Chapter 6

Selene POV

The representative from the outside Pack looked over Evelyn, seemingly wanting to look behind her. But Evelyn stood too perfectly positioned, just blocking me.

She smiled and bowed to the visitor, "Welcome to Storm Pack."

She didn't say she was the future Luna, but she also didn't immediately step aside. I stood behind her like someone being hidden.

My steps paused slightly, my chest suddenly feeling stuffy.

"She's blocking us!" Nyx was so angry her tail puffed up, "Selene, she's doing it on purpose!"

"I know." I said softly.

Evelyn conversed calmly with that Alpha, the smile on her face gentle and appropriate, her movements so natural that no fault could be found. She was doing it deliberately. But I also knew no one would believe it.

Evelyn quickly turned sideways, as if finally remembering me, speaking gently: "This is Storm Pack's future Luna, Selene."

Evelyn spoke generously and appropriately, as if that brief obstruction was just unintentional. The representative immediately nodded to me in acknowledgment, and I returned a polite smile. But my chest felt more and more stuffy, because she hadn't done anything wrong. She had even actively introduced me, actively returned the future Luna position to me, and hadn't even said a single inappropriate word. But somehow, I still felt like I was a step behind.

"Selene." Nyx was extremely aggrieved, "I hate her."

I lowered my eyes, looking at my slightly clenched palms. But more than hatred, what made me more uncomfortable was that in that instant just now, I suddenly felt like I was the superfluous one.

"Evelyn," an elder hurriedly walked over, "Has the East Wing Pack list been confirmed?"

"It's already confirmed." Evelyn replied softly, "Michael told me about it."

The elder was obviously relieved, "That's good. I feel at ease with you here."

My fingers paused slightly.

Evelyn smiled, "I've already handled it. Don't let him worry."

The elder nodded satisfactorily and hurried away. Throughout the entire process, no one looked at me once. The air was quiet for a few seconds.

"Michael is just worried there are too many things today." Evelyn suddenly turned around, looking at me. The smile on her face remained gentle, "So he asked me to help keep an eye on things."

"Actually, he's in very poor condition today. He's barely rested since last night." She lowered her eyes, "If possible, I'd also like to help share some of his burden."

Nyx's ears immediately perked up, "Why does she know what Alpha is doing?"

My chest felt blocked by something. I had no idea where Michael had gone today, didn't know if he had rested, didn't even know what he was doing now. But Evelyn knew.

My fingers tightened slightly. I suddenly realized I hadn't seen Michael for a long time. I instinctively looked around. The elders were busy. The guests were busy. But that tall figure had disappeared into the crowd at some point.

Nyx said, "You're looking for Alpha."

"No." I instinctively denied it.

"Liar." Nyx muttered quietly, "You've already looked three times."

I ignored her, but still couldn't help looking up toward the entrance.

I took a deep breath. Grand Alpha was gone, but I was the future Luna. I couldn't keep standing here. So I walked toward the newly arrived guests, "Welcome to Storm Pack."

That Alpha nodded at me, then handed over the invitation in his hand. Just as I was about to reach out to take it, another hand suddenly reached out from the side, taking the invitation first.

My movement froze mid-air. Evelyn was already smiling as she opened the invitation, as if all this was natural, "Accommodation has been arranged. Let me take you there."

Those guests immediately focused their attention on her, "Thank you for the trouble."

"This is what I should do." Evelyn smiled and shook her head. She smiled gently as she led them toward the Pack House. From beginning to end, no one noticed I was still standing there. I slowly withdrew my hand, fingertips slightly cold.

Nyx instantly bristled, "Selene! She's definitely doing it on purpose!"

For a moment, I almost wanted to tell Evelyn directly: if you're really so worried, then don't block my way. If you're really so considerate, then return the future Luna position that belongs to me. I thought of Grand Alpha, thought of that old man lying in the room. Today was his funeral, not the time for Evelyn and me to compete.

"I know, Nyx." I soothed her in a low voice, "But we can't do anything."

For the next few hours, I kept trying to participate in funeral preparations. But every time, I was a step behind. After another guest reception ended, I lowered my head to organize the list in my hands. A shadow suddenly stopped in front of me. I looked up to see Evelyn standing there. People around were all busy, no one paying attention to us.

Evelyn glanced at the distance, making sure no one could hear, then spoke very softly, "Actually, Michael is in very poor condition today."

My movements paused.

Evelyn lowered her eyes, as if casually sighing, "He's barely rested since last night. The elders and I are all very worried about him."

She sighed softly, "But fortunately, at least he's willing to listen to me."

My fingers tightened bit by bit, gripping the list tightly. But Evelyn continued gently, "Just now I told him to rest for a while. He finally agreed."

Evelyn looked at me, her gaze lingering on my pale face for a moment. She suddenly frowned lightly, her voice carrying false concern, "You two had an unpleasant time last night. At times like this, maybe giving each other some space would be better."

Nyx growled lowly, "She's at it again! Alpha wouldn't not want to see us!"

I lowered my eyes to look at the list in my hands. When did it start that Storm Pack's future Alpha's affairs needed to be told to me by her? When did it start that she could stand in front of me so naturally, saying words that should belong to a mate?

"Evelyn." I interrupted her. She was stunned for a moment, seeming not to expect me to speak. I looked up at her steadily, "Since when do you make decisions for Michael?"

Evelyn's smile stiffened for a moment, "That's not what I meant."

"That's good." I slowly smiled, "Because no matter what happens, I'm still his mate."

"But still, thank you for caring so much about Michael." I methodically straightened my sleeves, voice calm, "Taking care of guests and taking care of Michael too, you've worked hard."

"I'm just worried about you." Evelyn's smile stiffened for a moment, quickly returning to normal. She said softly, "After all, Michael has been very busy today. He hasn't even come to find you, has he?"

My fingers tightened slightly. The pain remaining in the bond from last night seemed to surge up again. I knew she was doing it deliberately, deliberately hitting the most painful spot.

Evelyn seemed to think she had hit the mark, the smile on her face becoming even more gentle. But I found it somewhat ridiculous.

Today was Grand Alpha's funeral, the entire Storm Pack was seeing him off. And Evelyn was standing here, discussing with me whether Michael had come to find me.

"I see." I slowly smiled, "So compared to Grand Alpha, you're indeed more concerned about Michael today."

My temples began to ache faintly, the sounds around me becoming somewhat blurred. No sleep all night, crying, eating almost nothing. I knew I wasn't in good condition, but I couldn't show it, at least not in front of Evelyn. So I just slowly straightened my back, digging my nails deeper into my palms until the pain made me clear-headed again.

"Selene..." Nyx's voice was somewhat worried, "Should we rest for a bit?"

"I'm fine." I said quietly.

I closed my eyes, trying to make myself more alert. When I looked up again, my gaze suddenly froze. At the other end of the crowd, Michael had returned. He still wore that black formal attire. He held a recovery potion in his hand and was walking toward me. One step, two steps, getting closer and closer.

"Alpha came to find us!" Nyx instantly jumped up from the ground, tail wagging frantically, "I knew it! Alpha cares about us most!"

The heavy sourness in my chest suddenly lightened a bit. I stood in the center of the crowd, for the first time having an expectation I shouldn't have. My gaze uncontrollably fell on that potion.

I thought that potion was for me.