Filed To Story: Destined Bond with My Forbidden Alpha Novel (Alpha Alexander & Selene)
Selene nodded.
“I was one of the first,” she said, then let out a soft chuckle. “Axel and Galen tried to stop me, but neither could think of a good enough reason to keep me behind.”
Alexander smiled, standing just behind her. He could imagine that Galen and her brother had been worried about letting her go so far from home.
“I knew they were afraid,” she continued. “They had no idea what I would do. I couldn’t really blame them, but I couldn’t stay either. I had no place among the wolves of Summer or Winter anymore. Everywhere I went…”
Selene paused and closed her eyes.
Alexander put his hands on her shoulders and gently squeezed.
“Everywhere you went…” he whispered. “You thought of me.”
Selene closed her eyes and nodded.
“So, you left the territories to see the world and kill its monsters,” he smiled, moving his arms down around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. “How was it?”
Selene chuckled. Leaning back against him, she took a deep breath, inhaling his scent and allowing it to settle her.
“It was big,” she whispered. “Huge.”
When she had first left the territories, her mind was filled with pain and regret. All she wanted was to get away and do what she did best. Eliminate the threats.
For the first few months she was gone, she hardly had time to think about anything except the hunt. She didn’t make friends, and she didn’t look back.
“Easy to run from my ghost in this huge world,” Alexander said softly.
“Not as easy as you might think,” she sighed.
After the initial threats were taken care of, keeping Selene in one place became more convenient. That place being Liam’s pack.
“This huge planet, all the wolves on all the continents… but I was stationed with the one that knew you best outside of Summer.”
Alexander chuckled.
“I’m sure Liam had much to say about me,” he smiled.
Selene smiled and nodded.
“He told me about your favorite non-cocoa drinks,” she said.
Alexander grinned and hugged her closely. They were silent momentarily, and then he took a deep breath.
“Selene…” he whispered.
“Yea?”
“How long have you been away from home?” he asked.
Selene swallowed.
“I went back many times… usually only staying for a little while, a few days or a couple of weeks.”
“Do you enjoy traveling that much?” he smiled.
“I do, actually,” she sighed. “But, going home was hard.”
Alexander nuzzled against her.
“I still missed you too much to stay for long. And seeing everyone else… I still had a hard time seeing them moving on.”
Alexander turned, placing a soft kiss on her cheek. Selene smiled.
“Besides,” she continued, turning around in his arms to look up at him. “Traveling gave me more opportunities to read about the fae and stories about the ley lines.”
Selene reached her hand up to his cheek.
“I never gave up on finding you,” she smiled. “I just tried to find a healthier way to do it.”
Alexander leaned forward, kissing her tenderly, but Selene reached up and tangled her fingers in his hair, turning the kiss passionate.
He didn’t fight her or push her away. Allowing her to try and shift their focus, to distract him with the affection she knew he craved from her.
When the need for air pulled them apart, Alexander leaned his forehead against hers as they tried to catch their breath.
“Selene,” he whispered.
Selene swallowed, feeling nervous about what he might say next.
“You were still with Liam’s pack a few months ago,” he said.
“Yes,” she nodded.
“Then…” he paused, licking his lips and swallowing before continuing, “does that mean… in all these years… you never actually stepped into your role of Luna for Summer?”
Selene swallowed and took a shaky breath.
“I’m sorry…” she whispered.
She knew he would be disappointed. She knew if their roles had been reversed and she had been lost instead. Coming back and finding out that Alexander had abandoned his duties as Alpha would have disappointed and infuriated her.
How could he not be disappointed?
“I’m sorry,” she said again, “I couldn’t do it… I tried to stay… I tried to find a way to move forward like everyone else, but… I couldn’t.”
Hot tears ran down her cheeks.
“Fiona tried to get me involved. She tried to teach me about being Luna… for two months, I tried to listen. I tried to learn and to do what needed to be done… but it was too much.”
Selene let out a sob and pulled away from Alexander.
“It was too much, Alexander…” she whispered. “I wasn’t ready before you disappeared. How could I possibly be ready when you were gone?”
Alexander took a step toward her, but she turned with angry tears.
“How could anyone think that I could lead a pack?!” She shouted. “How could anyone ever trust me after the things I did? Myka, Stefan, Sadie… all the other children, and that scout… I cost that man his life.”
She let out a loud sob and brought her hands to cover her face as she sniffled and cried.
“Selene…” Alexander whispered, moving closer.
Selene took a deep breath and dropped her hands. She swallowed and wiped her tears. Staring at Alexander through eyes filled with tears and a look of fierce determination and strength.
“I am a warrior,” Selene stated. A shaky breath escaped her lips. “I belong on a battlefield. Keeping the enemy at bay, protecting the borders and the people… that is what I am good at… and that is all that I could do.”
She licked her lips and took another deep breath.
“So, when I heard they needed people to put down the monsters… I didn’t just volunteer. No,” she said with a shake of her head, “the instant I heard, I didn’t think about it. I didn’t consider my options. I ran as fast as possible to put my name on that list.”
Selene clenched her jaw, tears still rolling down her cheeks, and she took short breaths through her nose.
To anyone else, she would have looked angry and offended at having to explain her reasoning for doing something that made sense.
But to Alexander… she looked scared.
“Selene,” he called to her.
He didn’t move toward her now. Instead, he stretched his hand to her and smiled gently.
Selene swallowed, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. She reached out hesitantly and took his hand.
Alexander pulled her into his arms and held her close. He laid his head on hers and let out a heavy breath.
“Selene,” he whispered, petting her hair as he spoke, “I’m not mad or upset with you… I understand.”
Selene furrowed her brows. She pushed him away just enough to be able to look up at him.
“You do?” she asked.
Alexander touched her cheek and smiled. He took a deep breath and hugged her.
“Every wolf hears about the mate bond as a child,” he began as he stroked the hair that hung down her back. “About the day they will find their fated love. Their other half. The person meant to be by their side in this and every life.”
Alexander paused, holding a strand of her honeyed hair between his fingers.
“What I heard was different,” he said. “My parents loved each other. They were affectionate and happy. But, whenever they talked to me about my future, they talked about how I would meet my Luna.”
Alexander smiled.
“The one that would lead Summer at my side,” he continued. “The one that would help me take our pack into the future. The partner that could ease my burdens and carry the weight of our pack with me.”
Selene turned her head to lay against his chest as she listened.
“Most of my life, that is all I expected from the idea of meeting my mate,” he said. “A partner, a Luna. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Selene closed her eyes and bit her lip to keep from crying. She had failed to meet the most basic requirements as his mate. When he had needed her most, she had run away.
Alexander felt the sorrow settling over her. He pulled back and lifted her chin to look at 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?