what time training starts?” Her voice wasn’t raised, it was firm and quiet.

I looked at her for a second, and I also glared at the young pack members frozen in place, their eyes were all on me. “Seven thirty.” I answered.

She nodded slightly. “And it’s?”

“Eight,” I said softly.

She was about to speak, when one of her friends leaned closer to her and whispered to her ears.“She looked fine.” She said,her voice was barely above a whisper, but what they didn’t know was that I had the ability to read people’s minds—to listen to their conversations, as long as they were within twenty feet of me.

Evelyn pushed her aside a little bit and then turned her gaze back to me. “Eight right?” She asked.

“Look, I wasn’t informed okay.” I said, steady but low, trying to avoid long conversation.

“You weren’t informed?” She repeated, her voice casual. “That’s strange. Everyone knows the rule. Morning training. Six days a week. No one should be left aside but I think the Alpha is quite busy so he won’t be joining us here.”

I kept my mouth shut.

She walked towards me, her steps slow, like she had all the time in the world. “You know,” she continued, “it’s important that our Luna leads by example. That she understands the discipline we expect here. Without that… What are we really leading? Or what are you really leading?”

I didn’t move. Didn’t answer. I just stared at her.

Evelyn smiled slightly. “We’ll count this as your first warning, after this, even as Luna, your Alpha won’t be able to save you.”

A murmur echoed through the crowd.

I forced myself to nod. “Understood.”

“Good. Since you’re already here…” she gestured her hand around the hall. “You’ll be joining today’s session.”

“I haven’t trained in months.”

“Then it’s the perfect day to start again.”

A few of the younger wolves chuckled.

“……what can she do?” 

“……she looks so weak.” 

“……the beta can’t be compared to her.” 

Evelyn smiled softly. “Don’t be bothered about that,” she said firmly and then raised her voice just enough to address everyone. “Luna Selene will be completing the full training set today. Let’s make sure she feels welcome and she will also compete with Mara.”

“You want me to do what?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“You heard me.” Evelyn said.

Mara shifted in her seat, her voice low. “You really want me to fight with her?”

Evelyn chuckled. “Come on, it’s just training.” 

“Did the Alpha know about this? I would never do anything behind his back, he needs to know about this first.” I said, my voice firm. 

Evelyn smiled. “He gave me his blessing to do whatever I want.” 

“Why? Why would he make us fight each other just to prove that we are strong.” I asked, my gaze locked on hers.

“Because that’s what we all do.” Evelyn said firmly.

“I am the Luna.” I said, my voice low.

Evelyn chuckled, very loud. “Yes you are.” She said. “But If you haven’t marked the Alpha or been marked by him, your title isn’t fully recognized. That’s the pack law, you are still….in trial.” 

“And I am not sure if he will ever mark you.” Mara said giggling.

“Aria, your footwork is slipping again,” Nina said softly.

I gritted my teeth and still didn’t back down. Sweat dripped from my brow into my eyes. 

I wasn’t the only one training today.

Evelyn had brought her friends. Four women in sleek black fit dresses, laughing too loud, whispering too obviously. They weren’t here to train but to bully.

And I was their target.

“You look tired already,” Nina said, her voice full of fake sweetness. “Didn’t you just get here?”

I didn’t answer.

“I guess Luna duties are exhausting,” Mara added from beside her. “All that sitting and watching others do the real work.”

Evelyn didn’t say a word. She just stood on the side, her arms folded, her eyes on me, they were unreadable.

I dropped into the next set. Pushups, I counted under my breath.

One. Two. Three…

“You know,” another girl said, twirling a blade around her fingers, “if she can’t last a full session, what’s she going to do when Nina or Mara knocks her on her ass in front of the whole pack?”

That got a round of laughter.

Twenty-one. Twenty-two. My arms shook. My jaw clenched.

“I wonder how the Alpha even picked her,” Mara said. “Or maybe she just threw herself to him.”

Evelyn tilted her head slightly. “Don’t be cruel,” she said quietly.

But her smirk told another story.

I stood up slowly, my breath was low and steady.

I walked over to the water jug, took a small sip, and wiped my mouth. No one spoke, but I could feel their eyes on me. Waiting for me to speak.

Nina stepped closer. “I think you have exhausted yourself enough” she said, voice almost kind. “I really want the fight to last more than ten seconds.”

I stared at her. “Don’t worry,” I said quietly. 

That wiped the grin off Nina’s face.

Mara tilted her head. “Careful, Luna. You might just sound like you believe in yourself.”

Evelyn finally moved. She stepped forward, hands in her pockets.

“Let her do what she wants,” she said, voice smooth. “She needs to practice before she starts losing.”

I didn’t flinch.

Instead, I turned my gaze directly to Evelyn.

“Funny,” I said, my voice low and sharp. “But I would love to challenge you instead.”

The air shifted.

Everyone laughed.

“Do you have a death wish?” Mara shot back at me.