Stuck with the enemy

Deniz's Story

Two days had passed since my meeting with Alpha Lucian—and my unsettling encounter with Derek. His cold words replayed in my mind like a haunting melody, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. I'd thrown myself into work at the café, hoping the chaos of orders and the hum of activity would distract me. But no amount of coffee-making could drown out the storm inside me.

The café was bustling when the door swung open, the winter air rushing in along with one of Alpha's younger messengers. He was no older than fifteen, his face red from the cold as he scanned the room and spotted me behind the counter.

"Miss Deniz Brown?" he asked, stepping closer.

"That's me," I said, setting down a tray of croissants and wiping my hands on a towel.

He reached into his coat and pulled out an envelope embossed with the Alpha's crest. "This is for you."

I frowned, taking the envelope. "Thanks."

Without waiting for a response, the boy turned and headed back out the door, leaving me holding the letter as if it might bite. I excused myself to the back room, my heart pounding as I tore open the seal.

The letter was brief, but its implications were monumental:

---

Miss Deniz Brown,

This is an official notice from Alpha Lucian's council. After careful consideration of your suggestion, the Alpha has decided to offer a chance to the youth of the suburbs. You are granted one week to assemble a team of up to fifteen members for patrol training.

As the leader of this team, your presence is required for their admission. Following the probationary period, training and evaluations will take place at the patrol house.

—Council of the Crescent Moon Pack

---

I read the letter twice, then once more for good measure.

"This has to be a mistake," I muttered, though I knew it wasn't.

"It's not," Derya, my wolf, replied. She sounded just as stunned as I felt. "But you should've known this was coming. You asked for this."

"I didn't ask to be involved!" I snapped back. "I just wanted them to have a chance!"

"Well, now they do," Derya said dryly. "And they're counting on you."

She wasn't wrong. My heart sank as I realized what this meant. The kids in the suburbs—their dreams, their futures—were now tied to me.

I groaned. "Aras is going to kill me."

"He'll get over it," Derya replied. "Eventually."

After my shift, I slid into the booth where Alya waited, sipping her usual cappuccino. She glanced up, her eyes curious as I dropped the letter in front of her.

"What's this?" she asked, picking it up. As she read, her brows arched higher and higher. When she finished, she let out a low whistle. "Wow. How did you pull this off?"

"I didn't mean to," I said, burying my face in my hands. "I just wanted the kids to get a chance. I didn't think it'd turn into... this."

Alya smirked. "Well, congratulations, Captain. Looks like you're leading a patrol team."

I groaned again. "This isn't funny, Alya. Aras is never going to let me do this."

"You'll figure it out," she said, waving a hand dismissively. "Honestly, this could be good for you. Being part of the patrol means access to information, resources... maybe even answers about your parents."