The Odd Luna Series

A sudden knock sent my heart on a roller-coaster, causing a chill to ripple down my fingertips, freezing the open book in my grasp. I yelped, hastily chucking the half-iced book onto the carpet. One would assume the carpet's cushy embrace would mute the sound, but alas, the book landed with a crash loud enough to wake the dead.

My sister Raelyn nosed the door open just enough for her silhouette to squeeze in. She was about to speak but her words died in her throat, her eyes narrowing onto the frost-covered book sprawled out on the floor.

"Really?" she huffed, her disappointment cutting through the chill. "Again?"

"Hey, it's not my fault," I shrugged defensively, my standard comeback every time my powers had a cold snap. "You have a knack for sneaking up on me."

Raelyn rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Whatever, Ice Queen. Just wanted to let you know that dinner's on the table. The pack and I are eagerly waiting for your royal highness's grand entrance," she said, sarcasm oozing from every word. I shot her a confused look, which quickly dissolved into realization. "And we would prefer if it happened sometime this century," she added, clearly running out of patience.

"Oh, frostbite!" I gasped, floundering out of my bed. "I completely spaced on the pack dinner!" I stumbled over to my closet, frantically rummaging through my clothes. "Give me five!" I hollered at Raelyn, hearing the faint click of my door shutting as confirmation.

Not minding my look, I tossed on a pair of black leggings and a snug, oversized gray tee. I slipped into some comfy black shoes and dashed to the mirror, dragging a brush through the jungle that was my hair before securing it into a messy bun.

As I finished sprucing up for my audience, my father's booming voice echoed through the pack house. "Rachel!" He bellowed, the alpha's tone as commanding as ever. "Your dinner's getting cold!"

"Chill, Dad!" I retorted with matching vigor. "I'm on my way!" I flung open my door, slipped out, and shut it behind me, ready to face the pack.

Navigating my way down the stairway, I landed in the grand dining hall, with its showpiece mahogany table large enough to host a mini music festival. A colossal chandelier made of glittering crystals hung precariously over the table, looking for all the world like a meteor about to make impact.

Though our pack's numbers ran into the hundreds, our communal dinners saw only around forty-five attendees, an oddly exclusive gathering. But who could blame them? Everyone had their own Netflix series to catch up on.

"Rachel," my father greeted me, his alpha aura somehow making my name sound like a royal summons. He patted an empty chair next to him, Raelyn ensconced on his other side. "Join us."

I bobbed a quick nod and gravitated towards my designated spot, brushing off the silent lightning bolts shot my way by some pack members. Our exchange was mostly limited to such visual eloquence, a grim ballet of unspoken resentment.

You see, my pack didn't exactly think of me as their favorite ice cream flavor. My icy powers were a bone of contention, a deviation from the norm they found hard to swallow. My whole life was punctuated by their scornful jibes and thinly veiled threats. Yes, I could've told my alpha dad about it, but it was about as easy as teaching a fish to juggle.

A thick, stifling silence coated the room like morning fog on a winter's day, threatening to turn me into a talking snowman. So, I broke the ice. "Why's it so quiet here?" The chatter that ensued was as comforting as the crackling of a bonfire, though a few just picked at their food, maintaining their vow of silence.

As the meal progressed, I mainly kept my peace, focusing on conquering the hearty spread before me. Just as I was spearing a juicy morsel, a sudden surge of heat radiated from the fork, jolting me like a surprise sauna visit. I tried my best to hold on but when it felt like holding a lava stick, I yelped and flung the fork across the table, causing the hapless pack member opposite me to leap up in surprise.

The room fell into a hush, all eyes swiveling towards me as my cheeks flamed up in embarrassment. I could almost feel the heat of my father's ire, making me wish I could disappear into a snowdrift. His glare was so intense that my hand spontaneously combusted, turning the tablecloth into a miniature bonfire. The room erupted in gasps and the cacophony of scraping chairs as everyone backed away.

"Rachel!" My dad roared, his alpha command making the room shake. "Douse it!" I nodded, aiming my palms at the fire, expecting a flurry of snow. Instead, I managed to add more fuel to the fire, literally. The terrified shrieks of my pack members amplified my own pounding heart, the specter of impending punishment making it beat a frenzied rhythm.

With a silent plea for mercy, I aimed at the fire again and sighed in relief when ice sprayed out of my hands, dousing the blaze. I exhaled a puff of cold air in relief, echoed by the relieved sighs around me.

"We did it!" I mentally high-fived Ivy, my wolf.

"Yeah, after almost turning the place into a barbecue pit," she shot back, her mental smirk palpable. My eyes rolled on their own accord at her lack of shared enthusiasm. But before I could come up with a frosty retort, a throat-clearing sound resonated through the room.

Recognizing it as my dad's signal for attention, I braced myself and turned to face him, barely managing to keep my powers in check this time.

"I-I'm terribly sorry," I stammered, but before I could finish, his booming voice cut through.

"What in the blazes was that!" he thundered, making me stand at attention. "How many times must I tell you to keep your cool? Can't you do that?" His words sliced through me like icicles, and all I could manage was a whispered apology.

"I'm sorry," I murmured, my head bowing like a sunflower at dusk.

"Ascend to your room," he commanded. "I'll convene with you shortly."

A silent 'yes, sir' slipped from me, and as I acquiesced, the room buzzed with hushed whispers. Probably analyzing the disaster I'd just orchestrated, like sports commentators after a particularly tragic match.

I started my walk of shame towards the stairs, hot tears staking their claim on my cheeks. Let them see, I thought, what's another tally mark on their laundry list of my imperfections?

Once in the confines of my room, I slumped onto the bed, face first. Emitting a growl of frustration, I flipped around, staring at the ceiling. Why me, Ivy? I mentally questioned, as if my wolf held all the answers. Why this curse? A few rogue tears fell on my hands, instantly crystallizing into tiny ice sculptures. In a bout of rage, I flung the frozen tears against the wall, watching them explode into a shimmering hailstorm.

Just as I was about to dive back into the welcoming fluffiness of my bed, the door swung open, revealing the tall silhouette of my father. He closed the door behind him, traversed the room and seated himself on the edge of my bed. Words deserted me, my exasperation having the last say.

"Rachel, sweetheart, are you okay?" I stayed silent, my eyes fixated on a funny-shaped spot on the ceiling. He sighed, repositioning himself to face me. "I'm sorry I lost my cool," he began, genuine worry creasing his features. "You jeopardized the safety of the pack, and that scared me."

I sat upright, tossing my father a look I'd never dare throw at any other alpha. "Dad, what do you expect me to do?" I threw my hands up dramatically. "It's not like I was born with an instruction manual!"

His sigh was heavy, a clear sign of his dissatisfaction with my reply. "You'll have to master it," he said, his voice firm. I shot him a glare. "How, pray tell, am I supposed to do that?" I snapped, earning a helpless shrug from him. An uncomfortable silence enveloped us before he broke it.

"I can't have another fiasco like tonight," he said, prompting me to arch an eyebrow. "So, until you learn to control your abilities, you need to stay away from large gatherings." My eyes bugged out, my mind went blank, and my voice decided to take a coffee break. He couldn't be serious, could he?

"Dad! That's practically an impossible task given our overpopulated pack house!" I exploded, my volume dialing up with every word. "You won't let me leave this place! What else am I supposed to do?"

"Don't raise your voice at me, Rachel," he warned, employing his alpha tone. This only made my blood simmer. He'd never used that tone with me before. The alpha tone usually induces an instinctive obedience. But not for me. Not this time. I was too far gone into the realm of fury.

"I won't be silenced, Dad!" I roared, his eyes widening at my audacious defiance. I had never dared to rebel like this, but my anger was the puppet master and I, its marionette.

"What am I supposed to do? Hibernate in my room all day?"

"That is exactly what I expect you to do." His words were like gasoline on my rage.

"That's not fair!" I bellowed. "You always expect me to be some prodigious prodigy! You want me to be someone I can't!" His lips parted, gearing up to interject, but I silenced him. "I refuse to be your idea of a perfect daughter!" Tears cascaded down my face.

He reached out to comfort me, but I shrugged him off. "Don't," I snapped. I sprang from the bed, sprinting towards the door, a fresh wave of tears flooding my vision. I bolted out, slamming the door behind me, ignoring my father's pleas and commands to return.

I needed some time away from this place.