The Luna's Reluctant Alpha

Chapter Three

KAI

Caitlin's guilt trips were a craft all their own, a masterful blend of puppy dog eyes and pouting lips that could make a saint sigh in surrender. So there I was, dragged to the high school bonfire against every fiber of my will. I should have been hitting the books for the MCAT or joining the night patrol, but no, I was here, watching teenagers toss mementos into the fire as if casting away their past could forge them a brighter future.

"To new beginnings and forever love!" Caitlin screeched as she hurled her old pompoms into the flames. The smell of burning plastic and rubber singed the air, and black smoke billowed up in an acrid plume. Around me, students coughed but still managed to clap, more out of courtesy than enthusiasm. She hadn't thought that one through.

As I stood there, contemplating my escape routes, something—or rather someone—caught my eye. A petite girl with black hair stood on the fringe of her schoolmates. There was something about her... I couldn't put my finger on it, but it felt like an invisible thread pulled me toward her.

In a rare moment of clumsiness, my feet carried me closer before I could think better of it. As fate would have it—though I wasn't on speaking terms with the concept—I bumped into her. She dropped something, and as I bent to pick it up, our hands brushed briefly.

"Sorry about that," I muttered as I handed back her necklace.

She mumbled something that sounded like 'fine' without making eye contact. Her cheeks had flushed a delicate pink. Was she embarrassed? Intimidated? It wasn't like me to be this clumsy or curious about someone so obviously uncomfortable with attention.

Before I could probe further or offer a smile that didn't feel as awkward as a giraffe on ice skates, Caitlin's hand clamped onto my arm and yanked me away from the girl. "That's Alexis," she hissed once we were out of earshot. "The school nerd. Nobody likes her."

I frowned at Caitlin's back as she steered us toward a group of her friends, feeling an odd sense of irritation at her words. They were unjust and harsh, and while it was none of my business what high school cliques got up to these days, something about Alexis struck a chord within me.

As Caitlin chattered away with her friends about things I couldn't care less about—like who wore what at some party or another—I let my gaze wander back to where Alexis had been standing. She was gone now, melted into the shadows beyond the firelight.

It took me a moment—no thanks to Caitlin's relentless gossiping—to realize why Alexis seemed familiar beyond just being a student at Lincoln High. She was the daughter of Susan and Randall Kim, two pillars in our pack who held roles that were nothing short of crucial.

Susan Kim—chief trainer of young wolves and martial arts master—and Randall Kim—chief of security and advisor to yours truly—were known for their prowess and loyalty to our pack. They were enforcers who lived by a code that demanded respect.

It was odd then that their daughter seemed so isolated at an event like this—a social gathering where one's status within both high school and pack hierarchy was on blatant display. My parents had always encouraged unity within our ranks; it was one thing to have high school drama but another entirely for pack members to ostracize one of their own.

But there she was—or had been—Alexis Kim: an enigma wrapped in teenage awkwardness standing alone while everyone else huddled in groups around the bonfire.

I pushed Caitlin's comment from earlier out of my head as she continued to babble on about something else inconsequential. The whole scene felt surreal—the warmth from the fire, the chatter around me fading into white noise as I contemplated this new puzzle piece named Alexis Kim.

Why hadn't I noticed her before? With all my duties and responsibilities, had I become so detached from those around me that someone could feel so alone right under my nose?

Caitlin's laughter snapped me back to reality just in time for me to catch someone asking if we were going to hang around for s'mores.

"Sounds great," Caitlin beamed up at me with an expectant smile.

"Yeah," I echoed half-heartedly while Thunder grumbled in the back of my mind about waste-of-time human rituals and burning plastic fumes still clinging stubbornly to my nostrils.

As much as Thunder wanted out—and frankly so did I—we were stuck here for now. And though Caitlin thought she had me wrapped around her little finger with her expectations and plans for our future together, deep down inside a storm brewed—a conflict between duty and desire, promises made under duress, and an unknown attraction that tugged at my very soul.

I might not have been searching for my fated mate—but there was no denying something peculiar had just sparked tonight. And like any good storm on the horizon, it promised to be unavoidable.

I excused myself for a moment and texted Marcus and Jason to let them know I was stuck in a high school event. They both replied with "LOL." With a sigh, I returned to my girlfriend's side.

The bonfire crackled, sending sparks into the night like tiny desperate escapees. Around it, high school seniors clung to the warmth and the promise of fleeting memories. Caitlin was perched beside me, laughter bubbling from her lips as she swapped stories with her cheerleader friends. I tried to care, really, I did—but their chatter about homecoming dresses and senior pranks might as well have been white noise.

My gaze wandered back to the flames, their dance hypnotic, almost enough to distract me from the restless stirring within. Thunder rumbled in my consciousness, his impatience a mirror of my own. We don't belong here, he growled.

I agreed internally. He was right, as usual. I glanced at Caitlin; her smile didn't reach her eyes when she looked at me. She sensed my distraction.

"Kai," she said, voice edged with a warning that I was not giving her the attention she expected.

I offered her a half-smile that didn't quite meet my eyes. "Sorry, just thinking about patrol."

Her pout formed instantly, "But you promised we'd hang out tonight."

"I know, but duty calls." My phone buzzed conveniently in my pocket—a message from patrol checking in. No problems. A perfect excuse.

Caitlin's brow furrowed as I read the text aloud. "All clear," I told her. "But I should probably do a round with them—just to be safe."

She huffed, tossing her perfectly styled hair over her shoulder. "Fine, but you owe me." Her friends shot me looks that could curdle milk.

"I always do," I said with a wry grin that didn't quite reach my heart.

I stood up, dusting off the back of my jeans and looking down at Caitlin. "I'll take you home first."

She crossed her arms defiantly. "No way! I'm staying with my friends."

A challenge then. Thunder bristled inside me—her stubbornness was both infuriating and oddly endearing.

"Caity," I began, softening my voice, hoping to coax her into compliance without making a scene.

"Don't 'Caity' me," she snapped back. "Go do your Alpha thing or whatever."

Thunder scoffed at the petulance in her tone—I stifled a sigh. "Alright then," I conceded, letting the matter drop with an ease that surprised even me.

As Caitlin turned back to her friends with a victorious smirk, I slipped away into the shadows of the night—a relief washing over me as the noise of the party faded into silence.

The cool air was a balm on my skin as I made my way through Cedar Creek's quiet streets toward where one of my teams patrolled. My strides were long and purposeful—freedom tasted sweet after hours of feigned interest and plastic smiles.

Patrol duty wasn't exactly exciting either but it beat pretending for one more second that I cared about high school gossip or Caitlin's plans for some school dance.

"Alpha Larson on deck," Jason greeted me with a mock salute as I joined them on their route through town.

"Cut it out," I grumbled good-naturedly, nudging him with an elbow as we fell into step together.

We moved silently through Cedar Creek's familiar paths—the night was still and peaceful but for our footfalls and occasional low-voiced updates on the lack of activity.

Despite this calm exterior, tension hummed beneath my skin—a discordant note that had started back at that bonfire when my eyes had locked with Alexis Kim's for a fleeting moment.

I hadn't noticed her before tonight—not really—and yet there she was: a figure etched into my consciousness like a smudge on glass that refused to be wiped clean.

Thunder stirred again at the thought of her—his curiosity piqued where mine dared not tread further.

What is it about that omega? he prodded gently, almost cautious not to push too far into dangerous territory.

I had no answer for him; just an unsettled feeling and a certainty that this was not the time nor place to unravel such thoughts. But Thunder wasn't easily silenced or dissuaded—a trait we both shared in abundance.

"We doing okay here?" Deputy Sheriff Mike checked in as we neared the edge of town where woods whispered secrets in rustling leaves and hidden life.

"Yeah," I replied automatically before amending with uncharacteristic honesty, "Actually no—not really."

Mike's brows rose in surprise; concern flashed across his features quickly masked by professionalism. "Something up?"

"Just...restless tonight," I admitted without delving into specifics—there were some things even an acting Alpha kept close to his chest.

He nodded understandingly but didn't press further—we all had our demons to grapple with under moonlit skies.

We completed our circuit without incident; peace reigned over Cedar Creek this night—at least on the surface where human eyes could see and human ears could hear. But deeper down where roots tangled and earth held its breath—there were stirrings—a prelude to something more than just an unsettled Alpha and his unacknowledged yearnings for an omega who shouldn't mean anything to him but somehow did...

***

Tossing and turning, the sheets tangled around my legs, I gave up on sleep. The clock on my nightstand blinked a mocking 3:17 AM. I sighed, propping myself up against the headboard. My mind raced, filled with thoughts of the pack, my responsibilities, and... her. Alexis Kim. The girl who'd unintentionally thrown me for a loop at the bonfire.

I reached for my phone on the nightstand, the screen lighting up and casting a glow in the dark room. It was a dumb idea—looking her up online—but I couldn't shake her from my head. I blamed curiosity, telling myself it was only because she was Randall and Susan's kid and I knew next to nothing about her. Definitely not because of anything else.

My thumbs moved deftly over the screen as I typed her name into the search bar. Her social media profiles popped up—a mix of school achievements, academic contests she'd won, community service stuff. Smart cookie.

A photo caught my eye: Alexis in a white dobok, holding up a certificate with a wide grin—black belt in taekwondo. Damn. Noted.

"Are we stalking now?" Thunder's voice echoed in my head, amused.

I rolled my eyes at his comment but didn't stop scrolling. "Gathering intel," I muttered defensively.

Thunder chuckled in that deep rumble that resonated within me. "Sure, Alpha."

I tapped on a video of Alexis at some taekwondo tournament. She moved with precision and grace, kicks snapping out like whips, punches thrown with an efficiency that spoke of years of training. Her opponents were left stumbling or sprawled on the mats more often than not.

"Remind me not to piss her off," I murmured under my breath.

"You could take her," Thunder mused.

I snorted. "Not about winning or losing. It's about not ending up on the business end of one of those kicks."

"True."

I watched another video, this one at some science fair where she explained her project to a panel of judges—something about astrophysics and black holes. Her enthusiasm was infectious even through the screen.

"Weird seeing someone so... alive about school stuff," I said to Thunder.

"She's passionate," he observed.

"Yeah," I agreed absently as I continued to watch.

I felt like a creep for doing this deep dive into her life without her knowing. But there was something about Alexis that pulled at me—an inexplicable force that went beyond pack responsibility or curiosity.

"I'm just trying to understand why she gets under our skin so much," I said finally, as if needing to justify my actions to Thunder—or maybe to myself.

Thunder remained silent for a moment before replying with a hint of seriousness that he rarely used, "She's more than just the daughter of Randall and Susan."

"Yeah," I whispered again as realization began to dawn on me—whether I liked it or not, Alexis Kim mattered in a way that Caitlin never had.

With each swipe and tap on my phone screen, another layer of Alexis Kim revealed itself. Academic accolades were one thing; there were enough trophies and certificates to prove that point without debate. But it was the candid shots—Alexis laughing with friends or deep in thought over a chessboard—that showed glimpses of someone who seemed simultaneously familiar and enigmatic.

A photo caught my attention: Alexis standing on some rocky outcrop overlooking Cedar Creek's dense forests, arms spread wide like she was embracing the world—or challenging it to come at her with everything it had. Her eyes sparkled with determination and something wild that resonated deep within me.

My thumb hovered over the 'like' button before pulling back sharply—a line I wasn't ready to cross just yet.

"You're smitten," Thunder accused lightly, his voice echoing through our shared consciousness like he knew he'd hit the mark.

I grimaced at his words but didn't deny them outright. Instead, I locked my phone and set it aside, lying back down and staring at the ceiling blankly.

"Doesn't change anything," I said stubbornly after several long moments of silence between us.

"We'll see," Thunder replied cryptically before retreating into silence himself, leaving me alone with thoughts that refused to settle into slumber again.

The clock read 4:23 AM when exhaustion finally claimed me—the images of Alexis's vibrant smile and fiery eyes seared into my mind as darkness enveloped me into uneasy dreams where reality blurred with wishes better left unspoken.