The sun partially blinded me as I opened my eyes, but I didn’t mind. I dreamt of Damien.
He walked in wearing the cutest suit I had ever seen, and I wore the whitest, biggest gown in existence. We were on our way to the priest, in love, ready to marry. Except... his brother was the priest. Weird. This crush is getting unhealthy. I should tell someone. Tell Damien, my wolf suggested, making me scoff as I got out of bed. As if. When I find my mate, this nonsense will die down. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. But it’s okay to bask in this happiness, my wolf whispered. *You’re—* My door suddenly swung open, and Kehlani burst in. "Hey! Good morning!" she sang as she dashed in, reminding me of Inana and her utter disregard for privacy. "Morning," I muttered, rubbing my eyes. "Hope you had a good night! The Luna said I should show you around the pack today," Kehlani chirped, walking towards my closet and pulling out a hoodie. "Right, because seeing the pack with a hoodie over my head sounds so appealing," I mumbled under my breath. "Don’t be like that," she urged. "Like what?" "Salty." "Salty?" I couldn't help but scoff. "We’re still cautious of enemies. Aiden’s father had a lot of them. People who’d love to rip your pretty throat out," she smirked. "Wow, that doesn’t sound creepy at all." "You’re fun. I like you!" she said, patting my shoulder. "You shouldn’t say that where Shannon can hear." I brushed her hand off and headed to the bathroom. "Shannon’s cool. Trust me," she chuckled. I scoffed again. After a quick shower and brushing, I reluctantly pulled on the hoodie. "I just hope she’s not around for the tour," I said, walking back into my room, where Kehlani was painting her nails. "Don’t worry. She won’t be." --- "And here’s where we do pack rituals," Kehlani said, pointing towards a path leading into the woods. "You’ll be here soon enough." "Pack rituals?" I turned to her and the dark-skinned guy from earlier, the one who hadn’t said a word the entire tour. He occasionally scoffed, rolled his eyes, and smirked. That was it. I thought he might be mute. "Yeah, it’s where we do rituals to link new members to the pack mind." The mute guy scoffed. "Is there a problem, John?" Kehlani snapped at him. He shrugged, looking disinterested. "The only reason Aiden’s approving this is because he wants to be in her head," John said, pointing at me. "And that’s bad why?" "It’s not bad. I’m just saying, once his real mate shows up, she’ll be tossed aside like yesterday’s news." "I’m sorry about Felicity," Kehlani muttered, stepping back. "But don’t worry. We’ll use an anchor, so when Ari leaves, she won’t be stuck in the Zia mind link." John rolled his eyes. "Whatever." Should I ask who Felicity is? Kehlani gave me a side glance before turning back to John. "The tour’s over. You can go now. Ari and I are gonna have some girl time, right?" "Uh, sure." But John was already gone before I could finish. "Who’s Felicity?" I asked once he was out of earshot. "His ex. We thought she was human, so we kept the werewolf thing from her." Kehlani sighed. "Did she die?" "No, she’s alive. Turns out she’s a werewolf, from a pack that has to activate their wolf genes by killing someone." "Who did she kill?" "A rogue. It was self-defense, but she used a silver bullet, which made us suspicious. When she started shifting, we knew the truth. Aiden sent her away." "Oh." I nodded, feeling awkward. This should be Daphney’s story to tell, not mine. "This pack has made a lot of mistakes," Kehlani said, her voice distant. But then she suddenly perked up. "Oh, look at the time! Let’s head back." --- By evening, everyone was buzzing about my pack ritual. Kehlani said it was the first one in ages. John mentioned something about cool pack outfits, and the girls were excited to see Aiden in a tank top. I rolled my eyes but caught myself wondering if Damien would wear one too. My face turned red, and the girls mistook my blush for something else, squealing like they’d won the lottery. By the time Shannon handed me a gown for the ritual, her stink eye had burned a hole in my back. The gown was practically a shawl, so I wore a crop top and jeans underneath. We walked in silence to the ritual site, her glare practically singeing my skin. When we arrived, the entire pack was there, waiting. I stood in front of Aiden, a wooden stump between us, his mother standing nearby. It almost felt like a wedding, but one straight from the underworld. Aiden looked sharp in his tank top, but my eyes searched for Damien. There he was, behind his brother, looking equally good. "Today, we perform the mind link ritual, welcoming Ariana Merriam into the Zia pack," the Luna announced, composed and confident. "Ariana, do you accept Aiden as your Alpha?" Everyone was staring, and I was already embarrassed. I nodded. "Yes, I do. I mean… yes," I stammered, mentally face-palming. Why would I say I do? Aiden’s expression remained stoic. "Alpha Aiden, do you accept Ariana as your pack member?" his mother asked, handing him a knife. "Yes, I accept." He slit his palm, letting the blood drip into a wooden container on the stump, then handed me the knife. I hesitated before slicing my palm. The pain was sharp, but I bit back a groan and poured my blood into the container. Luna followed suit, mixing her blood with the soil, sealing the ritual. A bright flash emanated from the stump, and the pack cheered. Aiden turned away, talking to his mother as the others celebrated. "How’s your hand?" Shannon suddenly appeared behind me. "Uh, fine." I looked at it. "It’s healed." "Good," she muttered. "At least you’re not as weak as you look. Maybe we’re not doomed after all." I rolled my eyes. "I’m not, the Luna, remember?" "Yeah, you’re just pretending. How’s your friend doing? Happy with you drooling over her mate?" she hissed, gripping my arm. What’s with this girl? "Shannon, leave her alone," Aiden’s authoritative voice snapped from behind us. Shannon quickly released me, retreating like a scalded pup. Aiden towered over me, frowning. "If you’re going to act like a Luna, at least be strong," he said coldly. "I—" "Training starts tomorrow. My brother will help. I don’t tolerate weakness." All I heard was Damien. Training with him? Yes, please. —---------------- I woke up with a pounding headache. I shouldn’t have let Kehlani and Jonnie talk me into drinking so much moonshine. I staggered to the window, catching sight of some men screaming outside. What’s going on? I ran downstairs, finding Luna with Aiden and Damien by her side. A furious man stood before them, his eyes glowing with anger. "For years, your pack has thrived on the death of my mate," he spat. "And you killed my husband, the Alpha, because of your pathetic mate," Luna shot back, unbothered. "I promised her I’d destroy all of you. Wait until I get that Luna!" Luna scoffed. "You’re delusional, Fred. Go die somewhere else." I hesitated at the entrance, but Fred’s eyes landed on me. "Is that her?" Everyone’s heads snapped toward me. "Ari, go inside," Luna said, smiling softly but it didn't reach her eyes. "What’s going on?" "It’s nothing. Just go inside," she dismissed me. But I couldn’t move. Voices flooded my mind. Fred Moore. Alpha of Novera pack. Dangerous. I’d heard about him from my pack. "He’s dangerous," I said, wide-eyed. "GET INSIDE, ARIANA!" Aiden growled beside me, ready to shove me inside. Fred’s body shifted, and everything became a blur. He lunged at me, but Luna stepped in the way. Blood. Screams. Blackout. Then silence. ..—————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
I had to bite the inside of my cheek hard to stop myself from launching at Aiden right here, right now. Two days. Two whole days stuck in the Med Bay because Shannon thought breaking my arm was a fun way to "train." And in all that time, not one word from the Alpha sitting in front of me. "If you wouldn't mind, I have work to do," he said, barely looking up as he tapped a stack of files into place like we were talking about the weather and not the fact that his pack had attacked me. "Really? I was attacked by your pack, and that's your response?" My voice broke, but I wasn't going to cry. Not for him. He shrugged like it was the most normal thing in the world. "Worse things have happened during training. It toughens you up." "T-toughens me up?" I could hardly believe what I was hearing. "Shannon broke my arm." "So?" His tone was so casual, so indifferent as if we were talking about a paper cut and not the fact that I'd spent the last two days with a shattered bone. And there i
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
Once upon a time, there lived an Alpha who found his Mate and they happily lived ever after. Well, not even close. A series of mishaps followed as if scripted for a tragicomedy. The ceiling of my room was peculiar, in texture. Old oak wood, neither visibly aged nor new neither dry nor damp, just weird. I did my usual ritual and stared at it for a good twenty minutes, contemplating the choices that led me to this very moment. My door swung open abruptly, and I instinctively flinched. Of course, it was my sister Inana. Sisters, right? "What are you still doing in bed, Ari?" I could feel the old crinkle above her eyes, just like Mother's. "Go away," I muttered, throwing a pillow vaguely in her direction. I didn't need this. Perhaps silence would work? The bed suddenly canted rightward, and before I had a chance to intervene, my face was set hard onto the floor. Perhaps staring at the ceiling was more appealing than inspecting the rug up close. "Up and at 'em," Inana ordered in her
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
"We should go shopping," Mia suggested, tossing the bag of chips onto Daphney's bed and giving me that signature look-over-the-shoulders 'let's-get-this-over-with'. But Daphney? She sat, staring out the window, clutching that pendant one of Damien's friends had given her, looking like the star of her very own tragic romance movie. I rolled my eyes. Typical Daphney, an ever so hopeless romantic and stuck in her feelings. "Huh?" She finally tore her gaze off the sky, plainly having not listened. "Shopping. You know, because you're about to be the Luna of a pack. New life, new clothes," Mia clarified as she sat up and began to stretch like we had the whole day. Daphney scrunched up her face like Mia had just told her to drink curdled milk. "That's a little extra, don't you think?" "Aren't you happy?" I asked, and there it was- another sigh. Great. "I am happy. It's just-" she started, only for Mia to cut her off with a smirk. "-Thinking about Cole Anderson?" Mia gave her that kn
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
The room was so still, that you could have heard a pin drop. Seriously, someone needed to cough or something before I lost it. Daphney survived—thankfully—but she was in critical condition. At least her wolf was hanging in there. Aiden said he could still feel their bond, as strong as ever, so. We clung to that. My mom, Daphney's parents, and a few relatives sat in what looked like a tiny, depressing conference room in the pack of Zia's. "What are we to say to the council?" a woman named Elder Marbel finally asked after a few torturous moments of silence. "Honestly, I suppose," the Luna replied. She looked like she hadn't slept in days. "Luna, you know Aiden can't do that. We're barely holding him steady in the Alpha position as it is," she snapped, making Aiden's eyes flash with annoyance. *Holding him steady?* What does that even mean? Isn't he already the Alpha? My mother was thinking the same thing because she cleared her throat dramatically, making everyone look at us. "