Filed To Story: Destined Bond with My Forbidden Alpha Novel (Alpha Alexander & Selene)
“Selene, keeping an active count of supplies is a basic practice that you know is important,” he said. He then focused his gaze on her. “And you are very aware of the need to establish a presence. You proved that at my ceremony.
“Dressing in a way that would draw attention, smiling and flirting with those who showed too much interest. All on the day you knew you would be announcing your marriage to Alexander, the wheelchair-bound Alpha.”
Selene swallowed and averted her eyes; she hadn’t realized that her brother had understood her intention that night.
“So,” Axel continued. “What is this really about? Why have you come in here looking to start a fight?”
Selene took a deep breath.
When Alexander told her he was going to Burning Ember, she understood and agreed with him. There was no doubt in her mind that he needed to go. But ever since she woke up this morning, she had this sense of worry, this fear. It was gnawing at her.
But it wasn’t until they were at the car that she felt that deep grip on her heart as she turned and watched Saul approaching with his bag in hand.
As he got closer, the grip tightened, and then a flash in her memory saw Saul in the hospital, sitting on the gurney with his arm immobilized.
He came back, saved Mateas, and even returned Devon home to have his sacrifice honored before his return to the Goddess.
But he didn’t bring her father home.
Selene had never blamed Saul for what happened. She still didn’t. But, watching her husband get into the car with Saul just as her father had done the last time she saw him left her unsettled.
“Why didn’t you go to Burning Ember?” she asked, holding Axel’s gaze.
Axel sat up, but it was Corrine that cleared her throat and took a deep breath.
“Why is Alexander the one that needs to take care of this problem?” Selene asked. “You may have only gotten the report of the confirmed fae presence the morning after we arrived, but you already knew there was potential for a threat. So why didn’t you take care of it?
“You said that Winter’s resources are already spread too thin, and so is Summer’s. We are in the same situation, but you already have scouts there, so doesn’t it make more sense for Winter to handle this rather than Summer?”
“Saul is my Beta,” Axel replied. “Alexander isn’t going alone. There will be a Winter presence.”
“We both know you could protect those people better than a small team of your best men. So why send a Beta when an Alpha could get the job done more efficiently?” Selene asked accusatorily.
“Do you have a problem with betas?” Axel asked with mock curiosity. “Strange, if I’m not mistaken, the Beta of Summer has recently been acting much like the Alpha,” Axel snapped back.
Selene growled in response, and Axel let out an irritated sigh.
“You worked with him before at Broken Crag. Why not go with him now, when you know there will be danger!? Since when is the Alpha of Winter so weak, he will stay behind his walls while his men fight his battles!” Selene spat in anger.
“All right!” Corrine shouted. “That is enough!”
Selene crossed her arms.
“Selene, I understand that you are worried about Alexander, but there is no reason to attack your brother over it,” Corrine sighed and turned to her son. “Axel… just tell her the truth.”
Selene furrowed her brows.
Axel clenched his jaw and sighed. He looked at his sister, but his eyes were guarded.
“I cannot leave Winter,” Axel said.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
He let out an exasperated sigh.
“I made an oath. I promised I would not leave the borders of Winter until the war has ended.”
“You… what!? How could you make such a ridiculous oath!” Selene shouted, standing from her place on the couch.
Axel did not reply. He only looked at her with the same guarded expression. Not showing her shame or confidence. He was neutral.
“Axel!” she shouted. “Answer me!”
“I don’t owe you any explanations,” he replied.
“Yes, you do!” She growled. “I am not asking you to answer me as your sister. I am demanding that you answer me as the Luna of Summer!”
Axel’s expression changed just slightly. A darkening in his eyes told Selene what she already knew. No alpha liked to be challenged.
Selene took a confident step toward him.
“Explain why the Alpha of Summer is risking his life while you stay here and hide. While your men are sent out into the war, risking themselves daily, how could you vow to stay here!”
Axel still did not respond, but she could see that he was agitated. His hand was curled into a tight fist, and his jaw was clenched. It was clear to her that whatever the reason he made the vow, it wasn’t his idea.
Then it hit her. Of course, it wasn’t his idea.
Selene scoffed and narrowed her eyes at her brother.
“This is Alice,” she said softly.
Axel looked up at her, his eyes held a warning, and she knew she must have been right.
“You don’t know what you are talking about,” Axel growled.
“She demanded this oath of you, didn’t she?” Selene scoffed again. “She made you promise to stay in Winter with her. I cannot believe that you would put her wants above the needs of Winter! Of all werewolves!”
“You think that I make my decisions about this pack based on the wants and needs of my mate?” Axel asked.
“I think that is pretty clear,” Selene replied. Seeing the anger in his eyes, her confidence was shaken, but she clung to what little remained and straightened her back to face him.
“That is… interesting to hear from you of all people,” he said, leaning back in his chair and narrowing his eyes at her.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Selene asked.
“You and Alexander,” he replied.
“What about us?”
“You accuse me of the very thing the two of you are guilty of.”
“What?” Selene replied with indignation. “That’s not true.”
“Oh?” Axel asked, leaning forward and placing his elbows on his desk. “When our packs were still on unfriendly terms, and you were still engaged to another, Alexander brought an elite group of soldiers from Summer to Winter to protect you.”
“He saved Winter that night!” Selene shouted angrily.
“Yes, and we are grateful,” Axel replied. “But it was not in his pack’s best interest, just yours.”
Selene growled.
“That is nothing like this!” she shouted.
“How many times has Alexander given complete control of Summer to his mother or Galen to be by your side?”
Selene swallowed. He was right. Over the past year, Alexander had relied more and more on Fiona and Galen to help with his tasks in managing Summer. But it couldn’t have been just because of her, could it?
“He trusts them. Since when is it bad to believe in the people around you?” Selene replied defensively. “It wasn’t always about me. He needed to gather allies for this war. You were out there too!”
Axel nodded.
“And if you ask any of those allies what the most important thing in Alexander’s life is, they will all answer the same.”
Selene swallowed.
“Summer,” she said.
“His wife,” Axel replied.
Selene looked away, feeling angry at his implications.
“He is a strong and capable leader. I am not questioning his devotion to his people Selene,” Axel continued. “I am saying that loving your mate doesn’t mean you can’t be a good leader too.”
She clenched her jaw and looked back at him. He looked at her with confidence, and it filled her with frustration.
“That and this… they are not the same thing!” she shouted. “I would never ask him to make an oath as selfish as the one that Alice asked of you!”
Axel growled.
“Selene, I am warning you….” Axel growled.
“Please, Selene, stop,” Corrine said.
“No!” Selene shouted.
“Selene, please,” Corrine tried again. “You really don’t know what you are saying.”
Selene shook her head.
“This is all about whatever Alice went through to save Myka,” Selene continued. “Whatever the cost was that has her so upset. I understand that she is in pain and wants to be comforted by her mate.”
Selene noticed the way that Axel’s body stiffened. He was angry.
“But this is too far. We all suffer and sacrifice but preventing you from joining the war is insane! And you agreeing to it….” Selene scoffed. “I knew when you insisted on staying with her that you had made a bad choice. One that would hurt Winter eventually. But I never realized just how stupid and selfish you really are!”
Axel stood from his chair with a force that flung it crashing against the wall as his fists slammed into the desk with a cracking sound.
“You go too far!” he snarled at Selene.
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?