Dead or Not

Selene

I pressed myself against the wall, my heart hammering violently in my chest. I couldn’t breathe. They were talking about killing me. My own mate and my brother.

“Who is that?” Max’s voice boomed through the hallway.

I just inhaled. I dared not say a single word.

“Who the fuck is there? Come out right now! I know you’re there!” he kept yelling.

Terror gripped me. I stayed frozen, too scared to move. If I came out now, I was dead. They had already decided.

Heavy and fast footsteps approached. Before I could react, a strong hand seized my arm and yanked me out of my hiding spot. I turned and came face to face with Max’s furious eyes.

I screamed, but his large hand suddenly clamped brutally over my mouth, muffling the sound. I bit down hard on his palm. He hissed in pain and pulled his hand away just long enough for me to wrench free.

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, bare feet slapping against the cold floor, then the grass outside. I didn’t know where I was going. I didn’t care. I just needed to get away from the monster who wanted me dead.

“Selene!” Max roared behind me. “Stop!!”

He was gaining on me. I could hear his heavy footsteps getting closer. My lungs burned. My bare feet were cut and bleeding, but I kept running deeper into the darkness of the woods behind the pack house.

He caught me.

Max’s hand grabbed the back of my robe and yanked me backwards. I hit the ground hard. Before I could scream, his hands were around my throat, squeezing with deadly force.

I was going to die.

I clawed desperately at his wrists, kicking and struggling beneath him. “Please… Max… let go…” I gasped, tears streaming down my face.

His grip only tightened. Black spots danced in my vision.

In a last desperate attempt, I choked out through his crushing grip, “W-wait… I have an idea. We can negotiate—”

Max loosened his fingers just enough for me to breathe, but his hands stayed wrapped around my throat. “Negotiate?” he snarled, his voice dripping with disgust. “How fucking dare you try to bargain with me? You are nothing now. Your mate doesn’t want you. I don’t want you either. You’re completely useless to this pack!”

“Please…” I sobbed, tears streaming down my face. “Just let me go. I swear I’ll disappear. I’ll leave the pack tonight and never come back. I’ll act like I’m dead. You can tell Elias you killed me. No one will ever see me again. Please… I’m begging you. Just let me live. I swear on my life I’ll stay gone.”

Max stared down at me, his eyes cold and calculating, his hands now slowly tightening around my neck. The silence stretched unbearably long. My vision kept blurring as I struggled to breathe.

Finally, he spoke, his voice low and dangerous. “How do I know I can trust you?”

“I promise,” I cried weakly. “I’ll never show my face here again. Please… just let me leave. I won’t cause any trouble.”

He was quiet for a few terrifying seconds. Then, with a harsh shove, he finally released my throat.

I moved to the side, gasping and coughing violently as air rushed back into my lungs.

“Get out,” he spat, standing over me like I was filth. “Run right now. If I ever see your face again, anywhere, I will kill you myself. Do you understand me?”

I nodded frantically, tears pouring down my face.

I stood up on shaky legs and started running again — barefoot, terrified, and broken. I ran until my body couldn’t take it anymore. When I finally stopped, I had no idea where I was. The woods were dark and unfamiliar.

But then I saw an old telephone booth on the side of a quiet road.

With trembling hands, I pulled out the complimentary card Alaric had given me earlier from my pocket. I dialled the number, barely able to see through my tears.

He answered on the second ring.

“Alaric…” I sobbed, my voice breaking. “It’s Selene… Please… I’m scared. They want to kill me. If you find me, take me to Moonstone immediately. I’m at—”

I managed to tell him where I was before my legs gave out completely. The world spun. Then everything went black.

***

My eyelids felt heavy as I slowly opened them. After taking in the surroundings, I realized I was in the hospital, a drip attached to my arm. The strong smell hit me immediately, and I let out a heavy sigh.

Alexa was sitting beside my bed, her eyes widening the moment she saw me awake.

“Selene!” She leaned forward, grabbing my hand gently. “Thank the Goddess. Are you okay? You’ve been unconscious for three days.”

Three days?

My heart started racing. I felt panic flood my chest as memories crashed over me. I sat up quickly, ignoring the dizziness. “Where am I by the way?” My voice was hoarse and shaky. “Please tell me I’m not still in Whitemoon—”

“You’re not,” a deep, calm voice said from the other side of the room.

I turned my head. Alaric was standing near the window, watching me with quiet intensity.

“You’re in Moonstone Pack,” he continued. “I brought you here that night.”

I felt relieved so strongly that tears immediately filled my eyes. I broke down right there, sobbing uncontrollably as the betrayal came rushing back.

Alaric moved closer, his expression pained. “Selene… what happened? Please talk to us.”

With a trembling voice, I told them everything. The humiliation at the full moon celebration. Elias dancing with Sophie. The confrontation at the cottage. The pills in my tea. The fake mate bond. Max trying to kill me. The bargain I made to disappear. I didn’t even leave a small letter out.

Alexa’s face went pale with shock and horror. “That bastard… How could he do this to you?” She pulled me into a tight hug. “You are never going back there. Do you hear me? Never. Stay here in Moonstone. Blend in. Start over. We’ll protect you.”

Alaric stayed silent the entire time.

I could see the rage simmering beneath his calm surface. His jaw clenched, fists tight at his sides, eyes burning with fury. He looked like he was about to murder someone.

“Alaric…” I whispered. “Are you okay?”

He exhaled sharply. “You want to just let them go? After everything they did to you?” His voice was low but filled with anger. “They tried to kill you, Selene. They erased you like you never mattered. You should make them pay rather than hiding like a coward.”

I scowled, then shook my head. “I just want to forget it, Alaric,” I said weakly. “Right now, I’m still traumatized. I don’t want to remember any of it. I just… I want peace.”

Alaric stared at me for a long moment, then turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Alexa rubbed my back gently. “Don’t worry about him. He’s just… feeling a lot right now. He’ll calm down.”

Evening came slowly.

Alexa had already left to take care of her own family — her mate and two young pups. I was alone again when the door opened quietly.

Alaric stepped inside, holding a brown envelope. He walked over and handed it to me without a word.

“What is this?” I asked, my voice still weak.

“Look for yourself.”

I opened the envelope quickly, and my eyes widened as I read the elegant card inside.

It was a funeral invitation.

“In loving memory of Luna Selene of the Whitemoon Pack.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 27th, at 4:00 PM at the Grand Hall, Whitemoon Pack House.”

Alaric’s jaw clenched as he watched my reaction. “They invited several Alphas. I was invited too.”

My hands began shaking violently. I stared at the elegant black card, my own name printed in gold letters like a sick joke.

So… I, Selene Ashwood, am really dead to them. I still find it hard to believe. This was not a nightmare.

“Selene, shouldn’t you—”

I placed the card down with trembling fingers and looked away, feeling completely hollow. “What do you want me to do?” I cut in quietly. “They aren’t wrong. As far as we are concerned… I’m already dead.”

Alaric stayed silent for a long moment. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, steady, and filled with quiet determination.

“Well, you are not dead to me. Also, I want you to come with me to the funeral.”