Alpha

Kian Blackwood at 16 Years old

I stand at the edge of the border, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I glance back at Dylan. “Come on, just one quick look,” I urge, a grin plastered on my face.

He shakes his head, concern etched across his features. “Kian, you know we shouldn’t be here. Alpha Thornfield will kill you if he finds out.

But I’m already stepping over the invisible line that separates our territories, drawn by the thrill of mischief and the promise of adventure. The thick trees swallow me up, and I can’t help but feel alive.

I venture deeper into the woods, the sound of rushing water guiding me until I finally break through the underbrush and find myself at the edge of a serene stream. Sunlight glints off the water’s surface, but it’s not the view that catches my breath.

Sitting on a rock, her feet dipped in the cool water, is a girl with dark hair cascading over her shoulders. Her blue eyes widen as they meet mine, and in that moment, everything else falls away. I blink, the unexpected pull drawing me closer, my heart racing in a way I’ve never experienced before.

“Hi,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

She whips her head around, eyes wide, and gulps. “You shouldn’t be here,” she stammers, glancing nervously around as if expecting someone to pounce.

“I know,” I admit, stepping closer, trying to keep my voice light despite the fluttering in my stomach. “But I promise I won’t tell if you don’t.”

Her cheeks flush a soft pink, and for a moment, the tension between us hangs in the air, thick and charged. I sit down beside her, careful to ease the nerves that linger between us. “I’m Kian, by the way.”

“Aria,” she replies, her voice shaky but warm. The way her name rolls off her tongue sends a rush of warmth through me.

We start talking, each word easing the nervousness that had initially gripped us. I tell her a joke—something silly—and she giggles, the sound lighting up the quiet space around us. What is it about this girl that makes my heart do flip-flops?

As we chat, the world around us melts away. It’s just the two of us, two kids from rival packs sharing secrets by the water’s edge. I can’t help but steal glances at her, trying to memorize every detail—the way the sunlight catches in her hair, the sparkle in her eyes when she laughs.

But then, the moment shatters. A voice booms through the trees, slicing through our bubble like a knife. “Aria! Who the hell is this?”

My heart drops as I turn to see a tall figure striding toward us, a boy who looks older and much larger than me. Panic rushes through me as I instinctively step back, my instincts screaming to run.

“Who are you?” he demands, his voice low and menacing, eyes narrowing on me.

“I’m Kian Blackwood,” I reply, trying to steady my voice, though it trembles with the weight of fear.

His expression darkens, and he steps closer, towering over me like a storm cloud. “You have no right to be on our territory!” he bellows, fury radiating from him, fists clenched at his sides. The anger in his eyes sends a chill down my spine, and I can feel the tension in the air thicken, heavy and electric.

“Damon, wait!” Aria interjects, her voice shaky as she tries to diffuse the tension. “He’s just—”

But Damon doesn’t take his eyes off me. He lunges forward, shoving me back hard, and I stumble to the ground, the impact knocking the wind from my lungs. I look up at him, fear flooding my system.

“Get the hell out of here before I make you regret ever crossing that line!” he growls, eyes ablaze with rage.

“Dylan!” I shout, my heart racing as I glance back, desperately hoping my friend is still there. I see him step forward, concern etched across his face, but he knows better than to get involved.

Just then, I hear the unmistakable sound of footsteps crashing through the underbrush—my father, breaking through just in time. He steps between me and Damon, the tension thick enough to cut. “Back off,” he warns, voice low and steady, his presence commanding.

Damon hesitates, his eyes darting between my father and me, rage still simmering beneath the surface. But the sight of my dad holds him back, just long enough for me to catch my breath.

Damon’s fists clench tighter as he stares down my father, his jaw set like a stone. “He was on our territory!” he snarls, his voice dripping with contempt. 

My father’s expression darkens, eyes narrowing at me with a fierce intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. “Kian,” he growls, his tone low and dangerous, “what the hell were you thinking?”

“I—” I start, but my voice catches in my throat, the weight of my father’s disappointment heavy upon me. 

“You crossed the border!” he snaps, frustration boiling beneath the surface. “You know better than to trespass on Thornfield land. This isn’t just a game; it’s dangerous!”

Damon smirks, taking a step back, clearly enjoying the reprimand. “You should have thought of that before you came here, Blackwood,” he taunts, his arrogance palpable. 

“Touch my son, and I’ll tear you apart,” my father growls, his voice low and filled with a primal threat that sends a warning to both of us. His fierce gaze remains locked on Damon, the tension crackling in the air around us.

Damon raises his hands in mock surrender, a smirk still plastered on his face. “I won’t touch him—he’s not worth the trouble. But don’t think I won’t defend my territory. Next time, you might not be so lucky, Kian.”

My heart races as I realize how close I came to a serious confrontation, the fear of what could have happened washing over me. I glance at Aria, whose wide eyes reflect the chaos of the moment. She bites her lip, looking torn between worry for her brother and a desire to comfort me. 

“Get out of here, Kian,” my father orders, his voice firm. “Now.”

I don’t need to be told twice. With a final, lingering look at Aria, I turn and sprint into the woods, the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. I hear my father’s voice behind me, still low and dangerous, warning Damon not to follow.

As I dash through the underbrush, I can’t shake the image of Aria from my mind. For a brief moment, everything had felt perfect, but now it’s shattered, and I’m left with the heavy realization that I might never see her again.