Chapter 3: Secrets

Lucien’s POV

The night was unusually quiet, save for the distant howls of the patrol wolves.

I stood on the balcony of my office, the cool breeze rustling the papers on my desk behind me.

The view of the dense forest beyond the packhouse usually calmed me, but tonight, my thoughts were a storm I couldn’t quiet.

Seraphine.

I gripped the balcony railing, her name a weight on my mind. My mate—my Luna. She was standing beside me, yet she felt miles away.

“Lucien,” came a knock on the door.

I turned to see Beta stepping in, his expression grim. “It’s the warriors,” he began, his voice cautious. “They’re talking about  Luna Seraphine’s.”

“Again?” I asked, my voice colder than intended.

Beta nodded. “While they were all training for tomorrow’s hunt, they were saying they would not serve a Luna who isn't their blood”

“And what do you think?” I asked, folding my arms as I fixed him with a hard stare.

He hesitated. “She’s not like us, Alpha. She’s... different. Wolf-less. It’s hard for us to trust someone who—”

“Enough,” I interrupted sharply. My wolf Thorin growled in agreement, irritated by the doubt lingering in Ryder’s words. “Seraphine is your Luna. She’s my mate. That is all the justification anyone needs to trust her.I don't want to repeat this.”

Ryder lowered his head in submission. “Yes, Alpha.”

After Ryder left, I sank into my chair, rubbing my temples. The doubts about Seraphine were like a poison spreading through the pack. Life was hard on her, always. It reminds me of the first time we met

****

It was during a formal visit to the Blood Crest Pack, a meeting disguised as political diplomacy. I remembered it vividly. I had just stepped out of the car with my Beta when my gaze landed on her.

“Who is she?” I asked Ryder, my Beta, without taking my eyes off the young woman standing in the courtyard.

Ryder followed my gaze. “That’s Seraphine. The Blood Crest heir. Rumor has it she’s... different.”

“Different how?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

“She’s wolf-less,” Ryder said simply, his tone cautious.

I didn’t respond. I was too captivated by the woman in question. She stood apart from the other pack members, her golden hair catching the sunlight. Her posture was regal yet understated, her expression a mix of grace and sadness.

As if sensing my gaze, she turned her head and caught me staring. For a moment, our eyes locked. Her emerald green eyes were like the forest itself—deep, mysterious, and full of secrets.

I walked toward her, compelled by a force I didn’t yet understand.

“Alpha Lucien,” she greeted, her voice soft but steady. She bowed her head slightly, her movements precise and deliberate.

“And you are?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.

“Seraphine,” she said simply.

I held out my hand, and when her palm touched mine, a jolt ran through me. It wasn’t just a handshake—it was the bond. My wolf stirred, growling softly in recognition. Mate.

She wasn’t a gift wrapped in love or goodwill from her brothers—they handed her to me like a transaction, a bond forged for politics, not affection. Yes, she was wolfless, but I felt a strong pull from her

To the rest of the world, it seemed like everything was okay and perfect between them, like it was a mutual decision. But I could see the truth in her eyes—the way she really craved to be free. She wasn’t theirs to give; she was mine to claim.

But as I looked closer, it wasn’t hard to see the life she’d been living. She was too thin. Bruises and injuries marred her skin, signs of a life without protection or care. It didn’t take much to imagine how hard it must have been for her,I decided at that moment that I wouldn't let any more harm come to her

I still remember our mating ceremony so clearly.

“Do you accept Alpha Lucien as your mate?” the priestess asked.

“I do,” Seraphine replied, her voice steady but empty of emotion.

She looked stunning that day, dressed in white with a crown of flowers, my crest proudly displayed on her chest. Yet, beneath her beauty, I could see she was truly leaving her old pack behind. That look of uncertainty in her eyes made me wonder what might still be troubling her.

I’ve always believed it was because she didn’t have a wolf. Maybe she felt settling down in my pack would be difficult for her.

“No one will ever disrespect you,” I told her as we traveled back to my pack. I reassured her that she was safe with me—wolf or no wolf.

It hasn’t been easy since Seraphine came to the pack. From the very start, it felt like everyone was against her. Whispers, disapproving looks, and subtle challenges—it was as though they didn’t believe she deserved the title of Luna.

But I never allowed anyone to talk down on her. Not once.

My wolf growls in the back of my mind, reminding me of the time I nearly threw my Beta off the cliff during a hunting session.I couldn’t help but smile and chuckle at the memory.

“Damn, I can be crazy,” I said out loud, shaking my head.

Yeah, true, my wolf replied smugly, clearly unbothered.

It made me laugh even harder. I guess when it comes to Seraphine, there are no limits to how far I’ll go to protect her.