MATED TO THE STRONGEST ALPHA
Chapter Twenty - Eight

Selene's POV

The night sky was draped in darkness, but the moon still managed to cast its silvery glow. I had recently moved my belongings into Alexa's dorm, with Axel fully aware of this development. As expected, he continued his bothersome behavior by relentlessly knocking on our door.

"I want pizza," Alexa declared, her eyes glued to her phone, which seemed to be showing something that triggered her pizza cravings. She even licked her lips hungrily, though we had only just finished dinner an hour ago. Lowering her phone, she looked at me, and I could already sense what she had in mind.

"What's that look for?" I asked, even though I knew exactly what she wanted.

She simply nodded, silently coaxing me to accompany her on her pizza quest.

"It is midnight and quite dark," I remarked.

"But I want pizza," she said, giving me a pleading look like a child yearning for a new toy.

I tried to talk her out of it, but she stood before me, pleading with puppy-like eyes, and I had no choice but to give in to her wishes.

With a sigh, I relented. If this was what she wanted, I would go along with it. Perhaps one day, I too would be as insistent about satisfying my cravings.

"Should we inform Axel?"

"No need. He'd never allow us to go outside this late," Alexa replied, her tone implying that she knew her brother well.

I nodded in agreement. Stepping outside the building, a chilly wind enveloped us, prompting me to hug myself tightly. Despite wearing a jacket, the cold seemed to penetrate my bones. I glanced at Alexa, who was walking without a jacket as if her skin had grown accustomed to the chill.

"Are you not cold?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Cold doesn't bother me anymore, but these cravings do," she said, and we shared a laugh at her response.

As we strolled, searching for a pizza joint that opened at midnight, we struggled to replace any store that was still open at this hour. Her determination to have pizza amused and puzzled me simultaneously. Her cravings were certainly unique. We stopped in front of a convenience store, and I suggested, "Since there's no open pizza place, why not get something from here?" I pointed at the store's entrance. Her lips dropped momentarily, and she let out a deep breath. "I want pizza."

I was about to respond when we heard a voice crying out for help. Both of us turned our heads, trying to identify the direction the voice came from.

"Was that a shout?" I questioned.

"Seems like it. But where did it come from?" Alexa scanned the surroundings. The voice had vanished. I was sure it was a girl's cry, but we couldn't pinpoint its source. "Let's replace her." Alexa led the way in the opposite direction, and I followed suit.

After a brief pause, the cry rang out again, prompting us to sprint towards the sound. With no one else around, I transformed into my werewolf form to reach the location faster.

When I arrived at the scene, I found three wolves attacking a woman. I wasted no time and fiercely defended her. It was an intense struggle, and I wished Alexa were fighting side by side with me, but she ran behind me to meet the girl who was getting attacked, ensuring her safety.

Suddenly, a gray werewolf intervened, biting one of the attacking wolves, saving me from a perilous situation. I was stunned for a moment, watching as the three aggressors retreated into the shadows.

The gray wolf turned its head towards me, its identity strengthened by the moon's radiant glow. My heart skipped a beat as our eyes locked. I knew this wolf. The feelings rushed back, memories resurfacing.

T-This... This werewolf is...

This werewolf is Riker.

The same eyes... the same look

My heart raced as I took a step back, my mind reeling from the encounter. As someone called my name, I turned my back on him, seeking to hide from the gray wolf. It had been quite some time, but my heart still recognized him. Even after his rejection... Even after the pain he caused...

I never expected to cross paths with him again. I knew he wouldn't recognize me, but every fiber of my being recognized him. It was him... It was Riker...

I had seen Riker's werewolf form multiple times, but he, on the other hand, didn't see mine, not even once. Thinking back on it now, I wondered why and found it suspicious. I guess it wasn't relevant to his plans, I reasoned.

I had come face-to-face with the Alpha, who once rejected me as his Luna.

At the sight of Riker, I turned to Alexa, who did not transform, and the injured lady. I quickly whispered to Alexa to hop on my back with the injured lady; she quickly did so without knowing why, and I soon fled.

I didn't stop running until we were safely back in the dorm. I transformed back into my human form, shaking with a mixture of fear and unresolved emotions. I could see the relief on Alexa's face as she helped the injured girl to the couch. "Are you alright?" I asked the girl, who nodded weakly, her eyes filled with gratitude.

"Thank you," she whispered. "You saved my life."

Alexa looked at me with concern. "Selene, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I forced a smile, trying to steady my breathing. "I'm fine. Just a bit shaken."

The three of us sat down in the kitchen, sipping hot tea to calm our nerves. The adrenaline from the encounter slowly wore off, but my mind was still reeling from seeing Riker.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Alexa asked gently.

I sighed, feeling the weight of the night's events. "It's a long story, Alexa. But seeing him again... it brought back a lot of memories, and not all of them are good."

Alexa reached out and squeezed my hand. "I'm here for you, Selene. Whenever you're ready to talk, I'll listen."

I nodded, grateful for her support. "Thank you, Alexa. It means a lot."

As the night wore on, I found myself lying in bed, unable to sleep. Thoughts of Riker and the past we shared swirled in my mind. The pain of his rejection still stung, but there was also a part of me that longed for closure.

I had come face-to-face with the Alpha, who once rejected me as his Luna, and it felt like the beginning of a new chapter. One where I would have to confront my past and replace a way to move forward.

With a deep breath, I closed my eyes, knowing that tomorrow would bring new challenges. But for now, I was determined to face whatever came my way, with the support of my friends and the strength I had found within myself.