She is the Alpha

Chapter 2

5 Years Later...

Bye.

Five long years, and tomorrow I finally return home. The past couple of years have been one heck of an adventure, but I couldn’t be more excited to get back.

Adjusting to a new lifestyle had been the hardest challenge of my life. I wasn’t allowed to contact anyone from Dark Moon—not my parents, not my Alpha, not even my best friend. They had no idea I’d be returning. The date was never confirmed, so it’s going to be a surprise. I just hope I won’t disappoint.

Xander... I presume he is Alpha now. I was devastated to miss his Alpha ceremony. But maybe it was for the best. I’ve changed.

A lot.

That 5'3", sixteen-year-old girl is long gone. Now, I’m a 5'8", twenty-one-year-old woman. Still a brunette, but with a few distinct differences: my hair is longer, and my eyes... well, that’s a story in itself. One eye is still brown, but the other is an icy blue.

It happened during training. I nearly died—literally. My heart had stopped, my skin shredded, bones broken, and I was poisoned with mistletoe. The challenge was to connect with my inner wolf, and to do that, I had to become half of her. When I died, it was Artemis, my wolf, who saved me. That resurrection left a permanent mark: the change in my eye color. She became a visible part of me.

Even in wolf form, my eyes reflect that change: one brown, one icy blue. And when I connect with the moon, my inner goddess makes herself known, and my eyes turn an electric gold.

---

I zipped up the last of my luggage, glancing at my reflection in the mirror. I wore an outfit I’d chosen for my going-away party, a night I couldn’t even drink at. How boring.

*You should be more grateful, Katrina.*

*Artemis, shut up,* I muttered back, making my lips twitch as she chuckled in response.

I made my way downstairs, dragging my bags, still feeling a mix of anxiety and relief. The last five years had been an endless cycle of training and learning, surrounded by people of all ages, most of whom I’d never see again. I had no long-lasting friends, no connections that stayed. So the thought of returning home filled me with pure joy.

Jenny, my mentor—my main tutor over the years—stood in the entryway. She had been the one I always reported to, the constant presence in a sea of faces.

“You’ve grown into a fine young lady, Katrina,” she said, her voice warm but stern. “You’ll be missed dearly, both you and Artemis. As a going-away gift, of course, we had to spoil you. So don’t waste our money, we mean it, missy.”

Jenny held out a pair of keys. I hesitated, confusion clouding my features as I took them.

“Turn around, dummy,” she ordered, grabbing my shoulders to spin me around. My eyes nearly popped out of my head at the sight of the sleek black Audi RS7 parked outside.

“I can’t take this, Jenny! This is way too expensive!” I exclaimed, throwing the keys back at her like they were on fire.

“Nonsense, child! You’re my first ever learner, and you deserve it. You’re more special than you know. You’re going to do great things—I can see the bright future you’ll create for our kind. But I swear, if you don’t contact me often, I will hunt you down and spank you.” She threw the keys back at me, smacking me in the forehead.

“Argh, that hurt!” I rubbed the sore spot, and she just laughed.

“Get over yourself,” she teased, then pushed me toward the car. She opened the driver’s door and practically shoved me inside, dumping my luggage in the trunk. I caught sight of her in my rear-view mirror, a smirk forming on my lips.

"She can’t wait to get rid of us", Artemis snickered.

“I get the feeling, Jenny, that you old people can’t wait to get rid of me. You’re that excited to see me leave?” I pouted.

“Of course we want you gone,” she replied with mock glee. “Now we can actually party like the animals we are!”

My mouth fell open in disbelief. She laughed and leaned through the window, turning on the ignition.

“Now go. I love you,” she said, stepping back.

So much for a sad farewell.

“I love you too,” I mumbled, gripping the steering wheel.