Chapter 2; The Shadows Of Betrayal

Selene stood by the door, her heart pounding like a war drum.

Her fingers hovered over the handle. She could still turn back, go upstairs, pretend she never considered this. Pretend she wasn’t about to betray Rylan’s trust.

But wasn’t he the one betraying her?

He'd dismissed her like she was nothing. Ignored her concerns. Left her alone.

And now, Kieran was waiting because he had promised to help. And she couldn't turn down such an offer.

Her breath came fast, uneven.

" Just go."

Without a second thought, she stepped outside, the gentle breeze swayed by, brushing her cheeks lightly. But she was shaken by dread.

One step.

Then another.

The darkness stretched before her, thick and endless.

Selene hesitated at the edge of the porch, glancing back at the house. The warm gleam from the lanterns inside felt like a barrier between her and the path she was about to take.

Rylan’s voice echoed in her mind.

" Promise me, Selene.”

Her chest tightened.

But she couldn’t ignore this. She couldn’t stand by while their pack bled and more warriors died. If Rylan refused to act, then she would.

With a steadying breath, she moved into the night, determined to get the desired result, a possible solution.

As for Rylan seeking out the Elders’, that's his business. She never liked them. But she couldn't change the fact that Rylan has so much trust in them.

The silence was suffocating.

The darkness of the night provided a covering for her. Her heartbeat pulsated like a thunderstorm. 

Walking briskly, she looked over her shoulders. A part of her was glad that the pack had retired for the night, sleeping.

From afar, she saw some warriors taking watch over the pack 

If they saw her — if they stopped her — how would she explain herself?

The main gate was out of the question. Guarded. Heavily watched. Rylan had assured no one slipped in or out without his knowledge.

She swallowed hard and veered left.

The woods.

There was an old path, barely used presently. It wound through the dense trees, bypassing the main road entirely. As children, she and Kieran had sneaked out through it more times than she could count.

The memory tightened her chest.

She reached the edge of the pack’s border and hesitated, the towering trees looming before her. The moon hung low, its pale light casting eerie shadows through the branches.

Then — footsteps.

Selene’s breath caught.

She danced and darted behind a stack of firewood, pressing herself into the darkness.

The soldiers passed, their voices low and gruff. She held her breath, heart knocking in her cognizance.

" Keep walking. Keep walking."

One of them braked.

Selene clenched her fists.

If they found her out here —

But then, the warriors grunted something about finishing their rounds, and they moved on.

Selene stayed frozen until their steps faded completely.

Then, she ran.

The woods swallowed her whole.

The rustling of leaves. The snap of a branch. The distant hoot of an owl.

Every sound felt too loud. Too close.

She stopped suddenly, her body stiffening.

Had that been —?

Silence. As she held her breath, frozen to the spot. Silently, she prayed to the moon Goddess for support.

Only the wind whispered through the trees.

Selene exhaled, shaking her head. She was being paranoid.

Still, she picked up her pace.

The clearing wasn’t far now.

Her feet caught on something and she yelled as she tumbled forward, crashing against the damp earth.

Pain flared up her palms where they scraped against the rough ground. A branch jabbed into her ribs.

She moaned, rolling onto her back.

Stupid. Reckless.

Selene struggled to her feet and wiped off dirt from her face and her gown. Pain seared through her but she has come too far to back down.

Her jaw clenched in determination, she trudged forward.

The clearing appeared through the trees like a forgotten dream.

She came to a halt, her eyes lit up as she smiled. The moon cast a glowing light on the green grass and a big tree that stood at a massive height.

 Its thick branches stretched toward the sky, unmoving indeed as the wind stirred.

Memories slammed into her.

She and Kieran were laughing beneath that very tree, their hands stained with crushed berries from the nearby bushes.

The time they had carved their names into the bark, a childhood promise of friendship that had long been buried beneath years of distance.

He became Alpha and she.. a Luna.

The last time she had seen him here was before she met Rylan. Before everything changed.

Recently, she met him during the last moon festival. And they rekindled their friendship without Rylan getting a hint. They exchanged contacts and kept in touch since then.

Her throat tightened.

She scanned the clearing, but Kieran was nowhere to be seen. She glanced at her phone, it was past 2: a.m

A cold uneasiness crept over her spine.

Had she been foolish to come? Has this been a trap?

Her fingers hovered over her phone, ready to call him, when —

A presence.

The hairs on her neck rose.

Selene’s breath caught.

Before she could reply, a hand touched her shoulder.

She froze. The hairs on her neck rose.

Every muscle is locked in place.

Had she been followed? Had the soldiers seen her leave? Had Rylan —

The grip tightened slightly, and a familiar voice broke the silence.

" You are late."

Then he stood before her. She thought she saw something flash in his eyes.

 But it vanished instantly like it was never there.

 Letting Rylan’s warning strike fear into her. 

Shaking off the thoughts, she smiled at him, but the relief was short-lived.

Because of something about the way he was looking at her, a shiver down her spine.

" Did anyone see you?" His voice was low, urgent. And for the first time, Selene wondered if meeting him had been a mistake.