The castle was awake long before sunrise.
Whispers traveled through the stone halls faster than wildfire through dry grass.
Servants murmured behind closed doors.
Guards exchanged uneasy glances.
And deep inside the royal court, rumors had already begun to spread.
The new Luna had tried to kill the prince.
Selena knew the moment she woke that the castle had changed.
She sat upright on the couch in Adrian's chamber, her senses immediately alert.
Something was different.
Her wolf instincts prickled with awareness.
Voices echoed faintly in the hallway outside.
More guards than usual.
Footsteps.
Heavy armor.
Selena sighed.
"Well… that didn't stay secret for long."
She stretched her arms before standing.
The room was empty again.
Prince Adrian had already left.
Just like the previous morning.
Selena walked toward the window and looked down into the courtyard.
Training exercises had begun.
Vampire soldiers sparred in pairs across the stone yard, their movements fast and brutal.
Normally Selena would have admired the discipline.
Today she barely cared.
Her attention shifted to the palace gates.
There were twice as many guards posted there.
Her assassination attempt had clearly caused panic.
"Good," she muttered.
"If they're afraid, I'm doing something right."
A knock sounded on the chamber door.
Selena turned slowly.
"Come in."
The door opened cautiously.
A young servant entered, carrying a tray of food.
She looked terrified.
Selena raised an eyebrow.
"You look like I'm about to eat you."
The girl shook her head quickly.
"N-no, my lady."
Selena smirked.
"Relax."
She walked toward the table and sat down.
"I'm not in the mood to kill anyone right now."
The servant placed the tray down carefully.
But her hands trembled.
Selena noticed.
"Let me guess."
The girl swallowed nervously.
"The whole castle knows."
"Yes."
Selena sighed and grabbed a piece of bread.
"Wonderful."
The servant hesitated before speaking again.
"My lady… the council has been called."
Selena paused.
"The council?"
"Yes."
"The nobles are… discussing what happened."
Selena laughed softly.
"I can imagine."
"Are they planning to execute me?"
The servant's eyes widened.
"I-I don't know!"
Selena waved a hand dismissively.
"Relax. I'm joking."
Mostly.
The servant quickly left the room.
Selena finished eating in silence.
Her mind was already calculating.
If the nobles demanded her death…
Adrian might be forced to listen.
Which meant she needed a plan.
Soon.
Meanwhile, across the palace—
The royal council chamber was filled with tension.
Vampire nobles sat in a semicircle around a massive black table.
Their expressions ranged from anger to outrage.
At the head of the room stood Prince Adrian.
Beside him sat the vampire king.
King Valerius.
His pale face remained unreadable as the nobles argued.
"This is unacceptable!"
A tall vampire lord slammed his fist on the table.
"A wolf attempted to assassinate the prince inside our own castle!"
Another noble hissed in agreement.
"She should be executed immediately."
"Yes!"
"She cannot be trusted!"
"Kill her before she tries again!"
The room erupted into loud arguments.
Adrian remained completely calm.
Finally the king spoke.
"Enough."
The single word silenced the entire chamber.
King Valerius turned his cold gaze toward Adrian.
"You were the target."
"Yes."
"What is your recommendation?"
Several nobles leaned forward eagerly.
They expected only one answer.
Execution.
Adrian's voice remained steady.
"No punishment."
The room exploded with outrage.
"What?!"
"That's madness!"
"She tried to kill you!"
Adrian raised a hand slightly.
The room fell quiet again.
"She failed."
"That is irrelevant!" one noble snapped.
"She will try again!"
"Yes," Adrian replied calmly.
"She probably will."
The nobles stared at him in disbelief.
"And you're fine with that?" another demanded.
Adrian's crimson eyes hardened slightly.
"Selena is the Luna of the Moonfang Pack."
"She was forced into this marriage."
"She lost her home and her freedom."
A few nobles scoffed.
"So?"
"So her anger is predictable."
King Valerius studied his son carefully.
"You believe she will eventually accept this arrangement?"
Adrian paused before answering.
"I believe she will eventually understand it."
The king leaned back in his throne.
"And if she doesn't?"
Adrian met his father's gaze.
"Then we will deal with that when the time comes."
The nobles exchanged uneasy glances.
None of them liked this answer.
But none dared openly challenge the prince.
King Valerius finally nodded.
"Very well."
"Selena will not be punished."
The nobles grumbled but remained silent.
The king stood.
"This meeting is concluded."
As the nobles began leaving, one of them lingered behind.
Lord Cassian.
A tall vampire with sharp features and calculating eyes.
He approached Adrian slowly.
"You're making a mistake."
Adrian didn't react.
"Am I?"
Cassian smiled thinly.
"You're allowing a wolf to live in the heart of our kingdom."
"Yes."
"Eventually she will destroy everything."
Adrian's gaze remained calm.
"Thank you for your concern."
Cassian's smile faded.
"This is not a game, Prince Adrian."
"I'm aware."
Cassian leaned closer slightly.
"You should have killed her the moment she tried to stab you."
Adrian's voice turned colder.
"And you should remember your place."
The warning in his tone was unmistakable.
Cassian stepped back.
"Of course."
But his eyes still held quiet hostility.
As he left the chamber, Adrian remained standing near the table.
King Valerius spoke again.
"You're taking a dangerous risk."
Adrian looked toward his father.
"Perhaps."
"But the prophecy requires both of us alive."
The king studied him.
"You believe she's the one?"
"I'm certain."
King Valerius sighed.
"Then I hope you're right."
Elsewhere in the castle—
Selena walked through the courtyard.
Guards watched her nervously.
Some looked ready to attack.
Others simply avoided her gaze.
Selena smirked slightly.
"Good."
"They're scared."
She reached the edge of the training grounds and stopped.
Vampire soldiers paused their sparring when they noticed her.
One of them whispered to another.
"That's her."
"The wolf Luna."
"The one who attacked the prince."
Selena crossed her arms.
"If you're going to stare…"
"Make it less obvious."
The soldiers quickly looked away.
Selena chuckled softly.
She turned toward the palace entrance—
And nearly collided with Adrian.
He stood directly behind her.
Silent as a shadow.
Selena blinked.
"You vampires really enjoy sneaking up on people."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"You're the one trained as a hunter."
"Even hunters get surprised."
She studied his face.
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Am I about to be executed?"
Adrian shook his head.
"No."
Selena frowned.
"Why not?"
"The council discussed it."
"And?"
"I declined."
She stared at him.
"You defended me?"
"Not exactly."
"Then what?"
"I explained the situation."
Selena tilted her head.
"You mean you told them I'm unstable and dangerous."
"Those words weren't used."
"But the meaning was the same."
Selena laughed.
"You're unbelievable."
Adrian watched her quietly.
"You're disappointed."
"Maybe."
"You expected punishment."
"Yes."
"Well…"
She shrugged.
"That would have been easier."
Adrian's expression shifted slightly.
"Easier?"
"Hatred is simple."
Her voice was softer now.
"This situation isn't."
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then Selena looked directly at him.
"I meant what I said last night."
"I will try again."
Adrian nodded.
"I know."
"You're not even worried?"
"Should I be?"
Selena stepped closer.
"If you're not careful…"
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"I might actually succeed next time."
Adrian met her gaze calmly.
"If that day comes…"
He leaned slightly closer.
"…I suppose I'll deserve it."
Selena stared at him, confused.
But before she could respond—
A cold chill suddenly passed through the courtyard.
Her wolf instincts flared.
Danger.
Real danger.
Selena turned sharply.
Somewhere in the castle…
Something had just changed.
Something far more dangerous than her failed assassination attempt had entered the game.
And neither she nor Adrian realized it yet.