Damien's POV
The rogue ambush replayed relentlessly in my mind, a puzzle missing too many pieces. Rogues weren't capable of such precise attacks—not on their own. Someone was aiding them. The question was, who? My grip on the steering wheel tightened as the weight of my responsibility pressed harder on my shoulders.
Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at Zendaya. She sat stiffly, her face unreadable as she stared out of the window. Her calm exterior was unnerving. Was she shaken? Or was there something she wasn't telling me?
"Our mate is no ordinary she-wolf," Midnight, my wolf, murmured, his voice tinged with pride. "She's a warrior. Did you see her? Deadly and breathtaking."
"She's trouble," I shot back, unwilling to let his admiration distract me. The way Zendaya fought during the ambush had been remarkable—controlled, strategic, and lethal. It wasn't the fighting style of someone untrained.
When we arrived at the pack house, Zendaya stepped out of the car immediately, her eyes scanning the surroundings. Tension radiated from her, but curiosity flickered in her expression.
"Welcome to the Raven Claw Pack," I said, gesturing to the sprawling building.
Her gaze lingered on the house, but she didn't reply, simply nodding before following me inside. I instructed an omega to take her to her prepared room. Her presence stirred whispers, curiosity rippling among the few pack members we passed.
After the sunset, I headed to the dungeon, mind-linking Beta Marcus and Gamma Lucas to join me. We had a rogue in custody, one who had been sniffing too close to our borders.
When I opened the heavy steel door, the metallic scent of blood hit me. Inside, the rogue lay lifeless, his body slumped unnaturally. My eyes narrowed as I saw the words scrawled in blood on the wall: We are coming.
"How did this happen?" I growled, my voice dangerously low.
The guards exchanged nervous glances, none daring to speak. My fury simmered as I turned to my gamma. "Find out who was on duty. Lucas, question everyone. I want answers—now."
Questions spiraled in my head as I stalked out of the dungeon. Could there be a mole in my pack? My wolves knew the consequences of betrayal. Yet the possibility of someone aiding the rogues from within gnawed at me.
Later that evening, I entered the dining hall. The atmosphere was lively—laughter, chatter, and the clinking of silverware filled the air. But tonight wasn't going to be just another meal. Tonight, everything would change.
I sent for an omega to fetch Zendaya. The news of a new Luna had spread, and the pack buzzed with speculation.
When Zendaya entered, the air shifted. Conversations faltered, then hushed completely as all eyes turned to her. She moved gracefully, her head held high despite the weight of their stares. Her presence was commanding, but I saw the flicker of unease she tried to hide.
I rose, pulling out the chair beside mine. "Zendaya, sit," I said, my voice softer than I intended.
She hesitated, then lowered herself into the seat. As she settled, the murmurs resumed. A few of the women leaned toward her, their curiosity barely veiled.
"Where are you from, Luna?" one asked with a polite smile.
"Do you like it here so far?" another chimed in, her tone warm but probing.
Zendaya responded calmly, her voice steady despite the tension in the room. She maintained her composure, but I could tell she was on guard. Her polite answers were enough to satisfy their questions, though I noted the occasional flicker of discomfort in her eyes.
The conversations grew louder, overlapping in a cacophony of voices. Clearing my throat, I stood. My presence alone was enough to command silence.
"Listen well," I began, my voice firm. "I would like to formally introduce Zendaya as the Luna of the Raven Claw Pack."
A ripple of surprise swept through the room. Before I could continue, Gamma Lucas stood abruptly, his expression troubled.
"Alpha Damien," he said, his tone cautious. "What about the prophecy? What does this mean for the new Luna?"
The air grew heavy with tension. My muscles tensed, and I clenched my fists under the table. Midnight growled in my mind, his anger mirroring mine.
"They question her?" Midnight snarled. "She's ours. Let them challenge it, and I'll make them regret it."
Zendaya remained calm, though her interest was evident. Her hands rested lightly on the table, her posture steady, but I could see the subtle shift in her demeanor. She was listening closely, waiting for my response.
I exhaled, keeping my tone measured. "The prophecy is not tonight's concern," I said coldly. "Zendaya is your Luna. That is all you need to know."
Lucas hesitated, then lowered himself back into his seat. But the tension in the room lingered, thick and palpable. My pack could sense the weight of what I wasn't saying, and their unease only grew.
The rest of the meal was subdued. Conversations dwindled to murmurs, and the clinking of cutlery was the only consistent sound. Zendaya engaged in small talk with a few nearby wolves, but her guarded demeanor didn't waver.
As soon as dinner ended, I excused myself. The oppressive weight of the evening clung to me like a second skin. I needed air.
Once outside, I stripped and shifted into Midnight. My wolf surged forward, his wild energy a welcome distraction. We tore through the forest, our powerful strides devouring the ground beneath us.
"She's ours," Midnight growled. "No prophecy will take her from us."
I didn't respond, my thoughts too tangled to form words. The prophecy had haunted me years back since the seer's cryptic words first reached my ears.
But what if Zendaya wasn't the one foretold, destiny could tear her away from me, then why did the moon goddess bind us together?
Midnight slowed as we reached the border, his golden eyes scanning the horizon. The moon bathed the forest in silver light, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch endlessly.
The rogue's bloodied message lingered in my mind: We are coming.
I stood there, staring into the darkness, as unease twisted in my chest. The prophecy, the rogue attacks, the whispers of betrayal—they were threads of a larger web, one I couldn't yet untangle.
But one thing was certain: whatever came next, I wouldn't lose Zendaya. For now, I ran, letting the primal rhythm of Midnight's stride drown out the chaos in my mind. But deep down, I knew peace wouldn't last. The real battle was just beginning.