Chapter Five
1060 Words
For the first time, Alex truly felt like he belonged. He had always sensed something different within himself, an energy that pulsed through his veins whenever the moon was full, but now he understood. He was not just a boy—he was a wolf, like his mother.
Aria watched him carefully as they moved through the forest. His paws were unsteady, his movements clumsy, but his instincts were sharp.
He sniffed the air, ears twitching at every small sound. He was learning.
"You need to focus," Aria said through their mind-link, her wolf voice steady and strong.
Alex turned his glowing eyes toward her, excitement radiating from him. "I feel everything, Mom. The wind, the trees, the animals... it’s all so loud!"
She chuckled, remembering her first shift. "That’s because your senses are awakening. You have to control them, not let them control you."
Alex nodded and tried to concentrate. He lowered his body, mimicking his mother’s hunting stance as they stalked through the undergrowth.
A rabbit darted out from the bushes, and in an instant, Alex lunged.
He missed.
Aria bit back a laugh as Alex tumbled into the dirt, his paws skidding against the leaves. He let out a frustrated growl, shaking himself off.
"Why is it so hard?" he whined through the link.
"You’ll get better," she reassured him. "It takes time, but you have the instincts. Trust them."
Determined, Alex tried again. He crouched lower this time, his muscles tensing as he fixed his gaze on another target. When he pounced, his movements were more controlled, more precise.
This time, he caught it.
The small animal struggled for only a moment before going still in his jaws. Alex let out an excited whimper, his tail wagging as he looked up at his mother.
"I did it!"
Aria stepped closer, pride swelling in her chest. "Yes, you did." She nuzzled him, a rare moment of warmth in their often harsh world. "You’re a natural, Alex. Just like your father was."
At the mention of his father, Alex’s ears perked up. He had asked about him before, but Aria had always been vague with her answers.
"Tell me about him," he said softly.
Aria hesitated, the past stirring within her like an old wound. She had left that life behind, buried the memories in the depths of her mind. But Alex had a right to know.
"Your father was strong, brave... and he would have been proud of you."
"Where is he?"
She exhaled, glancing up at the full moon. "Gone. But he left something behind—something more important than anything else."
"Me?" Alex asked.
She smiled. "You."
They spent the rest of the night hunting, running, embracing the wildness of their nature. When dawn approached, they returned to town, shifting back into their human forms before stepping out of the forest.
As they walked down the quiet streets toward their home, Alex’s small hand slipped into hers.
"Mom," he said aloud, his voice still filled with awe. "I love being a wolf."
Aria squeezed his hand gently, her heart full.
"So do I, Alex."
Few days later, Aria was invited to a banquet for werewolves by a friend she met recently in the woods.
The moment Aria stepped into the grand banquet hall, she knew she had made a mistake. The air was thick with the scent of wolves, the mingling voices of powerful Alphas and Betas filling the space. She had been reluctant to attend, but the invitation had been too direct to refuse.
Beside her, Alex’s eyes widened as he took in the sight of the massive dining tables, golden chandeliers, and the sheer number of werewolves in one place. “Mom, this place is huge,” he whispered, excitement and curiosity dancing in his voice.
“Stay close to me,” Aria murmured, her fingers tightening around his small hand.
They navigated through the hall, nodding at the occasional greeting from curious pack members. Aria had always avoided pack life, choosing to raise Alex in solitude, but this pack was different.
It was strong, organized, and ruled by an Alpha King.
And then, she smelled him.
The scent hit her like a storm—woodsmoke, musk, and something familiar, something that sent a shiver down her spine. She froze, her breath catching in her throat as the crowd parted, revealing a man standing at the head of the grand table.
Her heart pounded violently as their eyes locked.
It was him.
The man she had spent one wild night with years ago. The father of her son.
The Alpha King.
His expression shifted from curiosity to shock, then something else—recognition. He took a step forward, eyes locked onto hers like a predator hunting its prey.
“Aria?” His deep voice rumbled through the hall.
Panic surged through her. She hadn’t prepared for this. She had come here only out of curiosity, out of respect for the invitation, not expecting to confront the very man she had spent years trying to forget.
Alex tugged at her sleeve. “Mom? Who’s that?”
She couldn’t answer.
The Alpha King’s gaze dropped to Alex, and something in his expression changed—his sharp features stiffening, eyes narrowing as if he was piecing something together.
Aria’s breath hitched. She saw the realization flicker in his eyes.
No.
She couldn’t let this happen.
Without a word, she turned sharply, gripping Alex’s hand and striding toward the exit.
“Aria!” The Alpha’s voice carried through the hall, commanding, urgent.
She didn’t stop.
Pack members turned, whispering among themselves, but Aria pushed through them, her heart pounding against her ribs.
“Aria, wait!” His voice was closer now, footsteps heavy behind her.
She reached the doors and yanked them open, stepping into the cold night air. Alex struggled to keep up, but she didn’t stop moving.
Not until she was far away.
Not until she could breathe.
Behind her, the Alpha King stood at the entrance, watching her go.
And she knew—this wasn’t over.
And she was more surprised to discover he was a werewolf and a Alpha king which made her more surprised and dumb founded.
She had the child of an Alpha King and she was meant to be a Luna but she couldn’t come to the terms with it.
- Writer
