His Queen, Her Alpha

Chapter 8

Lex POV)

The day goes by quickly, filled with stares and rumors — apparently, I’m on steroids or something. I stopped listening to the nonsense around second period. When lunch comes, I slip out early. Perfect. Only three more days and I’m done.

But then I started thinking about Nina — how it would be for her at school. She looks normal: 5’4, sandy-brown hair, green eyes. She’s gorgeous, but she doesn’t stand out like I do.

We stand out because we are different. Special, Snow whimpers in my head. I know it hasn’t been easy, but we will become stronger. Things will change.

“Alright, Snow. Let’s get on with it. What’s this mate thing you keep talking about?”

I can feel her excitement — like she’s bouncing around inside me.

Mates are soulmates. Wolves mate for life. We are two halves of a whole. Our mate will love us, protect us. We’ll be everything to him, and he’ll be everything to us.

“What? I’m only eighteen, and you’re telling me I have some future husband out there I’ve never met?”

Well… yes. But this isn’t like marriage. Mates can’t just leave. It would break them too much.

“So let me get this straight. We shifted into a wolf, howled at the moon so he could hear us, and now some guy is coming to kidnap us and be our… love doggie?”

Rude. First, I am a wolf, not a dog. Second, you’ll understand when we see him.

Back at the orphanage, I toss my backpack into my room, ready to escape to my waterfall, but Ms. Mary is blocking the door. My stomach drops. I forgot I needed a cover story for last night.

“I came to your room and you weren’t here,” she says, her face stern. “I looked everywhere. I even called the police, but they said you’d have to be missing twenty-four hours before they’d act. I fell asleep on the couch, and this morning, there you were in bed. What time did you get home?”

“I’m not sure. I had a project due for graduation. I stayed late. I’m sorry, Ms. Mary.”

Her expression softens, and she smiles knowingly. She hugs me. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”

“Wow. With everything going on, I totally forgot.”

She laughs and walks down the hall. That’s when Snow’s voice sharpens in my head.

Snowflake… I need to tell you something, but I don’t know how you’ll take it.

“What now?”

When Ms. Mary hugged me… I smelled it on her.

“Smelled what?”

She’s a wolf too.

“WHAT?!” The word bursts out of me.

Ms. Mary spins around in the hallway, eyes wide. “Is everything alright, dear?”

“Yes, I guess…” I mumble. My head spins. How is she a wolf? Does she know I’m a wolf? What do I even do with this?

Maybe I really do need to meet Nina and get more information about werewolves before confronting Ms. Mary. Great. Happy birthday to me.

Hours later, I meet Nina at the local library. Not exactly new territory for me — when you have no friends and no real home life, what else is there? I’d spend hours here, load up on books, then head to my waterfall to read until dinner.

I push open the heavy wooden door. With my new wolf eyesight, even dust particles floating in the air stand out, and the smell of dust is so strong I almost plug my nose.

Nina sits at the back table, the only one in the corner — perfect, less chance of being overheard. She lifts her head when she hears me coming, eyes tense, but she relaxes when she sees me.

“Hi,” I say. She smiles faintly.

“I have a few questions, but I don’t even know where to start.”

“Then just start,” she says, motioning to the chair.

“You explained rogues and packs before, but why does all this even matter?”

She sighs, folding her hands. “Rogues are usually looked down on because most lose their humanity. My old Alpha wanted my mother as his mate, but she discovered my father was hers. When she refused the Alpha, he tried to kill my father. My father was a warrior and barely escaped. That night, my parents threw everything into the car and left. My mother was already pregnant with me. We’ve been moving ever since to make sure the Alpha couldn’t track us.

“So, not all rogues are bad. Some, like my parents, had no choice. But there are bad rogues too — ones who hurt pack members or tried to steal what wasn’t theirs. They get banished.”

“That makes sense. But what about Alphas?”

“Alphas are pack leaders. Their job is to protect and guide everyone. Lunas are the Alpha’s mate — like the mother of the pack. Betas are second-in-command, usually managing borders and security. Gammas are third, in charge of training and keeping the warriors battle-ready.”

“Thank you. Really. I’ve been here since I was four, so I never learned any of this. Snow makes me feel whole, but all she talks about is this ‘mate’ who’s going to find us and help us.”

Nina’s eyes soften. “Mates are very special. Having one is amazing. I can’t wait to find mine.”

She glances at the clock and stands. “I have to go. My mom will be waiting for dinner.”

She gathers her books and walks out, leaving me staring at the table, my mind spinning with everything she just told me.

“This is a lot,” I whisper.

Snow only laughs in my head. Oh, Snowflake, you haven’t even scratched the surface yet.