The great hall of the vampire castle was suffocating.
Selena stood in the center of the room, surrounded by dozens of pale faces staring down at her from every direction.
Vampire nobles.
Advisors.
Warriors.
Their eyes gleamed with curiosity, amusement, and in many cases, pure hatred.
Whispers filled the hall like a swarm of insects.
"So that's the Luna."
"She looks smaller than I expected."
"Is this the wolf Prince Adrian brought back?"
Selena clenched her fists.
She refused to bow her head.
She refused to show weakness.
If they expected her to beg for mercy, they would be disappointed.
A tall vampire noble stepped forward, his dark robes trailing behind him.
His eyes gleamed as he circled Selena slowly, examining her like a strange animal.
"This creature is the Luna of the Moonfang Pack?" he said mockingly.
Selena glared at him.
"Yes," she replied coldly.
"And you must be one of the cowards who hides behind soldiers."
A few nobles gasped.
Others chuckled.
The noble's smile faded slightly.
"Careful, wolf," he said quietly.
"You are no longer in your forest."
Selena stepped closer to him instead of backing away.
"And you are no longer hiding behind your army."
The tension in the room thickened instantly.
Several guards moved slightly, ready to intervene.
Another noblewoman laughed softly.
"Bold," she said. "I'll give the wolf that."
She leaned back in her chair, watching Selena with interest.
"But boldness won't save her here."
The first noble turned toward Prince Adrian, who stood near the throne steps.
"My prince," he said, bowing slightly.
"You brought this wolf into the heart of our kingdom. Surely you don't intend to keep her alive."
Several nobles murmured in agreement.
"Yes, kill her."
"She's a threat."
"She should have died with her pack."
Selena's jaw tightened, but she stayed silent.
She would not give them the satisfaction of seeing fear.
Prince Adrian remained calm.
His crimson eyes scanned the room slowly.
"Enough."
The single word echoed through the hall.
Silence fell instantly.
The nobles stepped back slightly.
Even the most arrogant among them knew better than to openly challenge the vampire prince.
Adrian walked toward Selena.
Each step was slow and deliberate.
When he stopped in front of her, he studied her expression carefully.
"You seem comfortable insulting half my court," he said quietly.
Selena lifted her chin.
"They started it."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Several nobles exchanged confused looks.
No one spoke to Prince Adrian like that.
No one.
Yet he didn't look angry.
If anything… he looked amused.
The noble who had mocked her earlier stepped forward again.
"My prince," he said.
"With respect, keeping a wolf alive inside this castle is dangerous."
Adrian turned his head slightly.
His crimson eyes locked onto the man.
"And yet," Adrian replied calmly,
"She is still alive."
The meaning behind the words was clear.
This decision was his.
Not theirs.
The noble quickly stepped back.
Selena watched the exchange carefully.
Something about Adrian confused her.
He had destroyed her home.
Yet he wasn't allowing these nobles to harm her.
Why?
The massive doors at the far end of the hall suddenly opened.
Every vampire in the room immediately bowed their heads.
Even Adrian straightened slightly.
Selena frowned.
Someone important had arrived.
Heavy footsteps echoed across the stone floor.
A tall figure walked into the hall.
His presence was overwhelming.
Powerful.
Ancient.
Terrifying.
The Vampire King.
His long black cloak trailed behind him as he approached the throne.
His eyes glowed a deeper shade of crimson than any vampire Selena had ever seen.
They landed directly on her.
"So," the king said slowly.
"This is the Luna."
Selena felt a chill run down her spine.
But she refused to look away.
She met his gaze with the same stubborn fire in her silver eyes.
The king smiled faintly.
"Interesting."
He sat down on the throne.
The room remained completely silent.
Then he spoke again.
"Tomorrow," the king announced,
"the prophecy will be revealed."
Murmurs rippled through the court.
Selena frowned.
Prophecy?
What prophecy?
The king leaned forward slightly, his eyes still fixed on her.
"And the fate of this wolf…"
He paused.
"…will be decided."
Selena's heart pounded.
She didn't understand what was happening.
But one thing was clear.
Her life inside the vampire kingdom had only just begun.
And whatever prophecy they were talking about…
She was somehow at the center of it.