BOUND BY BLOOD AND MOON

The wind howled through the dense forest, rustling the leaves with an eerie whisper. Selene stood in the moonlight, her breath steady, her emerald eyes scanning the darkened trees. The scent of damp earth and pine filled her lungs as she stretched her fingers, letting her claws extend slightly before retracting them. Tonight, she wasn't running,she was standing her ground.

Since her last rejection, a fire had been kindled inside her, one that refused to be extinguished. Her body ached, but not from battle.it was the weight of years of being cast aside, of proving herself time and time again only to be deemed unworthy. But she refused to be broken.

Seraphina's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "Selene, are you even listening to me?"

Selene turned, taking in her best friend's worried expression. Seraphina was one of the few people who had always stood by her, even when the rest of the pack whispered behind her back.

"I heard you," Selene said, leaning against a nearby tree. "The alpha's council is gathering tonight. Let them talk. It doesn't change anything."

Seraphina sighed, crossing her arms. "It should change something. You know how this pack is. They won't stop until they've decided your fate for you."

Selene exhaled sharply. "Let them try."

Seraphina hesitated. "What if they force you to leave?"

A flicker of pain crossed Selene's face, but she masked it quickly. "Then I'll leave."

The words tasted bitter on her tongue. She had spent her entire life fighting to prove her worth among her people, yet she was always the outcast. Being an orphan in a world where bloodlines dictated power had made her an easy target. Her past rejections had only added fuel to the fire. The whispers, the looks of pity, the subtle ways she was pushed aside. it was suffocating.

But the night carried more than just the weight of uncertainty. There was something in the air, something that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Do you smell that?" Seraphina whispered, her playful demeanor shifting into something more serious.

Selene's nostrils flared as she took in the scent on the breeze. It was faint, but distinct _blood_ .

Her body tensed as she locked eyes with Seraphina. "We need to move."

The two of them took off through the trees, their movements swift and silent. The scent grew stronger with each step, and by the time they reached the clearing, Selene's stomach twisted.

A body lay sprawled across the forest floor, the silver light of the moon casting an eerie glow over the scene. It was one of their own ,....a scout from the pack. His throat had been torn open, his eyes wide with shock.

Seraphina cursed under her breath. "Rogues."

Selene knelt beside the body, her fingers brushing against the torn fabric of his tunic. The wound was fresh. The blood hadn't dried yet. Whoever did this wasn't far.

A low growl rumbled through the trees, and Selene shot to her feet, her eyes scanning the darkness.

Then she saw them.

Three figures emerged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with hunger. Their clothes were tattered, their bodies scarred from past battles.

"Look what we have here," one of them sneered, stepping forward. "The infamous rejected one."

Selene's muscles coiled, ready for a fight. She wasn't in the mood for games.

"Leave now," she warned, her voice calm but firm. "This is your only chance."

The leader of the rogues laughed, his sharp teeth flashing in the moonlight. "Or what? You'll cry us to death?"

Seraphina let out a low growl beside her, but Selene didn't rise to the bait. Instead, she kept her stance steady, her breathing controlled. She could feel the heat of the moon against her skin, the pull of her instincts urging her to shift. But she held back.

The rogue lunged.

Selene moved faster.

With a sharp twist of her body, she dodged his attack, her claws slicing across his arm as she pivoted. He let out a pained snarl, stumbling back as blood dripped from the wound.

Another rogue came at her from the side, but Seraphina intercepted, tackling him to the ground.

Selene's heart pounded as she met the leader's gaze. He was stronger than the others, but strength alone wouldn't be enough to take her down.

He smirked, lifting his hand. "You think you're different, don't you?"

Selene didn't answer.

"You're just another castaway," he continued. "And no matter how hard you fight, no one is coming to save you."

Something inside Selene snapped.

She lunged.

Her claws found his chest, her strength sending him crashing into the ground. He gasped, his eyes wide with shock as she pressed a knee against his ribs.

"You talk too much," she muttered before delivering a final, brutal strike.

The rogue's body went limp.

Selene exhaled, stepping back as the forest fell silent once more. Seraphina stood nearby, blood staining her tunic, but she was still standing.

"We need to tell the council," Seraphina said, breathless.

Selene wiped her hands on her trousers. "No."

Seraphina blinked. "What?"

Selene's eyes burned with determination. "This wasn't just a random attack. They were waiting for us. Someone sent them."

Seraphina frowned, realization dawning in her expression. "You think..."

"I don't think. I know."

Something bigger was happening. This wasn't just about her rejection, or her place in the pack. This was something else entirely.

And if there was one thing Selene had learned in her hundred years of existence, it was this, the past never stayed buried for long.