Moonbound: My Dark Alpha

Selene's POV

Chapter One: Shadows of the Past

The moon was full, casting its light over the woods like a glowing blanket. I ran through the underbrush, my feet barely touching the ground, my heart racing in my chest. Behind me, the growls of wolves echoed, each one closer, more menacing. I could feel them-closing in, hunting, seeking me.

"Selene, keep running!" My mother's voice reached me from far away, urgent, filled with fear. Her warning was almost drowned out by the sharp sounds of claws and fangs against flesh.

I didn't dare look back. I couldn't.

The trees whipped past me like blurs of green and brown. I focused on my steps, on staying one step ahead of the monsters chasing me, but they were too close. I could hear the snap of branches as they closed in, and the fear gnawed at my insides.

I stumbled, falling to my knees in the soft moss beneath me. My breath came in ragged gasps. My father-Alaric-stood in front of me, a towering figure of strength. But even his power couldn't stop the attack. He fought the rogues with everything he had, his claws flashing in the moonlight as his teeth sank into their flesh.

"Selene, run!" My mother, Elara, cried out, her eyes wide with terror.

But I didn't want to run. I wanted to stay and fight. To protect them, like they always protected me.

"Run, Selene!" she shouted again, and for the first time, I saw fear in her eyes.

I turned toward her just as one of the rogues lunged at her. The world slowed, but there was nothing I could do. Nothing anyone could do. The rogue's claws sunk deep into her side, and my mother screamed-her blood staining the earth beneath her.

"No!" I cried out, my voice strangled.

But before I could move, my father's voice echoed through the clearing. "Get out of here! Go now!"

I froze, my feet unwilling to obey. My heart shattered as I watched him fall, his body weakening under the onslaught.

And then everything went dark.

---

I woke with a start, gasping for air, my body drenched in sweat. My pulse was racing, but the nightmare had vanished-just a dream, I told myself.

But it wasn't just a dream. It was more than that. It was a memory, a memory I couldn't escape.

The mark on my wrist-my mother's mark-burned under my skin, a constant reminder of the night my world shattered. The night the rogues killed my parents. The night my life had changed forever.

"Selene!"

Helena's sharp voice cut through my thoughts like a blade. "Get up, you lazy girl. Are you planning on sleeping all day?"

I rubbed my eyes, forcing myself to push the nightmare away. "I'm coming," I muttered, though I knew she couldn't care less.

---

The kitchen was cold and silent as I stepped inside. Helena was already at the counter, the harsh clink of utensils against the countertop echoing through the room. She wasn't looking at me, but I could feel her gaze, sharp and calculating, as she prepared breakfast.

Marcus sat at the table, his usual distant expression on his face. His eyes didn't meet mine, his gaze focused on his coffee cup like the rest of the world didn't exist.

Cassandra was sitting in her usual spot, phone in hand, scrolling through it like she had a million important things to do. Her smile was smug, but there was an air of indifference about her.

"Finally," Helena muttered, turning her sharp eyes on me. "Do you know what time it is? Get to work."

"Yes, ma'am," I whispered, my voice hollow.

I could feel the bitterness rise in my chest. It wasn't just the constant command from Helena, the sharp edge in her voice, or the way she barely acknowledged me unless it was to give me an order. It was everything.

Marcus had been my father's beta before my parents' deaths, and I had always known that. But back then, when my parents were alive, he was different. He wasn't the quiet, detached man he had become. He'd once treated me like family, like his own child. But after that night, after my father's death, it was like something had changed in him.

He was no longer the man who had taught me how to shift for the first time or the man who had told me stories of my parents' love. He was just a shadow of himself, always watching but never truly present.

Ever since he took over as Alpha after my father's death, he had become something else entirely.

And Helena? She had been my mother's closest friend, the woman I had trusted with my heart. But after my parents died, she became colder. More distant. I realized, over time, that her kindness had always been a mask. Beneath it, there was nothing but ambition-her own plans, her own dreams, and me... just an afterthought.

It was like they saw my existence as a means to an end. They didn't raise me out of love or compassion, but because they had no choice. They had taken me in because my father's death had placed a heavy burden on the pack. With no one else to take care of me, they became my guardians out of necessity, not love.

I tried to tell myself it wasn't their fault. They had lost their alpha too, after all. But deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling that they had never truly cared for me the way they had pretended.

Marcus's indifference hurt the most. He had always been my father's beta, his most loyal ally, and I had looked up to him. But now, after everything that happened, it felt like he resented me.

As I moved around the kitchen, preparing breakfast with shaky hands, my eyes kept drifting to the window, to the garden outside. There, hidden beneath the shadows, I could almost see the faces of my parents. Their love was gone, taken from me in a single night, and I was left with nothing but this cold, empty house.

Cassandra's voice broke through my thoughts. "I don't know why we even bother with her. It's not like she can do anything right anyway."

Helena glanced at me, her eyes cold. "No use complaining about it. She's a tool, nothing more. She'll do her part, or I'll make sure she regrets it."

My throat tightened, but I didn't respond. I couldn't. What was there to say?

I was a tool.

Just as I had always feared.

---

When the meal was finished, and the others had left to tend to their own affairs, I slipped out into the garden. I walked slowly, the soft soil beneath my bare feet grounding me as I moved.

The sky above was pale blue, the morning sun casting long shadows over the plants. The breeze was gentle, but the air still carried the heavy scent of dew and earth.

I ran my fingers over the stone of my mother's grave-hidden in the far corner, just out of sight of the house. I had never asked them for this. Never asked them to take me in, to raise me as their own. But they had, and they had made it clear that it was out of obligation, not love.

"Mother," I whispered, kneeling by the grave. "I don't know what to do. I don't know how to survive here."

The wind picked up, swirling around me, as if answering me. But there was no one left to offer me guidance.

Just me. Alone.

---

As night fell, I lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling. The moonlight filtered through the window, casting faint shadows across the room. My fingers brushed over the crescent mark on my wrist, the one that linked me to my mother, to the Moon Goddess.

That night, the nightmares didn't come. But sleep still didn't come easily. I kept hearing her voice, her last words before she died: "Survive, Selene. Find your destiny."

But how could I? How could I survive in a world that had taken everything from me?

And worse, how could I ever escape the cage I was in-built by my foster family's apathy and their hidden motives?

Kade's POV

The sun had barely risen, its pale light filtering through the thick canopy of trees surrounding the Crescent Fang Pack's territory. I stood by the window of my suite, gazing out at the sprawling lands below. My territory. My pack. My responsibility.

The air was crisp, carrying with it the faint scent of pine and earth. It was quiet now, but I knew that peace was fragile. Rogues had been circling our borders, testing our strength, and I wasn't about to let them think we'd grown weak.

I turned from the window and dressed quickly, my movements precise and practiced. My room was sparse, just like the rest of my life. A bed, a dresser, a desk. No decorations, no personal touches. I didn't need them. Comfort was a distraction.

As I strapped on my boots, a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," I said, my voice steady and low.

The door opened, and Ethan stepped in. My beta and the only person I trusted without question. His dark hair was messy, as if he'd rushed here, but his green eyes were sharp and focused.

"Morning, Alpha," he said, leaning against the doorframe. "Border patrol reports are in. Nothing major, but there's been activity near the eastern ridge again."

Of course there was. The rogues were nothing if not persistent.

I nodded. "We'll tighten patrols there. I'll join the warriors later to check it myself."

Ethan frowned but didn't argue. He never liked it when I got directly involved in patrols, but he knew better than to waste his breath trying to stop me.

"You don't have to do everything yourself, you know," he said after a moment.

I glanced at him, my expression unreadable. "This pack is mine to protect. If I don't lead by example, how can I expect anyone else to follow?"

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know, but you can't carry the weight of the entire pack on your shoulders forever. Even you have limits, Kade."

Limits. The word tasted bitter. Limits were for the weak, and I couldn't afford to be weak. Not when so many people depended on me.

"I'll handle it," I said, my tone leaving no room for argument.

Ethan studied me for a moment, then shrugged. "Alright. But don't come crying to me when you're too tired to stand later."

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth. "I don't cry."

He laughed, the sound breaking some of the tension in the room. "Fair enough. I'll meet you downstairs."

When he left, I took a deep breath, centering myself. The weight of leadership was heavy, but it was one I had borne for years. My father had made sure of that.

---

The main hall buzzed with activity when I arrived. Warriors and pack members moved through the space, their voices low but purposeful. As I entered, the room quieted. Heads turned, conversations stopped.

They respected me. Feared me. But they also trusted me, even if they didn't say it out loud. I could see it in their eyes, in the way they stood taller when I passed.

Ethan was already waiting for me by the long table where the patrol leaders were gathered. He raised an eyebrow as I approached. "Nice of you to join us, Alpha."

I ignored his sarcasm and addressed the group. "Give me the updates."

One by one, the leaders reported on their areas. Most of it was routine-scouting reports, minor disputes-but when the eastern ridge came up, the mood shifted.

"There's been movement," one of the leaders said, his tone cautious. "Tracks and scents, but nothing solid. It's like they're testing us."

"Of course they are," I said, my voice cold. "Rogues don't act without a reason. They're waiting for a moment of weakness."

A murmur of agreement spread through the group. I could see the tension in their faces, the unspoken fear. The last rogue attack had cost us two warriors, and the memory was still fresh.

"We'll increase patrols in that area," I continued. "Double the shifts. I want every inch of that border watched."

"Yes, Alpha," the leader said, bowing his head.

The meeting continued, but my mind wandered as I listened. The rogues were becoming bolder, and it wasn't just random attacks anymore. There was a purpose behind their actions, a strategy.

And I didn't like it.

---

After the meeting, Ethan and I walked to the training grounds. The sound of fists hitting punching bags and grunts of effort filled the air. Warriors sparred in pairs, their movements precise and brutal.

"This is what keeps us strong," I said, gesturing to the scene before us. "Discipline. Strength. Unity."

Ethan nodded. "It's impressive, no doubt. But you know what else keeps us strong? Having a Luna."

I stiffened at the word, my jaw clenching. "Not this again."

He shrugged, unbothered by my tone. "I'm just saying, the pack needs more than just a strong Alpha. A Luna would bring balance, stability. It's what the elders keep saying."

I stopped walking and turned to face him. "The elders don't run this pack. I do."

"I know," he said calmly. "But they're not wrong. And you know it."

My hands curled into fists at my sides. The idea of finding a mate, of letting someone close to me again, was unthinkable. I had loved once, and it had nearly destroyed me.

"I don't need a Luna," I said firmly. "The pack is strong enough without one."

Ethan didn't argue, but the look in his eyes said he didn't believe me.

---

The day passed in a blur of activity. Patrols, training, meetings. Every moment was spent ensuring the pack's safety and strength. But no matter how busy I kept myself, there was always a gnawing emptiness inside me, a void I couldn't fill.

It was in the quiet moments, like now, as I walked the perimeter of the territory alone, that the memories crept in. My mother's gentle smile. My father's harsh words. The betrayal that had shattered my trust.

I stopped by a large oak tree at the edge of the forest, resting a hand against its rough bark. This tree had been here long before I was born, its roots deep and unyielding.

Sometimes I wished I could be like that-unmoving, unfeeling. But even trees had scars, and so did I.

The wind shifted, carrying with it a faint scent. It was unfamiliar, yet there was something about it that made my wolf stir uneasily.

I narrowed my eyes, scanning the trees. There was no one there, but the scent lingered, teasing the edges of my senses.

"Alpha," Ethan's voice called from behind me, breaking the moment.

I turned to see him jogging toward me. "What is it?"

"Another report from the eastern ridge," he said. "Fresh tracks. They're getting closer."

My jaw tightened. The rogues were pushing their luck, and I was done playing games.

"Gather the warriors," I said, my voice low and deadly. "We're ending this tonight."

Ethan nodded, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. "Be careful, Kade. These rogues aren't like the ones we've dealt with before."

I didn't need his warning. I already knew.

As I turned back to the forest, the scent from earlier hit me again, faint but undeniable.

And for a moment, I wondered if the danger I was sensing wasn't just from the rogues-but from something far more personal.

Selene's POV

The silver bangle around my wrist burned like fire. It always did when I sweated too much. As I scrubbed the wooden floor in the kitchen, the scent of soap and damp wood filled the air, mingling with the sharp aroma of coffee. My knees ached from kneeling too long, but I dared not stop. The last time I had, Helena had made me skip dinner, and Cassandra had laughed in my face as she ate my portion.

"Harder, Selene. You missed a spot," Cassandra's sharp voice sliced through the silence.

I clenched the rag in my hand, biting back a retort. The spot she pointed to was already spotless, the wood gleaming brighter than it had in years.

"She's so slow," Cassandra continued, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. Her friends, Tina and Elise, sat nearby, snickering. "It's no wonder she's useless. Even with her special powers, she can't do anything right."

My hands tightened on the rag, my breath coming faster. Cassandra didn't know the truth about my powers, about the bangle that kept me from shifting. If she did, she'd never stop mocking me.

The truth is, even I didn't know the full extent of my powers or if I truly had any, I wasn't like my mother. She was so powerful and I can't even hear the moon goddess talk less of harness the powers of the moon.

"Don't just kneel there like an idiot," Helena's voice rang out from behind me. "Get the windows next. And hurry. Marcus doesn't want to see your sorry face when he comes home."

"Yes, ma'am," I said, keeping my head down.

The bangle clinked against the bucket as I picked it up, the touch of silver mixed with a bit of wolfsbane sending a dull ache through my wrist. It wouldn't kill me but it was enough to surpress my wolf side. They had forced it on me years ago, saying it was for my own protection. A "precaution," Marcus had called it, his voice oozing with false concern.

But I knew the truth.

Marcus had been my father's beta, once a man my family trusted with our lives. Back when the Nightshade Pack was still whole, before the rogues came and tore it apart. My father had been the Alpha, a strong and just leader who ruled with wisdom and kindness. My mother had been his Luna, known for her connection to the Moon Goddess and her head of snow-white hair that shimmered like moonlight itself.

Now, I was the last of the Nightshade bloodline, a girl with a streak of white in her hair that I kept hidden beneath a scarf. It was a faint echo of my mother's power, but to Marcus and Helena, it was a threat.

They had taken me in after the attack, but it didn't take long for their true colors to show. Marcus claimed the title of Alpha for himself, but the pack didn't respect him the way they had my father. Helena and Cassandra turned their bitterness toward me, as though my existence was the root of their unhappiness.

Helena ruled the household with an iron fist, her sharp words cutting as deeply as any blade. Cassandra had inherited her mother's cruelty, wielding it with a smug sense of entitlement.

And me? I was the pack's dirty secret, hidden away in this crumbling house, forbidden from shifting, forbidden from living.

I finished the windows as quickly as I could, the afternoon sun glaring through the glass. Sweat trickled down my temple, but I didn't stop until the last streak was gone.

"Good," Helena said as she inspected my work, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Now go to your room. I don't want to see you lurking around here like a stray dog."

"Yes, ma'am," I muttered, keeping my face neutral.

Once upstairs, I cracked the window open and let the cool breeze wash over me. The forest stretched out beyond the house, its towering trees swaying gently in the wind. My chest ached with longing as I stared at the woods.

I waited until the house fell silent, then slipped out through the back door, careful to avoid the creaky floorboards. The forest welcomed me like an old friend, the earthy scent of pine and moss soothing my frayed nerves.

I followed the familiar path to the clearing where Clara and Peter were waiting.

"Selene!" Clara's face lit up when she saw me, her dark curls framing her soft features. She rushed forward and hugged me tightly. "I was worried you wouldn't make it."

"I almost didn't," I admitted, pulling back with a small smile. "Helena had me cleaning all morning."

Peter leaned against a tree, his arms crossed. His sharp green eyes studied me, and I could see the tension in his jaw. "Did they hurt you again?" he asked.

"Not today," I said quickly, not wanting to dwell on it.

He didn't look convinced, but he let it go. Clara took my hand and led me to the fallen log we always used as a makeshift bench.

"Guess what we heard?" she said, her voice low and conspiratorial.

I raised an eyebrow, curious despite myself.

"Marcus is meeting with rogues again," Peter said, his voice heavy with disgust. "Clara overheard one of the warriors talking about it."

A chill ran down my spine. Rogues were dangerous, unpredictable. If Marcus was aligning with them, it could mean disaster for the pack.

"What does he want with them?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Peter shook his head. "No one knows. But it can't be good."

Clara's grip on my hand tightened. "You need to be careful, Selene. If Marcus is up to something, you could get caught in the middle."

I nodded, the weight of their words settling over me. They were the only ones who truly cared about me, the only ones who saw me as more than a burden.

We stayed in the clearing for as long as we dared, talking quietly about the pack and sharing what little scraps of hope we could find.

As I made my way back to the house, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest floor. I paused at the edge of the woods, taking one last deep breath of the fresh air before stepping back into my prison.

The kitchen was empty when I entered, but I could hear voices coming from the living room. I peeked around the corner and saw Helena and Cassandra laughing together, their heads bent close.

For a moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like to have a family who loved me. A mother who smiled at me, a sister who protected me instead of tearing me down.

And a mate.

The thought made my heart ache with longing. I'd heard the stories of mates who loved each other unconditionally, who stood by each other no matter what. My mother used to tell me those stories, her voice soft and full of hope.

I touched the bangle on my wrist, its cold metal a reminder of everything I'd lost.

One day, I told myself. One day, I'll be free.