Chapter 3: A random Luna

Rylan’s POV

Silence blanketed the meeting hall the moment I entered and took my seat at the end of the long table. Uncle Dawson, one of the pack elders and my uncle, sat at the opposite end, his piercing gaze fixed on me. From the moment he arranged this meeting, I already knew what was coming. The elders exchanged uncertain glances, hesitant about who should speak first.

“Can someone tell me why I’ve been summoned?” I snapped, my patience wearing thin.

“Your Luna, Rylan,” Uncle Dawson said, sitting upright and lacing his fingers on the table. I knew exactly where this was headed. Leaning back in my chair, I folded my arms across my chest.

“We’ve given you more than enough time to choose a Luna,” he continued. “The pack lives in constant fear of attacks when you’re away studying. We’re left to protect ourselves without leadership. You’re already 20 years old. You could…”

“I’m still 19, Uncle!” I groaned, slamming my fist on the table as I stood. “Why do you keep bringing up this fucking topic? Since my parents died, have we faced any attacks? Haven’t I protected the pack well enough? Why is a Luna necessary to rule as Alpha?”

“You’re not the Alpha yet, so watch how you speak to us,” one of the elders interjected. My glare shut him up instantly.

“Alphahood is my birthright,” I said coldly. “No one is taking that from me because of a Luna.”

“That’s enough, Rylan. Sit,” Uncle Dawson ordered.

My chest heaved as I glared at their stern, manipulative faces. After a moment, I dropped back into my chair.

“No Alpha has ever ruled Shadow Brook Wolves without a Luna, and it won’t start with you,” he continued. “It doesn’t matter if you find your mate or not. You must either choose a Luna from within the pack or prepare to transfer the Alphahood to someone more capable.”

A smirk crept onto my lips. Their motives were as transparent as glass. I tapped my finger on the table. “And who exactly would I transfer my birthright to?” I asked, letting my gaze pierce each of theirs. “You, Uncle?”

“Watch your words!” Uncle Dawson snapped. “I’m fulfilling my duty as an elder. I have no interest in the Alphahood.”

“Then him?” I pointed angrily at Beta Beckett, who flinched, his eyes darting to my uncle. “Weakling,” I sneered, rising from my seat. “Just know I’ll be appointing a better Beta when the time comes. I will find my mate. I don’t need to choose a random Luna.”

I turned to leave, but Uncle Dawson’s words stopped me. “Your 20th birthday, Rylan. If you don’t find your mate by then, you’ll have no choice but to pick a Luna or give up your title.”

I slammed the door to my room, growling as I punched the wall. My knuckles bled, but the physical pain didn’t compare to their words. Why didn’t I find my mate at 16? If I had, none of this would be happening.

“Hey, what are you doing, Alpha?” Tiffany rushed in, trying to calm me. “Why are you so angry?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I groaned, kicking a vase off the floor and shattering it.

“Is it my dad again? What did he say this time?” she asked, guiding me to sit on the bed.

“What else? He’s just good at pissing me off,” I muttered, collapsing onto the bed. She frowned, her expression softening.

“Why are they pressuring you so much? It’s not like you’ve passed all stages of finding your mate. She could be out there, maybe even looking for you.”

“That’s not the issue anymore,” I said, sitting up. “It’s not just about finding my mate. The pack needs someone to stand in for me, someone to protect them when I’m away. They need a Luna, yes, but also a leader who can fight for them, mate or not.”

“But your happiness matters. If you choose someone random and then find your fated mate, that’ll be a disaster, don’t you think?”

“I don’t even know what I think anymore.” I stood and walked to the closet. “ Being Alpha means sacrificing your happiness—sometimes even your life—for the pack.”

“Where are you going now?” she asked, picking up her phone from the vanity table.

“I need some fresh air.”

“Can I come?”

“No. Your dad might look for you, and I won’t answer to him tonight,” I said, heading to the bathroom to change.

When I came out, she was still on the bed, scrolling through her phone and giggling.

“Tiffster?” I called. She looked up.

“Did that girl really try to cut your hair?” I asked.

Her phone slipped from her hand, hitting the floor. “What kind of question is that, Alpha? Look at my hair!” She turned to show me her hairline.

“Just trims,” I said, moving closer. “You practically chopped off her hair. She barely touched yours.”

Her eyes narrowed, and her grip tightened on her phone. “Is that what you think? She tried to hurt me! Your concern should be my safety, not her hair.”

“Fine. Just don’t let me find out you started the fight. If you did, you’ll lose all your hair,” I said, walking out and shutting the door.

“You wouldn’t dare!” she shouted as I strode down the corridor.

At a bar in the city, someone brushed past me. Her heartbeat thundered in my ears. I spun around to look, but she’d already vanished into the night.

“Hey, Rylan. We meet again.”