Wildborn

New Threads

She had not expected to run into the captain of the basketball team in a diner, and she certainly hadn't expected her first meeting with Soriah to feel a little like a test.

The girl was tall, 5'9, just slightly shorter than Bri. Lean muscle under graceful movement, she regarded Bri with a composed stillness, her expression unreadable.

“Sera mentioned our new arrival might be interested in basketball,” Soriah said, her voice smooth but restrained. She didn’t quite sound suspicious, but definitely cautious.

Sera lifted both hands innocently from her seat. “I may have looked into your old school's social media and athletics pages a little. Purely informational. Not stalker behavior.”

Bri glanced at her. “You absolutely stalked.”

“Light reconnaissance,” Sera corrected cheerfully.

Bri laughed and turned back to Soriah. “I am. I played shooting guard and small forward back home on our school's varsity team.”

Soriah gave a slow nod. "This is Kate and Gemma," she said, gesturing to the two girls who had joined her on either side.

Kate offered a polite smile. Gemma gave a small wave. "We're on the team too."

Bri smiled back. "Nice to meet you. I'm starting at Lunebrook with you in a couple of weeks. I was hoping to try out."

Inside, Soriah's wolf perked up.

I sense she has fire, Nashehni murmured. Strength hidden under softness.

She's new. Unproven, Soriah replied silently.

You were unproven once too. I feel a spark in her.

Soriah suppressed the thought. Potential isn't the same as worthy. Not everyone is meant to mix and run beside the old bloodlines.

Nashehni was quiet for a moment, the ancient patience of her presence settling like wind through old stone.

I have watched many wolves rise, little hunter, she murmured at last. Some were born to greatness. Some fought their way toward it. And a rare few carried both in their bones.

"Tryouts are the third week," she said aloud. "We could use a strong offensive weapon. I look forward to seeing what you bring."

Polite. Diplomatic. Noncommittal.

Soriah and her friends excused themselves a moment later, and Bri turned back to Sera, who grinned knowingly.

"Who was that?" Riona asked as they joined her and Matteo at the booth they had been seated in.

"Soriah Valeiros," Sera said, sliding into the booth. "Same year as us. Captain of the basketball team. And Kai's girlfriend."

Grandma nodded. "Kai. As in your brother?"

"They've known each other since childhood," Sera said, unbothered by the weight of her words. "Two legacy-born prodigies raised in the inner circle. If they mated… it would mean the Valeiros and Romano bloodlines would unite again. Strength, loyalty, and—"

Matteo cleared his throat.

Sera winced and stopped talking.

"Anyway," Matteo said, gesturing to the menus, "Make sure you save room for dessert. The peach cobbler here is the stuff of legends."

The food was legendary.

Bri had a cheeseburger so juicy she barely spoke until she was done. Matteo had a double stack with bacon, Sera got the patty melt, and Riona ordered an herbed chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries. The milkshakes were thick and topped with whipped cream and cherries, and the peach cobbler did live up to its reputation.

As Bri ate, her mind wandered back again to Hollow Pines. To late-night fries with Meg, to Alec pulling her behind the soda machine for a stolen moment that made the whole place disappear. A pang twisted in her chest.

But she pushed it aside.

There was too much to process right now.

Once they paid the bill, the next stop was the clothier.

A narrow two-story boutique tucked around the corner from the coffee shop. The store's interior was all creamy walls, gold hardware, and racks of beautifully tailored clothing. A tall seamstress named Eliana welcomed them.

First was the Lunebrook uniform: a charcoal blazer with silver trim, crisp white shirt, and tailored navy slacks or pleated skirt depending on preference. Then came the training fatigues, matte black and form-fitting, thick and designed to glance off and protect against weaponry.

"You’ll wear these for combat and conditioning," Sera explained, flipping through a lookbook. "But on general academic days, you can wear whatever you want. A shame really, because you are wearing those fatigues."

Bri skipped past the compliment and looked at her quizzically. "Whatever?"

"Within reason."

Thus began an hour-long style trial where Bri was Sera's personal barbie doll. Bri had only ever felt comfortable in her body when she was on the basketball court, and she never felt like she had much fashion sense or her own personal style, so they started from square one and cycled through various fashion trends; Preppy plaid skirts, blazers and blouses, Boho flowy tops, long skirts, and earth tones, Sporty leggings with matching tops, running shoes, and other athleisure wear, and Bri's least favorite, Grunge ripped jeans with chunky boots and lots of acid wash.

Nothing felt right.

Then Sera pulled a cropped hoodie with a subtle black on gray tie-dye pattern from a nearby rack. "Try this with those high-waisted jeans. And those sneakers."

Bri hesitated, then changed.

When she stepped out, she caught her reflection.

It fit.

Streetwear is what Eliana had heard it called.

Relaxed. Fitted. Confident.

She chose more pieces: oversized sweatshirts, logo tees, wide-leg jeans, zip-up hoodies, fitted tanks. Her favorite find was a pair of bone-white Jordan sneakers with silver detailing and a translucent sole.

Sera wasn't satisfied that the shopping trip was done until there were other occasion pieces; a couple more formal dresses and a few pieces that could only be described as business casual because, as she put it, "you never know."

Just before checkout, a delicate silver clip shaped like a flower caught Bri's eye.

Lena would love that.

She added it to her pile.

Matteo paid, waving off both her and Grandma Riona's protests. "Alpha’s orders."

Back at the Pack House, Bri carried her bags to her room. Her mom was sleeping peacefully on the couch, and Lena wasn't back yet, so she tiptoed into Lena's room and placed the clip on her pillow.

When she returned to the common space, Sera was waiting.

"Ready for Beta Antonio?"

They walked in silence to the third floor, reserved for the Beta family. Sera explained as they went:

"His mate is Camilla, Cami. They have three kids; two twin boys and a little girl. Ages seven to three. All adorable. They’ll probably go to school with Lena."

The hallways on the third floor smelled of cedar and lemon polish, and after what seemed like a very long walk, they stopped at the end of the corridor in front of two large double doors.

Sera knocked.

"Come in."

The office was spacious and warm. Two armchairs in forest green next to a brown leather couch, wood-paneled bookshelves, and a massive walnut desk stacked with neat files. A small bar stood in the corner beside a cushioned window seat.

Behind the desk sat Beta Antonio.

Blond hair, sun-touched skin, and clear green eyes. His features were striking in a coastal kind of way, and he looked like he could be carved from a seaside cathedral or pass as a local surfer on a California beach just trying to find the next set.

He looked up, eyes brightening.

"Brielle," he said. "Welcome. Please, sit."

She and Sera took seats across from him.

"How was downtown?"

"Breathtaking," Bri said. "Feels like its own world."

He nodded. "That’s the goal. And Sera didn't pester you too much?"

"Hey!" Sera objected.

Antonio winked at her. "Just making sure. Now…" He flipped open a file. "Some housekeeping items for our records. You're seventeen. December birthday. Have you heard your wolf yet?"

“Yes.”

“When did you first hear her?”

“Around when I turned fifteen.”

Antonio paused, his brows lifting slightly. “Interesting. And what is her name?”

“Eira.” Bri frowned faintly. “Why is that interesting?”

“Beautiful name,” he said. “Only that most wolves don’t awaken until sixteen, sometimes seventeen.”

He glanced back down at the file. “And have you shifted yet?”

"No, not yet. I thought that wouldn't happen until I turned eighteen?"

“For most, that’s the case,” he said, closing the file. “But rare exceptions exist. Our future Alpha shifted five months early. Very strong, or very old, wolves can sometimes come forward sooner. We’ll keep an eye on it.”

Bri tilted her head. “Old wolves?”

Antonio rested his hands on the desk. “Some wolves carry spirits that have lived before. Reincarnated, in a sense. It’s rare, but it has been known to happen.”

His gaze flicked briefly toward Sera. “I believe Soriah’s wolf may be one of those. Have you had a chance to meet her yet?”

“Actually… yeah,” Sera chimed in. “At the diner during lunch.”

Bri reached inward. Eira… are you an old wolf?

Define old, Eira replied smoothly.

Beta Antonio leaned forward and continued. "Tell me what you know about the Lumen Praxis."

Bri recited what Sera and Matteo had explained earlier in the day.

"Echo Chamber, Gauntlet, Concordance Trial, Medicum. Psychological, physical, moral, and healing assessments."

"Exactly right," Antonio said, smiling. "Your preparation starts tomorrow. Here's your schedule for the remainder of this week and next until Term starts the following Monday."

He handed her a folder:

- 6:00A - 8:00A

Conditioning & Weightlifting

- 8:30A

Breakfast

- 10:00A - 12:00P Combat Training

- 1230P

Lunch

- 2:00P - 4:00P

Healing Prep

- 5:00P

Dinner

- 7:00P - 8:00P

Garden Party Planning Committee

- 8:00P - 10:00P

Free Time

- 10:00P

Curfew: Applicable for all underage wolves

"Garden Party Planning Committee?" Bri asked.

"To welcome back Kai and Galen and the warriors who have been training this summer, and a good opportunity to volunteer and to meet your peers before school starts."

Bri nodded, silent.

Eira, she thought.

I know, her wolf answered. It feels big. But this is pack life, and we need to contribute and participate to stay hidden.

But social stuff… it was easier when I had Meg. Or Alec.

You have me. And Sera.

"Any questions?" Antonio asked.

"No, sir. Thank you."

They stood.

"You're going to do well here, Brielle," he said.

Sera gave a nod. "I have to meet my mom to help with party prep for Kai. You good to get back on your own?"

"Yeah."

Bri walked slowly through the halls of the Pack House back towards the East Wing.

Pack life was huge.

Regimented.

She thought back to what her mom had said: Just keep going, day by day.