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Xander's POV “Hey Xander, get up!” I could feel someone tapping me to awaken. I grunted and got up, sitting on the bed after the tapping persisted. “For heaven’s sake, what do you want?” I shouted in my sleepy voice. I was enjoying my sweet dream before this moron woke me up. “Oh, sorry, dear future Alpha! Today is Monday, and we've got school. Mom says you should be down in two minutes, or she will come up,” my younger sister said and went out of my room, slamming the door on her way. I cringed at the sound the door made. I went down and met the other pack members who were already seated and having breakfast. “Good morning, everyone!” I said with a big smile on my face as I made my way to my reserved seat, sat down, and grabbed my breakfast. “Morning, Xander,” some of the people at the table echoed, while others just smiled. Just then, Mom entered the dining room, and everyone stood up. Yep, that's my mom, Luna Kiera, Luna of the Avila Grey Pack. Since Dad was away for the annual Alpha’s conference organized by the council of elders who were in charge of all the activities of the werewolves. “Morning, everyone, you may be seated,” Mom said and then took her seat before everyone else did. That’s the rule. The alpha and the Luna of the pack must have their seats first before everyone else. And in the situation where the Alpha or Luna is not around, the beta gets the respect, and it goes on. The grace was said before everyone started to eat. “Do you guys remember the excuse you all are going to tell the school when they ask why all of you were absent all through last week, right? We wouldn’t want all of you giving different reasons that will be very suspicious,” Mom inquired, and we all nodded our heads. Last week, on Sunday, there was a lunar eclipse. During a lunar eclipse, all werewolves lose their strength and all their abilities, making them very weak and leaving them in intense pain. Those in higher rank experience more than the rest. Having alpha blood in me, my pain was very extreme that I thought I was going to die any time it happens. It usually happens about five to six times in a year and sometimes even more than that. The pain usually lasts three days for the other pack members, but for the alphas, it lasts for five days. At that point, I used to wish that I were an omega because they usually experience the least pain, and some don’t even experience any at all. So, at that time, they take care of the whole pack. So imagine if a pack used to maltreat their omegas? They are in for doom during that period. Mom had earlier called the principal and informed him that the Avila family could not be able to make it to school on the first week because our great-grandmother had died, and we were going to Chile for the burial. Well, that was actually not true, but the excuse seems to work just fine. Since our whole pack lives together and uses the same surname, the whole town thought we were all a big family living together. And since we couldn’t possibly tell them that we are werewolves and a pack, we just went with the flow. “How are you feeling now, Xander?” Mom asked, bringing me out of my thoughts. “Mom, I’m fine, really!” I said when I saw the concerned look on her face. It’s actually her job as a Luna to be concerned about the whole pack. Plus, I’m her eldest son. After lunch, the pack's kids who were in high school got ready for school. We usually go to and come back from school together. We also sit together for lunch at our reserved table in the canteen. We mostly like to sit together. Only a few of us make friends with the humans. Humans are actually a headache. Most of the kids live so wild and reckless. I actually talk to a few, not that I keep them as friends. Honestly speaking, I don’t even think I have any friends at all. I like to keep to myself and be alone. Call me a loner; I don’t care. I was actually the opposite of my younger sister Alissa, who knew almost everyone in the school. But who wouldn't? She is in the chair leading team, their assistant captain, that’s why. A lot of the girls are always trying to befriend her, possibly because of our money or because they think they can get to me through her. Not that I will ever look at any of them. Some of the guys try to ask her out but stopped ever since she started dating Jason, one of our pack members. The truth is that they are mates, so I can’t say they are dating or married. But who cares? We werewolves, when we find our mates, just claim them. Most of us only actually do the white wedding stuff because it’s proper and the right thing to do. Talking about mates, I was supposed to have found my mate two years ago when I turned sixteen, but I’m not eighteen yet and still haven't found her. Mom actually told me not to worry, Dad found her when he was already twenty-four. But I honestly used to pray to find her soon. Life can actually get very boring. I actually promised myself that I wouldn’t date or have anything to do with any girl except my mate. And I am proud of myself that I was able to keep to my promise so far. Those of us who were in high school were about twelve in number. And since every one of us could drive, each of us drove ourselves. We made our way to school, and the first class I have is chemistry. Just great. I hate that topic with a passion.