Book 4 Chapter 2: A New Resident
1058 Words
-Selene-
“Such a great party,” someone whose name I had forgotten said.
I knew she was mated to an alpha and came from an incredibly wealthy family. Her outfit was adorned with enough diamonds to make her status glaringly obvious.
“So glad you came,” I said with a smile.
“Tell me, how is it ruling a pack all alone?”
“It’s… hard, but I’m happy to be given the chance to take care of the people I call family.” As I spoke about my position, which I had fought for on my own, more women joined us. They seemed eager for the latest gossip, perhaps hoping I’d slip and reveal some vulnerability.
“But you do plan on finding an alpha soon, right?”
“I—”
“Of course she is. A female can’t rule on her own, not even someone born to be luna,” Mica interjected.
Mica was an old “friend”, though our relationship was more complex than genuine friendship. She thrived on gossip, money, and the power her mate’s status brought her.
“Right…”
“So do you have your eyes on someone, or have you already made an agreement with an alpha?” she pressed.
I wanted to say yes, just to make the hungry look in their eyes disappear. I knew that a simple affirmation would shift their pity into a sense of victory, as they relished in my perceived struggle.
“Not yet, but soon,” I said instead.
They nodded, their smiles revealing what I had expected. They were pleased that I hadn’t yet found an alpha to “protect” me and secure my status and power.
“Will you excuse me? I need to freshen up,” I informed them, feeling the room close in on me.
The air had grown stifling, and I needed a break, even if only for a few minutes. I found the nearest bathroom, locked myself inside, and leaned against the sink, panting as if I had just run a marathon. I placed a hand over my heart, trying to calm myself, then stared into the mirror.
“Calm yourself. Remember, it’s all just a game. At least they’re here. They accept you back. It’s all going to be okay. You’ll get your life back… You’ll get it all back.”
I nodded, finding some semblance of confidence, before straightening my back and smoothing out my dress. I walked over to the door, unlocked it, and stepped outside. The group of females, including Mica, were still clustered together in their little circle.
I was about to join them when Mica’s voice cut through the air, “To be discarded for a traitor’s daughter. It’s pathetic.”
“I know. I mean, what did she expect? Did she really think we’d just welcome her back?”
“This party is such a disaster. It’s clear she’s lost her touch. It’s no surprise the king has lost interest,” another voice chimed in.
“The king was never interested,” Mica retorted. “Had it not been for her father, he wouldn’t have looked her way. She’s always been nothing.”
I felt a surge of frustration, yet I couldn’t summon the strength to respond. It felt like the ground beneath me was cracking open, threatening to swallow me whole. What had I been thinking? I had truly believed this party was my ticket back. I thought enduring months of isolation had been enough of a punishment, but now it was clear—I was never going to be welcomed back. Never.
I turned away, feeling suffocated by the house. I couldn’t bear to stay. I raced upstairs, tears streaming down my face. I slammed the door behind me, leaned against it, and succumbed to the pain, crying so hard it hurt.
Was this to be my life now? The joke of our society, discarded for a traitor’s daughter who had even attempted to kill the king? I truly was a laughingstock in their eyes, and it seemed I always would be.
“Why me?” I cried silently.
I had always strived to be the best at everything, aiming to please as I was taught. I was never cruel or mean, yet I had never been truly wanted. I still wasn’t.
“Why me?”
But there was no answer.
***
“Selene? Selene?”
“Huh?” I asked.
“I called you twice. Did you not hear me?” Isabella inquired, her concern evident.
She stood in the doorway of my office, holding a file in a sand-colored case.
“No, sorry,” I said, closing my computer, which I had been staring at without really seeing. “What is it?”
Isabella entered the room. Though her eyes reflected her concern, she didn’t comment on my disheveled appearance. I knew I looked different. The previous night replayed in my mind like a bad movie, and the sting of those women’s words lingered. I wasn’t dressed to impress, but I still aimed to look presentable.
Today, I wore white slacks, a white shirt, and a dark blue blazer. My hair was pulled into a high ponytail, and I had applied minimal makeup, paired with golden earrings and black heels.
“The female from last week—the one Damian and Garrett found in the woods a few miles from here—is being discharged from the hospital and transferred here,” Isabella told me.
“When?” I inquired.
“Now.”
“Now?”
Isabella nodded and placed the file in front of me. It contained minimal information: her first name, the location where she had been found, and her hospital report. Aside from severe dehydration and extreme fatigue, there were no other details—no cuts, no bruises.
We had no idea where she came from or why she had been found alone in the woods, but it was my responsibility to investigate and determine if anyone was looking for her.
“I’ll place her on the first floor, the first door to the right,” Isabella said with a small smile before leaving.
I thanked her as she departed and continued to study the file. This female was a mystery, and I wasn’t particularly fond of mysteries.
- Writer
