She is the Alpha

"Katrina, the Alpha is coming over for dinner. Please put on something nice," my mother said, poking her head through the door. Her smile was bright, and I returned it with one of my own. "Okay," I replied, watching her disappear down the hall. I walked over to my wardrobe and searched for a decent outfit. After some digging, I found the perfect one and laid it on my bed before heading to the shower. A quick scrub down later, skipping washing my hair, I wrapped myself in a towel and began curling my thick, brown strands. A bit of mascara and lip balm finished the look. I stepped back into my room and changed into my floral blue dress, a gift from my grandmother on my 15th birthday. The dress was one of my favorites, and it always drew compliments. It made me feel confident, so I never missed a chance to wear it. I paired it with white sneakers, just as the doorbell rang. My heart raced with anticipation as I rushed down the stairs to greet the Alpha's family—and my best friend, Xander. Xander and I had been inseparable since birth. Our parents were close, so it felt like destiny that we became best friends. He was the future Alpha of our Dark Moon Pack and was beyond excited to take on the role. Seeing him so happy made me happy too. People in our families and the pack often assumed we would be mates, but I had yet to turn 16. Xander turned 17 last year, and when he turns 18, Alpha Christian, his father, will pass the title down. Still, I wasn't convinced that the Moon Goddess would make us mates. I was adopted, after all. My parents, both Betas, had struggled to conceive. Alpha Christian found me at the border of our territory and brought me to the orphanage, where my parents eventually adopted me. When I reached the bottom of the stairs, the Alpha's family had just stepped into our home. I greeted Luna Aspen with a kiss on the cheek and gave Alpha Christian a side hug. His amused smirk made me smile sheepishly; he might be my Alpha, but he was also like a second father to me. "I sure hope you're not going to ignore my presence, Katrina," Xander said, a mock frown in his voice. "How could I forget the most important figure standing under this roof?" I said, feigning shock. "Dear Lord, parents, how have you raised me?" Everyone burst into laughter, and Xander pulled me into one of his bone-crushing hugs. "You look beautiful," he whispered, squeezing me so tightly that I struggled to breathe. "That's kind of you to say, but I can't breathe," I wheezed, making him immediately let go. As my parents led us to the dining room, Xander and I joked our way through the house. But then, suddenly, a sharp pain exploded in my head, making me skid to a stop and jerk Xander with me. My skull pounded, and I groaned as another wave of pain coursed through my body. Tears blurred my vision as I tried to make sense of the concerned faces around me. Alpha Christian's expression shifted from confusion to shock as the sound of bones snapping filled the air. "She's shifting," he announced, his voice thick with disbelief. Strong arms lifted me, and a gust of wind indicated we were now outside. They placed me on the grass, the soil cool against my hands. Someone had removed my shoes, but I didn't care. Panic shot through me—my dress would be ruined if I shifted in it. I tried to remove it, but the pain was too intense. More bones broke, and I wanted to scream but held it in. Why was this happening? My birthday wasn’t until next week. Fur sprouted from my pores, giving me a brief moment of comfort before more agony followed. Finally, I stood shakily on four legs, utterly exhausted, and collapsed onto the ground. A chorus of gasps made me lift my head. I barked in surprise, looking down at myself. I was... white. A white wolf. I’d never heard of a white wolf existing. There were no myths or stories about them, and I loved reading our history. *Hello, dear,* a soft voice whispered in my mind. I gasped. *Who are you?* *Artemis,* she replied. The name of the goddess of the wilderness. The Moon Goddess named us for a reason, after all, but what did it mean for me? --- A week passed since that fateful night, and yesterday I turned 16. Xander and I discovered the painful truth: we were not mates. His parents were visibly disappointed, and I couldn't understand why. We were all still trying to comprehend my early shift and the fact that I was a white wolf. Alpha Christian had summoned the elders, who were due to arrive today. I slipped into a white T-shirt, a tan pullover dress, and my white sneakers. My parents and I made the short walk to the pack house, where I felt the powerful energy of the elders. It was suffocating. Xander met us at the door, squeezing my hand in reassurance. "You'll be alright," he whispered, guiding us to his father's office. The room was intimidating. Eight elders, all seated around a large conference table, stared intently at me. My feet felt glued to the floor, and I edged closer to Xander. A gentle nudge from my father forced me to sit opposite one of the elders. She had dark hair peppered with grey and striking blue eyes. "You are very beautiful, my dear," another elder said, her hair fully grey, wrinkles prominent. "That's kind of you," I murmured, feeling small under their intense gazes. I was usually quiet, outgoing only around the right people. "You must wonder why we are here," she continued. Everyone listened, the room heavy with tension. "You're a white wolf, *Mija*, created by the goddess herself. You were crafted by the moons." Luna Aspen's eyes widened. "Moons? As in plural?" "Yes," the elder confirmed. "Being a white wolf gives you immense power, Katrina." My heart raced. "What does that mean?" my father asked. The elder's eyes met mine. "It means your daughter holds the power over our species' existence, Beta Dio." I swallowed hard. "I'm sorry, I’m confused." "That’s understandable," the elder said gently. I took a deep breath. "I’m a 16-year-old adopted girl in a Beta family, and you're telling me I have the power to end or save our species?" "That is exactly what we are saying," she replied bluntly. My head spun. "This could get me killed. I may be the future Beta, but I don’t even have Beta blood," I said, my voice cracking. "No, you don’t," she said. "You have something far greater." I clenched my fists. "So what's the plan? You can't just drop this on me and expect me to live normally." "You're right," she said. "That's why you’ll come with us to the North. You'll train and connect with the moon for five years. Only then will you reach your full potential." Xander jumped to his feet, growling. "No! She can be trained here." "Sit down, son," Alpha Christian warned. "Dad, that's five years! We need her here," Xander protested. But I knew. The elders hadn't come to give me a choice. They were here to take me away. I looked around, realizing the inevitable. "When do I leave?" Xander's eyes widened. "No, Katrina, you don’t have to go." Alpha Christian’s voice cut through the room. "Sit down, boy, or leave." "You leave tonight, dear," the elder said, her voice final.