Filed To Story: Destined Bond with My Forbidden Alpha Novel (Alpha Alexander & Selene)
Selene saw a gentle smile on Galen’s face. She wondered if he was good friends with Darla’s mate.
“He died the night Jackson attacked.”
Selene swallowed. She remembered the chaos and confusion of that night. How she had lost control of herself when she thought Alexander was in danger.
“Sienna stayed by her side through the pain and the healing of that loss. They mourned together, feeling as though they now truly only had each other.”
Selene felt a tight grip on her heart at hearing the sad tale.
“Why are you telling me all of this?” Selene asked.
“Because I want you to understand how confusing and difficult this whole situation is,” he said softly, “And how completely lost some of these wolves have become.”
Galen let out a heavy sigh.
“The person that Darla attacked was Sienna.”
Selene’s eyes widened.
“What?”
“A week ago,” he continued. “Darla stabbed Sienna with a knife. Thankfully, she missed anything vital, and Sienna was able to fight her off and escape. But she was trapped in her bathroom for two hours while Darla pounded, stabbed, and screamed at Sienna through the door.”
Selene had no words.
“While she waited, Sienna cleaned and bandaged herself, and then she made a plan to subdue Darla, and she did. She took her to the hospital and told the staff what happened.”
Selene furrowed her brows and shook her head.
“I don’t understand…” she said. “Why did Darla attack her sister?”
Galen took a deep breath.
“Sienna knew that Darla was struggling, just like all the others. She was lost, confused, and desperate to hold on to the past. According to her, Darla had been quickly losing herself for months. But, when Sienna heard the rumor that you were coming to Summer, she… expressed her opinion to Darla.”
“Not the most favorable, I’m guessing,” Selene sighed.
“No,” Galen replied honestly, “Sienna knew that Darla wouldn’t agree or like it, but she never expected that Darla could ever hurt her.”
Selene narrowed her eyes at Galen.
“You’re saying that Darla attacked Sienna because of me?” she scoffed.
“It sounds ridiculous to you,” he replied. “But it’s true.”
“It sounds ridiculous because it is ridiculous, Galen,” Selene stated. “I don’t even know her. She helped me in the game, but I’ve never even spoken to her outside of that.”
“No, it’s not a personal connection or problem,” he said. “Sienna tried to tell you already, whether you took up the role or not, you were Luna of Summer, and that meant something to the whole pack.”
Selene gritted her teeth angrily.
“You don’t know what it’s been like for the past two years, Selene,” Galen continued. “The infighting, the debates and arguments, the insane rumors about me, Fiona, you… Summer isn’t the pack you knew. Or the one that Alexander left behind.”
Selene felt a weight in her stomach and an unease in her chest. Still, she tried to push it down.
“How bad could it be?” she said. “Infighting, arguments? We’re wolves. There will always be pack struggles. And rumors? Seriously? What does it matter what people say?”
Galen clenched his jaw in frustration.
“They think Fiona and I chased you out,” he said. “That we’ve kept you away in order to keep our hold on Summer. Some even believe she threatened you somehow and refused to let you come to the vigil.”
“But I was there.”
“But they didn’t see you,” Galen replied. “And it didn’t matter what we said. The rumors just kept getting worse from there. Now, entire sections of the pack refuse to interact with each other, and families have turned on each other, all based on who they think should be in charge.”
“You mean between you and Fiona?” Selene scoffed.
“Yes,” he said. “And you.”
“I have nothing to do with it,” Selene said as she shook her head.
“You want nothing to do with it,” Galen replied. “But the wolves that believe you should be in charge are the ones that caused this lockdown.”
Selene clenched her jaw and turned away from him.
“Alexander is the only one that should be in charge,” she stated.
Galen closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“Selene, I agree,” he said softly, “I really do, but… Summer needs someone now.”
Selene shook her head and sighed in frustration.
“None of this makes sense,” she said. “The wolves of Summer are some of the most rational people I have ever met. Rumors? Paranoia? It doesn’t make sense.”
“And as I already told you,” Galen said. “Summer isn’t the pack you knew anymore.”
Selene felt the irritation between them growing.
“Clearly,” she replied. “Because the wolves I saw huddled in that room back there definitely weren’t the wolves I knew. Or that Alexander led.”
Galen tilted his head and narrowed his eyes.
“What does that mean?” he asked.
Selene crossed her arms over her chest.
“It means,” she said. “Summer fell apart in your hands.”
Galen stood up straight. He looked at her with a pained anger.
“Fiona and I have done everything we could,” he said. “We have kept the pack safe; we have kept them together. We can’t stop this madness—“
“It never would have happened if Alexander was here,” she said.
Galen clenched his jaw.
“Obviously not,” he said. “But that’s because—“
“And yet you think you can replace him!” Selene shouted.
“Do you really not understand that Summer needs an Alpha?” Galen snapped back. “Or are you just that determined to assume that everyone is always trying to hurt you.”
Selene looked at him with anger and frustration.
“I don’t understand how easily you think you can take his place!” Selene shouted. “These are his people! His wolves! By birth and by right, he is the only Alpha of Summer!”
Galen clenched his jaw. Every word she spoke was a dagger in his heart. Because he agreed with each one.
He knew he couldn’t replace Alexander.
Being Alpha was Alexander’s birthright and his rightful place. And if Alexander were here, the thought of being Alpha would never have crossed Galen’s mind.
But Alexander wasn’t here, and these wolves needed someone who was.
“You’re right,” he said. “He is the only person fit to be Alpha of Summer, and he should be.”
Selene furrowed her brows and looked at him with confusion.
“But, unfortunately… he isn’t here, and Summer still is. And for some stupid reason, he saw fit to choose me to step in if the need came,” Galen continued as his voice began to tremble. “You may not like it. I sure as hell don’t. But the need has come, and I will follow my Alpha’s last order. I will honor his request and do it to the best of my ability… regardless of your opinion.”
There was no point in arguing with Selene any longer. She couldn’t see past her own fears and pain. He couldn’t blame her, not when he was guilty of having spent the past two years doing the same thing while he witnessed the wolves of Summer slowly devolve around him.
Galen took a deep breath and sniffled, trying to compose himself.
He turned to leave the room but paused with his hand on the door. He let out a heavy sigh through his nose.
“There is something I need to remind you of,” he said. “Because it’s clear you’ve forgotten.”
Selene looked up at him. His back was to her.
She didn’t respond, and he didn’t wait for her.
“Alexander isn’t just my Alpha, and he isn’t just your husband,” Galen said. “He is Fiona’s son. He is my brother and best friend.”
Selene swallowed as she listened.
“This wasn’t an easy decision for me, Selene,” Galen continued, glancing back over his shoulder but not actually looking at her. “Telling Fiona, telling you, telling all of Summer, that I, in any way, think I can take his place…?”
Galen lowered his head.
“A part of me still feels like I’m betraying him,” he said softly.
Selene clenched her jaw and looked away.
“I’m sure he’ll be disappointed, maybe even angry,” Galen said solemnly, “and I don’t honestly know how I’ll face him.”
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?