Chapter 3

Selene

Everything felt like a dream. A terrible nightmare I couldn’t wake from.

I didn’t know what was worse, dying at the hands of a monster, or hearing my mate say that.

Adrian was my mate, the Alpha of the Mooncrest Pack.

I was a daughter of the priestess family, a family that served the Moon Goddess directly. I had always been different. My hair was proof of it, half black, half white. A curse, they said. The priestesses were supposed to bear only white hair, the mark of purity. But I was an outcast before I had even learned to walk.

It didn’t matter to me. All I had wanted was happiness. I wanted a bond with my mate.

When I found out my mate was the Alpha himself, I was overjoyed. I felt our bond. Even when Adrian barely noticed me, even when he was cold, distant, and indifferent, I was still happy. Because he was mine. And I believed that one day he might love me back.

So I gave him everything.

I worked, I bled, I devoted myself to being the perfect Luna. I did my duty so well I lost myself in it, and the few people who truly cared for me. I went to war for him against Alpha Damien, the demon who killed me life after life.

And not once, did I ever blame Adrian. Even knowing it was always his orders, that led me to my death. Even then, I was happy that he was safe.

How foolish.

All my sacrifices, my love was all for nothing.

I escaped death, only to suffer this.

My breaths came shallow. And then I felt our little bond shattering. My knees buckled, my body shaking. A tear slipped down my cheek, then another, until I couldn’t stop them anymore.

“Say it, Selene,” Adrian growled.

I lifted my head, trembling, my lips parting, but what came out was a broken whisper. “D-Damien…”

“Say it,” he repeated, harder this time. “After you say it, you’ll be treated. Then you’ll be exiled from this pack. That is all I can do for you.”

I stared at the man I had loved for so many years. My vision blurred with tears, my heart screaming as I looked down at my hand, still clutching the wound that refused to stop bleeding.

My voice cracked as I whispered, “After everything I’ve done for you… after all the love I’ve given you, how could you do this to me?” My body shook. “I went to war for you. I gave my life, my soul, my dedication to you.”

“Why would you do this to me… when all I’ve ever given you is love?”

For a moment, something flickered in Adrian’s gaze. But as quickly as it came, it vanished. His expression hardened again.

He opened his mouth, as if to speak, but Sienna stepped forward first. “Adrian didn’t mean it, Selene.”

My brow furrowed. Adrian. The way she said his name was too intimate. My stomach twisted. Why was she saying it like that?

The truth struck me.

I turned my eyes on them both, my heart pounding so loud I could hear nothing else. When Sienna caught my stare, she smirked, lips curving in triumph, as if she was happy I’d finally pieced it together.

My breath hitched. My head shook violently. “I-Impossible,” I whispered. “Impossible, you wouldn’t do this to me. You wouldn’t…”

Neither of them spoke, or denied it.

Sienna placed her hand on Adrian’s arm, claiming him.

“Yes,” she said. “Whatever you’re thinking is correct, sister.” She leaned closer to him. “Adrian and I are together. We have been for a long time. We only kept it hidden to spare you, and avoid hurting you, but we couldn’t hide anymore. We love each other too much. I know you’ll understand, Selene. You’ve always been the understanding type.”

Her voice was sweet, but I could hear the venom beneath it. And just like that, whatever fragile pieces of hope or humanity I had left shattered into dust.

My mate, and my sister. The two people I had loved, trusted were together all along. And instead of facing me, they had thrown me to Damien’s claws, hoping he would tear me apart in their stead.

Adrian sighed, his face bored, as though everything was nothing more than an inconvenience. “Don’t waste my time. Reject me already, Selene.”

Before I could respond, Sienna turned her gaze to him, her hand still resting on his arm.

“Wait,” she said softly. “Let me talk to my sister first. She might listen to me.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened, as if he disliked the delay, but finally he gave a short nod. “Make it quick.”

She walked towards me and took my hand in hers, her fingers cool against my blood stained skin. She leaned closer, tilting her head as though she was comforting me. My stomach churned. I wanted to yank my hand away, and shove her back, but I was too weak.

“Sister, you shouldn’t be so down, after all, it’s not like you could’ve kept him forever.” She whispered.

My body flinched. Her breath was warm against my skin as she continued. “Finally, I can get rid of trash like you. Do you know how annoying you’ve always been to me? How could someone like you, a cursed wolf, end up with Adrian as a mate, when I should’ve been the one?”

“Sienna…”

“That’s why I did everything to seduce him and make him mine. And it wasn’t hard, you know. He already hated the sight of you. He only kept you because you were useful. But now, you’re not useful anymore. So you should just die. It will be better for everyone. Besides… your wolf is already poisoned.”

My eyes snapped to hers in shock.

She smirked. “Yes, Selene. I poisoned Mira. That’s why your precious wolf has been silent all day. She’s slowly dying. And once she’s gone, you’ll be nothing. You’ll never rise again or fight. You’ll be worthless.”

I couldn’t breathe. I just stared at her, my world crumbling piece by piece.

Even if I survived today, even if I somehow escaped this humiliation, Mira would still die. And with her, I would too.

My sister’s poison had already decided my fate.