New light

Kyle’s voice suddenly softened, the harsh edge fading. “You’re on the edge of your awakening, Liam. That fire inside you, that rage you have in you~ it’s the wolf. That's it's power roaring. And it can burn you alive if you let it.”

Liam looked up at him, frowning. “So what? I’m supposed to just… pretend I’m not mad? Pretend I’m fine? Pretend every messes up thing going on around me is fine?”

“No,” Kyle said, his gaze shifting toward the crescent moon. “You see that?” He pointed at the glowing sliver above them. “That’s you right now. New and recent. But at the same time half-lit, half-shadowed.

We werewolves are like the moon, we carry a long with us its madness. But more importantly, we're to carry two halves inside us, just like the half-moon. The lit side is the madness, the calm side shadowed. Human and wolf.

If you let one half consume the other, you lose the balance. You lose yourself. and you become like the full moon. Fully lit, fully mad!"

Liam’s eyes followed the crescent, his breath slowing.

He paused for a second, then turned to face Liam to say, “The phases of the moon are like ourselves. The crescent represents awakening, Liam." Kyle continued, his voice low and steady. “The crescent is the reminder of your duality right now, the madness in you slowly building like the small part of the moon that is lit."

" A larger part of you is still human, hence why you're not shifting yet. Once it's full moon, you'll shift, and as such you have to constantly keep in mind that you're not just a wolf, you are both human and a wolf. A werewolf. And you must learn to live as both."

" If you give into anger, if you let hatred rule you, you’ll become the kind of monster that can’t come back.”

Something in Kyle’s tone made Liam pause. He wasn’t just teaching. He was speaking from experience; like someone who had walked that dark road himself.

Liam swallowed hard. “I… I get it,” he said quietly. “I think I get it.”

For the first time, Liam looked at Kyle and didn’t just see a cold Alpha who constantly berates his mother. He saw someone who understood. Someone who might have been just as lost once as he felt now.

Kyle gave him a small nod, almost approving. “Good. Now let’s get you home before your mother has a heart attack.”

...

Selene was pacing the living room when they walked in. Her heart leaped in panic, but when she saw Liam safe- Kyle with him- relief rushed through her.

“Liam! Where have you been?” she scolded, stepping forward. “You can’t just disappear like that!”

Liam looked down, guilt flashing across his face. “Sorry, Mom. I just… needed some air.”

Selene sighed, brushing her fingers through his hair before glancing at Kyle. “Thank you. Again.”

Kyle’s expression was unreadable. “Keep him close. The awakening isn’t easy.”

And just like that, he turned, walking back out toward his truck.

Selene hesitated. She wanted to ask him about the money. She wanted to ask him about the heart thing too, maybe even apologize again for the past. But the words wouldn’t come.

Next time, she promised herself.

Outside, Kyle paused near his truck, his jaw tight. Him overhearing just enough of Selene’s words earlier had made him go to the lake to calm himself. Seeing her again now made his blood boil all over again.

He clenched the steering wheel as he climbed into his truck. She’s not the victim. She never was.

But Liam… Liam deserved better than the anger that had ruled Kyle’s life for so long. He wouldn’t let the boy fall into the same darkness.

With a hard exhale, Kyle started the engine and drove off into the night.

...

The next morning, Selene woke early, her mind still tangled with thoughts of Kyle and the lake incident. Of course Liam told her what he'd said to him.

Liam seemed quieter than usual as he ate his breakfast, a silence that worried her but also hinted at his growing maturity.

They walked together to the school, the crisp morning air in Erthswall town still carrying the faint scent of pine and earth. Liam didn’t say much, just shoved his hands into his pockets, his shoulders hunched.

Selene, however, was nervous. Tyler had called her in, and she suspected why.

“Miss Selene Walker, and her feisty little son" Principal Tyler said as she entered his office, his tone tight but overly polite. He gestured to the chair across from his desk. “Please, sit.”

Selene smiled awkwardly and sat down. Liam sat beside her, his jaw clenched as if ready to defend himself.

Tyler leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands. “Your son got into a little scuffle yesterday with some of his peers, that's why I called you in. Are you aware of this?"

Selene heaved a soft sigh at this and nodded, " Yes, and I apologize on his behalf."

Tyler, however, nodded and continued as if programmed. " Normally, we have a zero-tolerance policy for fighting. He could have easily been suspended or given detention.”

Selene’s heart sank. She turned to Liam with a disappointed frown, but before she could speak, Tyler continued once again.

“However,” the principal said with a thin smile, “Alpha Kyle personally intervened. He vouched for Liam, said he’d keep an eye on him. That’s… a privilege not many get.” He seemed to have a knack for pausing mid-sentence and building suspense.

Selene blinked, her heart doing an unexpected flutter. Kyle had done that? Quietly, without even telling her?

“I see,” Selene said, her voice soft. “Thank you, Principal... Tyler" It still felt awkward to call him that. " I’ll make sure Liam knows better.” She added with a professional smile.

" Oh I'm sure you will,, or even your connection- Whatever kinds it is- with Alpha Kyle wouldn't avail him next time" Principal Tyler warned, teasing Selene.

Unlike before, Liam rolled his eyes but kept his mouth shut. Inside, though, a spark of pride flickered- Kyle really had his back.

' Maybe the Alpha wasn’t as bad as I thought.' He smiled faintly.

On the other hand, Selene didn't feel insulted or teased either. Instead, she was prideful of her "connection" with Kyle.