Rebirth Of The Rejected Luna Chapter 177: A Dangerous Game

**Tiana's POV**

I wasn’t so sure about that.

We found a dilapidated building near the river, an old storehouse with shattered windows and a roof that seemed to be on the verge of collapse. It was secluded enough to serve our purpose. I perched on the edge of an overturned crate, watching as he paced back and forth across the dusty floor.

He still hadn't revealed his name, and I hadn't pressed the issue. Yet.

"What do you know about the selection process?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he awaited my response.

I crossed my arms, a defensive gesture that belied my growing curiosity. "I know they're not just looking for servants," I said, my voice measured.

He stopped pacing and turned to face me, his gaze sharp. "How do you know that?" he demanded, a hint of surprise coloring his tone.

I offered him a wry smile. "Because the palace never does anything without a hidden motive," I said, my words dripping with cynicism.

"They're looking for spies," he said, his voice low. "Informants. People they can control."

I nodded, a sense of confirmation settling within me. I had suspected as much, but hearing him say it aloud sent a shiver down my spine.

“Half of the people trying to get in tomorrow won’t make it past the first day,” he continued. “The palace has its own ways of sorting out who’s useful and who’s disposable.”

I leaned forward slightly. “And how do you fit into all this?”

He didn’t answer right away. Then: “I make sure the right people get through.”

That confirmed it. He wasn’t working for the palace—he was working against it.

“You want to place people inside,” I guessed.

He didn’t deny it.

“So why me?” I pressed. “If you think I’m some spy from another pack, why would you help me?”

His gaze was unreadable. “Because if you are a spy, I’d rather have you where I can see you.”

A dangerous game.

One I was all too familiar with.

I leaned back slightly. “And if I fail?”

His expression didn’t change. “Then you die.”

Simple as that.

I exhaled through my nose, considering my options. If I played this right, I could use him. Gain his trust. Learn what he was planning.

And if he turned on me?

Well. I had never been afraid to kill before.

I stood. “Then I guess I’d better not fail.”

His smirk returned. “Glad we understand each other.”

I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me.

“One last thing.”

I glanced back.

“If you betray me,” he said, “I’ll know.”

*+*+*+*+*+*

It was well into nighttime but somehow the marketplace was still crowded. Stall owners were trying to sell something good before closing, and the ones who weren't were packing up their wares to go home for the day.

I walked through the crowded market, keeping my head down. That's when I saw another poster with my description and a rough sketch on it. But before I could react, the stall owner tore it down.

I slowed down and kept walking. I saw another poster, and some kids were ripping it to pieces and kicking it away. It was like the posters were disappearing.

As I reached the edge of the market, I felt like people were starting to talk about someone else. No one glanced at me a second time, trying to piece together if I was the one on the paper. They weren't looking at me suspiciously anymore.

Then I saw a group of people gathered around a notice board. My heart started racing as I pushed my way through the crowd to see what it said. And then I saw the words:

"Execution at dawn."

The name below it wasn’t mine. Neither was the description.

I stared at the notice, but the words started to blur. The crime was the same - same night, same alley - but the person accused was a stranger to me. I took a step back, my breathing uneven. Someone had taken the blame for me. Someone had made this happen.

I forced myself to walk away, ignoring the sick feeling in my stomach. By the time I reached my small rented room, the market's noise was just a faint hum in the distance.

I should have felt relieved, grateful to be off the hook. But I couldn't shake off the feeling that this was all just a temporary reprieve. Safety was just an illusion. Someone had pulled strings to save me, but I had no idea why.

The question swirled in my mind, making it impossible for me to sleep. Who had helped me, and what did they want in return?

Sighing, I got on my bed without bothering to freshen up however, sleep was impossible.

I couldn't shake off the memory of our confrontation at the bridge. He thought I was a spy, but not for the Alpha. I was a spy for a rival group. That was a serious accusation, and it meant he was more than just a street-smart survivor. He was connected to something bigger.

I felt a knot of tension in my stomach. I should have been resting and preparing for the next day, but instead, I found myself on high alert, my knife within reach. I strained my ears to pick up any sound beyond the thin walls of my rented room.

But I had my own agenda, my own reasons for being here. I had a mission to complete, and I couldn't let his suspicions get in the way. I needed to figure out how to do what he wanted without compromising my own goals. Was it possible to balance the two, or was there a way to outsmart him?

Just before dawn, I heard a faint noise outside. It sounded like someone was trying to sneak around, their boots scuffling against the floor outside. I froze, my back against the wall, as a shadow flickered past the gap in my window. I held my breath, counting my heartbeats, waiting to see what would happen next. But then, there was silence.

Minutes passed before I dared to move. When I finally opened the door, my eyes immediately dropped to the ground. A note lay at my feet.

I picked it up, my heart pounding against my chest.

You’re welcome. The note said.