Chapter 7

SELENE WOLFE

Orion advanced menacingly, gripping Xander's clothes tightly.

"What the heck did you just pull, Xander?" Orion questioned, his tone unnervingly calm.

Xander, now visibly frightened, stammered, "I-I didn't mean to cause trouble, Alpha Orion. It was just a misunderstanding."

Orion tightened his hold, insisting, "Explain yourself, and it better make sense."

I pleaded desperately, rushing forward to intervene. "Orion, please" I grasped at Orion's arm, attempting to hold him back, but he casually shrugged me off.

Orion's gaze remained fixed on Xander, his voice low and intense. "No, Selene. He needs to clarify why he laid his hands on you."

The tension in the room escalated, and I felt a knot tighten in my stomach.

Xander, attempting to deflect blame, replied defiantly, "Orion, you're overreacting. She's just useless."

Orion's patience wore thin, and in an instant, his fist collided with Xander's jaw. The sound echoed in the room, and Xander staggered back, stunned.

I couldn't stand by silently. "Orion, violence isn't the answer! Let's talk this through," I implored, my voice shaky.

Orion, though visibly agitated, took a step back, rubbing his knuckles.

"Talk, then. But he better have a damn good explanation."

Xander, nursing his jaw, tried to regain composure. "Look, it's not what you think. I was just trying to teach her a lesson. Things got out of hand."

Orion scoffed, his disbelief apparent. "You think laying hands on Selene is the way to teach her a lesson? Who the fuck are you to teach her a lesson"

The room was suddenly filled with the sickening sound of blows as Orion unleashed his fury upon Xander. I couldn't bear it any longer; I pleaded with all my strength,

"Orion, please stop! This isn't the way!" Tears streamed down my face as I rushed forward, desperately trying to shield Xander from the relentless assault.

"Orion, enough!" I cried out, throwing my arms around him. His breaths were heavy, and for a moment, the room stilled as I clung to him. His fists were clenched, and he finally relented.

"Selene, he laid hands on you. He needs to pay for that," Orion growled, his anger still evident in his voice.

I held onto him, my voice trembling. "Orion, I understand your anger, but more violence won't solve anything. Let's find another way to handle this."

Just then, the door swung open, and Luca, Orion's beta, entered, confusion etched across his face.

"What's going on here?" Luca questioned, his eyes darting between the tense trio.

Orion, still seething, explained, "Xander here decided it was a good idea to lay hands on Selene."

Luca's eyes widened in shock

"You really laid your filthy hands on Selene?" he exclaimed, his voice rising with anger just as Xavier held him.

As Luca's anger flared, I pleaded desperately.

"Luca, please don't do this! Let's find another way to sort things out." My voice trembled with fear, and I took a step forward, hoping to defuse the tension.

Luca, however, was consumed by his rage, ignoring my pleas. "Xander needs to pay for what he did!" he snarled, attempting to break free from Xavier's grip.

Xander, fear evident in his eyes, stammered, "I-I know I messed up, but please, let's talk about this."

Luca, fueled by frustration, strained against Xavier's hold. "Talking won't fix this. He hurt you, Selene."

I continued to beg, "Luca, violence won't solve anything. We're better than this. Please, for the sake of our packs."

Meanwhile, Xavier, struggling to restrain Luca, implored, "Luca, calm down. We can't resort to violence. Let's find a peaceful solution."

"Enough, both of you!" Orion growled out.

"Bring Alpha Dominic here. We need to talk," Orion commanded.

As Alpha Dominic entered the room, his eyes locked onto me with a disapproving glance. The tension in the room was palpable as they awaited his response.

Orion, towering over Alpha Dominic, began,

"I want to tell you that due to what Xander did to Selene, I'm cutting off the alliance."

"Orion, maybe we should—" I started saying but before I could finish, Orion cut me off sharply, "Selene, shut up. You don't need to stand up for a pack that's hurt you. You're too good for your own good sometimes." he said and I kept quiet.

Alpha Dominic, glancing at me with disdain, muttered, "She deserves whatever she got." He used a harsh word but quickly covered it up with another, attempting to soften the blow. "We'll try to resolve it."

Orion, unyielding, declared, "No. We're leaving. If you can't treat Selene right, we can't work together. The alliance is over."

Alpha Dominic, attempting to convince Orion, argued, "Orion, let's not make hasty decisions. We can handle this differently. Selene can stay with us, and we'll sort things out."

I stood there just watching the exchange between them.

Orion, firm in his stance, responded, "No, Dominic. This is non-negotiable. If Selene isn't treated right, the alliance means nothing."

Alpha Dominic persisted, "Orion, think about the bigger picture. We can find a resolution."

Orion, resolute, shook his head. "I won't compromise on this. We're leaving."

After a tense exchange, Alpha Damon finally relented, recognizing the gravity of the situation. "Fine, Orion. We'll ensure Selene is treated with respect. Please reconsider."

Orion, after a moment of contemplation, agreed, "We'll consider it, but the alliance is hanging by a thread. Treat Selene right, or it's over for good."

Luca, his tone uncompromising, added, "Bitch, and that's on, period. No alliance, no compromise."

Alpha Dominic gritted his teeth in anger and slowly nodded.

Orion glared at Xander, his eyes filled with disdain. He stepped closer, grabbing Xander's neck, and spoke with a threatening tone,

"Listen up, you piece of crap, let me make this crystal clear,The next time you try this crap, The next time you lay your filthy hands on Selene again, I swear to the moon goddess who made me, you won't live to see the next day,Capisce?" He said dangerously calm.

Xander, visibly shaken, nodded in fear as Ryan's words hung heavily in the air. Orion, fueled by frustration, continued, "You messed with the wrong pack, and there won't be a second chance. Remember what I said, because I won't hesitate."

Orion, his strong arms wrapped around me, pulled me away from the chaotic scene. He hugged me so tight, and in that moment, his concern was obvious and my heart fluttered.

"Are you hurt, Selene? Did anyone harm you?" he asked with genuine worry.

Feeling the warmth of his embrace, I couldn't hold back the overwhelming emotions any longer. Tears streamed down my face as I broke down.

"Shh, it's okay. Let it out. You're safe now." He whispered soothingly.

As I cried in his arms, Orion continued to comfort me, his words filled with sincerity. "You're too good for your own good, Selene. You don't have to endure all of this. Stand up for yourself. You're stronger than you think."

Wiping away my tears, Orion gazed into my eyes. "You don't deserve to be treated like this. I'll always be here for you. No one should make you feel this way."

In that moment, as our eyes met, I could feel a subtle shift in the air. He leaned in closer, his eyes focused on my lips and I leaned in closer too.