Chapter 12 The Mysterious Adviser

• Lena’s heart pounded as she slipped through the corridors, careful not to draw attention. The scent of damp earth and blooming flowers filled the air as she stepped into the forbidden garden.
• The man stood with his back to her, long raven-black hair swaying slightly in the breeze. He carried himself with quiet authority, his hands clasped behind him as he observed the water fountain. Even from this distance, Lena could tell he was tall, his shoulders broad, yet his stillness was unnerving—almost unnatural.
• Something about him sent a shiver down her spine. Who is he? And why is he here when no one else is allowed?
• She crouched low, moving carefully through the grass, watching as he reached out, trailing his fingers through the water. He seemed lost in thought, detached from the world around him.
• Then, without warning, he tilted his head slightly, as if listening to something only he could hear.
• "You know I could smell you the moment you stepped in here," his deep voice rumbled. "Come out."
• Lena stiffened.
• Slowly, she stepped forward, keeping her gaze lowered.
• "Look at me," he ordered.
• She hesitated, every instinct screaming at her to run.
• "I said, look at me." His tone sharpened, leaving no room for defiance.
• Her head lifted against her will.
• The world tilted.
• He was beautiful. Almost inhumanly so.
• Piercing green eyes bore into hers, intense and unwavering. His high cheekbones, perfectly sculpted jawline, and full, sinful lips made him look as though he had been carved by the gods themselves. His skin was flawless, glowing under the morning light.
• Lena felt her breath catch. She had never seen a man this breathtaking before.
• "Who are you," he demanded, his deep voice holding an edge of warning, "and what are you doing here?"
• "I..." she started, then stopped abruptly.
• Realization struck her—this man wasn’t supposed to be here.
• But then again... neither was she.
• The man narrowed his piercing green eyes, his gaze sharp enough to pin her in place. “You’re trespassing,” he stated, his voice calm but edged with quiet authority.
• Lena swallowed, forcing herself to meet his gaze. “So are you,” she countered, her voice steadier than she expected.
• A slow smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Clever,” he murmured, stepping closer.
• Lena’s heart pounded as he closed the distance between them. Up close, he was even more striking—his chiseled features seemed almost too perfect, like a sculpture brought to life. But there was something else... something unsettling beneath the surface, as if his beauty was a carefully crafted mask hiding something far more dangerous.
• “And who are you?” he asked, tilting his head slightly. “The new Luna?”
• Lena stiffened. The way he said it—mocking, almost amused—made her bristle. “That’s what they call me,” she replied.
• The man’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, then he exhaled a quiet chuckle. “So, you are the new Luna.”
• Lena tilted her chin up slightly, steadying her breath. “Yes, I am.”
• A smirk played at his lips, though his expression remained unreadable. “Then I suppose I should introduce myself. I am Vargr, a secret adviser to Alpha Darius.” His voice was smooth, deliberate, carrying a weight of quiet authority.
• Lena frowned slightly. “An adviser? Then why are you here?”
• Vargr turned toward the water fountain, his fingers grazing the edge of the stone as if searching for something unseen. “To think,” he murmured. “This place is sacred to the Alpha. No one is allowed here except him.” His gaze flickered back to her, sharp and assessing. “And yet, here you are.”
• Lena sighed, stepping closer, her gaze sweeping over the garden, the golden morning light casting dappled shadows across the flowers.
• “I couldn’t bear it,” she admitted. “I could see this place from my window, and it called to me. How could I resist?”
• Vargr let out a low hum of amusement. “Then we are both offenders, aren’t we?”
• A rare laugh escaped Lena’s lips, and to her surprise, Vargr’s mouth curled into a smirk.
• “You said you came here to think,” she mused, watching him carefully. “What troubles you?”
• Vargr exhaled slowly, folding his arms. “It’s a matter concerning the Pack, the pack leaders, and the Alpha’s rule.”
• Lena arched a brow. “And what about them?”
• His expression darkened slightly, the weight of responsibility settling over him like a cloak.
• “The Alpha is facing a challenge, one that he does not want to confront—but he must. He needs to stand before the pack leaders and make a decision that could change everything. But how does an Alpha face something when he does not wish to?”
• Lena’s brows furrowed in thought, the question hanging between them like an unspoken challenge. Then, after a pause, she stepped closer.
• “An Alpha who refuses to face his enemies will always have his back turned to a blade,” she said softly. “If he does not want to face them, then he must make them face him first.”
• Vargr’s eyes flickered with something unreadable—intrigue, perhaps even admiration. “You speak as if you have worn an Alpha’s crown before.”
• Lena smirked. “No, but I know what it’s like to be hunted. And I know that when you stop running, the hunters don’t know what to do.”
• Vargr considered her words, his gaze thoughtful. “An interesting perspective,” he murmured. Then, as if coming to a decision, he nodded. “I think I may have my answer after all.”
• Lena tilted her head. “So I helped?”
• He smirked, but before he could respond, the faint sound of hurried footsteps reached their ears. Voices followed, low but urgent.
• “The Luna was last seen heading this way—check the garden.”
• Lena stiffened, her pulse quickening. She turned to Vargr, who remained unnervingly calm, his sharp eyes flickering toward the direction of the approaching guards.
• “I should go,” she whispered, stepping back. “If they find me here, they’ll start asking questions.”
• Vargr inclined his head slightly. “Then go.”
• Without another word, Lena moved swiftly, disappearing into the shadows of the garden. She navigated her way back, careful with every step, until she reached the safety of the corridors.
• Moments later, she heard one of the guards mutter, “The Luna isn’t here.”
• The voices faded as they moved away.
• Lena exhaled a quiet breath of relief, pressing herself against the wall. She had gotten away unnoticed. But even as she steadied herself, her mind lingered on the man she had just met—the mysterious Vargr, his presence as enigmatic as the secret he carried.
• And for the first time since she arrived, she felt something she never knew she could feel her whole life.