The Alpha's Fated Queen

Coffee and Gossip

Kyrie's POV

The bell rang, signaling the end of class, I gathered my things as fast as I could and slipped out of the room, eager to escape the lingering stares and Hannah’s smirk. I didn’t want to give her any more ammunition, and I was grateful to melt into the crowded hallway.

“Kyrie!” a familiar voice called out, snapping me out of my thoughts. I turned to see Gina weaving her way through the crowd, her eyes bright and her hair glinting in shades of silver-blonde that seemed to shift in the light.

Gina was impossible to miss—she had an energy about her that felt otherworldly, like she’d just stepped out of a storybook and into Carmichael Academy. People tended to stare, but she didn’t seem to notice or care.

“Hey, how’d it go?” she asked, falling into step beside me.

I shrugged. “Oh, you know, the usual. Gave my presentation. Got called ‘the human girl’ by Hannah. Not much else to report.” I forced a grin, but Gina’s face softened, catching the hint of frustration I was trying to hide.

“Don’t let her get to you, Kyrie,” she said, nudging me with her shoulder. “She’s all bark and no bite.”

“Easy for you to say. She worships the ground you walk on,” I said, shaking my head. Gina had that effect on people. Not that anyone really knew why, but there was an elegance and charm to her that made people just want to be around her.

She shrugged, giving me a mischievous smile. “Perks of being a fairy princess, I guess.”

I laughed. “No big deal, right? Just royalty.”

She winked. “Hey, I try not to flaunt it. Besides, you’re way more interesting than she is. I don’t care how many times she calls you ‘just a human.’”

I rolled my eyes, but her words warmed me a little. Gina had a way of making you feel like you were the only person in the room, no matter who else was around. It was a rare gift.

We rounded the corner to our lockers, where Channing was already leaning, waiting for us. He was scrolling through his phone, his dark hair falling over his eyes. When he looked up, he flashed me a smile that was a little too eager.

“There she is! How’d it go?” he asked, standing up straight as we approached.

I groaned. “Do we really need to talk about it?”

“Yeah, actually, we do.” He smirked. “Because the rumor mill says you gave a killer speech about your super interesting human family.”

I shot him a playful glare. “Thanks, Chan. That’s exactly what I wanted to hear right now.”

He shrugged, his smile softening. “Hey, I’m just saying, if they’re talking about you, then maybe they’re finally realizing how cool you are.” He said it lightly, but there was something in his voice, a sincerity that made me look away for a second, trying to hide my blush.

“So what’s next?” Gina interjected, pulling us all back to the present. “I think we all deserve a coffee break. Or a sugar rush. I’m craving chocolate.”

I laughed, grateful for the distraction. “As long as we steer clear of Hannah and her crew, I’m in.”

“Chocolate and gossip it is,” Channing agreed, giving me a grin. He adjusted his backpack and gestured down the hall. “Shall we?”

The three of us made our way toward the doors, weaving through the packed halls. As we passed by a group of students, I caught a few whispers, hushed comments about Cal’s presentation, his family, the legends of the Lockwoods.

I tried not to listen, but part of me couldn’t help it. Cal’s life seemed so far removed from mine, and yet… I glanced at Gina and Channing, grateful for the tiny world we’d carved out for ourselves.

“So, heard any new fairy gossip lately?” Channing asked Gina as we walked, raising an eyebrow.

Gina smirked, glancing around as if checking to make sure no one else was listening. “Well, let’s just say a certain fae prince got caught sneaking out last week, and the High Council isn’t too pleased about it. But that’s just between us.”

“Oh, a scandal,” I said, playing along. “Who knew the fairy realm had its own drama?”

“Please, Kyrie,” Gina laughed. “You have no idea. You think high school is bad? Try living under a crown your whole life.”

Channing leaned closer to me, his voice low. “See? Even royalty has to deal with boring, stuck-up rules. Just like us.”

I grinned, catching his eye. For a moment, I felt that same pull I always did with Channing, that sense of familiarity and ease. He was an omega, one of the few wolves who’d always been kind to me, never looking down on me for being human.

And maybe… maybe he saw me in a way no one else did.

He’d been there through all the tough moments, always with that steady, reassuring presence.

We reached the doors and stepped out into the afternoon air, feeling the weight of school slip away. Gina spun around, her arms outstretched like she could absorb the freedom in the air.

“Alright, my lovely humans and wolves, I propose we hit the cafe, grab every chocolate pastry we can find, and officially kick off the weekend early,” she declared, grinning.

Channing laughed, nudging me. “You in?”

“Absolutely,” I said, grinning back. “Lead the way.”

I let myself relax, the sting of Hannah’s words fading with each step. At the end of the day, I had this—my best friends, the freedom of the afternoon, and a chance to escape, even if only for a while. And for now, that was enough.

We walked toward the cafe, Channing fell into step beside me, while Gina darted ahead, her fairy energy seeming to lift her off the ground with each step. Channing, on the other hand, was all quiet strength.

He wasn’t as tall or muscular as the other wolves, but he had a lean, athletic build and a calm, steady presence that balanced Gina’s vibrance.

His dark hair was slightly messy, like he hadn’t bothered to comb it after rolling out of bed, and his hazel eyes always seemed warm and inviting, carrying an unspoken promise that he’d be there whenever I needed him.

“So,” Channing said, giving me a sly sideways look as we crossed the street, “are we going to talk about the real reason Hannah Creed is on your mind?”

I rolled my eyes, trying to brush it off. “If you mean her talent for making my life miserable, then sure.”

Gina smirked, falling back to walk on my other side. “Come on, Kyrie. It’s not just Hannah, and we all know it. It’s her connection to a certain someone with dark hair and a broody stare.”

I scoffed, hoping they couldn’t see my blush. “I don’t have a crush on Cal,” I lied, feeling the heat creep up my cheeks. “I just… appreciate his family’s history.”

“Oh, please,” Gina said, nudging me with her elbow. “Half the school has a crush on Cal Lockwood, and the other half is just lying about it.”

Channing snorted. “Yeah, but half the school doesn’t turn into a tomato every time he looks at them.”

I glared at him. “Not helping, Chan.”

He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Just saying, you have to admit it’s pretty obvious. Even Hannah knows, and she makes it her mission to embarrass you every chance she gets. She’s probably just threatened because you’re, you know, an actual decent human being.”

Gina grinned. “Besides, everyone knows Cal doesn’t date human girls. Hannah might as well have his name tattooed on her forehead.”

“Exactly,” I muttered. “Which is why I’m wasting my time even thinking about him. It’s not like he’s ever going to see me as anything but the ‘plain human girl.’ And maybe that’s a good thing.”

Channing looked at me, his eyes softer, as if he wanted to say something, but he held back. Instead, he just nodded, a small smile on his lips. “Well, if he doesn’t see it, he’s the one missing out. Besides,” he added, grinning, “there are plenty of other fish in the sea, right?”

“Or wolves,” Gina added with a wink.

I laughed, rolling my eyes. “Yeah, well, maybe I’ll try my luck in the fairy realm. At least then I wouldn’t have to worry about Hannah’s commentary.”

“Good luck with that, darling,” Gina teased. “The fae are a lot of things, but subtle isn’t one of them.”

I felt a strange mix of relief and disappointment that the conversation was over. I knew I was being ridiculous about Cal; he was a wolf, and I was a human—end of story.

But there was still that undeniable pull I felt every time I looked at him, a connection I couldn’t explain, no matter how hard I tried.

We pushed through the door, the rich aroma of coffee and pastries filling the air.