The Cursed Princess.

"She's said to have killed her mother during childbirth," Xander explains, his voice a low rumble that settled like a chill amongst the group. "And for that, she was cursed by the goddess at birth."

Ralph's brow furrowed. "How does a baby kill its own mother at birth?" He wondered out loud.

"With the blood of the Dark King running in her veins," Xander countered. "Anything is possible."

Zephyr spoke up. "And what form does this 'curse' take? Baldness?"

Xander's gaze hardened. "Baldness, Weakness. No wolf. No scent..."

"No scent?" Zephyr echoed with a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.

"No scent and she is confined," Xander finished, "forbidden to step outdoors except under the new moon."

A tense silence fell.

Zephyr, Ralph, and Zeeb exchanged a look that spoke volumes.

"And if she does leave?" Zephyr asked.

"From what I have been told, she will be struck by the goddess." Xander replied with a hint of unease creeping into his tone. "Instant devastation…." He paused, noticing the strange tension in the air. "What is it?"

"She was outside," Zephyr admitted, his voice tight. "Three days ago. I took her to the holy ground for another rejection." He added, when Xander's eyebrow arched, "It failed. The rejection failed again."

"She was outside? And nothing happened?" Xander asked with confusion in his eyes.

"Nothing," Zephyr confirmed.

"That... contradicts everything I've been told," Xander said, his voice laced with suspicion. "My source is impeccable. Selene is locked away, every day, save for those new moon dinners with her father in the garden."

"That is a horrible way to live," Zeeb muttered with his voice an expression of sympathy.

Ignoring Zeeb, Zephyr pressed on. "You mentioned a private ceremony.….last time you were here."

"Yes, I haven't been able to find out what that was about," Xander admitted, his brow furrowed. "Are you certain you saw her being thrown from the cliff?"

"Positive," Ralph confirmed.

"And there was nothing else the Shadow weaver revealed?" Xander pressed desperate for anger.

"There was nothing else shown. Otsanna said she resisted the powers of the shadow weaver." Ralph said.

"Resisting the Shadow weaver, surviving the fall of the cliff, finding a way in to the pack despite the veil...… Some weakness that is!" Xander said to himself.

The silence that followed was heavy, each piece of information was a shard in a puzzle they couldn't solve. It seemed like the more they found out about Selene, the more confused they got.

"Too many questions," Zeeb hissed, his voice barely audible.

Zephyr's gaze was sharp. "Why wasn't she struck down when I took her outside?" He asked.

"I haven't the slightest idea," Xander admitted.

"You say she has no scent?" Zephyr asked again.

"Yes." Xander asked. "Why do you keep asking?"

"Because I can smell her, heavily. She has a distinct and a very strong scent. That's how I found her in the first place." He said through gritted teeth.

He was obviously angry with no one in particular.

"Forgive me for saying, Dear Alpha but if she really is your mate then that's bound to happen." Xander said with a light, dry laugh.

"But you said she's wolfless. Rogues don't have mates." Zeeb argued.

"Well, I don't know what else to say!" Xander said throwing his hands up in frustration.

He was very confused as well.

"How reliable is your source, really?" Zephyr challenged.

"Never wrong," Xander insisted, his eyes flashing. "And there's this: the cursed princess is said to have incredible healing abilities. Perhaps that's the only heritage of a wolf she has."

"That explains it," Zephyr conceded. "She never has visible scars on her."

"But why can't I reject her? Why did the dark magic fail? I still think she might be a pawn in her father's game." He growled, his frustration palpable.

Xander's eyes gleamed. "No. The Dark King is searching for her. He doesn't know where she is. He cherishes her, it seems. Controls her diet, her movements, arranges monthly treatments. They say he acts like a devoted father when he's with her . Every powerful being has a weakness. Maybe she's his."

"What are you suggesting?" Zephyr demanded, his voice low .

"I'm suggesting that you keep her very close," Xander said, his voice laced with a predatory edge. "She's valuable. A bargaining chip, perhaps. We might just find out how special she is to him?"

"Why is she so valuable?" Zeeb wondered.

"I thought about that and all I can suggest is that The King might have loved her mother ," Xander mused. "Dead during childbirth, just before the war, the only loss he suffered. He might have truly loved her. ." His gaze hardened. "Here's what I think: keep her close. She might know things we don't. If someone threw her off a cliff, then she knows who did it and how she survived. Or at least, she might have a helpful idea."

"She's stubborn," Zephyr gritted out. "She won't talk."

"We may have been trying the wrong way. Find someone she will trust," Xander suggested. "A friend. Someone to draw out her secrets."

Ralph's eyes flickered. "I think I know just the person," he said, glancing quickly at Zeeb who was scratching his ears absent mindedly.

"I must leave," Xander announced. "I have a suspect regarding the cliff incident. One of her siblings, especially Coral, the princess. From what I heard, the King's favoritism towards Selene was pronounced ."

"We need to leave as well, we have an urgent meeting with the chiefs, " Zephyr said.

"Okay, is the Solistice attack Still on?" Xander asked.

"Absolutely," Zephyr confirmed.

"Then this cursed princess," Xander said, his voice heavy with implication, "will be our weapon."

After goodbyes, Xander vanished into the night, his mind churning.

Selene was a puzzle, a reminder that shadows still held secrets. He still found it hard to believe that he had no idea of her existence. He slipped into his room and was just getting ready for bed when a knock startled him, his heart pounding.

He eyed the window, his only escape route in case of trouble.

"Xander?" a familiar voice whispered.

Relief washed over him. He opened the door and a veiled figure slipping inside.

"Forgive me for showing up unnannounced," she murmured, removing her veil. "I missed you and I needed... comfort."

"My Queen," Xander breathed, his hand caressing her cheek. "This is dangerous. How are you feeling?"

"Better now," Ulva whispered, their lips meeting in a desperate embrace.