Moonborn: Rise of the Wolfless Luna

Selina walked over to her, heels clicking on the tiles, and leaned close to Bella's face. Her voice was sharp with venom. "If you try to seduce Alpha Roland... I'll kill you myself."

Bella narrowed her eyes. "That disgusting man is all yours."

Selina's eyes flared in rage, and she raised her hand to slap Bella...

"Enough, Selina!" Roland's voice thundered from behind his desk.

Selina flinched and slowly lowered her hand. She stepped back, shooting Bella a hateful glare, then walked away with the guards following behind.

Roland stepped out from behind his desk and slowly approached Bella.

"A wolf-less maid like you should've just lain there and taken it after the wolfsbane. How dare you run from me?"

Bella stood her ground. Her eyes were burning with defiance. "I'm not anyone's maid, you asshole."

His face twisted in fury. He lunged forward and grabbed her by the neck, lifting her slightly.

"This tattoo on your face marks you as my maid!" he snarled.

Bella's eyes widened in horror as the past flooded her mind.

FLASHBACK

She was only fifteen. Roland's guards held her down like an animal, her screams ignored. The iron branding tool was red-hot. Roland held it with his gloved hand, then pressed it into her left cheek. The pain was unbearable. She passed out from the screams.

PRESENT

Bella coughed as his grip tightened.

"There's no way out, Bella," he whispered with a cruel smile.

Bella's teeth sank into his wrist.

"You disgust me!" she spat as he recoiled in pain.

"Shit!" Roland shouted. "You've got a fiery mouth on you." He licked the blood from his wrist. "How about I fuck you speechless this time?"

He leaned close to her neck, sniffing.

His brows suddenly drew together. He raised her hair and sniffed deeper.

"Why do I smell another werewolf on you?" he growled. His voice was low, dangerous. "Did you lose your virginity?"

Bella stared straight into his eyes. "That's none of your business. I'd rather give it to any man on earth than you."

"Congrats, then," he muttered coldly.

He yanked her by the hair so hard she cried out in pain.

"Now you've really pissed me off." His face was twisted with rage. "Let's see who that bastard is who dared touch what belongs to me!"

He dragged her by the hair across the floor. Bella screamed.

"Let go of me, you monster!"

Just then, a voice broke the moment.

"Alpha Roland!"

Roland, still angry, shouted back, "What is it?!"

The guard replied with excitement in his voice. "We have a visitor. Alpha Alfred is here from the Moonshadow Pack!"

Roland froze.

He repeated the name in disbelief, "Moonshadow Pack? The largest wolf pack?"

The guard nodded from outside.

Roland's expression changed from rage to curiosity. "We've never crossed paths before... What are they doing here now?" he muttered under his breath.

Still holding Bella's hair, he turned her face toward him. "I'll deal with you when I'm done," he snarled. "Now go make yourself presentable and bring some tea for our distinguished guests."

He shoved her roughly, making her stumble back.

Bella, wearing her white and black apron, rushed to the kitchen. Her hands were still shaking as she poured the tea carefully into glass cups.

As she was about to arrange them on the tray, Selina suddenly appeared, pretending to pass by. She bumped into Bella intentionally, causing the hot tea to spill over Bella's apron.

"Ow!" Bella flinched.

"You, clumsy, worthless maid," Selina hissed with a wicked smile. "Do you even know who our guest is?"

Bella looked at her in silence, eyes filled with frustration, but she said nothing.

Selina leaned close, gently touching her own chest, a fake innocent look on her face. "It's Alpha Alfred," she whispered. "One of the most powerful Alphas in the entire werewolf kingdom. If you mess this up..." She leaned in further, her smile turning cruel. "You're dead."

Bella's fingers trembled, but she said nothing. She cleaned the mess and finished preparing the tray.

Selina walked away confidently, joining Roland in the hallway. Roland took her hand as they both moved to welcome their guest.

The moment Alpha Alfred stepped into the packhouse, the air changed. His very presence commanded respect and power. His eyes were sharp, his posture strong, and his aura made everyone drop their heads in honor.

Alfred sat down gracefully, his expression unreadable.

His Beta leaned close and whispered, "Alpha, our clues indicate that the girl you met last night was captured by the Wolfsbane Pack."

Alfred's jaw tightened. "So they dared to touch one of my people?" he said quietly. "Let's keep our plan under wraps for now."

Roland greeted him with a warm handshake. "Welcome, Alpha Alfred.

Selina smiled sweetly, already calculating in her mind. "Well, well... so this is the famous Alpha of the Moonshadow Pack. You're as ravishing as expected," she said boldly. "Do you have a Luna?"

Roland pretended to smile politely.

"Alpha Alfred, to what do I owe the pleasure of your sudden visit?" he asked, masking his tension with charm.

Alfred leaned back slightly, his posture confident but controlled.

"I'd like to discuss the peace treaty between our packs," Alfred said firmly, his eyes not leaving Roland's.

Just then, Bella appeared quietly from the side, her presence unnoticed at first. She knelt beside Alfred gracefully, balancing the silver tray of tea in her trembling hands. Her heart pounded with nerves, but her face remained expressionless.

Alfred felt the movement near him but kept his eyes on Roland until he reached out to take the cup.

As his fingers brushed the porcelain, his eyes finally drifted to the person kneeling beside him.

Their gazes locked.

Time froze.

His hand remained on the cup, but his fingers now touched hers. His usually composed face shifted.

"It's you," Alfred said softly, almost in a whisper, as if he was seeing a ghost.

Bella's lips parted, but no words came out. Her eyes widened, and the tray trembled slightly in her hands.

Alfred's hand was still on the cup, together with Bella's. He stared at her, completely frozen. His heart raced as memories from that night flashed in his mind: the way her eyes looked under the moonlight, the softness of her touch, and the pain he felt when she vanished without a trace.

He couldn't believe it.

But before he could say a word, Roland's voice cut through the silence like a knife.

"Alpha Alfred?"

Alfred blinked, snapping out of his thoughts.

Bella quickly stood up, pulling her hand away from his. She lowered her head, trying to stay calm.

Roland looked between them. His smile was fake. "This is our pack's maid. Do you know each other?"