The Alpha's Treasured Luna

Chapter 3

"You know, you should totally go blonde!" Amanda blurted, her voice brimming with excitement as she spilled chips from her lap onto the floor. Erica sighed, scooping them up quickly to toss into the bin.

"I’ve thought about it, but blonde? That might be *too* different." She plopped onto a large pink beanbag, sinking into its plushness.

The two had arrived late that evening, the sun already set by the time they reached Amanda's house. Erica had intended to help Amanda unpack but instead snuck away to her best friend’s room. Amanda's room was exactly as it had always been—cluttered with fashion posters, an endless array of beauty products, and, of course, pink and black decor everywhere.

A short vibration came from the bed, Amanda’s phone lighting up. She glanced over at it briefly but didn’t pick it up. Erica raised an eyebrow. Amanda never ignored her phone.

"So, what *are* you doing with your hair? I like the pink and blonde, but I doubt you’ll keep it long," Erica remarked casually, eyeing the phone as it lit up again.

Amanda shifted uncomfortably, suddenly absorbed in the contents of a caramel popcorn box. "Oh, I don’t know, maybe I’ll go with green highlights next." She muttered while popping a kernel into her mouth, trying to act distracted.

"Who are you ignoring?" Erica reached for the phone, but Amanda kicked it across the room instantly.

"No one!" Amanda locked eyes with her, defensive.

Erica smirked, adopting a crouched stance. "Do you *really* want to do this?"

Amanda knew that look, that posture. "Look, we’re not kids anymore; we don’t need to fight about it. It’s no one, really—"

Erica darted across the room. Amanda dove after her, landing on Erica’s back. Before she could wriggle free, Erica flipped her into a leg lock while effortlessly unlocking the phone.

"You’re too damn strong for no reason! Let me go!" Amanda whined, struggling against Erica’s hold.

"Sire Grace? That name sounds familiar... Why are you ignoring him?" Erica asked, her grip still tight. She had trained with the pack guards every day since her mother’s disappearance, making her stronger than most of her peers, even Amanda.

Amanda sighed in defeat. "Fine! He’s just someone I met at a bar a few weeks ago. It's not serious… mostly because he's an Alpha," she admitted, almost whispering the last part.

Erica immediately let go, sitting upright and staring at her friend with a knowing grin. "Wait... You like him, don’t you? You think he’s your mate."

Amanda glared, backing away. "No! Stop! You know Alphas only mate with other Alpha daughters or high-ranking females. I’m just a Beta's daughter." Her voice wavered, and she hugged her knees, avoiding eye contact.

"Uh-huh, sure. So, you’re saying you’re not interested at all?" Erica leaned closer, her eyes gleaming with playful intensity.

Amanda threw a pillow at her, deflecting the attention. "I’m not talking about this anymore! What’s going on with *you* and Dane?" she deflected, hoping to escape the conversation.

Erica leaned back into the beanbag, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips. "Oh, him? Not serious. He's way more entertaining when he's *eating* rather than talking."

Amanda gasped, her eyes wide in shock before she burst into laughter. "What is *wrong* with you?!" she exclaimed, tossing another pillow at her.

Erica laughed too, catching the pillow. "I'm serious! He’s great in bed, but all his brainpower seems to be... elsewhere." She teased, twirling a strand of her hair absentmindedly.

"Girls! Dinner’s ready!" Aunt Rita’s voice echoed up from downstairs, cutting off their playful banter.

"Let’s go. I’m sure my mom heard every word of that," Amanda chuckled as they headed down the stairs.

"Well, she does have the best hearing in the pack." Erica grinned, following behind her.

The dining room table was laden with food: roast chicken, BBQ ribs, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, green beans, shrimp mofongo, sweet plantains, and a giant bowl of sancocho. The aroma of spices and savory meats filled the air, making Erica's mouth water.

"Mom, sancocho? In the middle of summer?" Amanda teased, but was already filling her bowl.

"Of course! It’s Erica’s favorite." Rita winked, giving Erica a motherly squeeze.

Philander and Armando joined them at the table, settling into their seats.

"You know, Erica," her father began sternly, "you never came over to unpack the car."

Erica froze for a moment. "I’m sorry, Dad. I’ll do it tonight, I promise." She was trying to keep things light, knowing she had plans later that night.

"So, what are your plans for the summer?" Armando asked, digging into a plate of ribs, already getting sauce all over his beard.

Erica tried not to laugh as Aunt Rita cleaned him up. "I’ll be working at The Candle Shop in town starting Monday," she replied, reaching for some mac and cheese.

"Oh? Maurice and James’s shop? They’re good people," Armando nodded in approval.

Philander, however, was more focused. "I thought Willow was their shopkeeper?" he asked, setting down his fork.

"She is, but she’s doing an internship this summer, so I’m helping out until university starts again," Erica explained, trying to avoid where the conversation was heading.

Philander's brow furrowed. "I thought you would be doing extra studies with Calliope at the lab."

Erica swallowed hard. She had been expecting this. "I will, Dad. I just wanted to take a break before my last semester and earn some extra money. Calliope said I could stop by when I have free time."

Her father’s gaze hardened. "I just thought you were more serious about your studies. I’m not sure how your mother would feel, knowing you’re wasting time in a candle shop."

His words felt like a knife to her chest. Erica’s throat tightened, but she refused to let the tears surface.

"Philander!" Rita interjected, her tone sharp. "That’s enough! You know Elowen wouldn’t have cared where Erica worked as long as she was happy."

Erica stood abruptly, her voice tight. "Thank you for dinner, Auntie Rita. I’m going to excuse myself."

Without waiting for a response, she left the house, heading into the cool night. Her heart ached, and her chest felt heavy, but she wasn’t going to let her father see her break down.

As she ran, the wind whipped against her skin, and her emotions swirled like the storm inside her. Before she knew it, she was at the town center park, almost ten minutes from home. She hadn’t realized how fast she'd been running.

Taking a deep breath, she looked up at the sky, the stars blinking back at her.

"I miss you, Mom," she whispered to the night, hoping somehow the wind would carry her words to wherever her mother was.