They Called Me A Beta

Chapter 2: Something is Changing

I didn't sleep that night.

Every time I closed my eyes, I remembered Kieran's expression.

You're a Beta, Seraphina.

As if he were trying to convince himself.

As if he had expected me to be something else.

I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling.

My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin.

She had been quiet for as long as I could remember.

Not completely silent, of course. Every werewolf had a wolf.

But mine had always been different.

Weak.

Distant.

I had never felt the instinctive pull toward the moon that other wolves described. Never experienced the overwhelming rush of a strong wolf awakening during adolescence.

The pack doctor had examined me when I was sixteen.

He'd told me not to worry.

"Some wolves mature later."

So I hadn't questioned it.

Until yesterday.

Until Kieran.

I pressed a hand against my chest.

Nothing.

Just my heartbeat.

I exhaled.

It was probably nothing.

It had to be.

Because if I allowed myself to believe that Kieran's reaction meant something...I would only end up hurting myself.

Again.

By morning, I had convinced myself to forget it.

Or at least, I tried.

"You're late."

I looked up from my breakfast.

Kieran was sitting across the table.

His hair was still damp from his shower, and he was dressed in the black uniform he wore whenever he had official Alpha duties.

"I woke up late."

"You?" He raised an eyebrow.

"You've never been late for anything."

I shrugged.

"There's a first time for everything."

He continued watching me.

I lowered my gaze to my plate.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You've been staring at me for five minutes."

"I have not."

"You have."

His jaw tightened.

"You look different."

My fork stopped halfway to my mouth.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know."

He looked irritated by the question.

"Something's different."

Before I could answer, Luna Elena entered the dining room.

"Good morning."

She smiled at both of us.

Then she looked at Kieran.

"Did you sleep?"

"Yes."

"Properly?"

"Mother."

She laughed.

"That means no."

She sat beside me and reached over to fix the collar of my blouse.

"You look beautiful today."

"Thank you."

Kieran made a sound under his breath.

His mother glanced at him.

"Something to say?"

"No."

"Good."

Alpha Richard entered a moment later.

He was already holding a stack of documents.

"Kieran, after breakfast, I need you in my office."

Kieran nodded.

"About the southern border?"

"Among other things."

The conversation shifted to pack business.

I listened quietly.

This was normal.

This was my life.

Breakfast with the Blackwoods.

Pack duties.

Training.

Helping Luna Elena with the household.

Dinner together.

It wasn't a bad life.

It was actually a wonderful one.

That was why I couldn't understand why my chest felt so heavy whenever I thought about leaving.

I didn't want to leave.

I wanted Kieran to look at me differently.

I wanted to believe that one day he might see me as more than the girl his parents had raised alongside him.

But wanting something didn't mean I would get it.

I'd learned that a long time ago.

By noon, I was in the pack's medical center helping organize supplies.

The pack doctor, Dr. Marcus Hale, glanced at me from across the room.

"Seraphina."

"Yes?"

"Come here."

I walked over.

He held out a small vial.

"Smell this."

I frowned.

"What is it?"

"Just smell it."

I uncorked the vial.

The moment the scent reached me, my stomach turned.

I dropped it.

The glass shattered against the floor.

Dr. Hale stared at me.

I stared back.

"I'm sorry."

"You recognized it."

"What?"

He crouched to clean up the broken glass.

"Moonroot."

I frowned.

"I've smelled it before."

"Most Betas barely notice the scent."

I froze.

He looked up.

"Your reaction was unusually strong."

"I've always had a sensitive nose."

"Apparently."

He studied me for another moment.

Then his expression changed.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine."

"Any headaches?"

"No."

"Dizziness?"

"No."

"Changes in your appetite?"

I hesitated.

"A little."

"Sleep?"

"Not great."

He nodded slowly.

"Anything else?"

I thought about yesterday.

Kieran was standing in front of me.

His scent.

The strange warmth in my chest.

My wolf waking.

"No."

It was easier to lie.

Dr. Hale didn't seem convinced.

"Seraphina, if anything feels unusual, tell me."

"I will."

He nodded.

"Good."

I returned to organizing the shelves.

But I could feel his eyes on me.

That evening, the pack gathered for dinner.

The dining hall was loud with conversation.

Warriors sat with their families.

Children ran between tables.

Laughter filled the room.

I sat beside Luna Elena.

Kieran sat across from us.

For most of the meal, he barely spoke to me.

But I noticed something.

Every time someone came too close to my chair, his eyes followed them.

I tried not to think about it.

I failed.

Halfway through dinner, one of the young warriors leaned over.

"Seraphina."

I looked up.

"Yes?"

"Are you going to the moon ceremony this weekend?"

I smiled.

"I think so."

"You should come with me."

Before I could answer, Kieran's fork hit his plate.

The sound cut through the conversation.

Everyone looked at him.

He stared at the warrior.

"She doesn't need an escort."

The warrior blinked.

"I was just asking."

"I heard you."

I looked at Kieran.

His expression was unreadable.

Luna Elena sighed.

"Kieran."

"What?"

"Stop glaring at the boy."

"I'm not."

"You are."

Kieran leaned back.

"Fine."

The warrior laughed awkwardly.

"Forget I asked."

He turned away.

I looked at Kieran again.

"Why did you do that?"

His eyes met mine.

"I don't know."

It was the same answer as yesterday.

Something is different.

I don't know.

I looked away.

Maybe Kieran didn't understand what was happening either.

Maybe his wolf was confused.

Maybe mine was.

But whatever it was, I needed it to stop.

Because I could already feel myself hoping again.

And hope was dangerous.

That night, I woke up to pain.

I gasped and sat upright.

My entire body was burning.

I pressed my hands against my stomach.

Something was happening.

My heart raced.

My wolf suddenly slammed against the inside of my mind.

For the first time in my life, she wasn't quiet.

She was awake.

Fully awake.

And she was terrified.

Run.

I froze.

The voice was mine.

And yet it wasn't.

Run.

I stumbled out of bed.

My legs nearly gave out.

The room spun.

I grabbed the edge of my desk.

Then I smelled it.

A scent I'd never experienced before.

Warm.

Sweet.

Wild.

It wrapped around me like a blanket.

My wolf whimpered.

And somewhere outside my bedroom door—

I heard another wolf growl.

I held my breath.

The footsteps stopped.

Then came three quiet knocks.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

"Seraphina?"

Kieran.

I stared at the door.

His voice was different.

Lower.

Rougher.

Almost strained.

"Open the door."

I couldn't move.

He knocked again.

"Seraphina."

My hand trembled as I reached for the doorknob.

And the moment my fingers touched it, my wolf whispered one word inside my head.

Mate.