THE ALPHA WHO COULD NOT HOWL

My name is Luna. Yes, my parents actually named me Luna, and I have no wolf. Ironic, right? In our world, every werewolf gets their wolf at 16. I'm 19. Still no wolf. The pack doctor said my wolf died inside me before it was born. So I am the only wolfless girl in Silver Crest Pack — the strongest pack in Nigeria. And tomorrow, the Alpha will choose his Luna. Alpha Kael is 23. He has never shifted. He has never howled. He is the first Alpha in 1,000 years who has no wolf either. They call us the Cursed Pair. The Pack says the Moon Goddess made a mistake. I was sweeping the pack house — because that's all a wolfless girl can do, be a cleaner — when the Alpha's door opened. "You're still here?" Alpha Kael stood there. Six feet, black shirt, eyes like midnight. He was so handsome it hurt, but he never smiles. Because an Alpha who cannot howl cannot lead, and he knows the elders want to replace him next week. "I was cleaning your office, Alpha," I said, head down. Wolfless girls don't look Alpha in the eyes. He walked closer. I smelled his scent — rain and smoke. My chest started to burn. That burn I have felt since I was 16 whenever he passes. He stopped one inch from me. "Luna," he whispered my name, and his voice shook. "Do you feel that burn too?" My eyes widened. "You... you feel it too?" For 3 years I thought I was sick. Whenever he is near, my chest burns like fire. The doctor said it's anxiety because I have no wolf. "I feel it since you turned 16," he said quietly. "I thought I was cursed. But last night, I heard something in my head for the first time in my life." "What?" "A voice. It wasn't mine. It said... _'She is not wolfless. She IS the wolf.'_" We stared at each other. Two cursed people, both with no wolves, both feeling a strange burn. Then the pack bell rang. LOUD. BONG! BONG! BONG! Emergency meeting. Choosing of Luna. An elder shouted from outside: "ALL UNMATED GIRLS TO THE HALL! ALPHA KAEL WILL CHOOSE HIS LUNA NOW!" Kael grabbed my hand. His hand was shaking. "Luna, if I don't choose a strong Luna tonight, they will dethrone me and kill me. It's pack law." "So go choose," I said, trying to pull my hand away, my heart breaking. He looked at my hand in his, then at my face. His eyes turned — for the first time ever — silver. "I already did. Three years ago. I just didn't know it was you." The door burst open. The Beta stood there. "Alpha! It's time! The daughters of 5 Alphas are waiting! And... who is this cleaner doing holding your hand?" Kael didn't let go. "She's not a cleaner," he said, and his voice was suddenly deeper, not human. Like two voices in one. "She's my Luna." And at that moment, for the first time in my 19 years, I heard a howl inside my head. But it wasn't a wolf howl. It was MY howl.