Alphas and Lunas

There aren't very many humans in the thin crowd from what I can tell, and the ref is being particularly lax about calling out NMP, Noticeable Magic Penalties. As promised, the Clearview's new lineman is an enormous goliath. Only Deron's burning hands seem to be able to slow him down, but even then he appears to be only mildly annoyed and quickly adjusts to the pain. Every time the two come into contact, Deron's flames become more noticable, starting out as just condensed heat on his palms, until flames are licking up and down his forearms. Finally the ref calls a penalty and as expected of us, our side bemoans how unfair his ruling is.

The Clearview team is more diverse than ours, with a yuan-ti as the quarterback. He is as fast as a snake and so slippery he is almost impossible to tackle. But what our team lacks in natural talent, we make up for in good strategy and teamwork.

We are like a well oiled machine, and David is at the helm. He is completely in his element leading his team like a true Alpha. Not just an alpha by birth, born with greater strength and speed than the average wolf, but an Alpha by right. Someone others gravitate towards, look up to, respect, and follow without question. He inspires confidence in his teammates and uses that trust to pull off risky plays, outmaneuvering his opponents with surprising frequency.

Despite my general dislike for football, I admire what David does out there. As he huddles with his team, plotting their next move with their heads close together, I can almost see him filling his father's shoes as the Alpha of our pack. He's going to be a great leader someday. I guiltily hope I won't be forced to rule by his side as Luna.

At halftime the teams are tied, despite Clearview's unique advantages. "Is it over yet?" Alastair whispers in my ear. I shiver at the closeness of him, pushing away thoughts of what tomorrow will bring to enjoy the here and now.

"Unfortunately no, it's just halftime."

"Right," he sighs, dejected. "I'm still completely lost about the rules. How many points is a touchdown worth?"

I chuckle. "Six."

"Right so, where are all these extra points coming from? Like, why aren't the scores multiples of six?"

"Well, there are actually five ways to score points in football."

"What?!"

"So there are conversions which are worth two points, and—"

Alastair claps his hands over my mouth and squeals, "No please, spare me."

My laughter is cut short by a sneer coming from behind me. "Hey guys, look: it's our pack's male omega." Sitting on the row above us are three werewolves. I recognize the guy who spoke as Baylor Hallman, the coach's son. He was kicked off the team last year after he failed half his classes. He should be a senior this year, but I haven't seen him around school. Maybe he dropped out.

"Is that the one whose party is tomorrow?" A wolf I don't recognize asks, as if I'm not sitting right in front of him. Maybe he is from the Clearview pack?

"I don't think I'll even go to that," scoffs the last one: an enormous werewolf, probably an alpha, who looks older than the other two. "I wouldn't want to be mated to a freak like that." Asshat. He's probably from the Clearview Pack, but I don't recognize him as one of their Alpha's sons, so he's just a regular ass instead of a royal one.

My friends have all turned to the source of the taunting by now, but Alastair is the first to speak up, his eyes flashing to lavender as he addresses the alpha. "I think what you meant to say was, 'I don't think I'll go to that party, because I already know my soulmate is dead.'"

Holy shit. Brutal, Star.

The alpha's vile smirk transforms into a death glare directed at Alastair. He stands, unfolding to his full height. "I don't know who told you that, but, on second thought, your friend is kind of cute—" He takes a step towards me, and I cower slightly under the weight of the dominating pheromones. "—for a boy."

Fuck. Why did I have to attract the attention of an untitled alpha? Some have a tendency to be disproportionately arrogant compared to their station in a pack, just because they're born a little bit stronger than the majority of werewolves. This could end badly, especially if David spots this guy harassing me from his place on the field. I try to dipping my head in submission to diffuse the situation, but this only seems to encourage his vulgarity.

"Plus, I hear it's tighter when you put it up the ass," he says as he jumps onto the metal bench, towering over us.

"Not. Another. Step," Addy threatens. I look up, surprised to see a silver glow spilling from her steady gaze.

"Or what?" the alpha sneers. "What are a couple of omegas and unmarked witches gonna do to stop me?"

In answer, magic immediately flares from Addy's outstretched hands. I hear a whirling, sucking sound, and then the threatening wolf is suddenly gasping for air. His eyes bug from his skull as he tries, unsuccessfully, to draw in a breath.

"Stop!" Baylor shrieks, moving to support his struggling friend as he sways unsteadily. "You're suffocating him!" The bully clutches at his throat as his face slowly turns purple. "He's gonna pass out!" Baylor tries again.

Addy's expression is strained in concentration, but her storm grey eyes glow steadily without any signs of relenting. The alpha's once domineering figure is stooped over pathetically as tears slowly leak from his eyes.

"That's enough," Star whispers, resting a hand on his sister's shoulder. She releases her magic immediately, obeying her brother, and the alpha takes a deep staggering breath. Relief floods the choking man's face for a moment, before contorting back to pure rage.

"You— you crazy witch!" he shrieks once he gets his voice back. "You almost killed me!"

"Please forgive my sister and me," Alastair says unexpectedly.

"Forgive us?!" Addy sputters, "But he's the one—" Star holds up a hand to silence her.

"I shouldn't have taunted you about your dead mate," Star continues. "You are clearly suffering, and my words hurt you, naturally sparking an angry reaction. However, in the future perhaps you should try taking your feelings out on a punching bag rather than other people."

"I'll make your freaky sister my punching bag!" he yells.

"I'd like to see how well that turns out for you," Ellie mutters.

The unnamed alpha growls, but Baylor grabs him by the arm. "Don't. Not here," he whispers, glancing nervously between his friend and the field where his father and Davy are. "Let's just go."

"This isn't over, witch," the alpha spits at Addy before the three werewolves retreat down the stands.

"What a bunch of pigs," Ellie says.

"Yeah," I let out a helpless laugh, glad the situation was diffused without a fight.

"That was some pretty powerful magic, Addy! Is wind your specialty?" The girls begin talking excitedly about what Addy's tattoos might be, but Star pulls my attention with a gentle tug on my wrist.

"Hey, are you alright?" he asks.

"Oh, yeah. No, that? That's nothing. I have my chastity belt on, remember? So you know, no worries," I joke.

"Pfft. Seriously, Cam, you don't have to pretend you weren't afraid. I could feel it."

Right. He did mention he could telepathically sense my emotions, but this time he misinterpreted them. "With you and David so close by, I was more afraid for them, than for myself. They weren't looking to pick a fight, just be asses. So don't worry about it."

"Words can still be hurtful," Star mutters.

I just shrug. "I've had worse things said about me. You know how it is."

"Yeah, from warlocks, but I didn't think… I mean, aren't you going to be the Luna? Shouldn't other werewolves respect you?"

"Well… I don't act like how they think a Luna should, and... I won't necessarily become one either. I mean…" I scratch the side of my face, thinking. "I kind of thought you knew how the whole mating thing worked."

"Uh… I mean I know the basics: what my mom has told me, and what Addy has researched about the statistics of it."

"Really? I just figured you'd know. I mean… you're a telepath?"

Alastair chuckles lightly as the tension of the encounter finally dissipates. "I'm not omniscient just because I listen to people's thoughts sometimes. Not to mention that werewolves are much harder to read, and I hardly ever do it unless absolutely necessary."

"Like today?" I smile.

"No, I— I shouldn't have done that."

"Hey, you don't have to try to understand everyone. Some people are just jerks."

"Maybe."

"Hey guys," Addy butts in. "I'm heading to the restroom, and then I'm going to check out that pitiful refreshment table. Can I get you anything?" she asks as she squeezes past us.

"Oh, no thanks. I think I'm good," I reply.

"Just some water, thanks," Star says.

"Sure thing, Al."

There is a beat of silence after Addy leaves before Star picks our conversation back up. "Actually, I was a little confused by that wolf's thoughts about his mate. I mean, werewolf mating practices aren't exactly covered in Sunday school." I chuckle lightly at that. "I only caught a glimpse, but it seemed like he had never met his mate before. Why did he think they were dead?"

"Oh, you see, we can sense if our soulmate dies, even if we have never met. It can be pretty traumatic for some wolves, especially if both parties are children at the time, but I think it is a way of the Moon Goddess letting us know we need to move on. Choose someone else to mate with or something."

"But I thought mates were chosen when you turn sixteen."

"Oh no, soulmates are determined at birth or maybe even before then. No one really knows, but sixteen is just when you can finally sense them. You are able to identify them as your mate."

"How do you know who they are?"

I pause for a second, unsure how much to tell him. The mating bond is pretty sacred to most wolves, unique to each couple and almost spiritual in nature. Most mated pairs don't talk too much about what it is like, except when they have "the talk" with their children... But I suppose it's not a big deal to tell him what I've picked up over the years.

"Well, um, I've heard that your mate will have a unique smell, and when you touch it feels like electricity. But most importantly, when your eyes meet, the Moon Goddess will tell you, and you just sort of know. We also have dreams about our mates, sometimes before we've even met. And as the bond develops you can sense each other's feelings, although I can never get a straight answer on whether that happens before or after the mating ritual, so I'm not sure if that's a reliable method of telling."

"So your mate could be anyone? Like even someone completely random, like one of those guys back there?"

It was cute how concerned he looked right now. "Well, yeah, I guess, but I would be surprised if one of them was my soulmate. Most wolves aren't completely caught off guard by who their mate is. Lots of us feel a close personal connection to our mates even before we turn sixteen and some are even friends or lovers for years beforehand. When that happens, werewolves call it 'the pull', like the Moon Goddess is pulling two halves of the same whole together. Some say the pull is just circumstantial while others say it is an actual feeling."

"Circumstantial? What do you mean?"

"Well, like David swears he feels the pull for me, but we may just be together because…"

"It's expected?" he finishes for me.

I nod.

"So… what about you? Do— do you feel the pull for David?" he asks so softly I think I might have imagined he said it.

Do I? Ha. If only I could sort through the complete mess that is my brain right now. If only I could separate my real feelings from my mother's expectations and David's hope.

If only I wasn't an… No, shut down that thought. I won't allow myself to wish that.

Tomorrow, everything will be clearer. I'll know for sure what all these feelings mean.

"No." I decide that's probably the most accurate answer. "I don't feel a supernatural need to be with anyone, and the only person I've dreamed about recently is you." I take a small step toward him, closing the distance between us. His breath hitches slightly.

"So… if you aren't mates with David, then… then…"

"Then I'd be free," I whisper.

"Until you find your real mate."

"Or I reject them."

Star looks completely surprised by this statement, and I'm a little surprised by how brash I'm being too. But I'm starting to think it's not such a crazy idea, especially if my mate turns out to be some dominant wolf who expects me to act like a "proper omega".

"But why would you do that?" he asks, genuinely concerned. Our faces are so close I can feel his breath breaking in fast, coarse waves against my lips. "Isn't that a fate worse than death?"

"How can I fear death, when I've got an angel right here beside me, guiding me to heaven?" I risk touching his cheek, brushing my hand across his darkening freckles. He leans into my touch.

The moment hangs and all the world dissolves around us. The game's spectators, the team huddling on the field, even Ellie sitting a few seats down. Right now there is only me and him and this burning hope.

The moment breaks as Star abruptly pulls away, clutching his head, as if in pain.

"Star? Are you ok?"

He looks at me, but his eyes don't focus. Instead an expression I've never seen on him before twists his features: terror. His hand moves from his forehead to his throat and suddenly he is gasping for air. Gasping just like… just like that wolf.

"Alastair, what's wrong? What's happening?!"

"No," he gasps, his eyes wide with pure panic. "Not." Gasp. "Me." Gasp.

He pushes past me, stumbling down the bleachers. In his effort to move against the flow of traffic entering the stands, he shoves several game watchers who are returning to their seats. People move out of his way when they notice his staggering gait and panicked expression. I rush after him, worried this might be some sort of spell. Or is it something he is hearing telepathically? People around me whisper as I pass, "Is he ok? Should we call Doctor Redy?"

Then I hear shouting and the energy of the crowd suddenly shifts as several people turn to look in the direction we are heading. I'm only vaguely aware of people pointing at something in the sky, and I think I hear someone call my name, maybe Ellie. But all I can think about is getting to Alastair and making sure he is ok.

He comes to an abrupt halt at the bottom of the bleachers and slowly lifts his head upwards. Bounding down the final step, I rush to his side, just as he speaks a single pained word:

"Addy."