e to L
Yea
n's P
hool gates. The last exam of junior year was ov
red to myself, a small s
ol ending. For me, it meant so
m, dad, and little sister. Our town's name comes from two old words - 'Lah' for moon and 'Piaro' for river. It f
There are only a few humans, maybe 2%, and they're all linked to our
n a werewolf town must be cool!" But
can also be mean and power-hungry. Our pack has strict rules, and if you break
Wolfe, the alpha's son and the next in line to lead the pack. He's been
, and suddenly, I was Sebastian 's new target. He and his gang -
aper, water, even coffee. They made me run errands for them. I couldn't
That's when thing
's lunch, and bam! His fist connected with my face. Everyone was shocked, e
uiet, thinking I could handle it. I didn'
ths ago, ever
s cornered me. Before I knew what was happening, I was on th
tasted blood. It hu
.. da
hree broken ribs, five fractures, and a broke
s. We cried together in that white h
in this pack anymore. But I couldn't just leave either. Runni
nardel, where my uncle Max lived. It wasn't easy, but they ag
old him about my dream of studying architecture, and how ther
best day
freedom. Just one more month of co
o myself. "Just one more m
hday - the day werewolves can find their mates. I was excited, sure, but a
s jumping with ex
it to meet our mate either. But please, Lun
idn't notice Sebastian and his gang c
ered. "If it isn't little kirian.
t pounding. "W-w
now? Starting tomorrow, you'll be spending y
n't be happening. "But... but
off. "Run away to another school? Did
rain from my face.
ming with malice. "You should see yo
to the ground. Sebastian circled me s
going anywhere. You belong to this pack - to me.
cut through the tension.
rds us. Sebastian and his gang stepped back, thei
ly. "Just having a friendly chat
fly, not trus
it. "Okay... Well, kirian, your mom
managed to say. "I
es burning into my back. My mind was racing. How did the
Lily's concerned voice b
h, I'm fine. Just tire
s we walked, I couldn't shake the feeling that
for me in the living room. One look at
arted, her voice shaking s
eart pounding. "
pha called us today. He... he's ch
n its axis. "What? But why
said quietly. "
t now? I'm just stuck here? With Sebast
this out, kirian," my mom said, reaching out to sq
s. We all knew there was little they
omorrow was my birthday, the day I might find my ma
te prayer to the Lunar Goddess. "Please, if you're
my plea. And she was about to answer in a
ldn't put my finger on it. But as I got ready for the day, I noti
thday jitters," I
it was more than that.
I overheard my parents t
" my mom was saying
"But the signs are all the
d the kitchen. They both jumped
ie," my mom said, her
ied slowly. "Is
those looks that parents do
you noticed anything... differ
ually. I feel stronger, somehow. And my senses s
ined from bot
s," my mom whispe
d, fear creeping into my
easy way to say this, so I'm just going to say
laughed nervously. "That's not possible. I'm just... me. Regular old
rely, the Lunar Goddess chooses a new Alpha. Someone
"But... but why me?
're kind, and brave, and strong in ways that have nothing to do with phy
ank in, a new fear gripped me. "What's go
ll knew what it meant. Sebastian and his
a loud knock at the
ce called. "By order o
in their eyes. I took a deep
ising myself with how calm
over me. Whatever was coming, I would face it. Because for the first t
followed by Sebastian and several pack enfo
ory said, his voice a mix
ted with rage. "This is impossible! He c
, I felt a surge of confidence. I step
almly. "But if the Lunar Goddess
ch me, an invisible force seemed to push him bac
otection," he murmured. Then, to everyone's sur
followed suit, even Sebastian , t
d changed forever. The boy who had been bullied and beaten was gone. In hi
one thing for certain: Lahpiaro was about to chang
ugh the windows, I felt a smile spread across my face. For the
y to face