The Luna’s Alpha

I woke up. Not my usual lazy, lie-there-and-stare-at-the-ceiling kind of wake-up either. No, today I shot up like someone lit a fire under me and bolted to the bathroom. The moment my knees hit the floor, everything I chugged last night comes pouring out. Delightful. Then, it feels like a punch to the face as it all comes flooding back: the drinks, the running, the "Mine" that sent chills down my spine. And Daphney. I distinctly remember Daphney spilling her drink all over him before yanking me into an all-out sprint. The Alpha was hot on our heels, but somehow we'd lost him in our wild tumbling down that preposterous hill and practically flying into my house. Don't even ask me how I scaled the window. Adrenaline is a scary thing I groan, reaching for my head. It feels like someone used it for batting practice. And if I needed more proof that yesterday happened, my fingers caught on the twigs still tangled in my hair. Great. I'm officially Daphne's accomplice in mate-escape. How

Ari, are you okay?" Daphney asked, helping me up."Y-yeah, thanks," I muttered, turning quickly away from Damien. I did catch Aiden rolling his eyes as he went inside the house."Well, hi, Daphney! So you're the new Luna now?" Damien asked Daphney as I stood there, trying to act like he didn't even exist. I forgot Damien was Douchebag's brother. Oh my God, maybe I need to start getting along with Aiden.Inside, the place looked even better than outside. These people are rolling in money, I swear. Damien led us inside this massive mansion that looked something out of a design magazine: just glass, ivory, and high-end modern decor in the hallway alone.We walked into a big sitting room; immediately an older woman, who looked much like Aiden, sat forward. Several others were there, too, our age and above, including Cole Anderson, who seemed engrossed in his phone. Wait… Cole's here too?I glanced at Daphney, feeling a little perturbed because she didn't look shocked, just kinda sad. I g

It's been a week since my mother shipped me off to Zia's pack, and honestly? The vibe around here was a straight-up funeral. Seriously, everyone looked like they were auditioning for the role of "Mourning Wolf." In the gigantic dining room, the atmosphere was thicker than the food itself, and silence reigned like an unwelcome guest. The spread looked divine, but I couldn't touch it. Because, for two reasons: first, Damien was sitting right beside me—the Damien, the hot exchange student— Damien. A guy like him made me feel like a walking disaster. I mean, I'd party like a rebel on Saturday night, but when it came to Damien freaking Darhk? I turned into a blushing fool. This was Daphney's pack, her house, her food. So yeah, my mother had twisted my arm into pretending to be Luna. Great, right? I hated it. There I was staring at my plate like it held the secrets of the universe while the clinking of cutlery echoed like a horror movie soundtrack. "Ariana?" The Luna's voice cut throu

Warning: This chapter has violence and contains violent language… reader discretion is advised. Weeks had gone by since the attack, the dust had settled, yet the wounds were still fresh. The Novera Alpha had narrowly managed to escape but left a trail of death and chaos in his wake. His minions weren't so lucky; not one survived. Zia Pack was locked down-nobody in, nobody out. For me, that meant I wasn't going home anytime soon. The funeral for the Luna was a somber, quiet affair-more than a little unnerving. Aiden didn't shed a tear-not one. His face was a mask of stone, cold enough to send shivers through the very core of my werewolf nature. He scared me. Since that day, Aiden had shut me out completely. We attended pack meetings together, but he never spoke a word with me. Made speeches, did his job, then buried himself in work. Sit at the huge dining table, eat, and then leave with no words directed to me, as if I didn't exist. His silence started to wear on me. Kehlani wasn't

That guidance counselor was just really nice," I said to Damien as we strolled towards the class, still reeling from our earlier chat. "Yeah? You're the Luna. What else would you expect?" He chuckled, and I playfully pushed at him. "Well. you know how it is," I said, flashing a smile as we entered the bustling lecture hall. Just then, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. I had always thought my first day at college would be me walking in with Mia and Daphney, the sound of our laughs reverberating off the walls. But right now, I couldn't get rid of the dead ache in my chest. "Hey, what's wrong?" Damien nudged me again, concern etched across his face. If I couldn't be with my two best friends, I supposed Damien would have to do as a substitute was the silent thought, followed by a flicker of hope. Thank God we weren't sharing a mind-link; otherwise, he'd probably be running for the hills. "N-nothing. I just thought my first day would be with Mia and Daphney," I admitted, my smile f