Love And Strength

Allison's POV

"Stop staring at him," Teresa said, shaking her head in exasperation.

I quickly averted my eyes from Ethan Iversen, who was laughing with his friends at their usual spot in the far-right corner of the cafeteria.

It wasn't my fault. Somehow, my eyes always found their way to him, though he never seemed to notice.

Ethan wasn't just anyone. He was the future Alpha of our Moonlight Crown Pack. Me? I was just a regular Omega.

Teresa and I were sitting at our usual table, enjoying the brief break between classes. She had a knowing smirk on her face as she sipped her juice.

"I just..." I trailed off, unsure how to explain myself without sounding pathetic.

"Let me guess," she interrupted, setting her drink down. "You're just casually looking around the room, and oh-so-coincidentally, your eyes land on him again. Right?"

I rolled my eyes, though a small smile tugged at my lips. "You make it sound like I'm obsessed."

"Well, aren't you?" she teased, nudging my arm. "Look, Allison, you're the beta's daughter. If you want, I could totally-"

"No," I cut her off firmly. "I don't want him to like me because of who my dad is. I just want him to see me... as me."

Teresa gave me a dramatic once-over. "You're beautiful, smart, and funny. If he doesn't fall for you, he's a moron. And if he does break your heart, I'll break his neck."

"Shh! Are you crazy?" I hissed, clamping a hand over her mouth. "What if someone hears you?"

The bell rang, signaling the start of our next class. We grabbed our bags and headed down the hall.

Today's lecture was part of a Brand Promotion course. It was one of the rare occasions where seniors and freshmen shared a classroom. I was both excited and nervous, knowing I might see Ethan again.

As Teresa and I waited outside, I spotted him walking toward the door. My heart skipped a beat.

"Don't make it obvious," Teresa whispered, but I couldn't tear my eyes away.

Before I could move, someone pushed me from the side. I stumbled-and straight into Ethan.

Time seemed to slow as his strong hands gripped my waist, steadying me. His touch was warm, firm, and completely overwhelming.

"You okay?" he asked, his deep voice pulling me out of my daze.

I blinked up at him, suddenly hyperaware of the fact that we were still touching. His dark eyes held mine, and I felt like the rest of the world had faded away.

"I-uh-yeah. Thank you," I stammered, stepping back as heat rushed to my cheeks.

Ethan gave a small nod and walked into the classroom. Around us, people had stopped to watch, whispering amongst themselves.

I turned to Teresa, who was grinning like she'd just won the lottery. "How was that?" she whispered, wiggling her eyebrows.

I groaned and lightly smacked her arm. "You're impossible."

"Ouch! Hey, I was expecting at least a hug or a thank-you for helping fate along," she said, rubbing her arm dramatically.

"Helping fate?" I shot her a glare. "You pushed me!"

Teresa shrugged. "Same thing. You're welcome, by the way."

I shook my head, trying not to laugh. Typical Teresa-always meddling.

As we entered the classroom, I couldn't help but steal one last glance at Ethan. Maybe, just maybe, today would be different.

She sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes. "Honestly, I have no idea how you're supposed to win his heart. He's like a fortress."

I chuckled and hooked my arm through hers. "Well, maybe I'm not trying to win anything. Let's just get to class before you come up with another 'brilliant' plan."

As we entered the classroom, I quickly scanned for empty seats. There were a few, but none of them were close to where Ethan sat. My heart sank just a little.

We ended up taking seats toward the back, far from his usual spot near the window. I tried not to let it bother me and set up my notebook, ready to focus.

The teacher walked in, greeting the class with a smile. "Good afternoon, everyone. Today, we're going to discuss the importance of choosing the right sponsor for your product. A sponsor can make or break your brand, so this is a critical skill to learn."

I leaned forward, ready to take notes. I'd always been serious about my studies. Excelling in school was one way I could make my parents proud-and maybe even prove to myself that I wasn't just another Omega.

As the teacher continued, his tone shifted, and he suddenly gestured toward Ethan. "Take Alpha Ethan, for example. He's the face of this school. We're fortunate to have someone like him representing us."

Every head in the room turned toward Ethan, including mine. He looked up briefly, his expression unreadable.

"Uh, Ethan," he corrected, his voice calm but firm.

The teacher blinked in confusion. "I'm sorry?"

"Just call me Ethan," he clarified, his tone polite but decisive.

"Oh! Of course. My apologies. Ethan, yes." The teacher smiled nervously, clearly trying to recover.

The room was silent for a moment before whispers started spreading, followed by muffled laughter. I bit my lip to keep from joining in, but Teresa had no such restraint.

"Start buttering him up," she whispered, barely suppressing a grin. "Everyone's dying to be on his good side. It's like a competition. Ugh, so cringe."

I snorted at her comment, quickly covering my mouth to stifle the sound. Ethan, meanwhile, seemed unfazed, his eyes fixed on his open book. But I couldn't help noticing that he hadn't turned a page in a while.

Ethan was an enigma-reserved and quiet, but with an air of authority that made people stop and take notice.

Of course, I knew more about him than most people. Our families were connected. My father wasn't just the beta of our pack; he was also Alpha Neil Iversen's closest confidant.

But Ethan's story was more complicated. He wasn't the biological son of Alpha Neil. His parents, Evan and Sophia Iversen, had died in a rogue attack when Ethan was only five years old. Alpha Neil, Evan's older brother, had taken him in and raised him as his own.

To the pack, Ethan was the perfect heir-strong, disciplined, and everything they believed a future Alpha should be. But there was one issue: Alpha Neil already had a son of his own, Ryan.

Ryan and Ethan were the same age, but their relationship with Alpha Neil couldn't have been more different. Everyone knew that Neil favored Ethan, which had created a rift between him and Ryan.

It wasn't something people talked about openly, but the tension was there, lurking beneath the surface.

And as much as I admired Ethan, I couldn't help wondering how he truly felt about it all. Did he want to be the Alpha? Or was he simply playing the role that everyone expected of him?

Lost in thought, I barely noticed Teresa nudging me. "Hey, earth to Allison. You okay? You've been zoning out."

"Yeah, sorry," I mumbled, shaking my head. "Just... thinking."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical but didn't press further. Instead, she leaned closer and whispered, "You know, the more I see him, the more I think he's totally into mysterious girls. You should just sit there looking broody. It might work."

I rolled my eyes. "Not happening, Teresa."

But deep down, a tiny part of me couldn't help wondering-what would it take for Ethan to really see me?

Ryan was someone I hadn't thought about in years. The last time I saw him, I was only eleven. That was before Alpha Neil sent him abroad. It had been almost eight years since then.

"Are you going tonight?"

Teresa's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"Huh?" I asked, confused.

She rolled her eyes. "The seniors are throwing a welcome party for Ryan Iversen. He's coming back today."

I furrowed my brows. "Why would they throw a party? He's not even a student at our school."

"He's joining," a girl sitting in the front row piped up.

Teresa and I turned to her as she continued, "We saw four warriors meeting with the dean earlier. One of the professors told my friend that Ryan is transferring here."

I blinked, trying to process the information. "So, he's actually going to be here?"

Ryan wasn't like Ethan. He was the complete opposite. From what I remembered of our childhood, Ryan had always been angry-at everyone and everything. While Ethan had this calm and composed demeanor, Ryan's temper was infamous.

"Will you come with me tonight?" Teresa asked, breaking my train of thought.

"No," I replied without hesitation.

"Come on, consider it! Ethan will definitely be there," she said, giving me a knowing look.

I glanced over at Ethan, who was now scrolling through his phone. My heart sank a little.

After our classes ended for the day, Teresa offered to drive me home since my house was on her way.

When we arrived, I noticed the house was empty. I pulled out my phone and dialed my mom's number.

"Mom?" I said when she picked up. "Where are you?"

"Oh, you're home, sweetheart? You must be hungry. Go to the kitchen; I made lunch for you. After that, we'll head to the packhouse."

"The packhouse? What for?" I asked, puzzled.

"Ryan's coming back today," she said, her tone cheerful. "Luna Ella asked me to help cook his favorite dishes. You know how much Ryan loved my cooking when he was little."

"Right," I murmured, unsure of how to feel.

"Okay, honey. Eat up, and we'll leave soon."

I hung up and sighed. My mom had always doted on both Ethan and Ryan. She adored them like her own sons, especially since she and Luna Ella were close friends. Our families were practically inseparable, attending every gathering and celebration together.

I trudged up to my room, deciding to take a quick shower. The warm water helped clear my head, though it did little to settle the knot forming in my stomach. After drying off, I headed to the kitchen for lunch, trying not to think too much about the evening ahead.

Ryan Iversen was back, and something told me his return was going to shake things up in ways I wasn't prepared for.

Teresa arrived at my house that afternoon, dressed casually in blue jeans and a loose black shirt. I had tied my hair in a high ponytail, not wanting to draw any unnecessary attention.

"Let's go," I said, grabbing my bag as we headed to her car.

The drive to the club felt quick. My nerves buzzed as I thought about what the evening might bring. This was my first time at a club, and the moment we stepped inside, I was overwhelmed. The heavy smoke, flashing lights, and pounding music made it feel like a completely different world.

"Let's get something to drink," Teresa said, pulling me toward the bar.

I scanned the room, noticing familiar faces. Almost all the popular students from school were here, laughing and mingling as if they owned the place.

And then I saw him-Ethan. He was chatting with someone, his stance relaxed yet commanding as always. My stomach twisted.

"I'm going over," I said to Teresa, ignoring her raised eyebrow as I walked toward him.

Ethan and I weren't strangers; our families were close. Surely, it wouldn't be weird for me to talk to him here.

I stopped a few feet behind him and called out, "Ethan."

He turned, his expression neutral. I smiled nervously, but then I noticed the person he was talking to-Julie, his ex-girlfriend.

"Yeah?" he said, his tone indifferent.

My confidence faltered. I hadn't planned this far. "H-hello," I managed to say, feeling utterly out of place.

Ethan just gave me a curt nod before turning back to Julie, as though I wasn't even worth a second glance.

I stepped back, but before I could leave, I heard Julie's voice, sharp and condescending.

"Do you know her?" she asked him, loud enough for me to hear.

"Hmm," Ethan replied, nonchalant.

Julie laughed. "As if she could ever be me."

And then Ethan said something that cut deeper than I thought possible. "She's not my type."

The words hit me like a slap. My chest tightened as the air seemed to grow heavier. Not his type? Why?

My fists clenched at my sides as my eyes stung with tears. I tried to hold them back, but it was no use. The room blurred around me, the sounds fading into a distant hum. I took a few shaky steps back, retreating from the humiliation.

Suddenly, I collided with something-or rather, someone.

My back hit a hard chest, and I immediately turned around. Tears clouded my vision, but I blinked rapidly to clear them.

When my eyes focused, they met a pair of piercing black ones.

The man in front of me was striking. Black hair, a strong jawline, thick eyebrows, and a face so sharp and clean it seemed unreal. His gaze swept over me, briefly pausing on my outfit before returning to my face.

Then he spoke, his deep voice cold and authoritative.

"Who are you?"

I froze, unable to find the words. Something about him was both intimidating and captivating. Whoever he was, I had a feeling my night was far from over.