Chapter 2 CHAPTER
Selene's Point of View
"You're trespassing."
The growl came from the shadows, low and dark, vibrating through the air like a warning. My wolf stirred uneasily inside me, every instinct telling me to run. But I couldn't. Not now. Not with this child inside me. There was nowhere left to go.
I gripped the strap of my bag tighter, my knuckles white from the tension. I didn’t want trouble, but I wasn’t going to back down either. "I didn’t come here to cause problems," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "I just need to pass through."
The man moved, silent and swift, like a shadow coming for me. His eyes gleamed, sharp and amber, a flicker of malice reflecting in them as the moonlight filtered through the trees. He was tall and broad, his posture cold and unyielding, like a stone wall. And his scent—earthy, wild, untamed—marked him as a rogue, someone who lived by his own rules.
"Passing through, huh?" His voice was cold, mocking. "You think you can just walk into rogue territory without consequences? You’re either brave or just plain stupid, Luna."
The word "Luna" hit me like a slap. The way he said it made it sting more than I would’ve admitted. "Not a Luna," I muttered, my voice barely audible, the words heavy in my throat. "Not anymore."
His eyes flickered, a brief flash of something, maybe curiosity, before his arms crossed over his chest. He studied me like he was weighing me, deciding whether I was worth the trouble.
"And why is that?" he asked, his tone almost too casual.
The lump in my throat tasted bitter, but I swallowed it. "Because my Alpha turned me away."
The outlaw's laugh broke through the silence, loud and bitter. "So the Alpha couldn’t handle his little Luna and sent you packing? Typical pack wolves—throwing away what they don’t understand."
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. His words were too close to the truth. I wasn’t ready to admit it. Instead, I took a cautious step back, still watching him, waiting for whatever came next.
"Look," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady, "I don’t want any trouble. Just let me pass, and I’ll be out of your way."
"Out of your way?" he barked. "News flash, princess: there’s no safe passage here. You’re either prey or a threat. Do you think the rogues will just let you stroll through their lands? I don’t see you as much of a threat."
My wolf stirred beneath my skin, the growl echoing through my chest. I bristled, my anger rising. "Don’t underestimate me."
His lips curled into a smirk, his amber eyes narrowing. "Is that a challenge?"
Before I could respond, he moved. Fast. Faster than I expected. My body reacted before my mind could process. I dropped my backpack, my wolf forcing its way to the surface. Claws extended, fangs bared, I lunged, meeting him head-on.
The impact sent a jolt through me, his claws clashing with mine in a flash of sparks. He was good; I could feel that. His movements were sharp, calculated, like a wolf who had survived on his own for far too long. But I wasn’t just fighting him. I was fighting for my child. For my future. And that made me desperate.
We collided again, claws slashing, teeth snapping. My side screamed with pain as his claws raked across it, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. The adrenaline coursed through me, drowning out the pain. I swung again, catching him off guard. My claws connected, and his body faltered for just a moment.
"Enough!" His voice rang out, fierce and commanding. He shifted back into human form, blood trickling down his arm from where I’d cut him. But his gaze didn’t hold anger anymore. It held something else—curiosity, maybe even respect.
I stayed in my wolf form, circling him cautiously. I wasn’t about to trust him. Not yet.
He raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. You’ve got some fight in you. Maybe you’re not as weak as I thought."
I growled low in my throat, not fully letting my guard down. "If this is some kind of test, I’d like to leave now."
He leaned back against a tree, casual as ever, his brow raised in that annoying, cocky way. "Not so fast. You’ve made it this far. You clearly aren’t some aimless runaway. What’s your story, Luna?"
I didn’t want to tell him. Didn’t want to share the pain, the shame, the weight of everything I’d just lost. But something about him made it hard to lie. I hesitated, then finally spoke, my voice steady but quiet. "I was rejected. Cast out. I’m carrying the Alpha’s child."
His expression changed. His body stiffened, his eyes darkening. "The Alpha turned his mate away? For another woman?"
I nodded, the bitterness in my voice clear. "Yes. For her. Cassandra. She’s everything I’m not."
He muttered something under his breath, shaking his head. "Pathetic."
I flinched at the word, but he wasn’t done. "But you’re brave, I’ll give you that. But bravery won’t keep you alive out here. If you want to survive, you’ll need help."
I shot him a look, doubt creeping into my thoughts. "And you’re offering to help?"
He grinned again, that same cocky smile, but this time there was something else in it—something less mocking, more genuine. "Let’s just say I don’t hate the idea of seeing a forsaken Luna prove her Alpha wrong. Besides, you might come in handy."
I didn’t trust him. Not yet. But I wasn’t sure I had a choice. The wind had shifted, the air growing colder, and the scent of danger was closing in. I could feel it.
His expression grew serious. He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Stay close. We’ve got company."
I froze, my wolf tense, bristling with anticipation. Something was coming. I didn’t know what, but I could feel it. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as the darkness around us seemed to deepen.
And then I heard it. The unmistakable sound of footsteps—soft but deliberate—approaching from behind. My heart raced, and I spun around, my senses on high alert.
"What is it?" I demanded, my voice barely above a whisper.
He didn’t answer. His gaze was fixed on the shadows, his body tensed, ready for whatever was about to come. His lips barely moved as he spoke, his voice a low growl. "Stay quiet. Stay close."
I didn’t need to be told twice. I was already stepping closer to him, my heart pounding, my wolf ready for whatever was about to happen.
Suddenly, a pair of eyes gleamed out of the darkness, glowing in the shadows. I couldn’t make out the figure, but I could feel the danger radiating from them.
My body stiffened. Something—or someone—was watching us.
The growl that followed sent a chill down my spine. This wasn’t over. It was just beginning.
What was waiting for us in the shadows?