Chapter 5

Selene POV

"Grand Alpha's funeral." I clenched my palms, trying to make my voice sound calm, "I'm the future Luna. What do I need to be responsible for?"

Michael glanced at me.

"Let's go see Grandpa first." He said in a low voice, "If he knows you came, he'll be happy."

My chest suddenly felt sour, I lowered my head and hummed softly in agreement.

But the next second, he added another sentence, "Evelyn and the elders will help handle the ceremony-related affairs."

The warmth that had just risen in my chest instantly turned cold.

"Right, Evelyn has always been more suitable for these things than me." I spoke softly, tugging at the corner of my mouth, "She's familiar with the Pack. Familiar with the elders. And knows how ceremonies should be arranged."

My voice got softer and softer, "Actually, it's the same whether I'm there or not."

The car cabin suddenly became quiet. I didn't know why I was saying these things.

He told me to see Grand Alpha first, told me to rest, told me I didn't need to worry about anything. But the more he did this, the more I couldn't suppress the sourness in my chest. Because care and need were never the same thing.

"Anyway, whether it's the Pack or you, neither needs me." I laughed bitterly.

The harsh sound of brakes suddenly rang out. My whole body lurched forward due to inertia. The seatbelt cut hard into my shoulder. I instinctively grabbed the car door, my heart beating wildly. The sound of tires scraping the ground was particularly harsh in my ears. The car cabin fell into deathly silence. I looked up blankly toward the driver's seat.

Michael's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hands. Those deep blue eyes were terrifyingly dark, like they were suppressing something about to lose control.

"Selene." His voice was very low, making me inexplicably panicked, "Do you have to talk like this?"

I was stunned for a moment. I completely didn't understand why he was angry when everything I said was true.

I asked softly, "Did I say something wrong?"

Michael stared at me deadly, as if wanting to say something, his Adam's apple rolling once. Those eyes churned with emotions I couldn't understand. Anger. Exhaustion. And something else.

Michael spoke hoarsely, "We're at the pack."

I didn't wait for Michael, directly pushing open the car door and getting out. Cold wind hit my face, but the stuffy pain in my chest didn't dissipate. Quite a few people had already gathered outside the Pack House. Black flags fluttered in the wind. Elders, guards, Pack members who had rushed back. Everyone was busy, and I suddenly felt out of place.

I had only taken two steps forward when my vision suddenly darkened, my legs went weak, and the world instantly tilted. The next second, a strong arm wrapped around my waist, and my whole body crashed into a warm embrace.

Nyx was so happy her tail started wagging, "I knew Alpha still cares about us!"

The embrace at the healing house door suddenly flashed in my mind. My body stiffened, "I'm fine."

I almost instinctively withdrew from his embrace. My voice was somewhat hoarse. I didn't even dare look at his expression, just pretended to lower my head and tidy my hair that had been messed up by the wind. But Michael still lingered at my side, as if he would reach out again as soon as I swayed once more. This made me feel even worse.

So I gently withdrew my hand and spoke in a low voice, "Don't worry."

I tugged at the corner of my mouth, trying to make myself look indifferent, "I won't make you regret it again in the future."

I clearly felt the extremely suppressed dangerous aura from Michael. I looked up and met those deep blue eyes that were suppressing a storm.

"Michael, wait..."

Before I could even react, my wrist was grabbed. My whole body was pulled back again, that hand firmly clasped on my arm with such force I couldn't break free at all.

Michael's voice was frighteningly cold, "Stand steady."

Nyx was instantly happy, tail wagging frantically, "Alpha is worried about us!"

My heart trembled lightly. I thought again of that embrace at the laboratory door, thought of his stiffened body, thought of last night's "I hate you."

"Don't overthink it, Nyx," I said.

I tried to withdraw my hand but didn't succeed, "I said I'm fine."

"Fine?" Michael stared at me, those eyes churning with suppressed anger. He repeated it in a low voice, as if he was laughing from anger, "You can't even stand steady now. Where else do you want to go?"

"Let go of me." I tried to shake him off but couldn't break free at all. Michael firmly clasped my arm, obviously with no intention of letting go.

"And then?" His voice was heavy, "Let you collapse in front of everyone?"

My breathing caught, my chest inexplicably sour, "You don't care at all."

Michael paused, "When did I not..."

Just then, a familiar voice suddenly came from not far away, "Michael?"

My body stiffened slightly, instinctively turning my head. Evelyn was walking quickly from the direction of the Pack House, with several elders following behind her. When she saw our position, Evelyn was obviously stunned for a moment, but quickly showed her usual gentle, appropriate smile.

"Everyone is waiting for you." She said softly, "There are still many things about Grand Alpha that need to be handled."

Michael's expression didn't soften at all, but he still slowly let go. I took half a step back, instinctively rubbing the arm he had gripped.

Nyx huffed in dissatisfaction twice, her tail also drooping, "She came at such a bad time."

I didn't speak, as if nothing had just happened. Several elders quickly walked over. Some quietly reported the situation to Michael, some reminded him of ceremony arrangements. Michael was instantly surrounded in the center of the crowd, becoming Storm Pack's future Alpha again, while I was easily squeezed outside the crowd.

"Child." Another elder gently patted my shoulder and sighed, "Go see Grand Alpha first."

My throat suddenly tightened. I nodded lightly. But after walking a few steps, I couldn't help but look back. Through the bustling crowd, I saw Michael standing there. The elders were talking to him, but his gaze fell on me over everyone else. The moment our eyes met, time seemed to pause for a second.

Nyx immediately perked up, saying quietly, "Alpha is looking at us."

"Don't mind him." I said in a low voice.

My chest trembled lightly. I was the first to look away, pretending I hadn't seen anything, turning to walk into the Pack House.

The moment the door was pushed open, I was stunned. There was no one in the room - no elders, no guards, not even someone responsible for keeping vigil. It was unnaturally quiet. Only the soft sound of white gauze curtains being blown by the wind outside the window and the scent of laurel wood filling the air. I slowly walked step by step toward the center of the room.

Nyx called out softly, her tail curling up uneasily, "Is Grand Alpha sleeping?"

"No, Nyx." I lowered my head, my eyes suddenly heating up, "Grand Alpha has already returned to the Moon Goddess."

And I suddenly remembered what he looked like when I first met him.

At that time, the entire Storm Pack was looking at me - an Omega without background, a suddenly appearing future Luna. Those gazes were full of doubt. Only Grand Alpha beckoned to me. He called me to his side, then said in front of all the elders: "From now on, she is Storm Pack's Luna."

Later, when the council of elders opposed the Healing House, it was the same. I remember standing in the conference room holding a pile of materials.

Everyone was shaking their heads. Some said I was daydreaming, some said healing wolves were naturally unsuited to lead a Pack. I was so angry my eyes turned red, but I couldn't say a word. Only Grand Alpha supported me. He said, "Healing has never been weakness. This is Storm Pack's most precious power." That day he approved the first funding for Healing House. And from that day on, I finally felt like I belonged here.

Tears suddenly fell. Without warning, drop by drop falling onto the back of my hand. I held Grand Alpha's cold hand, my throat feeling blocked, unable to say a word.

I suddenly realized that in Storm Pack, the person who trusted me most was no longer here.

I had just walked out of the room when I heard several elders discussing tonight's ceremony arrangements.

"The future Luna should be responsible for tonight's vigil ceremony."

"But Selene isn't familiar with these processes. She's not in good condition today either."

"Evelyn has been by Grand Alpha's side all these years. She understands many things better."

I heard Michael's voice, "Leave the ceremony part to Evelyn."

My steps stopped at the corner, my chest suddenly turning cold. I suddenly felt it was somewhat ridiculous. So even the last bit of expectation was something I gave myself.

My chest felt blocked and painful. I didn't continue listening. But just as I walked out of the corner, I saw Evelyn standing there.

"Selene, don't overthink it." She looked at me and smiled lightly, "Michael is just worried your body can't handle it."

"And Grand Alpha always used to say that I'm more familiar with this kind of ceremony." She paused, showing a somewhat helpless smile, "So it's normal for the elders to think of me first."

Nyx instantly bristled, ears perking up, tail standing straight and tense. "She's lying! She's clearly stealing our things! I want to bite her!"

"Nyx." I called her in a low voice, "You can't bite people."

"But she's bullying you!" Nyx was so angry her voice changed. "Alpha is ours! Grand Alpha also liked us! You're also the Luna!"

My fingers tightened slightly, nails digging into my palms, painful and numb. But my face remained expressionless.

Because this was Storm Pack, because today was Grand Alpha's funeral, because everyone was watching. I couldn't let Grand Alpha's final journey become a joke.

Evelyn stood there quietly, her face still wearing that gentle, appropriate smile, as if nothing had happened.

Nyx was so aggrieved she almost cried, "I hate her..."

"I know." I said softly, "That's exactly why we can't bite."

"Don't worry. I'll handle everything for you." She suddenly stepped forward, her voice gentle, "This is all what I should do."

"Excuse me, where is Storm Pack's future Luna?" A strange voice suddenly came from not far away, interrupting our conversation.

I instinctively looked up. But the next second, Evelyn had already stepped out first. She wore a gentle, appropriate smile as she greeted the person, while I could only see her back, which just happened to block everyone's view.