CHAPTER 5 — The Rift
Autumn seemed different after Ravenna's arrival. Maybe it was just Selene's imagination. Maybe it was simply because, for the first time in two years, she could feel the ground trembling beneath her feet. The corridors of Ferrum's fortress remained the same. The pale stone walls, the red carpets, the crests of the former Alphas hanging in the halls. The scent of burning pine from the fireplaces still filled the air.
But something had changed.
People looked at her. Watched her. Talked about her. And stopped speaking whenever she drew near.
Selene pretended not to notice.
She spent the entire morning helping the servants organize the winter supplies. She didn't need to do it. As the Alpha's wife, she could simply give orders.
But she had never liked giving orders.
She preferred to help. She preferred feeling useful.
When she left the storeroom carrying a basket of provisions, she heard voices coming from the main balcony.
“Lady Ravenna is incredible.”
“She defeated three warriors from Spina by herself.”
“They say she led an entire patrol when she was seventeen.”
“A true Luna.”
Selene slowed her steps.
The voices continued.
“Ferrum would be lucky.”
“A strong woman at the Alpha's side.”
“In times of war, we need leadership.”
“Not weakness.”
The last sentence was almost a whisper.
But she heard it.
She kept walking.
As if she hadn't heard.
Just as she always did.
Ravenna was everywhere.
At the training sessions. At the meetings. At dinner. On patrols.
And she always seemed perfect.
Whenever Liam was nearby, her voice turned as sweet as honey.
“Liam, you're working too hard.”
“Liam, I brought the reports from Spina.”
“Liam, you should get some rest.”
She smiled. Spoke softly. Casually touched his arm.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world. As if the years hadn't passed. As if she still had any claim on him.
But whenever Liam left...
The smile disappeared.
Selene discovered that one cold morning.
She was crossing the garden when she found Ravenna alone, watching the white roses Liam had planted.
“They're beautiful,” Selene remarked.
Ravenna turned slowly.
The smile that appeared on her lips never reached her eyes.
“Yes.”
The silence lasted for several seconds.
Then Ravenna ran her fingers over one of the flowers.
“It's curious.”
“What is?”
“How some plants manage to survive in places where they shouldn't exist.”
Selene felt something cold run down her spine.
“I don't understand.”
“Oh, you do.”
Ravenna's green eyes locked onto hers.
Cold. Sharp. Predatory.
“You occupy a place that was never yours.”
Selene remained still.
“Liam chose me.”
“Liam chose you because he pitied you.”
The words struck like a punch.
Ravenna continued.
“You were a starving servant. A rejected omega. He mistook compassion for love.”
Selene clenched her hands.
“That isn't true.”
“Are you sure?”
Ravenna took a step forward.
“Two years, Selene.
Two years.
“And you still don't have the mark.”
Those words hurt more than they should have.
Because they were already an open wound.
“That is none of your business.”
“Of course it is.”
Ravenna smiled.
“Because all of Ferrum knows.
All of Ferrum talks about it.
All of Ferrum wonders.
Why doesn't the Alpha mark his own wife?”
Selene felt her stomach drop.
Ravenna moved even closer.
“You know what I think?”
“No.”
“I think he loves you.
But he doesn't believe in you.
And that's worse.”
That night, Selene couldn't sleep.
Ravenna's words hammered through her mind.
“He loves you.
But he doesn't believe in you.”
She turned onto her side.
Liam slept beside her.
His breathing was deep. His face relaxed.
So close.
And yet so far away.
For the first time in a long while, she wondered if Ravenna was right.
The following days were even worse.
Ravenna began participating in the pack's training sessions.
She defeated warriors. Rode horses. Shot arrows. Led strategies.
And every display of strength seemed like a cruel reminder of what Selene could never be.
One afternoon, during an open training session, a group of young wolves watched Ravenna fight.
She took down a warrior twice her size.
Applause echoed through the air.
Then someone commented:
“Now that's someone who was born to be Luna.”
Another replied:
“Very different from ours.”
Laughter.
Quiet.
But audible.
Selene pretended not to hear.
Until a third voice rang out.
“The Broken Luna.”
The world seemed to stop.
The Broken Luna.
The phrase cut through the air like a blade.
Some laughed.
Others fell silent.
No one corrected them.
No one defended her.
Selene stood there.
For a few seconds.
Then she turned and walked away.
Without saying a word.
Without showing any pain.
But something inside her cracked.
Liam found her that night.
Alone.
Sitting by the river.
“You disappeared after training.”
Selene didn't answer.
“What happened?”
She continued staring at the water.
“They called me the Broken Luna.”
Silence fell between them.
Liam closed his eyes.
He already knew.
He had heard.
But he hadn't done anything.
“Selene...”
“Are they right?”
The question came out soft.
Fragile.
Dangerous.
Liam moved closer.
He sat beside her.
“No.”
“Then why does no one respect me?”
He didn't answer immediately.
And that brief hesitation hurt more than any answer could have.
“They're afraid of what they don't understand.”
“No.”
She finally looked at him.
Her eyes were full of tears.
“They're ashamed of me.”
Liam took her hand.
“I would never be ashamed of you.”
But even as he said it...
Part of him remembered the meetings. The elders. The demands. The heirs. The doubts.
And Selene noticed.
She noticed because the bond between them still existed. She noticed because she knew that man. She noticed because she loved him.
He was trying to protect her.
But he could no longer protect her completely.
Because he was beginning to doubt, too.
That night, Selene woke with a start.
The room was dark.
Silent.
But something had changed.
She sat up in bed.
Her heart raced.
A strange sensation moved through her body.
Warm.
Alive.
Ancient.
Then she heard it.
Not with her ears.
But inside herself.
A sound.
A growl.
Low.
Distant.
Selene froze.
No.
It was impossible.
She closed her eyes.
And heard it again.
Stronger.
Closer.
Like a creature awakening after sleeping for many years.
Deep inside.
Behind her ribs.
Beneath her soul.
A feminine voice.
Powerful.
Primordial.
Wounded.
But alive.
“Finally...”
Selene held her breath.
Tears sprang instantly to her eyes.
“Who's there?”
Silence.
For a moment, she thought she had imagined everything.
Then the voice returned.
Clearer.
Stronger.
Closer.
“I've been looking for you for so long...”
Selene's heart began to pound.
“Who are you?”
And for the first time in her entire life...
The answer came.
“I am you.”
Heat exploded inside her chest.
It was so intense that her body arched in bed.
Outside, the clouds covered the moon.
The wind began to howl between the towers of Ferrum.
And in the depths of her soul, something ancient opened its eyes.
Her wolf had awakened.