.CHAPTER 5 – THE UNWANTED LUNA

Someone had been in my room.

I knew it before I even opened my eyes.

The air felt wrong.

Too still.

I sat up slowly, my hand reaching beneath the pillow for the small knife I had hidden there.

Nothing moved.

The fireplace had gone cold.

The curtains were closed.

The door was shut.

I slipped out of bed without making a sound.

My eyes moved around the room.

Everything looked untouched.

The wardrobe was closed.

The drawers were shut.

My clothes were exactly where I had left them.

I walked toward the table.

Then I stopped.

One drawer was slightly open.

I pulled it wider.

Empty.

I checked the others.

Nothing.

My knife tightened in my hand.

Whoever had entered hadn't come for money.

They had come for information.

I searched the room again.

The blanket had been moved.

My bag had been opened.

Even the few things I carried from the Barrens had been touched.

Someone had searched for something.

But what?

I opened the door.

Two guards stood outside.

They immediately straightened.

“Luna.”

I stared at them.

“Did anyone enter my room last night?”

They exchanged a quick glance.

“No.”

I stepped into the corridor.

“Think carefully.”

One guard swallowed.

“No one passed us.”

“Then someone didn't use the door.”

The second guard frowned.

“What do you mean?”

I pointed toward my room.

“Someone searched it.”

His eyes widened.

“Are you sure?”

I gave him a cold look.

“I know what my room looked like.”

The guards looked at each other.

“Call the Alpha,” I said.

Within minutes, Kael arrived.

He entered the room and immediately noticed my expression.

“What happened?”

“Someone searched my room.”

His eyes hardened.

“Did they hurt you?”

“No.”

“Take anything?”

“No.”

“Then what did they want?”

I crossed my arms.

“If I knew that, I wouldn't be standing here.”

Kael walked toward the table.

He examined the open drawer.

His jaw tightened.

“Who was guarding this door?”

The guards lowered their heads.

“I was, Alpha.”

“And you saw nothing?”

“No, Alpha.”

Kael's voice became dangerously calm.

“Then you weren't doing your job.”

“Alpha, I—”

“Enough.”

The guard fell silent.

Kael turned to me.

“From now on, you'll have four guards.”

I frowned.

“No.”

His eyebrow lifted.

“No?”

“I don't need four people following me everywhere.”

“Someone entered your room.”

“And didn't hurt me.”

“That isn't the point.”

“It is to me.”

Kael stepped closer.

“You're my Luna.”

“Exactly. Your Luna, not your prisoner.”

His eyes narrowed.

“I'm trying to keep you alive.”

“And I'm trying to live without someone watching me breathe.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then Kael said, “You don't understand how dangerous this place is.”

I laughed softly.

“Neither do you.”

His expression changed.

“What does that mean?”

“It means you're used to having warriors around you. I'm used to knowing when someone wants me dead.”

Kael stared at me.

“You think I don't know?”

“I think you don't see everything.”

His jaw tightened.

“Then tell me what you see.”

I looked toward the door.

“Fear.”

He followed my gaze.

“Whose?”

“Everyone's.”

He was silent.

I continued.

“Your warriors are loyal to you. Some of your nobles are too. But others are waiting for you to make one mistake.”

Kael's eyes sharpened.

“You've been here less than a day.”

“And I've already noticed.”

He stepped closer.

“Be careful, Nyra.”

“With what?”

“With thinking you understand my pack.”

“I don't.”

I met his eyes.

“But I understand people.”

His expression softened for half a second.

Then it disappeared.

“Four guards.”

“No.”

“Three.”

“No.”

“Two.”

I almost smiled.

“You negotiate like you're buying a horse.”

“And you argue like you want to get yourself killed.”

“Maybe I just don't like being controlled.”

“I noticed.”

He walked toward the door.

Then stopped.

“Two guards. Not negotiable.”

I sighed.

“Fine.”

“Good.”

He left.

I watched him disappear down the corridor.

That man was going to drive me insane.

I spent the rest of the morning exploring Moonfall Fortress.

If I was going to survive here, I needed to understand the territory.

And more importantly, I needed to understand the people.

The fortress was divided into sections.

The warriors occupied the eastern wing.

The nobles had private chambers near the council hall.

Servants moved through the central corridors.

Everywhere I went, people watched me.

Some bowed.

Others whispered.

I ignored them.

Until I heard voices coming from an open doorway.

“Kael is making a mistake.”

“He knows what he's doing.”

“Does he?”

“The Council won't tolerate this.”

“They don't have to.”

I stopped.

Another voice answered.

“If Kael continues challenging them, they'll remove him.”

I slowly moved closer.

“They can't remove an Alpha without support.”

“They already have support.”

Silence followed.

I stepped away before they noticed me.

So that was the truth.

Kael's position wasn't as secure as he pretended.

He wasn't just fighting the Council.

He was fighting people inside his own pack.

Later, I found Kael in the training courtyard.

He was speaking with several warriors.

When he saw me, his conversation stopped.

“You're supposed to have guards.”

“I have two.”

“Where are they?”

“Behind me.”

Kael looked past me.

The guards stood several steps away.

His eyes returned to me.

“Why are you here?”

“I wanted to see the training grounds.”

“You could have told me.”

“Would you have said yes?”

He paused.

“No.”

I smiled.

“Exactly.”

One of the warriors tried not to laugh.

Kael glanced at him.

The warrior immediately looked away.

Kael approached me.

“You're making this difficult.”

“You keep saying that.”

“Because it's true.”

“Then stop making rules I don't agree with.”

His eyes narrowed.

“You're in danger.”

“So you keep telling me.”

“Because you keep ignoring it.”

I stepped closer.

“Someone entered my room last night.”

“I know.”

“And they were looking for something.”

“I know.”

“Then why haven't you asked what they were looking for?”

Kael's expression changed.

“What do you think they wanted?”

“I don't know.”

“Then don't assume.”

“I don't assume.”

I lowered my voice.

“I observe.”

Kael stared at me.

“You're different from anyone I've dealt with.”

“That sounds like a compliment.”

“It wasn't.”

I smiled.

“I'll take it anyway.”

For a moment, something passed between us.

Not trust.

Not yet.

Something else.

Something I didn't want to name.

Kael looked away first.

“Stay close to your guards.”

“I'll try.”

“Nyra.”

I sighed.

“Fine.”

He walked away.

I watched him go.

Then someone touched my arm.

I turned sharply.

A young servant stood beside me.

She looked terrified.

“Luna, I need to tell you something.”

“What?”

She glanced around.

“Not here.”

I followed her into an empty corridor.

She lowered her voice.

“You shouldn't stay in Moonfall.”

My eyes narrowed.

“Why?”

She looked toward the hall.

Then back at me.

“You should leave before the former Luna returns.”

I stared at her.

“Selene?”

The servant nodded.

“She's coming back.”

I felt a chill move through me.

“When?”

The servant's face went pale.

“Tonight.”

Then she hurried away.

I remained in the corridor, staring after her.

Selene wasn't finished.

She was coming back.

And this time, I would be waiting.