The Luna's Reluctant Alpha

ALEXIS I hovered over the sizzling pan, the scent of marinated tofu and kimchi fried rice tickling my senses. My mom, with her swift, almost supernatural grace, flipped scallion pancakes in another pan, each one landing with a satisfying hiss. Breakfast at the Kims' was like watching a well-orchestrated ballet—mom and dad moving around each other in our tiny kitchen with an efficiency that could only come from years of being top enforcers for the pack. "Aegi, don't just stand there; set the table," Dad said without looking up from slicing fruit with precise, rapid chops. I winced inwardly at the name, a tether to roots I sometimes felt I was drifting away from. At school, I was Alexis, but at home, the syllables of Seo-yun reminded me of who I was meant to be—a girl who belonged to two worlds, yet sometimes didn't seem to fit into either. "Sure, Dad," I replied, laying out the plates and chopsticks as my mind replayed the email from Principal Rogers. Top student or not, giving an inspirational speech on the first day back was about as appealing as a pop quiz in AP Physics. As we sat down, the spread before us was nothing short of regal—breakfast of champions for a family of werewolves. But while mom and dad seemed to embody the American werewolf dream, I couldn't shake the feeling of being the odd pup out. They were strong, commanding, the epitome of what it meant to be part of the pack. And then there was me, Alexis Kim, great at math, a blackbelt in taekwondo thanks to my parents, but when it came to being a wolf... let's just say I hadn't quite caught up. "Seo-yun, you're quiet this morning," Mom observed, her keen eyes missing nothing as she took a bite of her pancake. "Nervous about your speech?" "Maybe a little," I admitted, poking at my tofu. The truth was I was more than a little nervous—I was petrified. Not because of public speaking, but because standing in front of the entire school would mean all eyes on me, Little Miss Can't-Shift. "Your words will inspire them," Dad assured me, his voice firm like his belief in me. "You have a way of seeing things differently—a strength of its own." "Thanks, Dad." I smiled, trying to believe it. In moments like these, a tiny voice whispered maliciously in my ear, suggesting that maybe I was adopted. That would explain the lack of fangs and fur. But deep down, I knew I wasn't. I had my mom's eyes and my dad's stubborn chin. I just... hadn't found my wolf yet. "Remember to stand tall, Seo-yun," Mom said, her tone softening. "You represent not just yourself today, but our family, our heritage of greatness." "I know, Omma." I nodded, taking a deep breath as I gathered my books, ready to face Lincoln High as a senior. Maybe this year would be different. Maybe I'd finally figure out where I fit in this puzzle of claws and canines. Until then, I had a speech to give, and perhaps, if I was lucky enough, no surprise quizzes waiting for me. *** The bell had just finished its shrill cry when I slipped into the bustling halls of Lincoln High, a wave of whispers cresting as I passed. The scent of teenager angst mixed with cheap cologne was almost enough to mask my unease. Almost. It was a stark reminder that, in this sea of budding wolves and preening alphas, I was the oddity—the werewolf who couldn't shift. "Hey, Alexis!" Jared Park's voice cut through the cacophony, tinged with the competitive edge that had defined our academic rivalry since we were both drooling over fingerpaints. "Jared," I replied, offering him a smile sharp enough to slice through his bravado. The captain of the water polo team stood there, muscles practically bursting from his letterman jacket, yet all I could see was the boy who once ate glue in art class. I maneuvered through the crowd with ease, a skill honed by years of ducking Caitlin's barbs and navigating high school politics. A prefect badge gleamed on my blazer—an emblem of my efficiency at keeping order and a shield against those who dared to cross me. Speaking of which... "Little Miss Can't-Shift," Caitlin sneered as she sidled up next to her minions, her words dipped in venom and mascara-laden eyelashes fluttering with faux innocence. "Original as always, Caitlin," I retorted smoothly, locking eyes with her to show I wasn't fazed. "Did you think of that one all summer, or did it just come to you in a vision of pettiness?" Her followers tittered, but their laughter held a nervous edge, like hyenas unsure if they were still in favor with their queen. "Whatever, Alexis. Just don't embarrass us at the assembly." She flipped her hair and strutted away, her entourage in tow. Tyler Richards, the basketball star with the bashful smile of a boy who still hadn't grown into his height, offered me an apologetic look from where he loitered by his locker. I just shrugged. What else was new? "Nice comeback," Caleb Summers murmured as he caught up with me, his lanky frame leaning against a row of lockers. Another valedictorian hopeful, Caleb was sweet as they came—a rare breed in this place. "Thanks, Caleb. You ready for senior year?" He nodded, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "Ready to beat you for top spot." "Good luck with that," I laughed, knowing full well it would be a close race between us. "Alexis! Over here!" Annie's voice anchored me, pulling me towards our usual meeting spot. Her adventurous spirit was like a balm to my worries, while Jamie, ever the steady presence, smiled softly as I joined them. "Survived your first morning encounter with Caitlin?" Jamie asked, her tone equal parts sympathy and sarcasm. "Survived and thrived," I said, tossing my hair back with feigned nonchalance. They chuckled, understanding the act for what it was. "Are you ready for the speech?" Annie inquired, her excitement bubbling over like a pot left unattended on the stove. "More or less," I confessed, feeling the weight of expectation settle upon my shoulders. "Just hoping there aren't any pop quizzes today. I heard Mr. Simmons tends to give one on the first day to weed out the weak. I'd like to keep my sanity intact for the assembly." "Whatever happens," Jamie added, her hand resting briefly on my arm, "you've got this, Alexis. Always have, always will." I drew in a deep breath, letting their confidence buoy me. This was my world—a blend of teenage drama and supernatural quandaries. And though I may not have had fur or fangs to show for it, I had a voice, a sharp mind, and two friends who never let me forget that I belonged. "Let's do this," I said, my heart steadier now. Senior year, I was ready for you—shiftless freak or not. *** Staring at the glowing constellations on my ceiling, I floated among them, my thoughts lost in the latest episode of 'Cosmos' I'd watched earlier. The walls of my room were a testament to my obsession with the stars—posters of Michio Kaku and Neil deGrasse Tyson standing like guardians of my personal universe. Dr. Lisa Randall's books were neatly stacked on my shelf, her theories on parallel universes whispering promises of places where I might fit in better. I dragged my gaze away from a particularly bright Sirius sticker and glanced at the poster from space camp, a relic from sixth grade when I had proudly declared I'd be the first werewolf astronaut. It was a dream that hadn't dimmed despite everything—my unshifting wolf status made me an anomaly in Cedar Creek's pack dynamics. Maybe NASA or JPL would appreciate a brain wired for astrophysics over fangs and fur. A soft knock pulled me back to Earth. Annie peeked around the door, her face lit with that 'I've got a plan and you're going to love it' smile."Lexi, you're not seriously going to bail on the senior bonfire, are you? It's tradition! Plus, it's our last year to do... normal high school stuff." I sighed, pushing up from my bed. "Annie, you know crowds aren't really my scene. I'd rather be up here with Hawking than down there with... people." "Come on, don't you feel it? That FOMO?" Annie danced into the room, grabbing a glowing star off my bookcase and sticking it on her forehead. "Fear of missing out, Lexi! It's our last chance to make memories before we graduate!" Jamie wandered in behind her, nodding in agreement. "She's right, Alexis. Besides, I heard Tyler Richards might show up." I felt the corners of my mouth betray me with a small smile at Tyler's mention. He was kind—always had been since we were kids—but he was also popular and athletic; basically in another stratosphere compared to me. "Fine," I relented as Annie cheered. "But if this turns into a horror movie scenario, I'm blaming you both." Annie clapped her hands together like a director calling action as Jamie rifled through my closet for something suitable for me to wear. The camaraderie was infectious; their enthusiasm slowly melting away my apprehension. We spent the next hour playing dress-up like any normal group of teenage girls prepping for a night out. Jamie picked out a simple black top that made me feel slightly less like an awkward nerd hiding behind her astronomy books. Annie insisted on doing something with my hair that didn't involve its usual ponytail confinement. As we finished getting ready—Annie applying a light coat of lip gloss while Jamie approved with an assertive nod—I couldn't help but feel like this was a scene straight out of a teen movie montage. "Look at us," Jamie said with mock seriousness as she draped an arm over Annie and me, "three musketeers ready to take on senior year." We shared a laugh before making our way out of my celestial sanctuary and into the real world—or as real as it gets in Cedar Creek. My mom caught us as we were heading down the stairs. Her eyes swept over us with that laser precision only mothers possess. "Going somewhere?" she asked, though it was clear she already knew the answer. "The senior bonfire," I said, trying to sound more excited than nervous about venturing into such social territory. Susan Kim smiled—a rare expression that crinkled her eyes and warmed her enforcer's stoicism. "Good," she said simply. "It's nice to see you doing something... social." With her blessing and Annie leading the charge like she was storming Normandy rather than guiding us to a bonfire, we stepped out into the cool evening air filled with anticipation and anxiety in equal measure. The bonfire was already ablaze when we arrived—a beacon drawing Cedar Creek High's entire senior class like moths to a flame. Music thrummed through the air as shadows danced around the firelight. It was all so quintessentially high school that it almost felt surreal to be part of it. As I tried not to feel like an outsider looking in, I couldn't help but notice him—Kai Larson—the living legend of Cedar Creek. He was leaning against his old red truck parked at the edge of the clearing; his laughter rolling over the crowd as easily as he threw touchdowns on Friday nights. He was every inch the town god: sculpted jawline lit by firelight, killer smile reflecting in his ocean-deep eyes, longish blond hair just begging for someone's fingers to get lost in it. My parents spoke about Kai often enough that his accolades might as well have been etched into our dining room table: quarterback of U of Wi’s Division 1 football team, honor roll student... pack Alpha heir apparent. We'd played together as kids—me always trying too hard while he barely tolerated my presence—and now here he stood: an untouchable deity surrounded by his worshippers. And there was Queen b***h, Caitlin Moore—his girlfriend—clinging to him with all the subtlety of Gorilla glue branding itself onto wood. I exhaled slowly, trying not to dwell on how effortlessly perfect they looked together; how he represented everything I wasn't allowed even in my wildest dreams: success within our pack community and acceptance without question or fault. "Yeah," I whispered under my breath as Annie nudged me forward into the throng of our peers. "There’s one guy who exists so far outside my reality that dreaming feels like an exercise in futility." The crackling of the bonfire played the soundtrack to my misery. I watched, with a sour twist in my gut, as Caitlin Moore plastered herself against Kai Larson like a second skin. She was all giggles and fluttering eyelashes, her cheerleader uniform fitting her as if it were painted on. Kai didn't seem to mind the attention. I mean, why would he? He had the build of a Greek god wrapped in the casual confidence only a quarterback could muster. Annie nudged me, snapping me back from my brooding. "Check out the talent tonight, Lex. Puberty's definitely done wonders for some of these guys." Jamie chimed in, her eyes scanning the crowd before landing on a familiar figure. "Caleb Summers must've eaten nothing but Wheaties and protein shakes all summer. Have you seen his arms?" My lips twitched in a half-hearted smile. Caleb was our class's golden boy: smart, athletic, and recently more chiseled than Michelangelo's David. But right now, I couldn't care less about Caleb or his new biceps. The ritual at these bonfires involved tossing something into the fire—a symbolic act for letting go or embracing change. Caitlin decided her pompoms were the perfect sacrifice to the flames, screaming over the roar, "To new beginnings and forever love!" The stench of burning plastic immediately filled the air, causing a collective groan to ripple through the crowd. Annie coughed dramatically. "The bimbo didn't think that one through, did she? Typical." I had nothing in my hands to throw; I wasn't exactly prepared for this part of the night. Annie tossed her 11th grade Trig final into the fire with more gusto than necessary while Jamie contributed her milkshake-stained sweatshirt—a direct souvenir from Caitlin's cruelty. I fingered the silver necklace Grandma Chen gave me years ago—a delicate chain with an odd charm that always seemed warm to touch—when she'd said with that mischievous glint in her eye, "For luck." The charm felt heavy in my palm as I hesitated. Then he was there—Kai Larson—in all his too-close-for-comfort glory. "Whoa, sorry there." His voice was a low rumble as he accidentally bumped into me. The necklace slipped from my fingers and fell to the ground. Panic flared inside me—not from the proximity of Cedar Creek's finest specimen but because that necklace meant something to me; it was one of those irrational attachments you can't explain. Kai bent down and picked it up before I could react. When he straightened up and handed it back to me, our fingers brushed momentarily. A jolt went through me—not electric or magical—just awkward and alarmingly human. "You okay?" He peered at me with those deep blue eyes that made girls swoon left and right. "Yeah," I managed to mumble as he placed the necklace back in my hand. "Good." He offered a brief smile then returned to Caitlin without another word. I stared at the necklace in my palm before tucking it safely back around my neck. Kai Larson had spoken to me for possibly the first time ever—and it was because of an accident. "Was that Kai Larson?" Annie asked incredulously after he'd walked away. I nodded mutely. "He never comes to these things," Jamie added with a frown. I watched as he reclaimed his spot beside Caitlin, who looped an arm around his waist possessively. The firelight danced across his face, throwing half of it into shadow while illuminating his sharp jawline and those eyes that seemed too blue to be real. "Looks like Caitlin's got him on a pretty short leash," Annie commented dryly. I tried not to think about how Kai's hand felt against mine—warm and calloused—or how my stomach did this weird flip when our skin touched. It was nothing; it had to be nothing. Around us, laughter swirled with smoke into the night sky while shadows cavorted between firelit faces. Someone strummed a guitar off-key somewhere behind us, adding to the chaotic harmony of high school revelry. "I'm going for something stronger than punch," Jamie announced suddenly, making her way toward where someone had set up an illicit cooler full of contraband beers stolen from various fridges across town. "Do you want anything?" Annie asked me with raised eyebrows. I shook my head no and watched Jamie disappear into the crowd. The last thing I needed tonight was alcohol fuzzing up my already tangled thoughts about Kai Larson—thoughts I shouldn't even be having in the first place because... well... Caitlin Moore existed in all her mean-girl glory. "Let's get closer," Annie suggested mischievously, grabbing my hand and dragging me toward where people were laughing louder and talking faster near the bonfire's heat. With each step closer to where Kai stood among his peers—untouchable and golden—I could feel that same panic creeping back up again. Why did seeing him here feel like such a big deal? And why did I care so much about what he thought when he clearly didn't know I existed until tonight? My pulse quickened as we wove through clusters of classmates who paid us no mind. The closer we got to him—the guy who ruled our school corridors like they were his personal kingdom—the more I realized how out of place I felt here among these people who lived for nights like this: loud music blaring over conversation as if daring anyone present not to have fun under its command.