Filed To Story: Destined Bond with My Forbidden Alpha Novel (Alpha Alexander & Selene)
Selene swallowed nervously. Suddenly, faced with his rage, she lost all her confidence.
“In Moonguard, you saw the monsters that the infection would create, but now, because of Alice, we have a way to save not just Myka but all the other wolves from such a fate. Do you know how she did that?”
Selene was unable to speak.
“She took the infection into herself to slow the process inside of Myka. But because of her human genetics, Alice has natural immunity, so it didn’t and won’t change her. So instead, the infection will always lie dormant inside of her.”
Axel’s cold gaze sent a shiver down Selene’s spine.
“You and I,” Axel whispered, “are the only ones that cannot be inoculated against the infection. Because the Dark Queen used my DNA to create it….”
Selene heard the quiet pain in his voice as he spoke, but she understood too late why it was there.
“I, her mate, am the one person on this earth with whom Alice can never have a child,” Axel said, with angry tears escaping his eyes.
Selene gasped.
“Axel…”
“If we ever conceive, the infection inside of her will violently attack our child and possibly kill her in the process,” he continued.
Despite himself, Axel sniffled and let out a pained breath. He clenched his jaw and closed his eyes.
“The only thing she has ever asked for herself is to have a family with me,” he whispered. “And now, after learning the cost, she has asked for something else. To wait until after the war before she has her ovaries removed.”
Selene felt the tears roll down her cheeks, and a soft sob escaped her lips.
“Alice has not made me do anything for her. The only comfort she has sought from me is to hold her and pretend that I don’t know how heavy her heart is or that she cries late into the night, every night.”
Axel suddenly felt very tired. He let out a heavy breath and relaxed his shoulders, allowing them to slouch forward as his weariness grew.
“Axel… I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I never meant to”””
“I know,” he whispered. “You never do.”
Selene sniffled.
“But sometimes, you turn your ignorance to the suffering of everyone else around you into a weapon,” he sighed.
Axel took another deep breath.
“I have nothing else to say,” he whispered, pushing away from his desk. He turned to leave the room.
He looked back at his mother when he reached the door, she nodded, and he returned the nod before leaving them alone.
Selene let out a soft sob and moved to the couch.
“It’s horrible,” she whispered. “And I’m sorry for them, but….”
She paused, looking up at Corrine.
“I still don’t think it’s a good enough reason for him to have agreed to stay out of the war.”
Corrine sighed and then approached her daughter, sitting down beside her.
“Selene,” she said. “Alice isn’t the one that asked Axel for an oath.”
“What?”
Corrine smiled.
“I am.”
Selene furrowed her brows at her mother in confusion.
“You?” she asked quietly. “But… why would you do that?”
Corrine took a deep breath.
“To protect Winter.”
“I don’t understand….” Selene whispered. “Winter isn’t under attack. So how is keeping Axel locked down here protecting it?”
Corrine clenched her jaw and looked away.
“There is more to winning a war than running headfirst into the fray,” she sighed. “You have always relied too much on the simplicity of a fight to solve your problems.”
“What?”
Corrine looked back at Selene with irritation.
“When you were children, if you got into an argument with your brother, you always chose to spar to decide who was right and wrong. Then, as you got older, whenever you were questioned or made to feel inadequate by another person, your immediate reaction was to challenge them. To argue or fight with them about something you knew more about.”
Selene clenched her jaw, turning away.
“My darling girl, you are strong and brave, a warrior through and through. But you lack the patience and understanding to reason your problems and think ahead.”
Selene felt a growing frustration in her belly.
“Even now, you are worried about Alexander, but you attacked your brother rather than process that fear. So instead of treating your suffering heart, you created an even deeper wound.”
“We are supposed to be talking about how you decided to tie the hands of the Alpha of Winter,” Selene growled. “This is a war. Fighting is required!”
“Watch your tone,” Corrine warned.
“I’m not a child anymore!” Selene snarled.
“Then stop acting like one!” Corrine growled back, a soft green glow in her eyes.
Selene swallowed and hesitated. It was enough to calm some of the fire in her heart. She took a deep, cleansing breath.
“Why did you make Axel take an oath to remain in Winter during this war?” she asked with all the calm she could. “Every other alpha is fighting, not just for their own pack, but all the wolves.”
The glow in Corrine’s eyes fell away.
“As I said, to protect Winter,” she replied.
“How?”
Corrine swallowed. She seemed to search her thoughts for a moment, finding the right words to explain her meaning to Selene.
“Your father was a great and wonderful man,” she began. “Loving, kind, and passionate about his role as Alpha of Winter. Everything he did, he did while considering that role. But he always thought that the best way to serve as Alpha was to maintain the pack that his own father had brought back from a troubled time.”
Corrine paused, letting out a gentle sigh before continuing. Selene felt what remained of the fire in her heart slowly die away.
“When Wyatt was a boy, there was strife between the packs, and Winter was caught in the middle of several more minor feuds. The Alpha before your grandfather was not an evil man, but he was old and tired. He made terrible decisions for Winter because they were easy. Unfortunately, those decisions allowed outsiders to enter Winter and cause much trouble.
“Your grandfather was among a small group that could see the growing problems across Winter. They took their concerns to the Alpha but were ignored. Eventually, this led to a civil war, and in the end, it was your grandfather that won and took the title of Alpha.”
Selene was familiar with the story. Throughout its history, the leadership of Winter was rarely a bloody event. Still, her grandfather had taken the mantle by defeating the previous Alpha in combat.
“Because of his experience, your grandfather’s leadership was very traditional. He brought back old customs and reinforced others. As a result, Winter’s borders became much more closed off, and her people much more reserved.”
Selene listened closely, even though she had heard it all before. It was different to listen to it told by her mother. In the past, when she read the histories, it made sense, and she felt nothing in particular about the decisions her grandfather had made. But listening to Corrine now, it somehow felt sad.
“My family was lucky we were allowed to stay,” Corrine continued. “We had snuck in, and we were outsiders. By all accounts, we should have been kicked out immediately. But your grandfather took pity on us. And when it was decided that we would stay, I made it my goal to serve Winter and prove to the Alpha that he had not made a mistake in his mercy.
“I trained and studied. I learned every tradition and value of Winter and made them my core beliefs. I fought harder than any other in the south to earn my rankings until I was recognized and invited north. And when I met your father and felt the bond, your grandfather immediately recognized me. He smiled and told me that the Goddess had rewarded his mercy and my hard work with this blessing.”
Corrine took a breath and smiled at Selene.
“Wyatt worshipped his father,” she continued. “While he was still alive, he followed him everywhere and did everything that was asked of him. He never argued or talked back. Even when I was pregnant with Axel, due any day. Your grandfather sent Wyatt to scout in the southern territories. Again, he didn’t argue, just did as he was told.”
She paused.
“Axel was a week old when he first met your father,” Corrine sighed. “I was upset that Wyatt hadn’t been there for his birth, but I understood.”
Selene felt a grip on her heart. She wanted to hug her mother, but Corrine continued before she could.
“At the time that your grandfather was killed, and Wyatt took the mantle of Alpha, he held tight to the traditions and values that his father had instilled in the pack. But his grief made him even stricter than his father, and later his guilt clouded his judgment for too long.”
Selene furrowed her brows.
“Dad was a great Alpha,” she said, feeling a need to defend him.
“I never said he wasn’t,” Corrine replied. “Wyatt loved his people and protected them. He was a great Alpha. But Axel is better.”
Selene swallowed and furrowed her brows. She knew Axel had taken to his role as Alpha in the last few months. She would never deny that, but better than her father already? That seemed unlikely.
“In the short time that he has led Winter, he has established a trust between our territories that has been shaky at best since your grandfather’s time. He has made allies that previously were seen as enemies. As a result, Winter is growing and flourishing even with war looming over us, and that is your brother’s influence.”
Corrine smiled.
“For so long, he hid behind his pain and his insecurities of the past that I don’t think any of us could see the true strength in him,” she continued. “But now, he has found himself, and he is leading Winter into greatness.”
Selene sighed.
“I understand what you’re saying,” she replied. “But, isn’t part of being a great leader fighting alongside your troops? Not asking of them what you yourself would not do?”
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?