Rooming With The Enemy Alpha

6. Wylen Circle

(Danielle)

When the school was over, I headed straight to Mattie's Secret, laptop tucked under my arm. I had an English paper to finish, and this Mattie's Secret was my go-to when I needed caffeine and inspiration.

Matthew and Marsh, the owners and mates, were the heart of the place. Sweet, hilarious, and always made the place feel like a little escape from reality.

I slid into my usual corner table—yes, I had one, because I was almost always here before my job.

“Hey Danie, your usual.” Logan’s voice floated in before the smell of my cappuccino hit me. He set it down with a slice of blueberry delight.

“Thanks, Logan.” I kept my tone level, tried not to sound like a total fangirl.

He smiled, flashing a dimple. Tall, kind, and smelled like caramel coffee—he was another reason I came here so often.

“Done yet?” he asked ten minutes later, eyeing my screen.

“Almost. Boring,” I muttered, jabbing the keyboard with unnecessary force.

“Poor girl.” He ruffled my hair.

What the—?

"Did you just ruffle my hair?"

"Why not? You're like a little sister to me."

Ugh. I already knew that.

"I am almost nineteen, and only two years younger than you. I am a grown-ass woman," I said with an indignant frown.

With a smile, he walked off.

The bell above the door dinged, and I glanced up to see Aaron coming in. With his picture-perfect girlfriend glued to his side.

Samantha shot me a dirty look as they walked by.

Too much of Samantha was not good for anyone.

Sam and I had once been friends. The three of us, really. Samantha, Daisy and I.

But that version of her had disappeared a long time ago, replaced by someone cunning, cruel and venomous. She’d twisted the story of what happened with Daisy into something unrecognizable. I wouldn’t be surprised if Aaron’s hatred toward me had her fingerprints all over it.

Then Aaron stood up and walked toward me.

He dropped a sealed envelope on my table without a word.

Now what? He was delivering threats in person?

"Don't be ridiculous," Rexi said.

“Your grandmother asked me to give this to you.” His tone was flat.

I raised a brow. “Do I owe you for being her personal courier now?”

He didn’t respond. Just glared and turned away.

I opened the note. Marlene Landon still hadn’t embraced texting.

Come home this Saturday. You have a surprise!

—Marlene Landon

So fu.cking impersonal. But that was Grandmother for you.

I tossed the note on the table just as Logan returned.

“You okay?” he asked, looking worried.

“I hate surprises,” I said softly. I really do.

"What happened?"

"My grandmother. Don't worry about it," I said with a sigh, staring at the note again with a frown.

The worst surprise I ever got was the day my mom said goodbye and never came back.

Three months later, my dad introduced a new woman as my stepmom. “Call me Fiona. ‘Stepmom’ sounds so old!” she chirped, clinging to a girl my age. “This is Anna Sophia, your new sister.”

Anna Sophia didn’t even say hello. She just rolled her eyes and slammed the door.

Of course, I hated surprises. Anyone would if they were me.

I finished the essay before walking toward The Cookie Corner for my shift. Best cookies on campus, hands down.

“Hey Bets,” I called as I stepped behind the counter, relieving Sarah.

I worked here whenever I had time. Not because I was in need of cash. Oh no. My grandmother was generous with cash, just not affection. No, I worked because staying busy kept me from falling apart in an empty dorm.

By 7 p.m., I was beat.

“Hey, I can't come tomorrow,” I told Betsie as I untied my apron. “Heading home.” I sighed. She gave me a concerned look.

"You going to be okay?"

"Of course. Bye. Good night," saying, I walked out.

Outside, the stars were scattered across the dark sky. The moon was barely a sliver. The wind was sharp and cold.

Behind the tree line, I shifted.

"Goddess, finally," she growled, her voice rich in my head. "It has been too long."

Wind rushed through my fur as I took off running.

And for a while—just a little while—everything inside me went quiet.

Rexi and I were lost in the scent of the woods—earthy pine, the sweetness of old leaves, the faint musk of passing deer—when I first sensed it.

Something was off.

The forest had gone still, unnaturally so. The birds had gone quiet, no rustle of small creatures in the underbrush. Just silence, heavy and tense, pressing against my ears like a held breath.

Then a quiet crack.

A soft snap of a branch.

Subtle. Barely there. But in the woods, silence makes even the smallest sound scream.

I froze mid-step. Rexi’s ears perked up, her fur bristling beneath my skin.

"Hell!" she whispered in my head. "You heard that, right?"

"I do. Someone's here."

There was usually no one around at this time of the day. I had been running these woods for years, and I knew every tree and every bush here.

Rexi turned, her snout upturned, as she scented the air, scanning the trees. The moonlight filtering through the branches shimmered silver on damp bark and shadow. My heart began to pound, each thump echoing in my chest like a warning drumbeat.

Another sound—this time, a rustle, quicker.

And then I saw it. Just for a split second.

A wolf. Dark gray, almost black, eyes glinting in the moonlight. Yellow eyes are watching us.

Then the wolf saw us... turned and bolted into the trees, disappearing into the trees.

“Rexi—”

“I know.”

We took a few steps forward, but it was already gone.

“What the hell was that?” I whispered.

“That thing was watching us,” Rexi growled, her tone low and protective. “Do you think... could this be about that note? About Daisy?"

"I don't know," I said. But the note said I shouldn't have talked, didn't it? "But I think... it might be."

A chill skittered down my spine. I could still feel his or her eyes on us, even though it was long gone.

We stood there, listening. Nothing.

"Let's go."

***

The next morning, I woke up early—too early for a weekend—but I had to face the evil queen. My eyes were burning, but I had to get ready. My Grandmother didn't like tardiness.

It took me a long time to fall asleep after last night, and the sleeplessness was evident in my face.

I thought about skipping the meeting, staying in my dorm and pretending I forgot. But angering her wasn’t on my to-do list today.

I parked in front of the massive pack house and stepped out, greeted by the usual cold stares from wandering wolves.

Home sweet home.

Not even close.

This place had never felt like home. Just a hollow, echoing building stuffed with status and silence.

The pack house stood tall and regal, like a palace hidden in the woods. Inside, it was all polished floors and cold grandeur, but not a shred of warmth.

The same knot twisted in my stomach as I stepped through the doors—the one I always got here. Dread. Resentment. Betrayal.

My grandmother, Marlene Landon, was the ex-Luna of Wylen Circle. My uncle, my dad’s brother, was the Alpha. But no one here treated me like I belonged—like I was the Beta’s daughter or the Alpha’s niece.

I didn’t expect a welcome. No hugs. No smiles. No one waiting.

Still, it stung.

Cook Rebecca gave me a tentative smile and guided me toward my grandmother’s study. Of course, she was already there, sitting like a queen on her throne, the usual frost in her expression.

The room was everything money could buy—oak doors, teak chairs, silk cushions, and shelves full of pristine books. It had everything… except soul.

I pulled my sweater tighter as the cold seemed to settle in my bones.

"Surprise," my grandmother said. There was an unfamiliar smile on her lips.

And then I saw it. A tiny bundle wrapped in a soft blanket. Pink skin, perfect fingers, deep blue eyes.

I didn’t need anyone to tell me who she was... My half-sister. I didn't even know.

No one had bothered to tell me Fiona had given birth. I’d known she was pregnant, but apparently, I wasn’t worth a call.

“What’s her name?” I asked, my chest tightening.

Their family... was complete, and I felt more like an outsider than anything.

“Meet my granddaughter,” Grandmother said, voice proud and beaming. I flinched back as if she had kicked me. She was smiling, and that bitter look she often sported for me was missing.

A pang tore through me.

She’d never called me that. Never introduced me with pride. I was always just Danielle Landon. Formal. Detached.

“She looks like an angel,” I murmured, brushing my fingers over her cheek. My chest ached.

“Yes, she is,” Fiona said softly. “Her name’s Rose Landon. Isn’t she perfect?”

Her smile was warm, eyes full of love as she looked at the baby. I’d never had anyone look at me like that—as if I was the most precious thing in the world.

“She is,” I said. The baby curled her fingers around mine, and something in me cracked.

I spent time with her. Just watching. Just existing near something so new and untouched by the cruelty of this place.

I saw my dad once, striding past with his phone glued to his ear. I waved. He nodded. That was all that was left of us now—an empty gesture.

Anna wasn’t around. Of course not. She wouldn’t come near me until I was gone. She always made her exits clean.

Before I left, I reached out and took Fiona’s hand.

She blinked, surprised, startled, then gave me a hesitant smile. She wasn’t a bad person. She’d never been cruel with me. Just... unsure what to do with me.

“She’s perfect,” I said quietly. “And I know you love her now. Just… don’t ever stop. No matter what.”

I thought of my mom, wondering where the hell she was now. I understood why she left... My grandmother wasn't the easiest person to be around. I just resented that she hadn't taken me with her. I would have gone with her if she just said the word. I would have gone to the end of the earth.

I missed her so much.

Her voice reading me bedtime stories. My dad’s goodnight kisses. Fading memories that kept slipping further away each year.

“Danielle—” Fiona started, her eyes unsure.

But I didn’t let her finish. I turned and walked away.

Nothing that happened here today was unfamiliar, but it hurt deeper than usual.

"I’m here. It’s their loss, Dani," Rexi whispered in my mind. Her voice was soft and solid. She was always here, and I was grateful for that.

I didn’t cry. Not in front of people who didn’t care.

But as I ran to my car, I couldn't stop the tears. I collided with someone. Hard.

“Sorry—so sorry,” I muttered, not even looking up to see who it was.

I climbed into my car, started the engine, and drove away.

Back to the dorm it was.

Alone. Afraid.

___