Filed to story: When The Moon Hides Crown
How long had he been standing there?
“What were you doing in there?” His voice was deceptively calm, too smooth.
I forced my features into neutrality and gave a shrug. “What do you think people do in the toilet? That’s what I was doing.” I walked past him, or tried to, keeping my movements controlled, casual.
“Is that so?” he echoed, raising a brow. “Funny, I don’t recall ever changing inside a stall.”
Damn it.
My heart kicked into overdrive.
He didn’t mention the towel wipe. That meant he hadn’t seen everything. But still-he knew something.
“Didn’t feel like flashing a room full of Alphas just to prove l’ve got balls,” I snapped, lifting my chin. “That a problem?”
His jaw ticked. Then he stepped forward, and before I could back away, he grabbed my arm-not violently, but firmly enough to send a jolt through me.
“You’re hiding something,” he said, voice low now, laced with something sharp and dark.
A chill crawled up my spine.
I was so screwed.
Still, I kept my face calm. “What could I possibly be hiding?” I met hisgaze without blinking. “Whatever I did in there’s been flushed, Dante. If I knew you were that curious, I would’ve saved it for you to examine.
Now let go.”
He didn’t move.
“Let go?” he repeated, and a slow smirk spread across his lips. “I don’t think I will.”
I ripped my arm away, not caring if I had to use force. “Do whatever the hell you want,” I growled and brushed past him.
I didn’t stop walking until I was halfway down the hallway. Then I staggered against the wall, hand clutching my chest. My heart was pounding so hard it physically hurt.
Everything was unraveling.
Dante definitely suspected something.
SERAPHINA
The late afternoon sun cast elongated shadows across the academy field as I stepped out into the unknown area where the Alpha instructor brought all of us. There was only greenery and trees in the surrounding area. The scent of freshly upturned earth mixed with the electric hum of anticipation. A buzz of eager chatter surrounded me, every Alpha assembled for the trial that had finally arrived after three relentless days of grueling physical training.
“Hey, are you alright?” Finn asked, falling into step beside me. “You’ve seemed out of it since last night. And you did not talk much the entire time we made our way here. Did something happen?”
My muscles instinctively tensed. Dante’s voice from the night before echoed in my mind-“You’re hiding something, aren’t you?”
His suspicion had left me restless, gnawing at my thoughts all night and haunting me through lunch. I’d been so careful. How did he end up suspecting me? He hadn’t uncovered the truth, not exactly-but still…
“Everyone gather up and stand on the line!” The Alpha instructor ordered.
I quickened my pace like the others until I felt it. A sudden, burning intensity prickling across my skin. I slowly turned my head, my instincts already screaming.
Dante.
He stood on the opposite end of the field, his gaze locked on me with the focus of a predator sighting prey. When our eyes met, he smirked-slow, deliberate, and far too knowing. My blood surged with heat and warning. I forced my expression into indifference, tearing my gaze away as if he meant absolutely nothing.What I didn’t see was how his smirk faltered, how his expression twisted the moment he caught the faintest scent lingering on me.
His eyes snapped toward a familiar figure passing nearby, and without hesitation, he reached out and seized Reed by the collar.
“D-Dante…” Reed’s face went pale, his thoughts clearly scrambling as he wondered what he’d done to land in Dante’s bloodthirsty grasp.
Dante’s deep blue eyes narrowed as he growled lowly, “Why the hell does that Darven reek of Volkstane?”
“Seth?” Reed blinked, realization dawning as he connected the dots.
And was pissed that because of the most disliked person he was caught in Dante’s grasp. But still he replied, “-I don’t know. But I heard Ronan gave him his uniform…”
Every word was fuel to the fire. Dante’s jaw flexed, fury bleeding into every line of his face. “Volkstane gave him his uniform? And he wore it?” His voice was razor-sharp, dangerous.
He shoved Reed away and turned his gaze to where Ronan stood across the field, casually speaking with Alpha Asher. But Dante didn’t see a casual conversation. He saw a challenge.
“Marking my prey with your scent like a claim?” he snarled under his breath, eyes flicking to follow Ronan’s gaze-straight to me. A furious smile curved his lips. “Unacceptable.”
He then looked at Reed, “You hate that Darven, right?”
Reed’s expression flattered at Dante’s next word, “Then…”
From my place at the end of the third row, I noticed Dante speaking with Reed. Confusion bloomed in my chest. Those two knew each other? And why did Dante look so… tense?
I barely had time to process that when a strange sensation pulled atmy awareness. I turned, almost instinctively-and froze.
Ronan was staring at me.
Boldly. Intently. Like I was the only thing worth looking at.
My heart leapt painfully in my chest. ‘How long has he been watching me?’
My fingers twitched as I fidgeted with the hem of the uniform. His uniform. My face burned with the realization.
Did he notice?
Goddess. It was mortifying…wearing his clothes, standing so close to him, pretending it meant nothing… when it felt like everything.
Before things could spiral further, the Alpha instructor’s voice boomed across the field, cutting through the tension like a whip.
“Silence! All of you!”
The chatter died instantly.
“Today’s trial will take place in the Blackmoon Forest,” he declared, his tone grave.
A collective shiver moved through the crowd. Even the cockiest Alphas stiffened at the name. The Blackmoon Forest was infamous-an untamed, lawless stretch of land haunted by creatures not even elders could name. Every wise soul knew better than to wander near it.
“When leading a pack, your enemy is not always a wolf, vampire, or hunter,” the instructor continued. “Sometimes, you’re dragged into battles with beings whose existence you never imagined-creatures that crave your blood and flesh… and might be far stronger than you.”