The spring sun shines brightly between the budding leaves of the oak trees. The bright blue sky is painted with brushstrokes of white clouds, feathering away with the occasional breeze. The gentle wind carries the scent of distant lilac bushes and wet river stones. Every breath I take smells of nature and life.

I kneel down beside a large rock, studying the shadow underneath it in hopes of finding a cluster of mushrooms. Recently, I've taken a fascination with mushrooms. I just like to look at them. Something about their bulbous shape and varying shades of gray and white invoke a deep curiosity within me. I am careful not to touch the mushrooms I find, but they're quite interesting.

My nature study book has a section about mushrooms. They talk about all their different uses and how to tell if one is poisonous. My favorite mushroom is the red and white-spotted kind. I haven't seen one, but I hope to soon.

"Charlotte?"

I glance over my shoulder, still kneeling close to the rock. I search through the crooked trees and leaning branches and finally locate the origin of the voice.

I brighten, "Joon!"

Namjoon steps out of the treeline with a shy expression. He wears a pair of dark sweatpants and a loose-fitting t-shirt that appears to be two sizes too big for him. His brown hair is hidden underneath a baseball hat. "I didn't realize you left the house," he adds, looking over at me.

I smile with false innocence. "Neither does my parents."

Namjoon's face flickers with worry. "That's dangerous," he comments, "they said that Luke's pack is nearby. It's not safe to be alone."

I suppress a sigh and push myself to my feet. "I'm twelve years old, I can take care of myself," I reply. I start walking deeper into the forest, keeping my hopes high around finding those red mushrooms before nightfall. "Besides, the border patrols have been out all day. We're in the heart of our territory, I'm perfectly safe here."

Namjoon follows me and he makes no attempt to do it quietly. In the corner of my eye, I watch him stumble around before he regains his balance again. He jogs up the path of flattened grass I am following and comes to my side. "But it isn't," he argues, now walking at my pace, "Alpha Samuel said we aren't supposed to go out alone anymore, he said it at the meeting."

I slow my walk and my gaze lingers on a moss-covered tree. I reach over and lightly run my hand against its soft, furry surface for a beat. "I wasn't at the meeting," I remind him gently, "I'm not allowed to go, remember?"

Namjoon stops walking and grimaces with guilt.

My eyes soften and I immediately feel terrible for treating him dismissively. It isn't his fault the Alpha is paranoid of an attack. He's just following the rules, after all. Rules that keep us safe. "I'm sorry," I apologize, "I didn't mean it like that. I was just..."

He shakes his head, "No it's alright. I'm sorry, I almost forgot..."

I'm not a werewolf.

My mom is a born werewolf, a pureblood, but my dad was bitten and turned into one. Statistically, I had an equal chance of becoming a werewolf or remaining human. Usually, young werewolves transform between the ages of nine and eleven or show early signs of being a werewolf. I displayed none of those signs, and my twelfth birthday was two weeks ago.

Since my family is part of the pack, I am allowed to remain in the pack for as long as I choose. When I become an adult, I can choose to leave the pack for human society or remain here. I am not sure what I will choose, but I don't have to worry about it until later. There are plenty of human-werewolf children who still live with the pack so I wouldn't be alone.

Namjoon, on the other hand, has a completely different story. He was born from two pureblood werewolves and is already showing signs of growing into an Alpha.

Alphas are werewolves with an extra set of skills and power to lead the others. Some call it magic, others claim it's basic charisma. The others haven't experienced or witnessed the power of an Alpha. A born Alpha has the power to control and calm the minds of others; it's almost magical. A young werewolf shows signs of being an Alpha through their physical presence or the sound of their voice.

In summary, if you're a werewolf, you can feel it.

Namjoon is an Alpha. I can't feel his power, but I see the way it affects others. The adults say it's growing stronger each day.

"Anyway, what are you doing out here?" he asks, changing subjects.

I let my hand fall from the tree and I continued walking. "I'm looking for red mushrooms. It rained the other day and I wanted to see if I could find them."

Namjoon scrunches his nose in confusion. "Why mushrooms?"

"Dunno," I shrug, "I just think they're interesting."

"Do you mind if I join you?"

"Sure, but you have to look too."

Namjoon smiles fondly, amused, and nods. "Alright."

As we search the forest for our mushrooms, my head starts to ache with quiet pain. I rub my temple in hopes of easing the pain but as time goes on, it begins to worsen. I lead Namjoon deeper into the forest, pushing past stubborn branches and walking through thick bushes, and checking every dark corner in hopes of finding those elusive mushrooms.

My breathing becomes labored as time goes on and a strange heat builds in my chest. I shake my head gently and rub my head again. I continue on, trying to ignore the strange pains, and we finally reach a large river.

I pause at the water's edge, taking a moment to breathe. I swallow hard against my dry throat and wipe a line of sweat from my brow. I make a quiet noise of exhaustion before kneeling down again. My gaze grows distant as I stare into the rippling waves of the crystal clear water.

Namjoon sits down at my side and looks into the water with interest. He dips his hand into the cold water and swishes it around. "I wonder if there are any crayfish there. I like catching them."

I nod as my head becomes fuzzy. I inhale shakily as my heart begins to race inside my chest.

What's happening to me? Why am I so tired? Am I sick?

My face warms with sudden heat and soon I'm burning bright red. I press my shivering hands against my hot cheeks and start to feel dizzy. The sunlight caught in the leaves begins to blur and turn into sharp flashes. The softness of the day turns into blades. Every sound, sight, and scent is painful.

I moan and bury my face into my hands, praying for the agony to stop.

"What's wrong?" Namjoon asks worriedly, "Is everything okay?"

My stomach twists and nausea overtakes me. I make a strangled gurgling sound and turn away from him, afraid I'll puke on him. "I don't feel good," I croak.

"Are you sick? Should I go get your mom?" I feel the light touch of his hand on my shoulder but I shrug out of his grip.

A sharp kick of pain spreads through my stomach. I double over and press my head down on the grass. I gag on rising puke until I finally let it out, vomiting all over the place. I cough violently as the pain continues to spread through my body like fire.

Help! Namjoon, help me! I plead mentally as my body begins to shut down.

Namjoon gasps and quickly comes close. He swipes my hair from my face and holds it behind my head. "Lottie, I think you're transforming," he says, "just breathe, it'll be over soon."

My eyes flutter open with shock. I'm not a werewolf. Why would he say that? I'm just sick! I'm not like them. Another wave of puke overtakes me and I'm on the ground again. When that clears, I find myself sobbing as torturing pain shakes through my body. My muscles spasm and I'm unable to sit again.

No no no! I'm not transforming! I deny fervently. I'm not late and I'm not a werewolf! I'm not!

"Namjoon," I whimper helplessly, "please..."

My mom will know what to do. She'll know that I'm sick! I'm not transforming!

"Hold on, just hold on, stay with me, Lottie," he urges in an almost hypnotic tone. The depth of his voice fills my mind like dripping honey, saturating my thoughts with images of him. Only of him.

It takes a moment for me to realize he's either purposefully or accidentally turning his power on me if only to calm me down.

But that doesn't make any sense.

Only werewolves are affected by the power of the Alpha. Humans are immune to it and I never felt it before.

Namjoon appears in my mind again, pleading with me to calm down.

I grit my teeth, locking my jaw together, trying to fight with his voice. I trust Namjoon with my life, but not like this. I shouldn't feel this way! I shouldn't want to listen to him in this way! His powers don't affect me! They shouldn't!

I cough the last of the puke out of my mouth and manage to rasp, "Joonie, stop."

"I--, Lottie, I--"

A sob tears from my throat and I slam my head against the ground. "STOP!" I scream out, "STOP IT!"

His hand immediately draws back and he falls silent.

I struggle to steady my breathing as my muscles begin to coil and condense. "Please," I beg quietly and my body falls onto its side. I squeeze my eyes shut, forcing tears out, and gasp, "I don't--, I don't want to listen..."

"It'll be okay..." the gentleness in his voice invokes a deep emotion in my heart. There is no word in existence to describe that feeling.

Without warning, my eyes rolled back into my head and for a blissful moment, I felt nothing.

"Oh Lottie..." his words are muffled in my ears. I feel a hand rest on the side of my head, brushing back a layer of fur, petting me... "I'm so sorry, I didn't know." His voice is filled with deep conviction.

I inhale deeply and am greeted with a plethora of unfamiliar and painfully sharp scents. I nearly gag on it. My eyes snap open and I find myself still lying in the grass. My legs twitch for a moment before falling still.

My gaze flicks to Namjoon who is sitting at my side, slightly leaning over me. His lips pull into a sad look. "Oh..."

I open my mouth but no words come out. I stare at Namjoon for a moment longer, my mind still reeling with complete shock.

No. No no no no! I scream internally, blinded by rage and the pain of the unfairness. I was happy! I was happy being human! Why did this happen?! Is this some kind of cruel joke?!

Namjoon's nose wrinkles and he starts to reel backward. He takes a shaky breath and plugs his nose, avoiding my intense gaze. "I'm sorry," he says quietly. "I just... the scent..."

What? I ask silently, Why are you doing that? What scent? Mine?

Namjoon's deep brown eyes glaze over for a moment. He swallows hard against his throat and starts to lean further back. "I'm sorry," he repeats hurriedly. He scrambles to his feet and starts backtracking, "I'll go get your parents! I'm sorry!"

I stare at him in betrayal. What are you doing? Why are you leaving? Why are you freaking out over the smell?

In the back of my mind, I begin to fear for the absolute worst.

There are three types of werewolves. There are the Alphas, there are normal werewolves, and then there are Lunas and Sols. They come as their own breed of trouble. Like the Alphas, they carry a strange power within them as well as a specific role.

Only female werewolves can become Lunas, but not all women are Lunas. Conversely, only male werewolves can become Sols, but not every man is a Sol. They suffer a terrible fate and are subjected to intense and frequent heats. Technically, they are the symbol of the home, the life of the pack. Marked with a unique scent signature--one that stirs an emotion of love, and appears beautiful in the eyes of all who gaze upon them. Lunas and Sols are a kind word to describe the pack's concubine.

The two Lunas in our pack claim they are perfectly happy serving their roles, but I could never stomach the idea of being one. The mere thought of it inspires a visceral hatred within me. I've been told over and over again that they are blessed, just like the Alphas, but I don't see the appeal or understand why they even exist in the first place.

I don't care to be used, and I'll rip off the head of anybody who dares to try.

But if Namjoon can't stand the scent of me right now...

Horrified with myself, I close my eyes and start praying whoever created werewolves in the first place and beg them to turn me back. I don't want this life! I was happy as a human! Why did that have to change? I don't want to be a Luna!

It takes a moment for me to realize that Namjoon hasn't left yet.

He hesitates to leave, standing between the treeline, and watches me with deep pain in his eyes. "Lottie, are you...?" Our eyes lock together. His expression slacks of all emotion for a second before total shock appears.

I looked on in deep sorrow, recognizing that expression, and confirmed my deepest fear.

"I can't believe it," he whispers.

I closed my eyes again, wishing for everything to go away and that I could return to my mushroom hunt.

Nothing will ever be the same again.

"You're a Luna."

And I felt my world shatter.

A/N: Hope you liked the chapter! Also, the story does not mainly follow Charlotte when she was twelve years old, though we will have some flashbacks to that time to explain the change she went through! Young Charlotte is kind of a brat, then again, we were all brats when we were twelve, haha. She and the other characters are very flawed. With that said, here's chapter one!