Chapter 06: "A new hope arises."
Selene was startled when she ran into the mystery man from the one-night stand right in front of her - what were the chances of that happening? She quickly distanced herself from him and tried to deny that she knew him when Kassia questioned her, feeling her mind spinning, trying to find a way out of the situation, feeling anxious and pressured.
Selene excused herself, claiming not to be feeling well, and rushed to the kitchen, where she found Ayda busy preparing something to eat, noticing she was agited in, furrow the brow in worry
"Selene, what's going on? You look scared," Ayda asked.
The beautiful wolf woman tried to catch her breath before answering, doing her best to hide the truth about her encounter with the mysterious man.
"Oh, it's nothing, Ayda. I guess I just got scared by Kassia's scolding again. But I'm fine, don't worry."
Ayda looked at the young wolf with a suspicious expression, knowing she wasn't telling the whole story, but she preferred not to press her at that moment.
"It's fine, if you say so. But if you need to talk about anything, I'm here for you, okay?"
Selene thanked him with a forced smile, trying to disguise the nervousness that still plagued her. She knew she couldn't tell Ayda about her adventurous night, as it could put her in danger, so she decided to keep that secret hidden.
After recognizing Selene, Lyall decides to take a seat at the table, and Ethan joins him, feeling everyone's gaze on them, which causes the Lycan king to clarify a few things:
"This is Ethan, my advisor and loyal friend. He has been an essential part of me and my pack".
And realizing that her daughter couldn't stop looking at Lyall, Kassia decides to find out a little more, at least what interested her.
And does the Lycan king already have a mate or is he still looking for his beloved?
"Actually, I just found her," Lyall replied.
This revelation surprised Kyma, who thought Lyall was talking about her. Kassia pushed for a possible alliance between the Silver Claws and the original Lycan pack.
"It would be wonderful if the Silver Claws pack and the pack of the original Lycans were to unite."
Ethan, do you happen to like this lady's daughter? Do you want to marry her?" The lycan king looks at his advisor, who is surprised.
"Why do you think I want to marry someone I don't even know? With all due respect to the lady," Ethan looks at Kyma, who cannot believe the audacity of the two, rejecting her simultaneously.
"Kailel, do something. They had the nerve to insult the beautiful daughter of the important Silver Claws pack." Kyma feels offended, trying to incite her brother to fight.
"Silence, Kyma! You got it wrong," Kailel replies.
"Argh!" Kyma exclaims, getting up and leaving the table.
"You didn't have to talk to your sister like that. Go apologize to her later," Kassia tries to assert herself, at which point Lyall and Ethan exchange a look.
"I thought I understood that you were the alpha of your pack, Kailel. But if you still take orders from your mother, that means you are an alpha in name only. So who should I take care of business with? The mother or the son?" Lyall teases with a smug smile.
"Deal with me." Ian intervenes.
"Look at that! It's getting even better. Ian, aren't you Alpha Uktena? Why are you getting involved in other people's conversations?"
"We're allies. And what is an ally for if not to help?" Ian replies.
"You're right," Lyall smiles and continues, "Is that woman with the long black hair from one of your packs?"
"Selene? Yes and no. I found her in the forest some time ago, almost dead. Her beauty caught my eye and I brought her home. In fact, we don't know about her origin," Kailel explains.
"So this woman, Selene, is your companion?"
"Not mine. Ian's, yes."
"She is my supposed mate, but she is only here to satisfy me when I want her to, and in the Silver Claws pack, she serves as a servant. Selene is just a useless girl who we were kind enough to keep from starving and being left alone. Don't worry about her. By the way, where is she? She spilled coffee on the table and needs to clean it up". Ian's words infuriate Lyall, but he has to keep up appearances; it's not the right time to do anything. Ethan, who already knows his king's temper, tries to change the subject:
"Nifhil is a beautiful city, it has a mystical and unique atmosphere. Don't you think so, Lyall?" Ethan pushes a glass of water towards his king.
"It's true!" Lyall forces a smile and takes a sip of water.
"There is a legend about an ancient clan of priestesses, they were beautiful and powerful, they lived around here, they loved nature and kept harmony in the place and between beings, but, as I said, it's just a legend." Kassia shares some of the town's history.
"I understand!"
Meanwhile, Selene secretly listens in, taken aback by Kyma.
"Are you spying, Selene?"
"No! I was just passing by. But... Kyma, could you tell me who the two visitors are?"
" Argh! Don't even remind me of that. The tall, hot brunette is called Lyall, he's the Lycan king and the blond guy next to him, I think his name is Ethan, he's the king's advisor and friend. Something like that. Because, you know what, that's none of your business, what you care about is going out there and serving them.
"I'm still feeling sick. Sorry, Kyma." Selene tries to extricate herself from the situation, but Ayda arrives with a cloth in hand, handing it to her colleague and pushing her back to the dining room:
"There you are. Clean up the coffee I spilled and then take what's left "
Selene just accepts by nodding without saying a word, her face was red from showing herself in such an embarrassing situation, she then avoids looking in Lyall's direction, but Kassia forces her:
"Besides being useless, are you rude? Greet the lycan king and his advisor."
"Pleasure gentlemen! Do you need anything?" Selene asks with her head down and her voice choked.
"No! We're fine. Thank you, miss." Ethan answers in place of Lyall who just watches Selene leave carrying a tray full of utensils thinking it would probably be heavy for her small and delicate body.
Selene was pensive in her room, the discovery that the mysterious man was the lycan king himself made Selene even more worried and uneasy. She knew nothing about him, but the fact of the king's presence in that pack meant a search for alliances. However, the young werewolf also realized that if the king was willing to ally with such cruel and boundless people, that place was no longer safe for her, let alone the baby she carried in her womb.
Her mother's words echoed in her mind, reminding her of her powerful origins and the courage that ran through her veins. It was time to make a difficult but necessary decision. Selene knew she had to flee to protect herself and her son. She could no longer ignore the signs of danger and the sense of oppression that gripped the pack.
In the dead of night, Selene began to prepare her escape. She gathered some essential clothing and supplies, planning to leave before dawn, but the house was being closely guarded by beta werewolves from the two allied packs and Selene waited for a moment of distraction to finally leave the house. With determination, Selene set off, running towards an uncertain but hopeful future. She knew her journey would be difficult, but she was willing to face any obstacle to protect her son and find a place where they could live in peace and safety.
"So, I wasn't delirious? Did Selene really run away?" Ayda is confused, but for now, she decides not to say anything.
On the other hand, Selene reaches a remote part of the dense forest, a place even she doesn't know. As she walks further, she comes across a small village with simple houses and humble people. Some mothers sit on the porch of one of the houses, chatting while breastfeeding their babies, children playing and having fun, and elderly sitting in rocking chairs, gazing at the horizon. While wondering about this place, someone approaches her from behind:
"Are you looking for something, miss?" the voice of an unfamiliar young man echoes in Selene's ear, and she tries to run, but he catches up to her.
"Please, don't hurt me," Selene pleads with teary eyes.
The young man, in turn, smiles as he looks at Selene's frightened face, noticing that she was dirty and out of breath.
"Why would I hurt you? We don't even know each other," the young man is kind.
"What place is this?"
"Moon Village. That's the name. We are an independent pack, as you can see, isolated from other packs and clans. Few know about us," the young man explains.
Selene smiles as she sees a new hope in that place, perhaps an excellent place to have and raise her child without worries.
"Do you want to see my village?"
"Yes, please!"
"By the way, my name is Jamal."
"Selene."