Chapter 23: WHO IS THE CHOSEN ONE?

SELENE'S POV

"The flowers are wrong."

The maid stopped arranging the vase and quickly lowered her head.

"I'm sorry, Luna."

I walked closer and lifted one of the white lilies between my fingers.

"I told everyone these flowers were to be removed."

"Yes, Luna."

"Then why are they still here?"

The maid swallowed.

"They were delivered before sunrise. The gardener thought—"

"I don't care what he thought."

I set the flower back into the vase.

"Replace them with red roses."

"At once, Luna."

She hurried away with the arrangement clutched against her chest.I watched the other servants, none of them looked at me or smiled.

They simply worked faster whenever I entered a room, I turned toward the palace kitchen.

The cooks stopped talking the moment they saw me.

A long table stretched through the center of the room. Fresh bread cooled on wooden boards while roasted meat filled the air with its rich smell.

A young cook stepped forward nervously.

"Luna."

"Is the Alpha's breakfast ready?"

"It is almost ready ma'am."

I glanced over the dishes, Fruit, fresh bread, roasted venison, warm tea, everything looked perfect.

"Take it to the dining room."

"Yes, Luna."

The servants carried the trays out carefully, I followed behind them. The long dining table had already been prepared.

Silver polished, chairs perfectly aligned. Morning sunlight spilled through the tall windows.

I adjusted one of the plates myself.

"There."

One servant looked surprised, I smiled at her.

"It doesn't have to be perfect."

She nodded quickly.

"No, Luna."

Her voice sounded stiff, the room fell quiet again. My smile slowly faded I looked towards the direction where footsteps echoed.

Melvin walked in wearing his dark patrol jacket, he looked as though he hadn't slept.

He gave me one brief glance.

"Hey"

"Good morning My Alpha."

He pulled out his chair. "I asked the kitchen to prepare breakfast."

"I noticed."

He reached for the tea instead of the food.

I sat across from him, adjusting my hair and straightening my dress, I had done the make up myself to look pleasing in his eyes.

"I thought after yesterday's meeting..." My voice trailed off.

He looked up. "Yes?"

"I thought we could eat together." He lifted the cup.

"We are." Silence settled between us, I picked up a piece of bread.

"You'll be inspecting the borders today?"

"Yes." He sipped his tea.

"I heard patrol rotations have doubled."

"True." He didn't look at me

"Do you think the attacks will reach Thornridge?"

He set his cup down.

"We'll be ready if they do."

That was all, I waited, he didn't continue, like I was forcing a conversation he didn't want to happen.

I forced another smile.

"The cooks tried a new recipe."

"I'm sure it's fine."

"You haven't tasted it."

"I don't have much time."

He stood, the chair scraped against the floor.

"I'll be gone most of the day."

"So soon?"

"I have work."

He adjusted the cuffs of his jacket.

"I'll return before nightfall."

Without another word, he walked toward the door. The servants stepped aside immediately, the doors closed behind him.

My heart skipped, I blinked hard, fighting back the tears.

The untouched breakfast remained between us. No one spoke, I stared at the chair across from me.

One maid quietly reached for his untouched plate.

"It's fine," I whispered.

She froze.

"I'll... I'll clear it later."

She bowed and left the room, the silence pressed against my ears.

I stood so quickly my chair tipped backward.

"I need Elder Vayric."

***

The elder's office smelled of old books and burning herbs. A guard opened the door after announcing my arrival.

"Elder Vayric."

Vayric looked up from several open scrolls.

"Luna Selene."

His smile appeared a moment later than usual.

"You wished to see me?"

I walked inside.

"I wanted to ask about yesterday."

"The summit?"

"Yes."

He folded one scroll closed.

"What about it?"

"The Alphas all looked worried."

"They have reason to be."

"I've never seen Alpha Melvin so... tense."

Vayric leaned back slowly.

"None of us expected the Moon Seers to agree so quickly."

I frowned.

"You believe their warning?"

"I believe they all saw something."

He rubbed his forehead.

"The question is whether we're prepared."

I watched him carefully, his hands looked unsteady.

"Elder..."

He looked up.

"You don't seem comfortable."

"I'm getting old."

"You've never admitted that before."

A weak chuckle escaped him.

"There's a first time for everything."

I moved closer.

"What happens if they find this... chosen one?"

He looked toward the window instead of answering.

"If they find her..."

He stopped, I waited.

He drew a slow breath.

"It changes everything."

The room fell quiet, I studied him.

"Do you think she's dangerous?"

"I think power always is, the most dangerous thing is knowing the danger was always close by."

His fingers tightened around the edge of the desk.

“What?...How do you mean?”

He adjusted and cleared his throat, like he had said so much."Never mind, what matters now is making sure Thornridge stays protected."

I hesitated wearing a frown.

"Elder."

"Yes?"

"You're hiding something. I can tell”

He smiled again.

"No."

"You are."

He looked away.

For a long moment neither of us spoke.

Then...almost under his breath, he muttered,

"Our greatest worry shouldn't be Thornridge, but if Auren truly died..."

The words froze me where I stood, his smile disappeared, for the first time since I had known him...

I saw fear in Elder Vayric's eyes.