A New Alpha and the Woods

The ceremony for the new Alpha, Jarred, and his Luna, Hannah, had just concluded. Relief washed over you – the long hours of preparation were finally over. As you finished cleaning up with the other teenagers, your thoughts drifted, as they often did, to your yet-to-be-found mate. The slight jealousy you felt seeing Jarred and Hannah's obvious connection was a familiar ache.

You were about to head home, exhausted and ready for bed, when you spotted a small figure darting towards the edge of the woods – Jamie, the seven-year-old terror. He knew he wasn't supposed to go there, especially at night. No one else seemed to notice. You sighed, knowing you had to intervene.

"Jamie, get back here!" you called out, but he was already disappearing into the growing darkness. A knot of worry formed in your stomach. You told your sister, Corrine, to inform Jamie's mother and started after him, the familiar woods suddenly feeling less like home and more like an unknown, potentially dangerous place.