THE LYCAN KING'S RUNT

Worshipping the Runt

The house felt strangely quiet after Ethan left.

I stood by the window long after he disappeared down the dirt path, my fingers wrapped around the curtain as if letting go would somehow erase everything that had happened that morning.

He had come looking for me.

The future Alpha of Silver Creek had carried me home.

He had made sure I ate.

He had stayed for hours just to keep me company.

I still couldn't believe it.

A small smile found its way onto my lips before I quickly shook my head.

"Don't be stupid, Selene."

People didn't suddenly change.

Ethan had always been kind. That was who he was. He would have helped anyone in my situation.

I wasn't special.

I would never be special.

A familiar ache settled in my chest as my eyes drifted toward the old rocking chair in the corner of the living room.

Mom's chair.

For weeks, I couldn't bring myself to move it.

Some foolish part of me still expected to walk into the room and find her sitting there with her knitting needles, smiling as though nothing had happened.

Instead...

Only silence greeted me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and slowly walked into the kitchen.

The crackers Ethan had opened were still on the counter beside the half-empty bottle of water.

Seeing them made something warm bloom inside me.

Someone had cared enough to worry whether I'd eaten.

It shouldn't have mattered so much.

But it did.

After losing Mom, loneliness had become as natural as breathing.

The entire pack had moved on with their lives while mine had frozen in place.

I washed the glasses we'd used before cleaning the small kitchen.

Keeping busy was easier than thinking.

By noon, my muscles still screamed from my first shift.

Every movement reminded me that my body wasn't fully mine anymore.

I had a wolf now.

A real wolf.

The thought still felt unbelievable.

I closed my eyes.

Can you hear me?

Nothing.

Only darkness.

The elders always said newly awakened wolves couldn't stop talking.

Some even argued with their humans.

Mine remained silent.

As though she were sleeping.

Or hiding.

A sudden knock echoed through the house.

I frowned.

Nobody ever visited me.

Slowly, I opened the front door.

Standing outside were three girls from the pack.

Chelsea.

Mira.

Amber.

Girls who had once laughed with me before deciding it was safer to laugh at me.

Chelsea folded her arms.

"So..."

Her eyes traveled over me.

"You finally shifted."

"I did."

"Congratulations."

Her smile didn't reach her eyes.

"I heard it took twenty years."

Amber snorted.

"Must be some kind of record."

Heat crept up my neck.

"I guess."

Mira tilted her head.

"We also heard Ethan walked you home."

The warmth inside me disappeared.

"Oh..."

"So it's true."

Chelsea stepped closer.

"You should know people are talking."

"I don't care."

"You should."

She leaned in until we were only inches apart.

"Girls like you shouldn't get ideas."

My stomach tightened.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Really?"

Amber laughed.

"The future Alpha helps you once and suddenly everyone thinks the runt has a chance."

"I never said—"

"You don't have to."

Chelsea's smile became cruel.

"We've all seen the way you look at him."

My face burned.

I opened my mouth to deny it.

Nothing came out.

Because...

Maybe they were right.

Maybe I had looked at Ethan differently.

Maybe I had started hoping for something impossible.

Chelsea noticed my silence and laughed.

"Oh, Moon Goddess."

"You actually do like him."

The other two burst into laughter.

"You should look in a mirror."

"Ethan deserves a real Luna."

"Not some pathetic late bloomer."

Every word landed like another stone against my heart.

"I never said I wanted Ethan."

Chelsea shrugged.

"You don't have to."

She glanced toward the Alpha's house standing proudly in the distance.

"Everyone knows he'll choose someone worthy."

She paused before adding quietly,

"Someone like Lydia."

The name hit me harder than I expected.

Lydia Marsh.

Beautiful.

Confident.

The Beta's daughter.

Everything I wasn't.

Even standing in front of my tiny house wearing expensive clothes, she somehow looked born to become Luna.

Compared to her...

I really was just the runt.

The girls finally left, still laughing as they walked away.

I remained standing in the doorway long after they disappeared.

The smile Ethan had given me that morning suddenly felt foolish.

What had I been thinking?

Someone like him would never...

No.

I couldn't allow myself to dream.

Dreams always broke.

Just like hearts.

An hour later, another knock came.

This time...

It was Ethan.

He stood on my porch carrying two paper bags.

"I figured you didn't have much food."

Before I could answer, he lifted one of the bags with a grin.

"So..."

"I brought lunch."

My eyes widened.

"You... bought food for me?"

"I may have bought enough for three days."

I stared at him.

"Why?"

He shrugged as though it were obvious.

"Because friends take care of each other."

Friends.

The word settled warmly inside my chest.

For now...

That was enough.

Ethan stepped inside before I could even find the words to respond.

The rich aroma of freshly baked bread and roasted chicken drifted from the paper bags in his hands, instantly filling my tiny house. My stomach betrayed me with a loud growl.

His lips curved into a grin.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."

I covered my face in embarrassment.

"I haven't eaten since yesterday."

"I figured."

He walked into the kitchen like he had every right to be there, setting the bags on the counter before pulling out containers one by one.

Soup.

Fresh bread.

Roasted chicken.

Fruit.

Even a slice of blueberry pie.

My eyes widened.

"Ethan... this must have cost a fortune."

He shrugged.

"I can afford lunch."

"But you didn't have to."

"I know."

His answer was so simple that it stole every argument from my lips.

He looked around my kitchen before opening cabinets until he found two plates.

"You really should organize this place."

"I used to."

"What changed?"

The question hung between us.

His smile faded.

"You don't have to answer."

"My mom did everything."

The words came out quietly.

"After she died..."

I swallowed hard.

"I just stopped caring."

Silence settled over the room.

Then Ethan quietly reached across the table and rested his hand over mine.

"I'm sorry, Selene."

His voice carried no pity.

Only sincerity.

For some reason...

That hurt even more.

"I keep thinking she'll walk through that door."

I looked toward the hallway.

"Sometimes I hear her voice."

"I know she isn't there..."

A tear slipped down my cheek.

"...but I still look."

Ethan squeezed my hand gently.

"Grief does that."

Another tear followed.

"I don't want to forget her."

"You won't."

"How do you know?"

"Because the people we love don't disappear."

His gray eyes met mine.

"They stay here."

He lightly tapped the center of my chest.

"As long as you remember her... she'll always be with you."

I couldn't stop crying anymore.

The tears came faster than I could wipe them away.

Without saying another word, Ethan stood and wrapped his arms around me.

For a moment...

I froze.

No one had hugged me since my mother's funeral.

Then...

Slowly...

I hugged him back.

His embrace was warm.

Safe.

For the first time in weeks, I allowed myself to cry without trying to hide it.

He never once told me to stop.

Nearly an hour later, we finally ate.

Most of the sadness had settled into something quieter.

"So..."

Ethan said between bites.

"Tell me about your wolf."

I laughed softly.

"I can't."

"What do you mean?"

"She doesn't talk."

He frowned.

"What?"

"I've tried."

I closed my eyes briefly.

"Nothing."

"That's impossible."

"I know."

"My wolf wouldn't shut up after my first shift."

I smiled.

"What did he say?"

Ethan rubbed the back of his neck.

"Mostly complained."

I blinked.

"Complained?"

"He hated vegetables."

I stared at him.

Then laughed.

"No."

"I'm serious."

"Wolves don't complain about vegetables."

"Mine did."

I laughed so hard that my sides started hurting.

"There it is again."

I looked up.

"What?"

"Your laugh."

His voice had grown softer.

"I like hearing it."

Heat rushed into my cheeks.

"You keep saying embarrassing things."

"I'm just being honest."

Our eyes met.

Neither of us looked away.

For one strange moment...

The world outside disappeared.

I noticed the tiny scar just beneath his jaw.

He noticed the loose strand of hair falling across my face.

Without thinking...

He reached forward.

His fingers gently brushed the strand behind my ear.

The simple touch sent warmth racing through my body.

Neither of us spoke.

His hand lingered for just a second too long.

Then—

A sharp growl echoed inside his mind.

Mine.

Ethan's eyes widened.

He jerked his hand back.

"What?"

I asked.

"You okay?"

He stared at me as though seeing me for the first time.

"I..."

His wolf had reacted.

Not with anger.

Recognition.

Something about my scent had changed.

It wasn't just wildflowers anymore.

There was another scent beneath it.

Moonlight.

Rain.

Ancient power.

His wolf paced restlessly.

Protect her.

The command echoed through his mind.

Ethan blinked.

"That's..."

Impossible.

He forced a smile.

"Sorry."

"What happened?"

"I guess I'm still recovering from patrol."

I nodded, accepting the excuse.

But he wasn't telling the truth.

His wolf had never reacted to another she-wolf like that before.

Ever.

Later that afternoon, Ethan finally stood.

"I really should get back before my father starts looking for me."

I walked him to the front door.

"Thank you."

"You've already said that."

"I know."

"But I mean it."

He smiled.

"I'll check on you tomorrow."

"You don't have to keep doing that."

"I know."

He stepped outside before turning back toward me.

"Oh..."

"One more thing."

"What?"

"Don't listen to whatever anyone says about you."

I frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"I heard Chelsea and her friends have been running their mouths again."

I looked away.

"It's nothing."

"It isn't nothing."

His voice became firmer.

"You deserve the same respect as everyone else in this pack."

I smiled sadly.

"I don't think everyone agrees."

"Then they'll answer to me."

Before I could respond, he started walking away.

Halfway down the path, he stopped.

He looked over his shoulder.

"See you tomorrow, Selene."

"See you tomorrow."

I watched until he disappeared.

Only then did I close the door.

Miles away...

Beyond the borders of Silver Creek...

Beyond the territories of every Alpha Pack...

A massive black wolf suddenly lifted his head.

Golden eyes snapped open.

Inside the Moon Palace, the Lycan King stood motionless on his balcony, overlooking the endless mountains.

A strange feeling settled deep within his ancient soul.

His wolf growled low.

She has awakened.

Kael frowned.

"What did you say?"

The one hidden by the Moon...

I felt her.

A powerful gust of wind swept across the palace as Kael's gaze shifted toward the distant horizon.

Somewhere...

Someone had stirred a power older than the Lycan Kingdom itself.

He didn't know her name.

He didn't know her face.

But for the first time in centuries...

His immortal blood had begun to stir.

And destiny...

Had finally started moving.