The Alpha and His Nerd

Two of us

Nilian

For some reason, watching the hunting games alone no longer feels right. Deciding that I should go out last minute, I grab a shirt, my jacket, and run over to the pack’s kitchen, grab some stuff, and head out.

While driving, I’m debating if I should or shouldn’t do what I’m about to do today. Let’s be real—we aren’t that close, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be.

I pull to a stop at the forest entrance. I grab the snacks and stand outside her house. I want to use the front door, but I really don’t think that’s the best option.

“Go through the window,” West says.

Without hesitation, I climb up and knock on her window—not that I have to knock, because it’s wide open. Her head shoots from the TV, and she jumps, falling off the bed.

Without the invite, I hurry in and help her up. She gives me a questionable look before asking,

“What… what are you doing here?”

“I brought snacks to watch the show.”

I put on my jacket, kick off my shoes, and sit at the edge of the bed. She hesitates at first but drops on the bed beside me, pulls the blanket, and opens the bag of snacks.

“Why didn’t you just use the front door?”

“Not sure how your mom would react seeing the alpha at her door at this hour to watch TV shows with her daughter.”

“Soon-to-be Alpha, and I thought you knew everything.”

“I do.”

“Well, you would know on Fridays she stays out late.”

“I do, but sometimes people change their minds.”

“Truth.”

We sit there for a couple of minutes in silence, watching as Maverick runs through the forest trying to hold the wild pig.

“Would you be coming back?” I ask her.

“Coming back where?”

“To the pack when you leave?”

“I’ll only be coming back for your Alpha ceremony, since it’s against the rules to not be present. After that, unless the pack’s hospital takes me as a nurse, I’ll be working in the human hospital.”

Her words sound filled with determination. I couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable. It’s not that I don’t want her to go, but how could I protect her in the human world from the humans?

I could try my hardest here, but out there, I can’t.

“Can you shut up, West? I’m trying to watch the show.”

“That wasn’t me—that was you, and I don’t see why you’d want to protect her when you don’t even ta—”

“Shut up.” I cut him off and lock him away.

The series finished around 10:30, and by that time her mom had just gotten home, so the front door wasn’t an option.

Before I could slip on my sneakers, her mom knocks once on the door, and she pushes me to the floor before her mom opens it.

“Uhh, you’re still here,” her mother says and slams the door shut.

Once we heard her bedroom door close, I hurry up and stand at the opening of the window.

“How do you deal with that?” I ask.

“I just do.” She gives me a weak smile.

“I’ll see you tomorrow… to head up to Greybeard.”

“Yeah.”

The next morning, I woke up, got ready for school, and headed out. I sat through class and couldn’t wait for it to be over. I hate history, and I’d hate it till the day I die.

On our little break, I stand by my locker, catching up with some of the boys when Sarsha shows up, stink-faced.

“Where were you last night?” She slams my locker door.

Before leaving to go to Lilian’s house last night, I knew I had somewhere to be but couldn’t remember.

“I—s**t—I got home really late and fell asleep. I’m so sorry I missed the dinner.”

“That’s a lame excuse. You don’t sleep early, and you definitely weren’t at home last night for a couple of hours.”

“How?”

“I came over, and your father told me you weren’t there.”

Deciding that I didn’t owe her an explanation—and that I didn’t have one—I stayed silent. But she didn’t agree with my silence and decided to make something clear.

Before she could speak, Lilian came walking down the hallway with a ton of books in her hand. She notices both of us, looks at Sarsha, and then looks at me.

“What the f**k are you looking at, freak? Eyes off and keep walking,” she blows up on Lilian.

“Hey, your problem is with me, not her.”

“Since when do you care about freak shows? Is it because you’re going to become Alpha, or are you just trying to piss me off?”

She rolls her eyes, pushes her hair behind her ears, revealing the spot on her neck she always wanted to be marked, and says,

“This spot right here belongs to you and you alone. So even if you find yourself another, she wouldn’t live to see the day you mark her. I’ll kill her before that happens.”

“Whatever.”

“You think I’m joking? I’m the next in line Luna, and I’ll go to lengths to keep it that way… and you know how far I could go. So don’t play with me, Nilian. Next time, show up.”

She gives me a peppermint stare, and I understand. As much as I don’t like her and as much as I don’t want her to be Luna, I have to accept my father’s wishes.

And she knows I’d do what he requires of me.

“Sure.”

“Good. Now walk me to the lunchroom.”

She grabs my hand, and we walk to lunch together. The lunchroom is packed, filled with kids all over, but when my eyes scan the room, I don’t see her.

A part of me feels terrible, but then West comes to the rescue, reminding me that I, too, pick on her, so why would I bother looking for her?

I want to shout at him, beat his ass, but he is right. Why bother fighting what’s truly right? My Alpha side—to have compassion and sympathy for my pack—is what it is.

My mind starts straying, wondering where she would spend her lunchtime, what she’d be doing, who she’d be hanging out with, since nobody here talks to her.

Once my classes are over for the day, I get in the car and hurry to meet her at the spot. Usually it would be empty with less movement, but today, for some reason, a lot of the older, nosy pack members are out and about.

Then it clicks—as part of keeping them active, we organized for them to do fortnight walks through the forest under the watch of the warriors.

“Alpha, I didn’t know you’d be joining us,” Kane says.

“It’s our lucky day—we got two random volunteers,” Bryan says.

“Who is the other?” Kane asks Bryan.

“Lilian,” Bryan replies.

She pops up from behind the elderly group, wearing a green safety jacket, looking dead at me.

“That’s so strange, that you both would be in the forest at the same time.” Her voice, like an ice pick, sends a cold chill up my spine, and when I turn, my eyes can’t do anything but stay frozen.