Filed to story: When The Moon Hides Crown
The outer clearing buzzed with life as dawn spilled golden light over the treetops. Rows of tents stood in perfect lines, canvas fluttering with the morning breeze. A long banquet table stretched beside a massive fire pit, laden with steaming platters of roasted game, fresh fruit, and pitchers of juice and wine. The air was thick with the scent of meat and pine.
They called it a Victory Breakfast.
Alpha Gideon stepped forward and raised his wine glass.
“This meal marks your triumph. Let it remind you that every victory is hard-earned-and every bite, a testament to your worth as Alphas.”
Around the clearing, packs of freshly washed Alphas howled in triumph and clinked their tankards together. Private shower stalls. hidden behind the trees had been a blessing, especially for me.
I had cleaned up too, at least enough to not smell like swamp water and smoke. The Academy had provided a spare uniform: a simple black set, snug, sterile, and far too clean to feel like mine.
The Alpha Instructors mingled among themselves, leaving us to our celebration. The atmosphere was lively, loud with laughter and adrenaline-but my mind was stuck on Ronan’s whispered words.
“I saw a white she-wolf in the woods. Did you see it too?”My breath caught.
Why would he bring that up?
He hadn’t reacted at all when I was in my wolf form, didn’t so much as flinch. But now, when I was standing here as Seth, he was asking about her?
My fingers clenched around the coffee mug. And those eyes of his…
“Careful.” Finn’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts as he moved my hand away from the scalding machine.
“Hm?” I blinked up at him, still dazed.
“You were about to burn yourself,” he said with a teasing grin. “Where’s your head at, champion?”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t call me that.”
Finn chuckled. “But you are the champion. Look around-you’ll see what I mean.”
I did, and he was right.
Eyes were on me.
Some stared with open surprise. Others whispered behind tankards, their glances sharp and speculative. A few…those who hated what they couldn’t predict, glared with something darker.
Because I had returned.
And I had won.
“No one expected you to storm in just before sunrise,” Finn said, grinning. “Not with a hundred bison thundering behind you, while the rest of us dragged in the last of our catches. You were bloodied but victorious. Every jaw dropped.”I smirked, reaching for a plate of sizzling steaks the cook had just set out. “I wasn’t trying to prove anything to them. I was just focused on finishing the trial. They judged me for my size-but I don’t give a damn what they think. Anyone who gets in my way?” My eyes flicked toward a cluster of Alphas watching me coldly. “TIl tear them down.”
Finn’s smile faded slightly, sensing the tension. “Careful,” he murmured, “the Alpha Instructors are still watching.”
“I need water.”
Without another word, I walked away.
I grabbed a bottle, then headed toward the opposite end of the clearing, away from the laughter and stares. I found shade beneath a tree and sat down alone with my food. The wind rustled gently through the leaves. Peaceful, just what I needed
But the peace didn’t last.
A presence, I felt it.
I turned my head, and nearly choked on my own spit.
Ronan.
Leaning against another tree just across from me, smoking casually.
His gaze locked on mine, unflinching.
Had he been watching me this whole time?
And then, he said the most absurd thing I’d ever heard.
“Are you following me?”
“What?!” I choked.
SERAPHINA
“What?” I snapped, stunned into disbelief. “You think I’m following you?”
Ronan didn’t blink. He leaned back against the tree trunk, ankle over knee, fingers lazily flicking ash off his cigarette. “I don’t think, I observe. And lately, you’ve been showing up in places T don’t recall inviting you.”
My mind went blank for a moment and the imagines of him and his wolf chasing me in the forest, hunting me instead of his assigned prey and poking his nose in my business in every possible point flashed in my mind. I locked eyes with him, barely holding the frustration, “Are you high or something?” I raised an eyebrow at him. “It’s you who is always following me. You are the stalker and bully here. Please, I didn’t even see you here. You’re not that hard to ignore.”
His mouth curved around the cigarette, slow and devilish. “Mm, that’s not what it looked like when you nearly dropped your plate after spotting me.”
I gritted my teeth, heat crawling up my neck. Was this man for real? ” That’s because I didn’t expect to find a parasite parked under my tree.”
I did not care if he got offended or worse at this point. I just wanted to shut this Alpha’s mouth and wipe that arrogant smirk on his face that screamed that he was a celebrity chased by a fan girl.
He chuckled, Low and husky. Then he pushed off the tree with lazy grace, flicking the cigarette away like he was done with it-and everything else. Except me.
He closed the distance in slow, deliberate strides towards me.
“Careful,” he said, his voice lower now, like gravel dragged acrossvelvet. “Parasites tend to get under your skin,” he paused for a moment, his eyes brushing over my lips for a moment before continuing, “Next thing you know, you’re itching to find them again.”
My hand shook slightly at his meaningful words, “You really think highly of yourself, don’t you?”
His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “No, Ijust know the effect I have on arrogant little Atphas who talk too much and look too long.”
My heart gave a violent lurch, but I didn’t blink.
I wasn’t looking,” I said flatly.
“Mm,” he mused, sliding more closer. His gaze dipped to my lips again like it didn’t care whether I noticed. “That’s why your pupils dilated the second you saw me.”
. Something inside me snapped, “I was surprised. You’re like a rash-showing up where you’re least wanted,” I growled.
He grinned, devilish and maddening. “And yet… here you are. Still talking to the rash.”