Moonlight retribution: The Alpha's regret

by subtle eyeliner, the matte-black blazer and tailored slacks more corporate than couture. Under this guise, I'm no longer Luna Adler-I

travel with me, a discreet talisman that channels my lunar magic without drawing attention. Everything else about me must

45

duate students-some human, some unaffiliated pack members who value interdisciplinary electives. They don't

h dry enthusiasm. I let him drone on as I survey my classmates, cataloging potential allies and threats. Human side-accounts of pack politics are a

ses a hand. "Dr. Aldridge, how do we guard against confirmati

rces-cross-referencing qualitative interviews with qua

. McAllister smiles. "Exce

Every time I appear competent and composed, I reinforce the

:3

wolf coalition, and that requires a data-driven approach. I annotate passages on influence, persuasion, and the psychology of group cohesion. Every high

ctional Alliances." Slide 3: "Metrics for Pack Stability." Each slide is embedded with subtle data visualizations-node graphs showing human-wolf interacti

houlder to see Helena Gray, her auburn hair a bright beacon in the dim

e teases, eyes alight with admirat

to the slide. "And if we can prove that integrating human-wolf data analysis

the deck. "You're propo

aculty-moderated panels, case studies, Q&A. We position ourselves as

cs to me. I'll rally the café owners for c

Once ground support is in pl

-

:0

all talk with human students about midterms and café specials. I savor the normalcy-it's the calm before

a nearby table, heads bent over a holo-feed of yesterday's amphitheater footag

he edge of their holo-feed, redirecting the image toward me

tled. The other, a Beta with curly

rested in the future." I tap my chest. "I'm Raine. I

y warps their skepticism. "Symposi

l invite later today. You two should come." I pivot and walk away,

g. Doubt and intrigue flicker in

-

15

lined with recording equipment and holo-projectors. My partner for Phas

a slate. "I've mapped peak engagement windows, recom

yalty is growing, and with him handling communications, hum

rs. "Let's align this with the symposium rollout. We'll tease with 'Lessons from the

. "I'll ensure the Wolfhold Heral

lder. "Good wo

ooks

tries to undermine us-prepare a counte

rpen. "Under

l smile. "Not

-

00

I return to my office to r

enue Booked

tions Plan appr

are already discussing our

ragmatic reformers is taking hold. Pack members are reaching out, intrigued by the

tional cue, an unexpected display of lunar power-and my cover will collapse. But every professional interac

tity-Luna-in-Exile by night, corporate-style consultant by day-is my unique advantage

vitations will go live at dawn, and by sundown, every pack member

just Dr. Raine Aldridge, but the strategic architect of a revolution. The pack believes they k

bers or wandering these same halls-will be forced to acknowl

se shadows, I hone my po

sured, and miles ahead of t

ymposium will c