Silver Moon Huntress

Zander

I’d known this question was coming. Alex and I had been best friends since we were little, when we first met on the playground.

We always knew he would be Alpha. There was never any serious question of him abdicating or another wolf challenging him for the title. That simply didn’t happen in our pack. Still, even though he knew it was his destiny, he was never very enthusiastic about it.

Alex wasn’t the kind of guy to seek out power and abuse it. It was for this reason that I was sure he would be a great Alpha. Obviously he was the most popular guy in the pack, but that wasn’t just because of his title and his looks. He was a genuinely good person. He messed around enough that he wasn’t boring, but he never took things too far, and everyone who met him liked him. He was just one of those people who everyone naturally gravitated toward.

Despite these qualities, Alex had always wanted to make his own life, on his own terms. He used to tell me about the things he would do if he didn’t have to be Alpha. I’d laugh it off but I heard the wistful tone in his voice. I knew he felt boxed in by his parents’ expectations and the fact that he didn’t have much of a choice as far as vocational options went.

Alex never told anyone but me how he felt, probably because he didn’t want to upset his parents or let the pack down. When Callie was born he joked about letting her be Alpha, but he’d never actually do that. I knew he wouldn’t be able to turn his back in his responsibilities. He just wasn’t that kind of guy.

I’d thought a lot about how I would answer when he finally asked me to be his Beta. He told me repeatedly when we were younger that he would flout tradition and choose me over Caleb, and I used to want that. But everything had changed.

Alex could see my refusal on my face.

“Please, Z. I need you with me on this.”

Shit. I’d never heard him beg like this. He was an Alpha. He didn’t ask, he commanded.

“It’s not that I don’t want to. But the Moon Goddess chose a different path for me. I can’t ignore her wishes.”

Alex looked like he was about to argue, but bit his tongue. He knew me well enough to know he couldn’t change my mind.

“I think you should ask Caleb. He’s a good guy”, I suggested.

“He’s a child.”

“A lot has changed since you left. Caleb has really grown up. I think he’ll surprise you.”

Alex still looked unsure.

“Just think about it, A. Give him a chance”, I said turning halfway toward the stairs. “Do you want to meet Emma now? She’s downstairs.”

Alex shook his head, saying, “I promised Callie I’d go for a run with her. I’ll come by your barracks when I can.”

I nodded and walked away. I hated knowing I’d disappointed Alex, especially because we’d dreamed about running the pack together since we were little.

I was distracted from my thoughts by the sight of Caleb and Emma sitting on the couch together in the gallery. Caleb had his arm around her and Emma’s head was resting on his shoulder. They looked like a perfect couple.

“Archer!”, I barked, making them jump in surprise. Emma hurried to her feet, clearly embarrassed.

I marched up to them, trying to arrange my facial features into a stern look, rather than a mask of jealousy.

“We need to get to work. Perimeter sweep. Now”, I commanded. I spoke to Emma, but my eyes were on Caleb.

He was about half a head shorter than me, and I could tell by the dilation of his pupils that he was intimidated by my glare. He knew I was challenging him, and I could tell he would back down easily.

I motioned for Emma to follow me and turned from Caleb. I heard him exhale as I walked away. Emma was silent behind me as we went through each ground floor room, sweeping for intruders.

When we finished the interior, I led her outside to check the grounds.

“Fraternization is strictly prohibited”, I said sternly, as we checked an outbuilding. “We have to stay focused on our job so nothing slips past us.”

Emma stopped, placing her hands on her hips, her chin jutting forward stubbornly. Bits of hair had escaped from her braid, and I admired the way the wind blew the tendrils around her face. Her face was flushed with a delicate pink, and her eyes seemed to burn with blue ice.

“Are you telling me I’m not allowed to talk to my best friend?”, she asked, an angry edge in her voice.

“We need to be professional. You can talk, but cuddling on the couch doesn’t exactly project a sense of strength, now does it”, I retorted.

We stood and glared at each other, and I could hear her heart beating fast, as if she’d just run a marathon.

“We. Were. Not. Cuddling”, she said, her voice shaking in anger.

“Sure looked like it to me.”

“Well you’re wrong.”

“Okay. So imagine Alpha Holland had come downstairs with me. How do you think he would feel about his guard snuggling on the couch like a lovesick pup?”, I snarled.

She didn’t answer; just turned away and stalked back into the pack house.

Maybe I was too harsh on her. But really, all jealousy aside, I did hope she took my words seriously. I knew Alpha Holland well. He valued professionalism above all else, and I knew he wouldn’t take kindly to witnessing what I had just seen.

I wondered how things would change once Alex became Alpha. Most of the protocols we Hunters followed were set by his father, but Alex was much more laid back. Maybe he would relax things.

I sighed and followed Emma. I knew I’d have to apologize for losing my temper. We were supposed to be partners, and she’d never trust me if I was constantly jumping down her throat.

An idea popped into my head. Perfect.