During the lunch break, the Moonlight Pack’s training hall was nearly empty. I sat at one of the long wooden tables, picking at my sandwich while trying to make sense of the combat strategy problems in front of me. Next to me sat another packed meal—pulled pork and a marinated chicken drumstick, now cold. It had taken forever to get that from the pack kitchen, but Anastasia, the Beta from the Nightshade Pack, had refused to eat it, so Alpha Dax had taken her to a nearby diner instead.

Today’s meal tasted bitter, and it was hard to focus on my work.

“Why the tears? Stop being such a crybaby.”

A pair of long, slender hands tapped on the table, followed by a packet of tissues and a box of spiced honey cake. I looked up to see Edgar Wheeler, pulling a medal from his messenger bag and placing it in front of me.

Elite Warrior Trials Gold Medal...

“Edgar, you’re back?”

I grabbed a couple of tissues to quickly wipe away the tears on my face, surprised by his sudden appearance. Edgar had been my classmate during our early training years, but he’d transferred to the advanced combat group in our senior year. For the first half of the year, he’d been away at the Crimson Howl Pack’s elite warrior training camp, so I hadn’t seen him much.

Today, he wore a black hoodie with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing toned forearms. He seemed a bit more mature, his presence calm yet commanding.

“If I didn’t come back, wouldn’t Alpha Dax just torment you endlessly?”

“I’m going to start tutoring you in combat strategies today.”

Edgar pulled out the chair next to me and sat down uninvited. He took the practice book that was lying beside me and, with his agile fingers, started marking it with a red pen. Hearing Alpha Dax’s name, I sniffed in frustration.

“N-no need.”

Seeing more and more red Xs spread across the pages of my workbook, I felt a bit embarrassed and wanted to decline his offer. But Edgar was straightforward and efficient, diving right into explaining the problems after finishing his corrections.

“You used the wrong approach for this maneuver...”

His voice was low, yet clear and engaging. Unlike Alpha Dax’s methodical style, Edgar’s approach to combat strategies was lively and intriguing. Before long, the scratch paper was covered in his neat notes.

I had to focus and keep up with his explanations. Once I corrected my mistakes, I noticed that Edgar had finished off the box of pulled pork, clearly enjoying it.

Thinking back, I realized we weren’t all that close. Maybe he’s just the kind of person who’s helpful when packmates need it. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of gratitude. In a pack where I often felt like an outsider, Edgar’s quiet support was a rare comfort.

After finishing evening study, I stood by the bike rack outside the training grounds, waiting for the Alpha heir. I wasn’t planning on following him back to the pack house; I just needed the keys I’d given him this morning.

Through the dim light, I spotted Dax walking casually with one hand in his pocket, his broad shoulders and towering frame unmistakable even from a distance. Anastasia, a Beta from the Nightshade Pack, skipped alongside him, her vibrant energy a stark contrast to his calm, commanding presence. She lifted her pretty face, her eyes sparkling as she teased, “I did better in combat tactics today, Alpha Heir. You owe me an ice cream.”

Dax kept his cool demeanor, but the corner of his mouth twitched in reluctant amusement. It was the same expression he wore when he couldn’t resist indulging someone’s charm.

Last year, during our pack’s training expedition to the mountains, I collapsed halfway from exhaustion. Dax, ever the dutiful future Alpha, crouched in front of me, his piercing gaze softening as he tousled my hair. “Brooklyn, if you act cute, I’ll carry you the rest of the way.”

Yet, I only muttered back without changing my expression, the weight of grief still heavy on my shoulders since my father, a Delta warrior, had fallen in battle. Smiling or acting cute didn’t come easily. Dax chuckled softly, his deep voice carrying a warmth that momentarily eased the ache in my chest, and he lifted me onto his back. “You’re tough to handle.”

That day, fog swept over the mountains, bringing a biting cold. But Dax’s back felt warm and steady, his Alpha aura a comforting presence that calmed my inner turmoil.

“Yay! Alpha Heir, you’re my favorite!” Anastasia’s laughter, carried by the evening wind, almost sounded like a confession. By the time I snapped back to reality, Dax had already pulled out the keys, his sharp eyes locking onto mine as he waited patiently for me.

“Walk home by yourself and don’t spill anything to the Luna,” he said, his tone firm but not unkind.

Anastasia caught sight of me and shyly hid behind Dax, though her movements were more playful than bashful. As she peeked out, her smile had a trace of mischief, as if she knew something I didn’t.

“Okay,” I replied, my voice steady despite the tightness in my chest.

I took the keys from his outstretched hand, my fingers brushing against his briefly. Adjusting my backpack, I turned to head home, the weight of the Alpha heir’s expectations and the Beta’s knowing smile pressing down on me like a storm cloud. But I walked on, my steps steady, refusing to let the cracks in my heart show.

When I returned to the Moonlight Pack house, the Luna had prepared a spiced honey cake as a late-night treat. She kindly took my backpack from me, her eyes softening as they caught the faint redness at the corner of my eyes.

“Brooklyn, why are your eyes red? Why did you come back alone? Where’s the Alpha heir? Did he upset you? If he did, I’ll make sure he answers to me.”

Faith Munoz, the Luna of the Moonlight Pack, was always so gentle with me. Years ago, after my father, Gideon Patterson, a Delta warrior, lost his life saving Dax from a rogue attack, it was the Luna who decided to take me into their pack. Though I was just an Omega, she treated me with the same warmth and care as she did her own son.

“It’s nothing, Luna. I’ve just been struggling a bit with my combat training lately.” I sat at the dining table, sipping a cup of coffee slowly. The warmth of the drink helped ease the chill gnawing at my heart. Meeting her concerned gaze, I managed a small smile.

Thinking of Dax’s earlier words about not owing me anything, I hesitated before speaking. “Luna, I’d like to request permission to transfer to another pack for my warrior trials.”

“With the trials only a few months away, moving to a new pack might give me more time to focus on my training.”

Hearing my request, the Luna paused, her expression a mix of surprise and concern. She didn’t press me, though. Instead, she opened her phone’s calendar and counted down the days. Though she seemed reluctant, she nodded, understanding the importance of my training.

With a gentle smile, she rested her hand on my head. “Your scores in other areas are already strong. You and the Alpha heir will have no issue passing the trials; there’s no need to stress so much.”

When we were selecting our training preferences, Dax would often drop hints about his choices, only relaxing once he was sure I’d picked the same path as him. Remembering how I secretly changed my application form in the pack office earlier that day, I took another bite of the spiced honey cake.

“Luna, could we keep this between us for now? I’d rather the Alpha heir not know just yet.”

Under the warm light, my expression was serious, and the Luna looked a bit surprised. She likely thought we had just had a minor disagreement. After all, she had noticed how much her son had cared for me over these past three years.

“Alright, but if the Alpha heir finds out, he’ll surely be upset.” As the night wore on, she returned to the kitchen with the empty bowl, and her voice soon filled the house as she called Dax to remind him to come home.