Filed To Story: Destined Bond with My Forbidden Alpha Novel (Alpha Alexander & Selene)
Selene nodded.
“By the time we arrived, they had already been infected,” she said, holding the door for Alexander as he stepped inside the house behind them.
“It was a disturbing sight,” Alexander added.
“A whole pack… gone just like that…” Corrine whispered, easing herself onto the couch. “It wasn’t a small pack either… at least several hundred wolves!”
Selene clenched her jaw and nodded.
“From what we understand, Moonguard was already working with our enemy. They chose to become monsters,” Alexander said, rubbing Selene’s shoulder affectionately. “There was nothing we could have done to save them.”
Corrine looked up at Alexander, it was clear she had more questions, but a side glance from him told her that Selene was struggling with what they had to do.
“Unfortunately,” Corrine began, standing from the couch. “War leads to terrible choices. Even the right ones can leave a deep scar on your heart.”
She put her hand under Selene’s chin, lifting it to look at her. Corrine gave a warm smile.
“You did the right thing, even if it doesn’t feel like it.”
Selene swallowed and nodded.
“Now, let’s all get some rest,” Corrine said, looking at Alexander warmly. “In the morning, we can talk with Axel and the others about all that has happened. What you have seen and the reports that we have received.”
Alexander furrowed his brow as the look on Corrine’s face showed concern.
“What do you mean?” he asked. “What reports?”
Corrine shook her head.
“Sleep first,” she said. “The morning will only bring more work.”
Alexander reluctantly nodded. He and Selene made their way to the guest room, where the bed was already ready.
Corrine said her goodnight, and the house fell silent as Selene and Alexander held each other into the land of dreams.
***
Selene woke up early the following day after only about three hours of sleep. She went for a run and then hurried back to the house.
Alexander was in the shower when she returned. So, she sat on the bed and took the opportunity to make a call.
“Selene! Are you ok? Is Alpha Alexander ok? Did either of you get hurt? Should I send a team? Should I tell–”
“Clara!” Selene interrupted loudly. “Both Alexander and I are perfectly safe.”
“Oh.. ok, when you didn’t come home in the projected time, we got a little worried,” Clara replied. “I know that the mound was destroyed. The destruction registered like an earthquake in our systems. Of course, since you didn’t call, I didn’t know if something went wrong and the two of you were lying under miles of stone and dirt, trapped and running out of air inside the mound–”
“Clara!” Selene called out once more.
“Sorry, ok, shutting up.”
Selene let out a soft chuckle.
“We are fine, I promise. We went ahead and drove to Winter.”
“Winter? I thought you were coming back to make a plan before you went to talk to Myka?” Clara questioned.
“That was the original idea, but some things happened that have made it clear that we need to finish this task as soon as possible. There’s no more time to waste.
“So, I will be talking to Myka today. Have you had any luck finding the original mound in Spring that started all this and the connection between Summer and Winter?”
“I have leads on the Summer and Winter connection, but nothing solid yet. I found the maps that Alpha Cain made but based on the most recent information from Spring and how they have laid out their territory, it won’t be easy to get there. It will take some serious maneuvering. And that’s without knowing the monster situation there.”
A knock at the door drew Selene’s attention.
“Just a second, Clara.”
Selene got up and opened the door, holding the phone to her shoulder.
Corrine smiled at her from the other side.
“Your brother is here. It’s time we had that discussion I mentioned last night,” she said.
“We’ll be right out,” Selene replied, closing the door. “Clara, I have to call you back. It’s family meeting time.”
The room was quiet.
Selene and Alexander sat together on the couch. They waited patiently for the response after having delivered their report on the events of Moonguard.
Though she had been warned about the betrayal by Moonguard and the elimination of the pack, Corrine was unprepared for the rest of the story. She found herself at a loss for words.
Axel sighed and rubbed his temples in frustration while Alice looked at Selene with a curious smile.
“A year ago… this story would have had me sending you for evaluation at the hospital,” Axel groaned. “It still should. How the hell is this real?”
“I swear, Axel… it is,” Selene said softly, pleading with her brother to believe her.
“Oh, I know it is,” Axel sighed again. “That’s the most irritating part. At this point, I don’t know if you could say anything that I wouldn’t believe… that is the world we have been living in.”
Selene took a deep breath and nodded. She understood his frustration. As shocking as it was to learn about and meet an ancient being, it didn’t take her or Alexander long to accept that it was true.
“The werewolves were born of the fae. You guys are practically purebloods. Selene has the mother of her pack living in her head and has met the other ‘great mothers’…. And now an ancient being. One that humans have written myths and legends about,” Alice smiled, keeping her excited eyes on Selene. “You’re like an impossibility lighting rod….”
Selene furrowed her brow and looked away from Alice’s gaze. She could hear in her voice that her words were filled with excitement and curiosity, but Selene didn’t enjoy the spectacle of her life.
“You haven’t exactly led an under-the-radar average life, Alice,” Selene mumbled. “Maybe you don’t realize what it’s like to feel the weight of responsibility for others on your shoulders.”
Axel let out a soft growl, and Selene closed her eyes, knowing the dig was unnecessary. Alexander squeezed her hand, letting her know she had overstepped, but he was by her side.
Alice chuckled, and Selene couldn’t help but lift her eyes to her.
“I think I did a pretty decent job of staying under the radar most of the time,” Alice replied with a smile. “But you’re right. My life was not average. We both have been watched and manipulated by forces beyond our understanding.”
Alice still smiled, but Selene could see a change in her demeanor, a coldness in her eyes.
“You have become a champion to the ones that chose you. Given power, knowledge, and the chance to save everyone without losing any part of yourself…. While I was forced to be a weapon and a toy for the one that found me. Shedding pieces of myself again and again… I just find it so fascinating.”
Selene looked at Alice with concern. They had fought before. They had bickered and poked at each other, but Alice had always maintained her composure and humor. The fight was almost always entirely on Selene’s side.
But as she looked at her now, she saw anger, pain, misery. Something had changed, something big.
Alice took a deep breath and turned to Axel, who was already looking at her with concern. They whispered something only they could hear; Axel nodded and kissed her hand. Alice turned and left the room without a word.
Corrine let out a sigh and looked at Selene.
“That was uncalled for,” she said.
“I know I started it, but… what I said was mild compared to what she said.”
“Selene…” Alexander sighed.
“What?” she asked.
“It’s not about you,” Axel said quietly.
“What’s going on?” Selene asked, genuinely concerned.
Axel cleared his throat and leaned forward in his chair.
“First,” he began looking at her with tired eyes, “stop attacking her, mild commentary or not, just stop.”
“I really didn’t mean to this time,” Selene said with shame. “I felt uncomfortable with how excited she sounded about what I’ve been through the past year. It hasn’t exactly been a good experience for me.”
“We all have our burdens, Selene,” Corrine commented. “That girl has more than you could ever know.”
“I know,” Selene nodded. “I really didn’t mean anything… I spoke without thinking.”
“Like I said,” Axel continued, “it’s not about you. Finding the cure… had a price. One that Alice had to pay. Coming to terms with that has been harder than expected.”
Hearing the hurt in his voice and seeing how he stared at the floor as he spoke, how Corrine looked away at the mention of the price. Selene knew that whatever it was, it was life-changing.
“What was the price?” she asked gently.
Axel took a deep breath and shook his head.
“Not right now,” he said.
“Maybe there’s something we can do….” Selene said, looking at Alexander.
“Selene,” he whispered, shaking his head. “Let it go for now.”
Selene wanted to push a little more, but Axel was done talking about it.
“We need to talk about what’s been happening over the past few days,” he said, suddenly changing from the man hurting for the woman he loved into the Alpha of Winter. “There have been more frequent reports coming in from all over. Hybrid wolves are being spotted alongside fae monsters. Attacks happening everywhere.”
“Summer?” Alexander asked.
Axel shook his head.
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?