CHAPTER TWENTY

SELENE POV.

“Luna Tracy was on my way,” Aria snapped.

“That weak old woman thought she would take me away from Julian, just as you did.”

My eyes flickered with rage.

“You are a monster, Aria.”

“And you? …….. That's true… always the good one.”

Her lips curved into a stern smile.

“Do you know why I hate you, Selene? Aria leaned closer, her breath hot against my ear. Because even when you were away, Julian never stopped thinking about you.”

“His eyes lingered for you and he compared me to you.”

My eyes flickered, Julian had never be so obsessed with me , he had never loved me-

Aria noticed my fear, immediately, she ordered the warriors to flog with the ropes they held on her arms.

I screamed, pain ached down my body.

“You took everything that belonged to me Selene, I only wanted julian-”

“You had him all to yourself, I don't want Julian anymore that was why I left, " I snapped, pleading to be released.

“Yes you left, but he never accepted fate, everytime I touched him, every time he kissed me , he still thought about you.”

“Even when I pinned him down with being pregnant, he never cared- “

I smirked,...... “You are evil, Aria… You are …..”

shhhhplsh the ropes pierced through my skin as it landed so hard.

My pulse stuttered, Aria strolled slowly towards me, her nails dug into my chin, forcing me to meet her gaze.

“I want just Julian to myself, Selene. So tonight, I will finish what I started.”

“Tonight you disappear for good. This time, no one will come to save you.”

Her hands slipped behind her cloak, my gaze fell on the dagger that glinted in the dim light.

I shivered, fear ran down my spine. My wolf jeni growled.

“You can have Julian, our bonds have been broken……” I screamed,as hot tears pinched the corners of my eyes.

The dagger flashed down to my side.

And suddenly, Julian rushed in.

His hands wrapped around Selene's neck, Hector and his warriors rushed towards Arias' warriors tearing them apart.

Aria struggled for air, she pleaded.But Julian paid deaf ears to her.

With that, Julian grabbed the dagger away from Aria’s hands.

He pierced it hard on her chest, each piercing, Aria screamed for help.

He pulled it out, again he pierced it hard, till Aria struggled no more.

And there, she passed out.

Immediately, he rushed quickly towards me .

“Selene! Selene!” He called out, his voice filled with fear, cutting the ropes with the same dagger that had ended Aria's life.

His eyes flickered. The fear of losing me for the second time.

I collapsed into his arms, my body weak. My heart ached, before I could process anything, another scent pierced the air.

“Selene”

Ethan called out.

Immediately he reached my end. He smirked as Julian wrapped his hands around me.

The moment our eyes locked, something shifted.

There was a bond switch, Ethan's eyes sparkled and mine too.

A spark that made my wolf Jeni howl within me.

Then the mate mark appeared on my wrist and also on Ethan's wrist.

Hector gasped in shock.

There, we were matched-matched in front of my Ex Alpha.

Julian's face darkened, his eyes flickered with rage.

He smirked bitterly, his lips parted but no words came out.

“Are you okay My Luna,” Ethan spoke, breaking the silence.

My lips curved into a warm smile.

The bond waited for both Alpha to be present before it was replaced.

“Perfect timing Moon Goddess,” I whispered.

“You-” Julian's voice low and commanding.

“You faked your death, didn’t you?. All of it……. Just to be with …..- this” he growled pointing at Ethan.

“You planned this Selene. You left me, let me grieve, let me break, just so you run off with him” Julain spat.

“Julian no-” I started, but he cut me off.

“Don't lie to me!” He roared, his Alpha aura high.

“I mourned you. I tore myself apart, thinking you were gone.And now I find you, alive……..and right here, mated to another man.”

His eyes glittering with rage…. “You betrayed me Selene.”

“Shut up,” Ethan snapped. His voice rising.

“She left because of you. Because of the way you broke her over and over again.”

Julian's lips curled into a bitter smirk.

“Is that what she told you? That I broke her? She was my mate, Ethan” he said, stretching out Ethan's name.

Ethan found it insulting, his fingers shifted into some claws but I held him backwards.

“She's mine! And you think you can come in and claim her?”

“Claim her?” Ethan responded. “She is already mine.”

I watched surprisingly at Julian's obsession.

Two years ago, I stood at the doorway of the Blackthorn’s pack.

After so much Luna duties, I was tired and exhausted.

I watched Julian as he stared out of the window. The mate bond between us was fraying.

He never gave me attention nor looked at my side.

Aria had been circling around him. I had seen the way he looked at her, the way his eyes lingered when she laughed and when she touched his arm.

“Julian,” I called out softly.

He turned but he quickly shifted his gaze away from me .

“You have been distant-”

“You are the one who is never here, Selene," he snapped quickly.

He didn't let me speak nor complete my words.

Immediately, he rushed quickly towards the door, just to be with his mistress Aria.

But now, seeing Aria lay down lifeless, caused so much ache down my chest.

Trust…. The trust she spoke about.

Julian killed the one, whom he was previously obsessed with-he killed with his own hands.

Now, seeing him obsessed means nothing to me.

“Julian,” I called out, my voice cracked and low.

“I didn't fake my death to hurt you. I left because I couldn't stay in a place where I wasn't wanted.You said I was a burden ... .I only left to let you move on freely with your lover Aria”.

Hearing that, Julian’s jaw tightened.

“Selene, I loved you. I Still-”

CHAPTER TWO

SELENE`S POV

“How ungrateful are you Selene?" I read for the second time.

It was from Ethan Duskbane- The mate I rejected.

The only one who had saved me and never saw me as a rogue when others did.

He chased me for six full seasons. I nearly chose Ethan years ago……..I thought Julian was the best option for me when the Moon Goddess let me choose between both.

Immediately, his call came in, my jaw dropped, I never expected I would get to speak with him again after betraying him four years ago.

I could have rejected the mate bond with Julian to be with him, but I didn`t, he was too powerful and feared by all.

I lowered my face, expecting silence, for four years I had declined his calls and blocked him on all socials.

“Selene?” His tone was low. Dangerous.

“I have saved you Twice, firstly from the evil spell of your foster parents, secondly from the rogues, yet you haven`t thanked me for any”.

Hearing that, my face fell, the lone wolf who saved me was Ethan.

“You were masked,” I quickly snapped.

“I wasn`t masked when you chose Julian, he snapped, now look at you, your Alpha can`t save you. He would have preferred you get eaten by those rogues.”

“Enough Ethan” I yelled.

“You don`t have to defend him anymore Selene, Once the Moon rises, I will take you away from him.”

I stayed silent, no words came, my voice filled with guilt at the moment.

“Ethan is right, Julian preferred I was being eaten by the rogues.”

He spoke cutting through the silence

“Four Six full seasons, you iced me out like I never existed. While you pined after Julian like a lost pup, I stood in the shadows and waited. And now, after four years, just like that,I would have heard you were dead, if I wasn`t right on time to save you?”

“I`m sorry. Forget I did anything. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

“You have until the Severing moon,” he snapped.

“End it with him. Or I`ll come take what was mine from the beginning”.

Immediately, he ended the call.

I sighed deeply.

Ethan meant every single word he said.

Feared and respected by everyone he is the only one that would replace Julian`s bond.

My lips curved into a warm smile “Ethan will replace Julian's bond perfectly”.

That night, Julian didn’t return to the den.

I waited the next day, just like always and he still didn`t return.

I spent hours in silence, clearing drawers, folding old cloaks, stripping luna emblems from my armors.

I pulled out the neatly folded cloth pouch, which contained the jade necklace Julian gave me in our first year of marriage. Then I felt so loved that I jumped in his arms.

“Close your eyes,”Julian had said. I was still tired from training, dirt smudging my cheeks.

I obeyed,and when I opened them, the jade pendant hung around my neck.

“It belonged to my grandmother,” he said, his voice soft and tender. “Now it`s yours. My luna”

I had worn it every time he rode off into battle and everytime, I prayed to the Moon Goddess to bring him back safely. Now the jade pendant meant nothing to me as he chose his beta over me.

Next, I pulled out a sack of folded notes, each tied with a ribbon. My fingers brushed over the paper. Letters I had written and sent to Julian through pack messenger whenever he was away, every word filled with love and hope.

I unfolded the topmost one, my eyes fell as I carefully read through again.

My Dearest Julian

I hope the meeting ends soon. I want to hear your voice again. I miss you.

Your Luna Always.

Selene.

He never replied. Not even once.

Still I kept writing. Every single time he was away.

Hot tears pinched the corners of my eyes as I placed them gently back into the drawer, this time I pulled out one of the letters and placed it on top of the drawer.

“If he didn't get to read the previous ones at least this would be visible enough for him to notice” I whispered.

When the sun set, the front door creaked open.

Julian entered, still wearing his previous cloaks.

“I guess the meeting was held for a day and a half,” I said.

But he ignored as he pulled his cloaks and hung on the shelf

“What are you doing?” he asked, his eyes narrowing as he spotted the pile of packed items.

“Just getting rid of some garbage that no longer serves their purpose.”

“You call these… garbage?”

“Old gifts, old clothes,” I said lightly. “They take up space. I thought I’d donate them under your name so some kids in the pack could use them. Might even earn you a good reputation.”

Hearing the last line, Julian`s thin straight lips slightly curved. “Well, you know better.”

Seeing that he believed, I breathed a sigh of relief, I also couldn't be fooled.

Julian didn’t push further. He rarely did anymore.

But what came next cut sharper than any blade.

“I almost forgot,” he said casually, grabbing a waterskin. “We had a council vote last night.”

I paused.

“The Luna patrol grounds the southern ridge? I reassigned it.”

I turned. My face filled with desperate answers “To who?”

“Aria”

He said it without flinching.

“She’ll be leading all female guard rotations. Starting today.”

I blinked slowly.

That ridge wasn’t just any terrain. It was sacred and marked, the territory where Julian`s mother had once defended the pack alone during the Black Fangs siege. As the present luna, It was mine.

Symbolically, emotionally, soulfully.

“You didn’t consult me,” I said.

Julian shrugged. “You’ve been distracted. I figured you’d appreciate the help.”

My face fell as I stared at him, then smiled softly.

“Of course. I’ve always appreciated your…... decisions.”

CHAPTER THREE

SELENE'S POV.

Julian never hid his infidelity. He thinks he does but at the same time, he publicly rubs it on my face.

I recalled the first time Aria displayed her true attitude towards me.

Immediately Julia left the room,Aria stormed into the den, her eyes darted and filled with rage.

“Get her!” She commanded.

My eyes flickered with confusion, I looked forward and turned backwards to check if Julian is aware of this sudden chaos, but he wasn't there.

Immediately, the two warriors, gripped me by the wrist, I screamed, cried and asked for explanation. But Aria fell deaf ears.

“We need fresh blood for the Pack patients……. as a Luna, you are supposed to watch your pack,” she said, letting off a sly grin

“Nonsense! Let me go” I yelled.

But they never listened, they pierced the syringe down my vein as blood flowed into the little blood band.

My wolf screamed, ached for help but no help came.

“Don't mention this to Julian, Aria snapped…. It is for the good of your pack.”

Immediately, they loosened their grip on me and I quickly fell to my knees.

As if that wasn't enough, Aria, clenched her fist and landed it hard on my stomach.

I screamed, cried but I never mentioned it to Julian.

As if that wasn't enough, after she was announced as the new beta, my blood was also drawn because she wanted it.

Julian never protected me anytime Aria was around, instead, he showered her with love and made sure her needs were satisfied.

I smirked bitterly as thoughts ran through my mind.

The one that hit me the most was when she spat on my food and Julian said nothing. He defended her as usual.

“You should be careful with hygiene,” he yelled.

Later that morning, Aria paraded through the training field wearing my old battle armour, Luna crest still fresh on the shoulder.

The younger wolves gasped. “Isn’t that Luna Selene’s seal?”

Aria only smiled. “Oh, she won’t need it anymore. It’s not like she’s Alpha’s chosen anymore.”

I stood at the edge as I looked down from the window.

Hearing her response, I smirked bitterly, letting off a sly grin.

Suddenly, there was the sound of something breaking at the corner.

I quickly ran towards the direction of the sound, only to find my Luna Sigil stone broken. The golden artifact that links Luna to her pack had cracked down the centre.

My gaze locked onto Aria.

Oops......sorry Selene, I didn’t mean to. She said as she stood by the shelf, wide-eyed, a broken Sigil stone at her feet.

She smiled, her face innocent, the kind that would make anyone fall in her trap.

Julian didn’t care about my broken Sigil stone at all, and immediately moved past me to check if Aria was injured.

His arms wrapped around her waist.

Are you hurt? He asked, his hands wrapped gently around her.

“I’m not, it just made me scared," she responded.

Seeing no wounds over her body, the worry in his eyes faded, "It's okay, nothing is more important than you."

“And Selene, learn to keep your belongings properly so they don’t hurt anyone”

But getting Julian`s attention wasn’t enough. Aria's eyes locked onto mine as she tilted her head, asking, “You don’t mind, right, Selene?”

My gaze dropped to the floor.

The sigil stone had been one of a kind.

Something that still kept me with Julian. A hope that I still had a place in his heart.

But now, it was just broken pieces.

If it happened years ago, I would definitely be mad and even say a few words.

But now, I looked back up and was kind enough to say, “It’s fine.”

A flicker passed across Aria`s face before it settled.

She smiled. “Aww, you’re really so kind Selene."

Then, without missing a beat, she turned to Julian.

“By the way… I challenged myself for rank today at the Training Field. The females said they’d follow me as Luna. I accepted.”

I blinked. “What?”

Julian said no words. Instead, he turned his gaze away from me.

His silence screamed louder than betrayal.

Aria smiled, her voice dropping into a purr.

“There’s going to be a formal duel tomorrow at dawn. The winner moves into the Luna Chamber. Loser moves out for good.”

Then her eyes narrowed towards me.

“Don’t be late, Selene.”

I smirked bitterly, letting off a sly grin.

Such a trick to move into my chamber, I muttered silently.

But inside, my wolf howled in silence as my mate's bond with Julian kept on fading.

“No need for that Aria, you can move in,” I replied.

Aria had always wanted everything I got…….... But now I don’t want any of them, they are all garbage to me, I muttered silently.

“Oh Luna is scared of losing her position publicly, " Aria said mockfully.

Young wolves who watched giggled.

“As I said, no need for that I snapped, my voice steady. I still have a lot of stuff to move out, when I’m done, I will let you stay in my chamber”.

Besides, my mate's bond with Julian had been broken, I murmured silently.

Hearing my response, Julian`s lips parted. He was surprised at my sudden behaviour but Aria quickly snapped in.

Thanks Selene.

I smirked.

That Evening.

I spent all my time sorting through my belongings.

By dusk, I had loaded it onto a horse drawn trade cart for donation to an orphaned pack near the borders.

“You didn’t need to get rid of so much,” Julian frowned, watching the cart roll away.

To him, something about me felt different. I was… calm. Too calm to argue about anything

“They’re old,” I replied calmly, “Time to let go.”

Julian opened his mouth, but instead of addressing it, he changed the subject.

“Mother is organizing a gathering tonight at the Iron Hall. She wants you there too”.

I Stiffened.

Luna Tracy-My mother in-law