*Selena*
I was taken aback when the person standing before me came to light, and I could see the face clearly. My mind raced, trying to connect the dots and uncover the reason behind this unexpected encounter.
“So, you are the mastermind behind all of this?!” I asked, shaking my head slowly in disbelief. Out of all the people on my suspect list, I wouldn’t have thought that the vampire prince, Damon Shadowborne, could be behind all the conspiracies.
“I didn’t intend to reveal myself like this, but your persistent demand forced my hand,” he replied curtly. His expression was devoid of emotion as he inquired, “Where is the data, Selena?”
“Oh, the data! Yeah!” I mumbled, collecting my thoughts. “It’s in the possession of the Alpha King. I believe it would be best for you to deal with him directly and present your offer,” I responded, a wicked smile playing on my lips.
Damon’s face turned pale, his eyes reflecting shock and disbelief. Before anyone could process the situation, Zander emerged from the shadows, standing tall before Damon. His soldiers followed suit, swiftly converging to encircle Damon and Emile. Damon’s features hardened as he shot me a cold, piercing look and then turned his glare toward Zander.
Before we could delve further into our impending interrogation, a voice filled with anguish reached our ears, diverting our attention to its source.
“Emile, you are one of them?!” Maddox gasped, shock and disbelief evident in his expression as he looked at Emile.
His face displayed the pain of betrayal.
“M.. Maddox,” Emile stammered, her eyes widening in horror.
“I can’t believe you’re with the enemy,” Maddox roared, his rage palpable.
“I… I can explain it to you,” Emile pleaded desperately. I was surprised by her audacity. What would she explain it to Maddox who had devoted his whole life to this pack?
“What explanation do you have, Emile? Because nothing can justify your betrayal toward my pack,” Maddox bellowed.
Emile lowered her head as a group of guards approached and placed her under arrest.
“I, Maddox Redwood, the beta of The Moonglow Pack, reject you, Emile Fletcher, as my chosen mate,” Maddox’s furious voice reverberated in the surroundings. “Accept it and reject me, Emile,” he ordered, his voice commanding.
“No! Maddox,” Emile pleaded, desperation evident in her tone. “Please! Give me a chance.”
“Emile, if you had betrayed me, I might have found a way to forgive you. But this betrayal is not just against me-it’s against my pack, the land I hold sacred, the life I’ve dedicated myself to. There’s no absolution for a sin of this magnitude,” his voice was gritty, a mixture of pain and determination. “Accept my rejection,” he repeated with a chilling finality, his face a mask of cold detachment that barely concealed the turmoil within.
I swallowed hard as I knew how it felt to reject your mate, chosen or fated. It would break you inwardly as the pain was unbearable.
“Emile!” he growled, his anguish mixing with frustration.
“I, Emile Fletcher, accept your rejection, Beta Maddox Redwood,” Emile said, her voice steady despite the turmoil. The guards began to lead her away.
I moved quickly to Maddox’s side, seeing the dampness in his eyes. I rubbed his back, trying to offer what little comfort I could.
“I’m alright, Selena,” he murmured, his gaze locked on me, determination returning to his expression.
“So, the Vampire Prince, the peace pact was just a front for your trick to distract us while your real intentions were something else. You used a key member of my pack and attempted to gather crucial security details of the North. Your crime is grave. You’ll be held in prison until the trial,” Zander declared with the commanding air of an Alpha king.
I was surprised to see that Damon didn’t protest against Zander’s verdict. Instead, he observed me with a mix of emotions in his eyes while the guards began to escort him away.
“Selena, you are with the wrong man. You’re my mate. My Arabella!” Damon’s voice echoed, causing Zander to emit a low, fierce growl.
“Stop lying! You don’t dare play that card again. No one will believe you,” Zander snarled, his irritation evident.
“Selena, you have to believe me. I’m speaking the truth. You were my queen, Arabella, in your past life, and we are soulmates destined to be together in every life. Fate has led us to meet again, and you’re here before me after I searched for you all over the world,” Damon revealed unexpectedly, his words hanging in the air.
“Damon, I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying, but I don’t sense any kind of connection with you,” I said, my head shaking in confusion as I addressed him.
“That’s because you don’t possess a wolf. Without one, you can’t experience the bond. But once I turn you into a vampire, you’ll feel what I’ve been feeling for you. You belong to me, Selena,” he asserted with unwavering conviction.
In the blink of an eye, Zander appeared near Damon, his hand clenching around Damon’s throat with a furious intensity. His claws elongated as they began sinking into Damon’s pale skin. My horrified gasp caught in my throat. Zander couldn’t kill Damon outright. The laws dictated that we had to go through trials first, followed by a counseling session to determine the appropriate punishment.
“Alpha, you can’t end his life like this,” Maddox intervened, attempting to pull Zander away from Damon’s grip. But Zander didn’t leave Damon.
“Please, Alpha,” Maddox pleaded urgently, and at last, Zander released his hold on Damon’s neck, his anger still palpable.
“Take him away and confine him to the highest-security cell,” Maddox instructed the guards, his tone commanding as he guided Zander away from Damon.
“You’re mine, Selena!” Damon’s voice rang out, filled with a mix of desperation and assertion.
“We’re fated to be together, and no force can tear us apart!” he yelled as the guards struggled to drag him away from the scene.
Stunned and rendered speechless by his outburst, I stood frozen. I had no idea why he was proclaiming such things or whether there was any truth behind his words.
Zander’s gaze bore into me, his eyes reddening with what seemed like a battle to control his emotions. He demanded answers without uttering a word, his silent intensity enough to make my heart race.
“I don’t have any answers, Zander. I can’t say for certain what he meant by saying it. But I can tell you that I don’t feel anything for him,” I admitted honestly, my grip tightening on his hand as I looked at him with earnestness. My eyes pleaded with him to believe my sincerity.
His expression softened, the vibrant blue of his eyes returning as the fiery red receded. He drew me into his arms, holding me close as if afraid to let go.
“You’re mine, Selena. This time, I won’t let you slip away,” he declared, his tone serious and unwavering.