As I navigate the bustling corridors of my high school, the scent of freshly polished floors and laughter fills the air. My fellow warriors, clad in their distinctive insignia, call out to me, their voices blending into a lively hum. I lift a hand, offering them a wave, acknowledging their presence while my mind races with thoughts of the day ahead. Just then, Jason, my closest ally and confidant, breaks away from the throng, his pace quickening to keep in step with me. “Hey, Little Badass! What’s the plan after school?” he asks with a grin, his energy palpable. “Don’t call me that!” I reply, irritation lacing my words. “I despise that nickname.” He chuckles, his laughter echoing between the lockers. “Newsflash: the entire squad thinks it suits you perfectly after your little show yesterday. You might as well embrace it." A wave of disbelief washes over me, and I halt, turning to meet his gaze. “Please tell me you’re kidding!” But the serious tilt of his lips reveals the unfunny truth. Great... Just what I needed. Jason continues, undeterred by my reaction. “So, what are you up to after school then?” “Oh, you know,” I shrug, feigning nonchalance, “just the usual—hanging out with Dad.” He raises an eyebrow, a teasing smirk dancing on his lips. “By ‘hanging out,’ you mean training with the fiercest warrior this pack has ever known? That’s quite the privilege you’ve got there.” My response is a sidelong glance at Alpha Rik, who stands confidently at the far end of the hallway, flanked by his entourage of admirers. “Looks like the harem is still expanding,” I comment, my chin jerking in his direction, deliberately avoiding his probing question about my training regime with my father. Yes, I train under my dad’s watchful eye every day. My path was etched in stone the moment I took my first breath; my destiny is to be the strongest, the fastest, a warrior more formidable than even my parents. My legacy is to guard our Alpha, to stand as a sentinel just as my father has done for years. Yet, a gnawing frustration accompanies that knowledge—our future alpha, the embodiment of strength and authority, doesn’t even know my name. How does an alpha overlook the daughter of the two individuals who stand as the very pillars of his existence? My parents' sacrifices are the reason he has the freedom to indulge in whatever whims he pleases, to prance about as the self-proclaimed heartthrob of the pack. And somehow, I am destined to protect that insufferable alpha one day. I shake my head. I cannot fault him entirely; showing off is part of the alpha package. But there’s no denying that Alpha Rik possesses an allure, with his midnight-black hair cascading just past his shoulders and a meticulously groomed beard that accentuates his strong jawline. Those ice-blue eyes, reminiscent of glaciers, cut through his sun-kissed skin, entrancing those around him. His imposing 6’4” frame, defined by broad shoulders and powerful limbs, dismisses any notions of weakness. Every unmated female in our pack—and those from neighboring territories—likely harbors dreams of being chosen as our future Luna. Or at the very least, of being the lucky one to call him their own. I watch him, standing proud amongst his admirers, radiating a magnetic mix of arrogance and strength. His name speaks volumes: Rik, meaning brave—a fitting tribute to the legacy of his lineage. The alpha lineage, where all men are bestowed names deifying courage and valor. Our pack commands respect, renowned as one of the strongest in the nation, led by a man who embodies honor and ferocity. But then there’s our future alpha, whose reputation still hangs in the balance. He’s undeniably strong; I’ve witnessed his prowess in training. He’s a beast, one shaped by the very genes of an alpha. For me, though, the bar is set higher. I know I must outsmart and outwork every alpha if I'm to fulfill my duty as his protector. It’s daunting, especially when I stand at a slight 5’4”, where my stature often leads others to underestimate my abilities. They quickly learn, however; I’m hardly an easy target, having triumphed over my fellow warriors, earning both respect and recognition from Alpha Anders. His morning training sessions before school have become a rite of passage for me, while my afternoons are spent honing my skills with my father. I refuse, however, to be just another admirer of Rik’s harem. Perhaps it's my own sense of pride, but I envision myself as his guardian, not a fleeting dalliance. I refuse to tarnish my future mate's name by becoming yet another notch on Rik's belt. We all possess a mate out there—someone destined for us. I intend to maintain my honor and not sweep through a series of whirlwind romances that would ultimately reflect poorly on my future partner. My heart has already chosen its path, even before laying eyes on him. ‘Thank the moon we’re on the same page with this,’ my wolf, Artemis, chimes in eagerly. ‘I wouldn’t let you off easy if you even thought about offending our mate. Can you imagine the day we finally meet him?’ I’m far less enthusiastic about that prospect than Artemis, but my wolf is relentless. “Save it, Artemis. This is all so… unexpected,” I reply silently, turning my attention away from the magnetic pull of Alpha Rik, who has seemingly caught my gaze. Suddenly, our eyes lock, his piercing blue gaze sending a shiver down my spine that feels like an electric current. What was that? ‘What the hell was that?’ I demand of Artemis, bewildered by the intensity of the moment. “I don’t know! Maybe it’s an alpha thing?” I flip mentally at her absurd response. ‘You're not helping!’ ‘It’s instinct! It’s beyond me.’ I push her thoughts aside, forcing myself to turn back to Jason, who has clearly been trying to hold my attention. “Sorry, what were you saying?” “Cara! Are you even with me? I was talking about the ever-growing harem around Alpha Rik as he gets closer to his eighteenth birthday—everyone is holding on to the hope that they’ll be chosen as his mate!” “Yes, but you know as well as I do that there can be only one,” I say with a playful smirk, channeling my inner Highlander. I can’t help but tease him; he has an undeniable soft spot for those classic films. “Nice one,” he laughs, nonchalantly throwing an arm over my shoulders as he leads me to our next class, which just happens to be the same as his. As we pass a cluster of fellow pack members, they simultaneously chant, “Little Badass!” Their call rings in my ears, reinforcing Jason’s earlier proclamation. “Just accept it, Cara. If the nickname fits…” he insists, a hint of laughter lacing his words. “Fine! It's not like I have a choice now, is it?” I huff. “That’s the spirit!” he encourages, and then, as if eager to return to his original question, he asks, “So, what are your plans for after school?” I groan, dragging out my response. “Which was…?” “Oh come on!” he exclaims, shaking his head in disbelief. “What are you doing later?” “Right, right!” I sigh, recalling our Thursday ritual. “Well, it’s Thursday. You know Alpha Anders comes over for dinner with Dad and me on Thursdays. So, after training, I’ll be cooking, then tackling homework.” His eyes widen in realization. “Oh, I forgot it was Thursday! But we’re still on for clubbing tomorrow night, right?” “Always ready to blow off some steam,” I assure him, a smile creeping onto my lips. “Excellent!” he beams as we step into our classroom, the chatter of students fading into the background. As the teacher walks in and class begins, my thoughts drift back, caught between the thrill of the evening ahead and the weight of my destiny—a balance of duty, friendship, and uncharted territory that lies ahead.