CHAINED TO THE ALPHA KING

Laurel's heart fluttered with anticipation as she stepped through the front door, her school bag slung over her shoulder.

It had been a long day of exams and farewells, for she was about to graduate from high school!

Her parents' house, usually filled with warmth and familiarity, felt unusually tense as she entered.

Wanda was seated by the dining table, her hands shielded her face…

Laurel walked in cautiously, worried and frightened to see her mother like that.

Had she been crying?;

"Mum?" She called carefully

Wanda glanced up and greeted her with a forced smile.

"Are you okay mum?" She asked, a bit worried

"Yes dear. I got tired and I was trying to catch some shut eye"

"You should go upstairs and sleep. Is Dad home?" Laurel took off her bag, placing it on the couch.

"He….went out to settle something" Wanda smiled " Tell me, you look like you have some exciting news. What is it?"

Laurel noticed that her eyes held a mix of excitement and apprehension.

Something was amiss.

Maybe Wanda was really exhausted and needed to take a long nap…

"Mom, guess what?" Laurel began, her voice filled with youthful enthusiasm. "I just found out that I'm going to graduate at the top of my class!"

Wanda's smile wavered, and she paused for a moment before responding.

"That's wonderful, Laurel," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "When is your graduation happening?" Her mother asked, trying to seem excited.

"Next Friday!!! The girls and I planned so much for grad. We're going to do our nails, pick a grad dress, figure out who's doing our make up" Laurel shrieks in excitement, I'm looking forward to it! I can't wait!"

Laurel caught her mother's gaze, she was zoning out again.

"Sometging is wrong mum" Laurel settled in front of her mother.

"Tell me mum. What's wrong? Are you okay?" Laurel asked in concern.

"I do have something important to tell you…."

Wanda hesitated.

"Mum!" Laurel called

She watched as her mother clasped her hands together, her eyes searching for the right words.

"Laurel," Wanda began gently, "you need to understand something about yourself. It doesn't make sense but I promise it will in the end."

Laurel's brow furrowed, her mind struggling to grasp her mother's words.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "What do I need to understand about myself, mum? What's going on?"

Wanda took a deep breath, preparing to reveal a truth that had been hidden from Laurel all her life.

"You have ties to a powerful Alpha," she explained. "You're part of a world that you never knew existed…."

"I'm tied to a what?" Laurel asked, completely puzzled

"You are mate to an Alpha Laurel. You're the Luna of Moonrise pack."

Laurel stared at her mother for a while before moving her head as though understanding the joke.

"You're pulling my legs. You're joking mum. What's an Alpha anyway?"

"Rel.."

"I need to take a shower and grab lunch before scrolling through my friends' group chat." Laurel placed a kiss on her mother's chin before running up the stairs.

None of Wanda's words made sense and she didn't bother to rethink it at all…

Laurel took a shower and grabbed a snack from her private pantry in her room….

Under her bed actually..

She settled on her bed and chats with friends like she said she would.

Laurel was delighted with her final exam scores and knew she would be going to her dream university.

Kentbark…

She sent in her application and was hoping she would gain an admission, fingers crossed.

As the evening wore on, Laurel switched on to Netflix, bing watching her favourite series.

She could hear her father's car park in the garage and the front door swing open and shut.