The Wicked Alpha's Star-Crossed Luna

3 | HOWL & REN

Serena POV

After our victory against the fourth platoon, beating the second was a breeze. It took a few minutes longer than either of the previous matches since both of our teams contained strong fighters who knew when to focus on defense. In the end, the first platoon of the Starry Sky Pack’s army came out on top, meaning we would all dine with the royal delegates that same night!

Our superiors praised all our hard work and dismissed us for the rest of the day, but not before I reminded my platoon to dress up and show up by six to mingle with our guests. They thanked me profusely and congratulated the rest of the team, buzzing with excitement at the prospect of rubbing shoulders with wolves from the capital city.

In a typical day, I’m at the mandatory two-hour early morning session for warrior training. Then I usually attend one of my university courses, either leadership, business, or inter-kingdom politics, which can last upwards of three hours, meaning I don’t return home until the afternoon.

On weekdays, I spend my afternoons shadowing ranked members for a few hours and learning how to fulfill their roles, while on the weekends I volunteer at local non-profits or assist the head omega, Perdita, with anything she needs. The shadowing and volunteering aren’t required for an heir to become alpha--my father admitted that not even he bothered to try this hard to earn a title that would eventually be handed to him--but I wanted to learn every aspect of my birthright and then some. From the time I was little, there was nothing I wanted more than to be the Alpha of Starry Sky, and I wanted to prove that no one could be a better alpha than me.

All that being said, today was one of those rare days where I had no plans. My university closes its doors each month on the day of the full moon, as well as the days before and after, to allow faculty and students alike to enjoy the festivities. All the ranked members were busy preparing for the delegates as well as tomorrow’s festival, so I was given the day off from shadowing. Even Perdita chastised me when I reached out via mindlink to ask if she needed help, reminding me that my own mother had ordered her not to accept my help on this day.

As if I would need it! Perdita had chortled. With all the omegas coming in from those backwards packs on the outskirts, we’ve got more hands on deck than ever!

It made sense that omegas escaping abuse would seek refuge from us. Our pack was infamous for its wealth and strength; our warriors were mighty, and prided themselves on their ability to protect those weaker than them, especially the omega wolves who provide invaluable services. Likewise, our omegas are paid well and treated even better, so they show their appreciation to the warriors and ranked members by eagerly performing their designated duties. With that in mind, only the single omegas who worked full-time in the packhouse had their own rooms there; the rest live rent-free among the unranked members of the pack just like any other wolf.

That’s not to say there weren’t some entitled families among us who look down on them, but rather that we take bullying and abuse toward omega wolves more seriously than those on the outskirts. Hell, I recently heard that the future luna of one of our neighboring packs is an omega who escaped one of those horrible packs and made it all the way out here before the new alpha saved her from rogues. If the Moon Goddess herself can deem an omega worthy of being a luna, then doesn’t that mean all omega are at least worthy of basic human kindness?

Make that all wolves, Juliet corrected me, only to amend her own statement. Except rogues. Screw rogues.

I snickered as I strolled toward the forest. Don’t say that, Jule. You know as well as I do that wolves can go rogue for various reasons. Our pack accepts and rehabilitates rogues sometimes.

Yes, but more often than not we’re forced to kill most of them that breach our borders. True rogues are vile, dangerous beasts, she snarled in my head.

“Where you going, beautiful?”

I didn’t bother to hide the way my eyes rolled out of reflex. I slowed my steps, but didn’t stop. “What do you want, Felix?”

Felix was by my side, easily keeping pace with his long legs. By the way he towered over me, I deduced he was even taller than Ravi. His hands were shoved into the pockets of his cargo shorts, while his bare chest was still on display. His chocolate brown hair was kept short, and his hazel eyes leaned toward gray. Between these characteristics and his physique, I had to admit that there was a reason many she-wolves thirsted for his attention.

If only his personality was half as attractive, Juliet tsked.

“Just wondering where you’re running off to,” he half-shrugged, acting nonchalant. I say acting because the only genuine actions I gleaned from this man were on the battlefield. He was a warrior, a killer through and through--off the battlefield, though, he was simply putting on an act. Everything about him set alarm bells off in my head, screaming, “Danger, danger, danger!”

“So where are we headed?”

I’m jolted from my thoughts, my steps halted as his words register. Surely, he can’t be serious. “I’m going on a run.”

“Really? I didn’t give you enough of a workout out on the field?” he chuckled. It was a hollow sound, void of mirth.

Even though I knew his question was rhetorical, I folded my arms and arched one of my brows. “No, you didn’t--but I guess you’re used to coming up short, huh?”

That wiped the smirk off his face. Dropping my arms and all pretenses, I waved him off. “Go bother one of the many females that are actually interested in you, Felix. I’m going.”

I turned and made it about three steps before he grabbed my wrist and spun me around, catching me in his arms and trapping me against him. The overwhelming scent of burnt orange surrounded me, and I fought the urge to gag. I struggled against his grip, but the bastard was stronger than he looked. “Let me go now!” I demanded.

“What’s your problem, princess?” Felix sneered at me. His eyes seemed even darker than normal. “Can’t stand finally being close to someone--?”

His words were cut off by yelp as I stomped on his foot, used my arms to break his grip, and dealt him a push kick square in the chest, knocking the wind out of him. It also put enough space between us to allow me to shift into my wolf form, tearing his shirt to shreds in the process.

Felix stumbled backward, losing his footing enough to slip and fall on his ass. My front paws came down on either side of his body, my lethal grin inches from his wide-eye shock. “Hey, listen! I was just messing around--”

Shut up! Juliet and I shouted at him via mindlink, our voices fusing together in a dominating tone. Our timbre had him shaking all over, and we chuckled darkly at his fear. I’ve had enough of your bullshit. I don’t want anything to do with you aside from meeting you on the training field and kicking your ass. So how about you pick yourself up and get the f**k out of my face?!

Felix scrambled onto his feet and broke out in a full-on sprint, not bothering to look back. And keep your hands to yourself, you creep! I shouted into the void, knowing he heard me.

With a huff, we disappeared into the woods, eager to burn off all this rage.

⤹⋆⸙͎۪۫｡˚۰˚☽˚⁀➷｡˚⸙͎۪۫⋆ ༄

Howl POV

I stiffened and lifted my snout, taking in the local scents with a sniff. My travels took me all over the kingdom of werewolves and then some, yet I had never sampled anything as alluring as this. I could place lavender, one of my favorite flowers to come across, as well as a spicy, woody aroma I couldn’t quite place. My lupine ears perked up, and I found myself taking steps, my paws carrying me in the direction of the tantalizing scent.

Howl? Percy trotted up to my side, the dark gray fur of his shoulder brushing against the deep black of my own. Where are you going?

Can you smell that? I asked my best friend, prompting him to raise his own nose. It’s like lavender and something else.

His light brown eyes studied me curiously. No? I can’t even scent anything remotely floral around here, he admitted.

I took another sniff, confirming that the scent was still around--for now. It’s on the move.

You realize your sense of smell is the strongest among us, right? My beta chuckled. Whatever you’re smelling, I can’t relate. Not unless we come across their trail.

It had started out further northeast and was now somewhere firmly east of our location. I took two more steps, turning with the scent. Percy stepped in my path, blocking me. Yo, Howl! We gotta get back--

I growled--or rather, my wolf counterpart, let slip a low, menacing snarl that made our beta’s ears pin back. While I was also annoyed that he had stopped us, I was more annoyed at my wolf. Romeo! That’s enough. You know that Percy is right--our pack is waiting for us to return. Infighting will get us nowhere.

But if we don’t find her now, she could be gone! He grumbled internally, but he ceased his growling and began to pace in place. I felt his agitation as if it were my own.

She? You don’t think..? My words trailed off, afraid to hope. The only person with a scent so alluring would of course be none other than my fated mate. I did not know what to do with this information. The moon goddess saw fit to allow a monster like me to live, and then to allow me the honor of a mate? I was floored. Either I was truly blessed, or my mate had committed numerous sins in a previous life to enact such a curse that would tie them to me.

Silence your stupid worries, human! Romeo snapped, rolling our eyes. Our mate is close by. Will we let her slip away or will we take a chance?

His words stirred a childhood memory from the recesses of my mind, one that stoked the fires of determination within me. Take a chance, always.

With that, I took control, lunging to the side and speeding through the trees. Percy was left in our dust.

What the hell--HOWL! C’mon, man, where are you going?

To find my mate! I shouted back through our link, feeling our connection fizzle out as the distance between us grew. My heart was racing, each beat marking every push of my paws against the forest floor. In my haste I paid little mind to my surroundings, kicking up dirt and foliage while just barely managing to dodge trees. This part of the forest was well taken care of, the local flora healthy even as I neared the border of another pack. I could not recall their name but knew it was one of the more important ones. I wonder if my mate is from there?

Her scent of lavender with notes of spice and wood grew stronger, and I adjusted my course a bit to line up with her location. I was getting close; my ears picked up the soft thuds of her paws and her steady pants. We were so close, in fact, that I could sense movement behind a wall of trees to my right; she was on the other side, just ahead of us.

I scented freshwater up ahead, noting the lack of trees in that area. A clearing?

I broke through the treeline and peered around, desperate to see hide or hair of our mate. We were alone, causing Romeo to whimper. Mate..?

I swear, she was headed straight for this area, I assured my wolf, turning around. But maybe she went somewhere else--

All thoughts fled my mind as I locked eyes with the wolf that stood at the edge of the clearing, not far from where we emerged. Her white fur was iridescent, so much so that she shimmered in the sunlight. She was large, most likely the daughter of an alpha, though Romeo still stood over a head taller than her. She gazed up at us with eyes like pale sapphires, studying us with what I hoped was interest. I wanted to talk to her, to have her shift and hold her in her human form.

Wait--she’s an alpha, too. All alpha wolves can communicate to one another via mindlink, even if they are not of the same pack. This allows multiple packs to collaborate in missions, and for opposing packs their leaders can meet on the battlefield to make demands or call a truce, all without dropping their guard. I just needed to establish a link with her.

It was slow at first--I felt the familiar fizz of a one-sided connection for several breaths. But then she c****d her head to one side, a cute habit for a gorgeous wolf. After that, the connection seemed to click into place without delay.

“State your business in this territory.”

I perked up, intrigued. My mate had the voice of a contralto. Low and feminine. Pair that with her stern tone, and I was begging to hear her say more. She could read the most boring passage from wolf law out loud and I would swoon. Romeo was even more enamored than I was; he sat us on our haunches, our tongue lolling out of the side of our panting mouth. Mate is gorgeous! Stunning! Magnificent!

I fought the urge to roll my eyes and refocused on the pearl-white wolf before me. ”I was just passing through on my way to my pack when I caught your scent, so I thought I should introduce myself. Most wolves think I’m a rogue when they see me, so I wanted to avoid any awkward situations.”

A partial truth, but the truth nonetheless. My wolf form resembled that of a typical rogue from a distance; black fur and red eyes. It’s usually only when other wolves come close that they realize their error--rogues smell of rotting flesh, and very few are large enough to match up with the average alpha. And I was far above the average alpha.

My mate’s ears flattened backward for a brief moment, before returning to their original upright position. ” see. I appreciate the heads-up,” she said, averting her gaze.

I didn’t bother to hide the chuckle that rang through our connection. ”You thought I was a rogue, huh?”

The fur of her scruff bristled--I could almost hear her hum in annoyance as she set her eyes on me again. "What pack are you from?"

“One that’s far away.”

“What is the name of your pack?” She specified, placing emphasis on “name”.

Mate is annoyed with us! Romeo whined. I hated how finding our mate made him go all caveman brain.

Pull it together, Rome. I can’t tell her where we come from--not yet. Then I leaned forward, forcing our stubborn little mate to sit on her haunches just to maintain eye contact with us. For her credit, she refused to step back. Her wondrous scent filled my nostrils, and it took every ounce of self control to keep from touching her.

“I think we might have gotten off on the wrong foot, don’t you?” I suggested. I think I actually saw her gulp. ”I’m Howl. What do I call you?”

She hesitated. ”Ren. Call me Ren.”

“It’s lovely to meet you, Ren,” I bowed my head, bringing my nose a hairsbreadth from hers. ”I can’t tell you the name of my pack--not yet. What I can tell you is that I am the alpha, so you, little mate, will be my luna.”

Ren scrambled backward, her azure eyes wide. ”What did you just say?”

I chuckled. I didn’t think I would be blessed with a shy mate. ”I called you my mate, my luna. Can’t you feel the bond?”

“No!” She exclaimed. ”I just turned twenty a few months ago! How the hell can you be sure that I’m your mate?”

My ears flattened and my mouth closed. Uh-oh, thought Romeo.

I hadn’t bothered to ask her age before revealing that we were mates. Werewolves can only sense their mates once both parties have passed their twenty-first birthmoon. However, I was no ordinary wolf, so I began my search for my mate a long time ago. ”Well, I--”

Suddenly, Ren began to sniff the air, her body tense as she took a tentative step toward me. Then another. ”You… You’re a hybrid.”

I tensed up as well. ”I am.”

My mate was silent for a moment. ”What are you a hybrid of?”

My ears shot up, a low growl rumbling through my chest. ”Does it really matter? I didn’t choose my parents anymore than you did.”

She blinked, caught off guard by my shift in mood. ”Sorry… I didn’t mean to upset you. Sometimes my words come out harsher than I intend them to be.”

I grunted, pleased to hear her apologize so easily. Perhaps mate can feel the bond more than she lets on? Romeo surmised.

Perhaps. “I accept your apology. I’m just accustomed to a lot of questions about my upbringing--questions I’d rather not answer for just anyone.”

“I see.” Ren stepped to the side, giving me a wide berth as she made her way deeper into the clearing. “I hope you’ll forgive my earlier rudeness. I have never met a living, breathing crime before.”

I chuckled, standing to watch her trot over to the pond. The water was crystal clear, and it smelled free of chemicals and pollutants. “Already forgiven, my luna.”

I caught the way her shoulders tensed slightly at my words, but she continued to the watering hole and lowered her head to lap up the freshwater. I sauntered over, eager to learn anything I could from my mysterious little mate.

“Can I ask what you’re doing out here?” I asked her in earnest. It concerned me that my mate would run off on her own. “There have been rogue sightings in the area.”

Catching me by surprise, Ren let out a snort. “Oh? How do we know that you aren’t the cause of all those sightings?” she taunted.

I puffed out my chest. “They very well could be. I’m pretty fast, you know.”

Her eyes sparkled with interest. “I know. Not many can keep up with me.”

I blinked. It hadn’t occurred to me before how fast my mate was--she would have beaten me to the clearing if not for her having the good sense to hold back and let me barrel through. “Same here… And even fewer can sense me sneaking up on them.”

I could almost see her brow arch at that. “You were sneaking up on me?”

“No, no! Not really,” I assured her. “I’ve been told I’m too stealthy for my own good.”

“How so? You’re the size of a mountain!”

“Not everyone is as astute as you, Ren,” I laughed quietly.

“To answer your earlier question…” she sighed. “Today is a rare day when I have very little to do. And our training was cut short this morning so everyone could prepare for the festival tonight. Even our head omega barred me from lending her a hand!”

I chuckled at that. “If she’s anything like my head omega, then she’s a keeper. Mrs. Belinda used to host cooking classes in the packhouse kitchen when I was young, but now that my friends and I have taken over as ranked members she hits us with a wooden spoon whenever we try to help out or make our own meals. Not that we would want to eat our food over hers--that woman is a phenomenal chef. I think she uses spells or some type of food magick to enhance her cooking.”

Serena had giggled at that, stopping once she noticed I hadn’t joined in on the laughter. “Your head omega can use magick?”

“Of course. She’s a werewitch.”

“You’re joking!”

“What’s to joke about? Her parents were a fox and a witch,” I shrugged. “She was an omega in her original skulk. Foxes haven’t outlawed hybrids like our oh-so-benevolent king has,” I rolled my eyes. “Even so, they’re still big on purity of the species over there, so being part witch put a target on her back. My father took her in and a few other fox families when I was still a baby.”

She perked up, and I swear her tail swished from side to side. “You have foxes in your pack, too?”

“We accept all kinds of people, shifters and non-shifters alike,” I vowed. “As long as they are willing to commit to my pack, then all are welcome.”

Ren’s head bobbed once. “I agree. My grandfather was avidly against rogues and transfers from other species, but my father knew better than to judge someone for circumstances that are usually out of their control. He started an asylum program a few years back, allowing rogues to enter our pack and be rehabilitated. He also welcomes omegas escaping abuse from the outer packs, and he opened us up to other shifter kingdoms. I fought alongside a fox and an omega wolf in training not thirty minutes ago.”

I smiled internally. “Your father sounds like a smart man. I’d love to meet him.”

“You could if you return with me,” she let slip. Her words were relayed softly, almost hesitantly.

“Oh? I get to meet your parents so soon?” I teased. “I didn’t think you’d be willing to make introductions when you claim not to feel our bond.”

She bristled. “I don’t!”

“Are you sure?” She shook her head from side to side in an adorably defiant manner. “Then I suppose I must smell terrible to you.”

Ren took a deep breath, calming down. “... No, you don’t.”

“What do I smell like?”

She sniffed. “Like… Like freshly brewed espresso and vanilla.”

“Interesting. I take you more for a plain black coffee sort of girl,” I quipped. “Good to know there’s more to your personality than ‘dutiful daughter of the alpha’.”

Ren grunted. “I’m more than just the daughter of an alpha. Come next Wolf Moon, I’ll be taking over for him.”

“That’s amazing! To think I was blessed with an alpha mate--” My thoughts trailed off as her words registered. In less than a year, she would be appointed as the alpha of her pack--and a ranked pack member cannot hold rank in two separate packs. “Oh.”

“You see?” she sighed, standing on all fours. “That’s the situation we’re in. Either you’re mistaken and we aren’t mates… Or the moon goddess blessed us with an impossible match. I will not give up my birthright to become a glorified party-planner for you--and you won’t do the same for me. So where does that leave us, Howl?”