Mate of the Enemy Alpha

Moonlight painted the forest silver, dappling Serenity’s white fur as she bounded between the trees. She ran with abandon, laughter bubbling up from deep within her chest—a sound she had only ever heard within her dreams. The night air was cool and alive with the scent of pine and wildflowers, the world aglow beneath a full, watchful moon. Ahead, a shadow darted through the underbrush: sleek, powerful, and utterly black—a wolf as dark as midnight. Serenity’s heart leapt. She chased after him, their paws thundering in tandem, until the willow trees parted, and they tumbled into a wide, shimmering pond that a large willow tree overlooked. Water splashed around them, catching the moon’s light in a thousand tiny stars. The black wolf circled her, playful and fearless, and Serenity swam to meet him, feeling lighter and freer than she ever did awake. At the edge of the pond, a waterfall sang out a song only wolves could hear. The white and black wolves danced beneath the spray, bathed in moonlight, their laughter echoing through the woods—until, suddenly, a shrill beeping shattered the peace. Serenity’s eyes snapped open. Her dream dissolved, leaving only the echo of happiness and the sharp sting of reality. She fumbled in the darkness, silencing her alarm before it could wake anyone else. With a heavy sigh, she swung her legs out of bed and padded across the cold floor to her bathroom. She look in the mirror at her olive skin and light blue eyes as she combed her long thick curly/wavy white/silver hair, she then went back into bedroom to change into a long sleeve shirt and jeans to cover the marks on her body from the abuse on her curvy body. She wanted to slip out to school unseen, she’d have to move fast. But for a lingering moment, Serenity closed her eyes and tried to hold onto the feeling of freedom, of moonlight, and the mysterious black wolf with red eyes waiting for her in dreams. Serenity crept down the hallway and slipped outside before the house had fully woken. The early morning mist curled around her ankles as she hurried along the forest path, her breath coming out in little clouds. Out here, the world was hushed and gentle—just the soft rustle of leaves overhead, birds trilling their first songs, the damp earth cools beneath her feet. For a few precious moments, Serenity let her shoulders relax. Here, the trees didn’t judge or threaten. Here, her brother and Adam were just distant nightmares. No hands grabbing, no cruel laughter echoing behind closed doors—just the steady heartbeat of the woods and the sense that, maybe, she could breathe. How did no one see what was happening to her? The question slipped in like a chill, wrapping around her heart. Oh, right. Dad was gone more often than not, always driving to visit Mom, who lived with another pack for reasons Serenity never understood. She was left behind, invisible in a house that should have felt like a haven. Lost in her thoughts, Serenity barely noticed the footsteps padding up behind her. A sudden shout made her jump, her heart thundering in her chest. “Boo!” She spun around, nearly colliding with her best friend, laughter spilling from her lips. Serenity managed a shaky smile, grateful for the distraction, if only for a moment. Jessie Mond grinned up at her, blue eyes sparkling with mischief. At just fifteen, Jessie was already in the same grade as Serenity—her brain as sharp as a whip, always the first to raise her hand in class. Her medium-brown hair tumbled in loose waves around her tan face, and though she stood a good four inches shorter than Serenity at five-foot-four, she made up for it with a fierce, infectious energy. Serenity’s memories flickered back to the day her family first arrived in the Wax Moon Pack’s territory. They’d been searching for a place to belong, to start over, and it was there, in the dappled sunlight of a new home, that she’d met Jessie. From the start, Jessie had been the one constant she could count on—someone who saw past Serenity’s silences and shadows, and never pressured her for answers she wasn’t ready to give. “Earth to Ren?” Jessie waved a hand in front of her face, still grinning. “You look like you have seen a ghost." Or maybe you need coffee. Serenity huffed out a laugh, the weight in her chest easing for the first time that morning. With Jessie by her side, the path ahead didn’t seem quite so lonely. Jessie Mond grinned at her, blue eyes bright with mischief and curiosity. “You’re totally out of it today, Ren. "What’s going on in that head of yours?” Jessie fell into step beside her, brushing a wave of brown hair from her face as they made their way down the misty path. Serenity hesitated. The dream still lingered, its silver edges brushing against her mind—a white wolf, a black wolf, the moon, the water, the sense of home. She’d never been good at sharing, especially when it came to things that made her feel vulnerable. But Jessie had a way of waiting her out, patient and persistent. “It was just a dream,” Serenity finally said, her voice low. I was running through the woods in wolf form, and there was this black wolf with me. We ended up in a pond under the full moon. It felt…real. Like I belonged there.” Jessie’s eyes lit up, excitement bubbling through her words. “Ren! That sounds like a sign from the Moon Goddess. Maybe she’s showing you your true mate! "What if that black wolf is him?” Serenity shook her head, a bitter edge creeping into her smile. “No, Jess. That’s not how it works. I already found my mate, remember? "Adam made it pretty clear there wouldn’t be another one for me.” Her mind echoed the words he’d flung at her, sharp and final. Jessie frowned, undeterred. “He doesn’t know everything. "Moon Goddess works in her way,” she said, bumping Serenity’s shoulder. “Dreams like that don’t just happen for no reason.” Serenity tried to hold onto the hope in Jessie’s voice, but it slipped through her fingers like mist. She kept her doubts silent, letting her friend’s optimism fill the silence as they walked deeper into the woods, school—and the rest of their day—waiting just ahead. Jessie Mond grinned up at her, blue eyes sparkling with mischief. At just fifteen, Jessie was already in Serenity’s grade—quick-witted, always curious, her brown hair bouncing with every step. The two slipped through the morning mist toward Wax Moon Academy, the only school in the region made for both humans and wolves. It sat at the edge of the pack’s territory, just a stone’s throw from the dense forest and the sprawling training grounds used by the warrior wolves. The school was waking up, but most students hadn’t arrived yet. Only a few athletes stretched near the field, and a couple of musicians drifted toward the band room, leaving the halls quiet and almost peaceful. Serenity let herself breathe, grateful for the lull-no-no no Brad, no Adam, just the safe hum of a new day beginning. Wax Moon’s training grounds were hard to miss, even from the school’s windows. The open field was ringed by sturdy wooden fences and watchtowers, where older pack warriors drilled every morning. Today, fourth period meant a trip out there for self-defense lessons—required for all wolf-born students, especially those from warrior bloodlines. Serenity felt her nerves tighten as the bell rang for fourth period. She kept her head down, sticking close to Jessie as their class filed outside and crossed the short path to the training grounds. The scent of trampled grass and old sweat hung in the air, and she could already spot Brad’s hulking form and Adam’s sharp gaze among the early arrivals. She did her best to stay on the far side of the group, eyes fixed on the instructor, praying to stay invisible. Jessie nudged her gently, noticing her tension. “Are you okay?” she whispered. “You look like you’re hiding from the plague.” Serenity managed a shaky laugh, grateful for her friend’s presence. For now, at least, she’d try to focus on the lesson—and not on the pair of eyes she could feel watching her from across the field.