Selena's POV

"Make way." I said coldly.

My voice carried so much elegance as my dress. The two pack warriors shivered and patted the way for me to walk through. I smiled warmly at the sight, just as it used to be over three years earlier, I walked into any room with my hand in Alpha Holt.

Admiration follows me! Disdain too! Jealousy and rumors, the heart wrenching ones. Here I am tonight, back to the origin of everything as the pack's custom demands.

"The Luna is here." A loud echo filled the room.

All heads turned in my direction and the eyes stayed glued on me just as I had suspected it would when I took a look at myself in the mirror.

My luck ran out again! That was my first thought!

My designer was running late. My phone had been blaring all day, the elders had called several times to remind me of how important my presence was this night at the Alpha crowning ceremony. What I didn't see coming was ending up in this red seductive dress.

I could smell lusts all around me, I felt naked even though I was clothed. The normal theme I had earlier prepared for the night was a simple blue dress that was to be delivered to me, I wanted to pair it with the provocative flashy makeup I had on already but when my designer didn't show up, I had to succumb to fate and wear my last resort, the strapless red silk dress.

"Luna Selena, please come to the podium."

I wished I could scream my lungs out that I would rather like to blend in with the rest of the crowd but how was that even possible when I needed to crown the new Alpha of Frostfang pack myself.

Reluctantly, I followed the elder and made for the podium. As I walked up through the stairs, I felt an intense gaze on me. Adrian Holt was dressed in a monochrome white suit and pants. He had his hair styled to the back making him appear older and more mature.

As our eyes met, my eyes instinctively shifted to his legs but it seemed to be fully healed now, it had been seven days since the game, he was an impending Alpha, the gift of fast healing was one of the perks of that.

"Luna Selena, please." Elder Jafar gestured towards my left, I made towards it and picked up the crown. This was the pack's custom, I had to personally crown Adrian regardless of our circumstances. Adrian sat in a regal white chair just as his ancestors, he had a bored expression on his face partly because I knew he couldn't wait for this part to be over, neither could I.

Elder Jafar picked up the microphone. He was a man in his late sixties but one of the richest werewolves in the country. He cleared his throat and immediately, the room was filled with silence.

"As the custom of the Frostfang pack, the widowed Luna crowns the Alpha and by the rules if they were not related by blood, the Alpha could decide to keep the Luna before he meets his mate," he paused slightly "so I ask you Adrian Holt, would you like to keep Selena Ward as....."

"No!"

Adrian's response came on really sharp. Elder Jafar swallowed the rest of his word and he quickly read the irritated gaze the rude brat threw him. For some awkward reason, I felt bad. It wasn't surprising that I got rejected like that but it hurt. Adrian wasn't going to hide his detest for me in any way.

"So if that was it, Luna Selena, place the crown gently on the Alpha's head." Elder Jafar concluded and he stepped aside.

My wolf felt like hitting the brat in the skull with the iron crown. Someone needs to at least teach him some manners.

I gently placed the crown on his head and applause rained loudly in the air. I knew I was done over there so I didn't waste any few more seconds before getting down from the podium. Many people were too focused on Adrian, the new Alpha, to care about a loner Luna that they were more than happy to be rid of.

I never had it easy as a child. I had the wealthy privilege, beautiful dresses,nice foods, best vacations but being tied to the werewolf clan was too tiring. I became rebellious in my teenage years, after fighting with my dad several times, he finally agreed to send me to the human community just as my best friend Elena to further our college education.

The human world was easier. I wasn't an outcast over there, I made friends, attended a few parties and successfully became a surgeon until one damp night when my father called. I was to return to the Frostfang pack for an arranged marriage with the Alpha who was twice my age.

Father had ran into debts, he was on the verge of bankruptcy and Alpha Holt promised to uplift him if only I would be his Luna. Against my wish. I became the Luna of frost fang pack and a stepmother to the young Adrian who couldn't stand my presence.

As I walked down the stairs. The memory of every hate I had to endure back then surfaced in my mind, the media wouldn't stop calling me a gold digger that left her career to be a wealthy man's mistress. I felt tears filled my iris, I knew they were going to trickle down so soon. I cannot allow that to happen so I rushed towards the backstage when I ran into a huge chest.

"Luna Selena." A deep warm voice called to me. I looked up to lock eyes with my favorite godson Raymond Darius, Elena's son. Just as Adrian, he was all grown up now.

"Oh my goodness!" I hugged him lovingly, "I didn't know you were back, Ray."

"I have been back for quite awhile godmother, but I was never a part of your priority, am I?"

I felt guilty, Raymond was right, I haven't thought of looking for him.

"My apologies son, how can I make it up to you."

"By dancing with me tonight maybe." He responded smiling.

I laughed heartily, the young boy was starting to flatter me.Dancing with a boring older woman when there were younger girls at the party.

"I only deal with saving lives in theaters, definitely not on a dance floor."

My smile faltered as I noticed his eyes twisted to something I couldn't name. But somehow, I understood. I had made a bad joke of saving lives when I couldn't even save my best friend, his mother.

"Let's take a stroll in the pack house together godmum, maybe for the last time." Our eyes met and he laughed "I mean you just got rejected as the Luna and I will return to Japan in a few weeks.

I gave it a thought, I think I needed this last minute tour. Raymond held out his hand and I took it. Just as I used to walk around with my late husband at every event. He liked to show me off as his young wife like a freaking trophy.

Raymond made jokes, he was funny. I felt relaxed with him. Elena had him at a very tender age, she was some years older than I was so technically, I wasn't grown enough to be his mother. I set aside my prejudice and decided to have a fun filled night.

We could hear the up beat of the music from the crowning party but we just couldn't stop gisting. People kept passing by and I was getting a lot of hateful states. They thought I had found myself another man to cling onto.

Raymond was good looking in his own way but I would never be attracted to him. Why would I when I practically raised him.

"I guess we should stay in the shadows to avoid their judgement gazes if it makes you uncomfortable."

I nodded affirmatively. Raymond was really a considerate person.We both stood at a shaded corner from the bursting light. Suddenly, I started feeling uncomfortable with our discussion. It was getting too intimate, I didn't like that the boy seemed to be hitting on me. Without prior warning, he pinned me to the wall.

My eyes were focused on his eyes. Strangely I couldn't smell any lust emanating from him and I couldn't smell anything different at all. I removed his hand from mine. I didn't come to my step son's coronation only to get smooshed by my godson.

I wasn't that much of a loose cannon.

I turned my back to walk out on him when I felt a powerful jabbing sound behind me. I turned around and saw Raymond smashed against the wall. Before I could make sense of what had just happened. I heard a deep voice call "mate!" before a strong tooth sank into my neck.

Selena's POV

"Mate!"

A tooth sank into my exposed neckline suddenly and I screamed out in agony. I tried to push him away but I couldn't. He was too grounded. His canine dug into my skin and sent ripples of pleasure down my spine coated in subtle pain. My wolf surfaced and I plunged my claws into his shoulder, he jerked away from me and retreated to the back of the stairs.

I held my bleeding shoulder and tried to locate Raymond that he had thrown towards the wall. I couldn't find him, I was baffled, my shoulder had stopped bleeding and now I feel a burning sensation in my shoulder region.

I had felt this pain before. I hoped I was wrong but I needed to be certain. I rushed inside the house through one of the numerous entry points. I made my way towards the closest female restroom. When I walked in, my heart sank. A large heart shaped scar sits ugly on my neckline.

I was marked, I am certain of it.

I was marked in the past by my previous husband, Alpha Holt so I know what it looked like but for some reason, his mark had fully disappeared on me and was replaced by this one. I contemplated searching for the bastard that had the effrontery to do this when I heard a deep voice.

"Wait! The smell is coming from here, she is in the restroom." I heard.

My heart thumped loudly in my chest. I couldn't wait to make sense of my situation, my claws emerged and I rushed out of the restroom to attack whoever they were. I opened the door with full force and was about to sink my claws into the closest person when someone else held my hand in place.

"You!" The deep voice called out.

I batted my lashes as my eyes scanned through the bloodied hand that held mine in the air, the shape of my claw digging into it.

"You!" I mirrored Adrian's surprise.

"This is impossible!" I heard him say as he dropped my hand suddenly, almost breaking my wrist bone in the process.

"You attacked me earlier?" I paused slightly "and...marked me!"

Adrian scoffed "this must have been a kind of a freaking mix up somewhere moon goddess."

I just stared intently at him, I was certain of what I heard earlier, he had called me "mate." but I agree with him right there, there must be some kind of a mix up somewhere, Adrian Holt can never be my mate.

"I agree." I said, I brought out a white handkerchief from my clutch and covered my neckline with it. I turned away to leave when Adrian grabbed my hand suddenly.

"Leave us and never breathe a word of this to anyone."

Alpha compulsion! That was what he used on the two men that had followed him to search for me. They turned away to leave, I was displeased, such power is a weapon to use against the enemies not on his own men, Adrian was definitely still a boy internally not the older man he was pretending to be outwardly.

"Where is Raymond?" He didn't respond to me. I was pissed. "You threw the innocent boy against the freaking wall."

"Shut up Selena."

I wasn't forced into compulsion but somehow the next word I had planned to say died totally in my throat. Many of the guests watched as Adrian dragged me through the hallway. Like a lost puppy, I followed without rebelling. Thankfully his wound had healed but the bloodstain remained on his white shirt.

That moment something baffled me, why didn't I smell Adrian at all? I knew his scent but this new one. It was different , I guess his transition had finally happened.

But should I be worried about that when he was taking me to an unknown location?

We finally got to the private area of the Frost fang mansion. I stopped, I resisted Adrian's dragging. This was very familiar. I had lived here for three years, three miserable years!

"Where are we going?" I said each word with emphasis.

He didn't respond, instead he suddenly swept me off my feet and gathered me into his arms. The next I know was dropping down on a soft bed, Adrian's bed.

"What...what are you doing?"

I said as I attempted to get up on my feet, he pushed me down and hovered above me. Adrian Holt, my stepson was on top of me. I struggled to get up again but he kept pushing me down but when I wouldn't stop, he pinned my body down with his chest.

"Be still, I need to check something out." He whispered in my ear.

What followed was quick and merciless, my stunning red gown was torn into shreds, my perky breasts bouncing up in his face. I had no underwear on, I was ashamed, I could smell his arousal.

He turned my face around and inspected my neckline, he scoffed loudly and uttered a word that sounded like "the moon goddess had to be kidding me!"

"You are on heat, aren't you?" His cold voice said, staring down at me.

"Let me go, Alpha Adrian." I managed to say, my voice was about to betray me. I couldn't exercise my usual authority over him, my voice melted away slowly before I realized it.

"Are you on heat?" He said again, more firmly.

I tried to calculate it in my head, I should be ovulating right now but even if I wasn't, having myself pinned down by this extremely gorgeous man could make any woman wet and aroused, even his arrogance wasn't enough to make me hate this moment.

For the first time, I got an up close look at my stepson, Adrian's dark brown short hair was gleaming in the colorful chandelier, his oblong face with sharp jawline and pointed nose made him look like he was carved out of a fashion magazine, not that he hadn't been featured in several of that.

"It had to be done, I had marked you already."

Each of his words sent ripples down my spine, what the heck was he talking about, do what?

But I got my answer immediately, he ripped off his own shirt and his hands cupped my boobs.

" Adrian!" I swallowed hard as his hand tickled my perky nipples.

"Isn't this what you wanted? Mother!" He whispered into my ear.

I hate his arrogance! I should have pushed him away, but I couldn't. Adrian was right, I was in heat. For She-wolves, this was our most vulnerable time and having a mate find us at that time of the month is even more dangerous because we could never resist them, as I couldn't resist Adrian right now.

My legs parted voluntarily and I watched him slip two fingers into my cunt.

"Ouch!"

I moaned softly as I felt wetness between my legs. His eyes bore deeply into mine and at that moment, we didn't look like two adults that couldn't stand each other's presence.

I felt Adrian's erection sticking close to my stomach and his hot lip tracing kisses down my neckline where he had just marked me. Sense flew out of me as I succumbed to my body's yearning.

"Dare me to stop!" He whispered seductively into my ear.

My body shuddered in ecstasy, my mouth made a move, I wasn't certain if the words came out correctly but my wolf took the lead in the response "I dare you not!"

Adrian's lips twitched slightly. He brought it down and was about to take mine when a loud banging noise hit the door. Adrian retrieved himself from me suddenly when a voice screamed out loudly from the doorway.

"Alpha Adrian, there is a problem!"

Selena's POV

"Alpha Adrian, there is a problem."

Adrian jumped off me and made for the door. He wrenched it open, not minding that I was naked.

"Jerk!"

I hastily wrapped myself up in the bed spread. I was too ashamed to lift my head up but I listened in on his conversation with his beta Jerald.

"He is gone Alpha, he disappeared into thin air but strangely...we found a dagger close to where he landed.

"Keep me updated Jerald."

The next I heard was a slamming of the door. I cowered under the sheet as the reality of what I had done washed over me. I heard his footsteps , each exuding power.

"Lift your head." I heard Adrian say.

Reluctantly I got off the sheet but was too embarrassed to face him.

"I lost my appetite, get out now."

"Adrian!"

"You heard me Sel! I have no idea what the fuck the moon goddess was thinking but you and I can't......"

"Don't talk down to me like I am some freaking slut Adrian Holt, I have endured enough of that from you!"

"I am the Alpha of this pack Sel and everyone needs to obey....."

"Then I will have to denounce this pack if my integrity had to suffer because I was once Luna too."

We held each other's gaze longer than necessary. I saw it, Adrian was challenged. He turned around angrily. He made for one of his inner closets and returned. He threw a dress on my face.

"Cover the bouncing boobs, we don't need to show that to the public."

I was embarrassed! Reluctantly, I picked up the dress which was thankfully my size. I could smell a familiar scent on it, it must have belonged to Leila. One of the pack bitches that Adrian frolick around with.

Adrian opened the door and walked out on me. I was overwhelmed . I wouldn't be able to face everyone this way. The jerk had rejected me publicly and now he privately attempted to claim me like this.

This was too much for me to bear. I wore the dress and left the room. I made straight for my car. I left the Frostfang crowning ceremony and made it home. My roommate Jane was already fast asleep when I walked into the apartment. I didn't need any drama for the night like having to explain how my gorgeous red dress was torn apart so I didn't wake her up.

I silently tiptoed to my bed and draped the blanket over my head. I closed my eyes but I couldn't sleep. Everything replayed all over in my head. I was more concerned about Raymond who must have sustained some serious injury.

The next morning came more quickly than I anticipated. Thankfully, I didn't have too much to drink. I rushed through my morning routine while Jane just kept snoring in bed. She was never the early bird type. My phone kept blaring endlessly but I pretended not to hear it. Jack was a freaking idiot without time etiquette. After I had my breakfast and was done getting dressed for work, I wrote a short note and stacked it on Jane's forehead before I left.

Frost covered the whole street that it was difficult to see properly in the middle of that. I drove straight to the training center. After Adrian's rudeness to me on the pitch, I had attempted to pull out of the job but Jane encouraged me to retain it.

"I know you have enough money to retire you for another decade Selena but don't quit your job because of a mere spoiled brat!"

Spoilt brat! I scoffed internally, Adrian was mightier than a rich brat, he was the pack's Alpha, not that Jane knew any of that. She was a human but she was too garrulous to handle such confidential information so I kept it for her.

I do find an excuse not to return home every bloodmoon. I didn't want to hurt her unintentionally. Like me, she was a childless widow but she didn't inherit as much wealth I inherited from Alpha Holt but she was comfortable too.

I got out of the car, picked up my first aid bag and headed towards the training facility. After basic security protocol was done, I was allowed in. I marveled at how luxurious and accurate the pitch was from afar. Only the top hockey players were allowed in this training ground.

"Hi Doctor ."

"Hello you"

One of the human boys exchanged pleasantries with me and so did the others. As expected, the petty Adrian ignored me. He kept on dishing orders to his pack mates who were also a part of his team. I got myself a seat farther away from where he stood.

I watched the game diligently distracting my mind from my thoughts but each time Adrian's gaze locks on mine, I become frozen. He wasn't sparing me the embarrassment I felt at the coronation the previous day, how he grabbed my boobs.

"We need you here Doctor Ward." I heard behind me.

I picked up my box and headed straight for the human boy who had fallen down from the impact of a blow. I bent down and pulled up his top, he had a few bruises and obviously broken ribs. I knew one of Adrian's boys must have kicked him. Their team was named Frostfang wolves but a little percentage of it were actually human.

"Lay down and breathe slowly while I massage it."

He nodded affectionately while I placed my hands on his chest. I started massaging it in upward motion while spreading my healing energy across rebuilding his rib muscles. I was almost done when Adrian held out his hand and grabbed my wrist again.

My instinct was to protest but his words pierced my heart.

"I don't care if you die saving him but I won't condone your carelessness."

Adrian was right, I was careless. I checked my arms and I could see how much it had been sapped. One downside of healing power is that abusive use of it leads to fast aging.

Adrian dropped my wrist and walked away. Every eye followed him, not that they didn't know about the bad blood between us but nobody knew about the marking on my. I had kept it well hidden under the turquoise turtleneck dress that I had on.

"He would need a minor surgery now." I pointed out to the team captain who nodded affirmatively, thanked me before I walked away on my own.

I needed to make use of the restroom after dropping my stuff at a corner. After I was done. I made it to the dressing room and took off my dress. I inspected the huge wound that laid heavily on my neck, thankfully, it didn't look like it was infected. It only glowed when I shade it from light.

I wore my dress again. The day was already this boring. As I walked along the field, one of the younger players rushed up to me.

"Doctor Ward, your phone had been blaring since."

"Oh! Thank you."

I made for where I had kept my belongings, I picked up my phone, annoyingly enough, it was Jane's consistent call. I was to pick up the groceries today. I knew she would be calling to remind me about buying enough to last us the summer.

I reluctantly dialed the number, Jane's nagging voice was going to pop. It rang but she didn't pick it up at first. She picked it up at the second ring but a deep voice responded instead.

"Who is this?" I said slowly.

He asked me "Are you Miss Ward?"

"I am." I said slowly.

"My apologies,your roommate Miss Jane was murdered this morning."

"What?"