CLAIMED BY MY BODYGUARD

Silence

Leaving the council chamber, Lara felt a surge of joy that manifested in a spontaneous dance of happiness. She hopped with one foot up and then the other, an exuberant celebration fueled by the realization that her life had just taken an unexpected turn for the better.

She, an orphan who knew nothing about her parents, had just been informed that she was to become the Luna of the Moonglow pack. This news far exceeded her dreams and expectations. As the gravity of the situation settled, Lara couldn't help but revel in the happiness that engulfed her. She was chosen, and it was the happiest moment of her life.

Ember spotted her soon enough and approached with a curious grin. "Hey, what's got you jumping around like that?" Ember asked, her eyes reflecting a mixture of amusement and curiosity.

Lara, still elated, replied, "Ember, you won't believe it. I sat close to him inside!"

She took a dramatic pause, enjoying the moment, and then went on, "The alpha of the pack!"

Ember's eyes widened with disbelief, mirroring Lara's own reaction when she first entered the council chamber. "No way! You actually sat close to him? The pack's alpha?" she exclaimed.

Lara nodded, her smile widening. "Yes, and you won't believe what happened inside. It's incredible!"

Despite the temptation to spill the details, Lara remembered the council's elder instructions not to announce the news yet. So, she chose to keep the revelation to herself for now.

Ember, sensing Lara's excitement, eagerly pressed her for more information. "Come on, spill it! What happened in there? I'm your best friend."

Laughing, Lara teased, "I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to spread it around just yet. It's something big, Ember."

Ember's eyes gleamed with curiosity, and she nodded enthusiastically, "Promise! Now tell me!"

Still catching her breath from the happy dance, Lara recounted the unexpected turn of events inside the council chamber. "They told me I'm going to be the Luna of the pack," she revealed, her eyes sparkling with joy.

Ember's jaw dropped, and she blinked in disbelief. "Luna? You? That's amazing!" She wrapped Lara in a tight hug, sharing in the excitement. "I can't believe it! We've always talked about the pack's alpha, and now you're going to be his Luna!"

Lara grinned, basking in the shared excitement with her friend. "I know, right? It's like a dream come true." She hesitated for a moment before adding, "But Ember, there's more to it. They've asked me not to announce it just yet, so keep it between us for now."

Ember nodded, understanding the need for discretion. "Your secret's safe with me. But seriously, this is incredible news! I'm so happy for you, Lara."

As they kept sharing their happiness, Lara couldn't help but enjoy the new joy that popped into her life. The pack's alpha, once just a dream, was now a big part of her future. With Ember beside her, Lara was excited about facing the ups and downs as the pack's Luna.

Late in the evening, Lara and Ember, her roommate and close friend, found themselves inside, making light-hearted suggestions about who to punish once Lara became the pack's Luna. Laughter filled the room as they playfully targeted the head cook, Serene, while Anna, their third roommate, joined in the banter.

Amidst the cheerful chatter, a knock interrupted their amusement. A fellow omega stood at the door revealing, "where's Lara, the pack's alpha is waiting for her outside."

With a grin, Lara assured her that she'd be out in a moment, closing the door.

"Hurry up, our Luna, don't keep the alpha waiting!" Anna teased as they all giggled.

They all pitched in to help Lara get dressed and look presentable. Then, they stepped outside, only to discover the residents of the omega ward gathered there, surprised that the alpha had come down because of one of them.

While some were happy that the person was Lara, others were jealous, making negative comments like "she doesn't deserve him" and "I bet she wouldn't last with him."

Ignoring the negativity, Lara confidently approached him. She yearned to hold hands with him but hesitated, fearing rejection. But to her surprise, he extended his hand, and she gladly grasped it, earning an "awwwwn" from onlookers.

In the chariot, normally reserved for high-ranking members when traversing around the compound, they arrived at the training field. Wondering why they were there, she refrained from asking, not wanting to ruin the moment.

After standing around doing nothing for a bit, Adam finally broke the silence. "Hey," he started, "I heard you're a late bloomer?"

"Yeah," Lara replied, a bit shy and slightly embarrassed as it wasn't something to boast about in the werewolf community.

"Well, I'd like you to come here every full moon night so Martinez can train you," Adam replied. "His method has been the most successful for late bloomers."

"Thank you, that'd be great." She nodded in response smiling although she was surprised and unsure of why he was suddenly interested in her wolfing. Martinez soon arrived, introducing himself to her.

Adam insisted on being the mentor for today, and Martinez was cool with it. Squatting before they started racing, Lara felt nervous, shivering but Adam noticed this and reassured her, "You got this, Lara. Just trust yourself."

With a hesitant smile, Lara replied, "I hope so."

She was taken aback that he had talked to her three times already today, and her infatuation giving her a bit of an ego boost.

Adam chuckled in response, "No worries, we all start somewhere. Just focus on the moon and let it guide you. You'll do great."

Racing under the rising full moon, Lara felt a peculiar sensation, like something was working. The full moon slowly appeared, showing that Adam had it all planned out.

In a few seconds, Adam was already ahead in the race, and she happily tried to catch up. The full moon rising and the strange feeling she was experiencing kept heightening her expectations but her joy turned to shock as only Adam transformed, leaving her feeling stranded.

Despite Lara's determined efforts to induce her own transformation, the endeavor proved futile, leaving her disheartened. Her excitement to shift smoothly got squashed as her body resisted the change, making her feel let down and pretty frustrated.

When Adam and Martinez finally returned in human form, Adam noticed her that she was crying. Gently wiping her tears away, he reassured her that they had time, and Martinez offered comforting words, emphasizing that progress takes time.

Feeling really down, Lara shared that it just never seems to work out, her voice tinged with sadness.

But in response, Adam pulled her into a comforting arms, saying, "Hey, it takes time, okay? Don't be too hard on yourself." His words provided a brief moment of solace, offering some comfort amid her disappointment.

Little did she know, this kindness was fleeting. The reassuring words, "there's still time" would soon become a haunting reality of "we're running out of time."