The Alpha's Initiate

Aria 

I tap my foot nervously while Theo sifts through a gray filing cabinet for my first undercover field assignment. He cheerfully hums under his breath. For Theo, today is just another day at the office, but for me, it’s a chance to prove my worth to the siren court.

Theo is my boss, but he’s also my sire. He often recounts the day he found me dying at the scene of a car accident and turned me. As the story goes, Theo was struck by how much I favored the siren queen and acted on a whim.

A whim. I’m still here on this earth because of a fluke.

The siren community dislikes spontaneity, and I’m not oblivious to the disapproving stares. I want to prove to them that Theo didn’t make a mistake. I belong here. At least, I hope I do.

“Ah, finally found it,” Theo announces, pulling a black folder from the cabinet and waving it in the air.

Theo gives me an encouraging smile that does little to soften his sharp features. His face is like a series of hard lines. Theo’s nose is like a razor, and his jawline is chiseled. Even his auburn eyelashes are pointy.

My boss drops the folder on his desk, which is always littered with stacks of files, paperclips, and half-empty cups of coffee. I’ve never seen his office organized, and just being in a cluttered space increases my anxiety.

Theo takes a seat across from me and sighs. “It’s a big day. How are you feeling, Aria?”

Like I’m drowning in imposter syndrome.

“Good. I’m happy to be done with training,” I remark, fiddling with a lock of white blonde hair. “So, where are you sending me?”

“Halloway, North Carolina. You’ll be going undercover as a human recruit for the Aklin pack.”

I don’t know what I expected my first field operation to be, but it definitely wasn’t that.

I stitch my eyes together. “Werewolves?”

Sirens aren’t the only supernatural creatures hiding in the shadows. There’s a long list of species, all considered mythical by humans. Werewolves are some of the most unpredictable. And violent.

Theo nods casually as if I’m a seasoned security officer and not a total newbie. “Every year, werewolves host a two-month recruitment to test out potential new members. We need you to join the pledge group until the final initiation ceremony. There, you’ll have access to the pack’s moonstone.” He pauses to study my expression. “Are you with me so far?”

I cross my legs, forcing myself to sit still. “I think so.”

“Great.” Theo digs into the pocket of his blue blazer and pulls out a necklace with a milky gem center. “Your assignment is to swap out the ceremony’s moonstone for this forgery.”

I reach out, curiously taking the necklace from him. I thumb the milky gem between my fingers. It’s pretty, with hints of color peeking out from under the stone’s surface. “What’s so special about the moonstone?”

Theo takes a sip from one of the coffee cups on his desk. I wonder how he keeps track of which drink is fresh. “It’s a powerful object for protection, and with rumors of The Heritage’s return, I’ve deemed the stone necessary to obtain.”

The Heritage is an archaic organization that hunts down supernatural creatures. They’ve been quiet for over a century, but recently, there have been whispers of a rebirth.

I slide the fake moonstone into the side pocket of my cross-shoulder bag. “Do you really think the hunters are back?”

Theo shifts uncomfortably in his chair, which tells me some of his information is above my pay grade. “There have been reports of missing supernaturals. It’s a high-level concern, to say the least,” he admits. “But if you pull this mission off, it’ll help protect our family from any threat.”

Our family. A bud of hope swells in my chest. I want to belong to a family—maybe more than anything.

In my human life, I never had a family. I bounced around in foster care, mostly getting overlooked in crowded group homes. Once I outgrew the system, I worked two jobs to put myself through college. I was about to graduate when the accident happened. My human life ended, and now that I’m a siren, I’m not sure what my purpose is.

I do like being a siren. I’m the same person I was before, but with a few extra bells and whistles. Sirens don’t age. We also connect with nature’s elements—wielding them. I demonstrate an aptitude for both fire and earth. Having two abilities is rare. Most sirens only connect with a single component of nature. Not that I’m the most special supernatural being to exist. Serena, the siren queen, can control all of the elements. It’s hard for me to fathom that kind of power.

I’ve never met the siren queen, and honestly, I don’t care to. She’s the reason why the Lost City of Atlantis is missing from the map. Serena’s ancient… and terrifying.

I take the folder off Theo’s desk and flip through the assignment brief. It details the key players in the Aklin pack, including a write-up on the pack’s Alpha, Darren Aklin. Judging by the report, the Alpha is a piece of work.

I flip the page and scan a paragraph about the pack leader’s brother. “How am I supposed to convince the wolves to recruit me?” I ask, voicing one of my concerns. One of many concerns.

This is a huge case. Why is Theo giving it to an agent with no field experience?

“I called in a favor. You’re already on the recruitment list,” Theo reveals, sheepishly adding, “I knew my brightest pupil wouldn’t turn down an opportunity like this.”

I grit my teeth together. I know when someone is trying to manipulate me, and right now, my boss is backing me into a corner. He’s doing a damned good job of it, too.

I clear my throat, choosing my words carefully. “I’m flattered that you trust me for such an important case, but why me?”

Instead of letting me dip my toe in the water, Theo is tossing me straight into the wolves’ den. Literally.

“Werewolves can sense when they’re being lied to, so I need an agent who can use their real human backstory,” he explains candidly. “At least, to some degree.”

My lips pop into an O shape. “So you’re assigning me because I’m the newest siren, not because you think I’m ready,” I blurt, thinking out loud.

I don’t feel great about that.

Theo presses his lips together. “I know it’s a challenging first case, but I promised the higher-ups that you could do this. Did I misspeak?”

I open my mouth, then close it again. My gut says one thing, but my head tells me another. “I think that—”

Theo cuts in. “I’ll also remind you that a successful mission of this caliber would elevate your station.”

If I don’t blow my cover and end up dead.

I wipe my hands on my jeans and take a deep breath, finally coming to a decision. I’m not sure it’s the right choice, but I tell myself there’s no turning back. “No, you didn’t misspeak,” I confirm, rushing the words out in a nervous exhale. “When do I leave?”

“You’re flying out of Seattle tonight.”

Shit. That soon?I could really use more time to study the file. To get in the right headspace.

You can do this.

I stand and force a tight smile. “Great. I’ll go pack my things. The next time I see you, I’ll have the moonstone.”