CHAPTER 3

Kieran's pov

Only a few months left of school, and I’m out. Graduation’s in sight. I’ll be eighteen in a few weeks, and if everything goes according to plan, I’ll meet my mate. Then, after graduation, Dad will pass the title of Alpha to me.

That’s the plan.

When I walk into the kitchen at the pack house, Devin’s already there feet up on the table, chewing on toast like he owns the place. My best friend. My future Beta.

“Morning, Alpha,” he smirks. “Sleep well?”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah. No blue balls here.”

He snorts. “Guess that explains Sheila sneaking out at dawn.”

I shrug and sip my coffee. “She’s clingy. Not my problem.”

“Your mom catches wind of it, though? You will have a problem.”

He’s not wrong. My mother would tear me apart if she knew I wasn’t waiting for my fated mate. She’s always believed in the sanctity of the bond. She wants me to find my other half, like she did. Meanwhile, Dad just tells me not to be stupid.

“Relax. She’s not going to find out.”

Devin lifts his mug. “To secrets, then.”

I raise mine in return.

We head out to the garage and hop into my truck. The drive to school is short, fifteen minutes tops. Our territory borders the Shadow Falls Pack, and we share the high school as part of a long-standing alliance. Not that we talk to them much. Shadow Falls stays on their side. We stay on ours.

We live on the top floor of the Moonridge pack house. My parents have the Alpha suite. Devin and his family live one level below us on the Beta floor. Our Gamma’s family is on the second. The left side of the building is for ranked wolves. The right side is for visiting Alphas, unmated warriors, and those who’d rather be in the thick of pack life than out on the edges.

Our pack, Moonridge, is the second-largest in the country. Over 500 strong. And while we might not have the numbers the Ashpine Pack has, we’ve got strength. Legacy. My father, Dorian Vale, is one of the most respected Alphas alive. And I plan to be even stronger.

Technically, we have two Guardians. One of them… I’ve never met.

Cara Nelson.

She’s the daughter of Clint and Lily Nelson two of the fiercest warriors our pack’s ever seen. Everyone knows the story. Lily gave her life protecting my mom and me when I was just a pup. Clint fought off five wolves to defend my father and paid for it with his spine. He’s been in a chair for thirteen years. Still built like a tank. Still dangerous, even without the use of his legs.

Every week, my father has dinner with him. Alone. No one else is allowed. I once asked to join them. Dad shut that down immediately. “That’s his time,” he said. “Not yours.”

My mother visits Lily’s memorial every week. Bring fresh flowers. Whispers thanks. Says her sacrifice saved two lives. She talks about Cara sometimes says we’re the same age. Says she’s training. Preparing to become my Guardian when I take over.

But I’ve never seen her. Not once.

Which is weird.

It’s like she’s a ghost in our territory.

The second we step into school, the swarm begins.

“Hey, Kieran.”

“Hi, Alpha.”

Flirty voices. Perfume clouds. Clingy arms and bright lipstick. Devin and I are surrounded before we even reach our lockers.

Most of them want one thing to be Luna. Or at least say they slept with the future Alpha or his Beta. And we’re not exactly known for turning them down.

But I’m not stupid. None of them will ever be my Luna.

That title belongs to one girl and I haven’t met her yet.

“Hey, Kieran,” a redhead says, brushing her fingers against my arm. “Got plans this weekend?”

Jessica. I think.

“Not yet,” I answer, watching her eyes light up like I just proposed.

“My friends and I are hitting Dark Moon Friday night. Thought maybe you and Devin could join us.” She leans in. “It’ll be… fun.”

Devin flashes a grin. “We’re free.”

She beams like she won the lottery. “Perfect. You won’t regret it.”

Her friend leans in and whispers something I don’t catch. Doesn’t matter. I smile, wink, and keep walking.

“Friday should be interesting,” Devin says under his breath.

“Definitely.”

After lunch, we’re surrounded again same girls, different outfits. The plan to hit Dark Moon now includes half our pack and a bunch of wolves from Shadow Falls.

Which should be annoying.

Except… I feel something.

A chill. A pull.

I glance across the cafeteria and stop breathing.

Green eyes.

Thick dark curls.

Full mouth.

She’s standing near a vending machine, laughing at something a guy says. The second her eyes meet mine, the room disappears. I feel it in my chest. My wolf, Kai, jolts to life.

There.

What?

Her. She’s ours.

Kai presses forward, eager. Hungry. His tail is metaphorically wagging like he’s just seen the moon herself.

I’m frozen. Something in me shifts. Like I’ve been tilted on my axis.

“Who is that?” I nod toward her, trying not to stare as the guy next to her casually wraps an arm around her neck.

Kai growls in my head. Move. Now.

Devin follows my gaze. “The brunette? No clue. But damn, she’s your type. You’ve got a thing for curls.”

He’s right. I always have.

Her hair looks like spun silk. And her eyes they’re deep, sharp, fierce.

She walks away with that guy, still smiling. I have to swallow back the growl Kai wants to unleash.

Control yourself, I snap at him.

He touched her. We need to kill him.

We don’t even know who he is.

Doesn’t matter.

I shove Kai back before he gets us both thrown into detention for murder.

Devin watches me. “You okay, man?”

“Yeah.” I rub the back of my neck. “Just… something about her.”

“You want, should I ask around?”

“Nah. I’ll talk to her myself.”

Devin gives me a cocky grin. “You sure you don’t want backup? What if she’s immune to Alpha charm?”

I smirk. “No one’s immune.”

The bell rings. We head to class, but my mind’s not in it anymore. It’s stuck in the way her gaze locked on mine. How everything in me screamed to go to her. Touch her. Know her name. Know everything.

I don’t know who she is.

But I will, soon.