Love And Strength

son'

Teresa said, shaking he

ho was laughing with his friends at their usual

yes always found their way to him

future Alpha of our Moonlight Crown

oying the brief break between classes. She had a

unsure how to explain mysel

. "You're just casually looking around the room, and oh

smile tugged at my lips. "You m

my arm. "Look, Allison, you're the beta'

nt him to like me because of who my dad

smart, and funny. If he doesn't fall for you, he's a mor

, clamping a hand over her mou

t of our next class. We grabbed o

f the rare occasions where seniors and freshmen shared a classroom

I spotted him walking toward t

Teresa whispered, but I c

pushed me from the side. I st

ipped my waist, steadying me. His touch wa

his deep voice pulli

that we were still touching. His dark eyes held mine,

stammered, stepping back a

e classroom. Around us, people had stoppe

she'd just won the lottery. "How was tha

ly smacked her arm.

ug or a thank-you for helping fate along

shot her a glare

ame thing. You're w

not to laugh. Typical

elp but steal one last glance at Ethan. M

. "Honestly, I have no idea how you're supp

e I'm not trying to win anything. Let's just get to cl

mpty seats. There were a few, but none of them were

his usual spot near the window. I tried not to let

oday, we're going to discuss the importance of choosing the right sponsor for your p

my studies. Excelling in school was one way I could make my parents p

d toward Ethan. "Take Alpha Ethan, for example. He's the face of th

Ethan, including mine. He looked up

orrected, his voi

nked in confusi

he clarified, his to

an, yes." The teacher smiled nerv

spreading, followed by muffled laughter. I bit my lip t

ppressing a grin. "Everyone's dying to be on his g

nd. Ethan, meanwhile, seemed unfazed, his eyes fixed on his open book

iet, but with an air of authority t

ilies were connected. My father wasn't just the beta of ou

parents, Evan and Sophia Iversen, had died in a rogue attack when Ethan was only five

nd everything they believed a future Alpha should be. But ther

pha Neil couldn't have been more different. Everyone knew that N

about openly, but the tension was

he truly felt about it all. Did he want to be the Alpha? Or

esa nudging me. "Hey, earth to Alliso

bled, shaking my hea

ned closer and whispered, "You know, the more I see him, the more I think he's tota

es. "Not happe

ouldn't help wondering-what would

ime I saw him, I was only eleven. That was before Alpha Neil

going t

pulled me fro

asked,

re throwing a welcome party for Rya

d they throw a party? He's not

irl sitting in the

ur warriors meeting with the dean earlier. One of the p

s the information. "So, he'

d of our childhood, Ryan had always been angry-at everyone and everything.

night?" Teresa asked, bre

lied withou

ill definitely be there," she

was now scrolling through his

ay, Teresa offered to drive me ho

ouse was empty. I pulled out my

en she picked up

ngry. Go to the kitchen; I made lunch for yo

? What for?" I

"Luna Ella asked me to help cook his favorite dishes. You

mured, unsure

Eat up, and we

m like her own sons, especially since she and Luna Ella were close friends. Our fami

head, though it did little to settle the knot forming in my stomach. After drying off,

old me his return was going to shake t

n blue jeans and a loose black shirt. I had tied my hair in a

grabbing my bag as w

ing. This was my first time at a club, and the moment we stepped inside, I was overwhelmed. The

drink," Teresa said, p

st all the popular students from school were here

g with someone, his stance relaxed yet c

eresa, ignoring her raised ey

milies were close. Surely, it wouldn'

et behind him and

d nervously, but then I noticed the person

aid, his ton

nned this far. "H-hello," I managed

e turning back to Julie, as though

could leave, I heard Julie's

he asked him, loud e

n replied,

"As if she co

that cut deeper than I thought

hest tightened as the air seemed t

m back, but it was no use. The room blurred around me, the sounds fading into

ed with something-

ely turned around. Tears clouded my visi

, they met a pair of

ck eyebrows, and a face so sharp and clean it seemed unreal. His gaze

s deep voice cold

are

him was both intimidating and captivating. Whoever