Payton

Payton watches as the future Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack, his best friend Noah, punches another alpha in the temple, promptly knocking him out. Noah jogs up to him, shirtless and smiling as the pack healer rushes to help the unlucky alpha.

“Damn Noah, you couldn’t cut the poor guy some slack.” Payton hands Noah a towel to wipe the sweat dripping down his abs.

“Sorry dude, can’t. I’m gonna be Alpha soon! I need to be prepared.” he states, still smiling proudly. I can smell the happiness radiating from him, his pheromones being amplified by all the sweat.

“NOAH!” A shout comes across the field. “That was good, son. At this rate, you’ll be ready to be Alpha by the next full moon.” Noah's dad, the current Alpha, says clapping Noah on the back. “And Payton!” Alpha John looks over at me, “You're right on track to be the Beta next full moon too.”

“AW YEAH!” Noah jumps up pulling Payton into a bro hug, smiling brightly. It’s one of Payton's favorite things about him. He’s always smiling.

“Next we need to work on training in your wolf forms, so take a break and come back in 30 minutes ready for training. Got it?” The current Alpha demands. 

“Yes, Alpha.” Payton was very much ready for a well-deserved break.

“It’s alright Payton. Next week we’ll have a new Alpha. Just call me John.” The older alpha smiles brightly, very different from his previous attitude.

“Whatever Dad. Come on Payton!” Noah says excitedly, pulling him in the direction of the pack house. Noah lets out a sigh of relief, “Good thing we got away from that old fart.” he smiles.

“Noah…” Payton scolds jokingly. “Anywho,” he started, “When do you think you’ll find your mate?” 

Noah turned 16 a couple of weeks ago and still hasn’t met his mate. Which either means his mate doesn’t live around here, or his mate hasn’t turned 16 yet.

Ideally, he should find and fully mate them before he becomes Alpha, but it’s highly unlikely he’ll stumble upon them now. Wolves in the pack go to school, but the wolves who are training to be leaders soon, in this case at the next full moon, get to take the week before off to get their final training and preparations in. 

The Blood Moon Pack has a main pack house in the center of their territory. Leaders, including Payton and Noah, live there full time as well as some other wolves that may want to live closer to pack life. The territory also possesses some other small houses, like the infirmary and the healer's hut, as well as our training grounds for pack leaders and guards.

They hope that soon after Noah becomes Pack Alpha and returns to school to finish out his final few months, he’ll meet his mate. Payton hopes he finds his mate too, He only turned 18 four days ago so he hasn’t exactly had the opportunity.

Noah's smile weakness at my question. “ I dunno dude, I'm so freaking ready to meet them already.” Noah's head hits the table in the dining hall of the pack house as he pouts.

Payton pushed down a smile threatening to overtake him. “It’s okay buddy.” He pats his back gently, letting a gentle smile take over his features.

“I mean, it’s whatever man, I’m sure I’ll find them eventually.” Noah perks up. “What about you? Are you excited for your mate?”

Payton freezes. 

It’s a bit more complicated than that.

He laughs awkwardly, playing off his hesitation. “Yes, I suppose I am. I just hope he’s nice.”

“‘He’ huh?” Noah wiggles his eyebrows cheekily.

Payton rolls his eyes dramatically. “Don’t act like that’s a surprise.” He blushes softly.

But oh, it’s so much more complicated than it seems.

Payton has always known he was… different. A little too uncomfortable in his own skin. More so than other boys, even when they hit puberty. He’d always known he liked boys, but it never explained the way his eyes always lingered on girls. Payton looks at girls but not the same way the other boys do. He notices. He notices the way their eyeliner enhances their eyes and the way their skirts always seem to be so soft and flowy, his fingers itching to just reach out and touch, imagining the way the fabric would feel against his thighs instead. He envied the way girls could grow out their hair, the way it framed their faces just so. On more than one occasion Payton has found himself standing in front of the mirror imagining what it would be like if he was a girl. She was beautiful, and charming, exactly how Payton wishes he was. But he couldn’t. He was going to be the next Beta of the pack. 

But he wanted to, Goddess did he want to? All he wants is to tell Noah, tell everyone, and just be able to be himself, as herself. 

Would my mate even want me, a boy who wants to be a girl? A girl, but not quite.

Noah notes Payton's change in demeanor and his eyebrows furrow. 

“Are you good, bro? Where’d your brain go?” Payton cringes slightly at the choice of name.

I can… I can do this.

“I have something important to tell you.” Payton casts his eyes down, blush creeping up his neck.

Noah's face scrunches up with concern. “What’s wrong Payton?”

“I-uh, I’m,” Payton cringes at his stutter. “I’m t-”

“NOAH! PAYTON! GET YOUR BUTTS OVER HERE! IT’S TRAINING TIME!”

“NOT NOW DAD!” Noah yells, his eyes not leaving my face.

“It’s fine we can talk later.” Payton smiles weakly at Noah.

“No, it sounds important and you’re acting weird. What’s up?” Noah demands, more serious than I have ever seen him.

“No, it's fine.” Payton gets up and starts heading toward the Alpha. “It’s not a big deal.” He cringes internally, faces on fire.

“Wait,” Noah scrambles to get up, running to grab Payton’s arm, “Are you sure?” His face is still all scrunched.

“Yes Noah, I promise.” Payton shrugs, turning and continuing the walk to the training area.

“Um okay…” he says unsure. “If something was wrong you’d tell me, right?”

“Of course,” Payton forced a smile, “You’re my best friend.” He threw his arm over Noah’s shoulder, straining his arm up despite being only slightly shorter than him.

“Okay,” Noah says, a hesitant smile making its way onto his face till it's a full-blown Noah smile. “Let’s go train! Even though we only got a 15-minute break.” he mumbles. 

I let out a sharp laugh, a real smile playing on my lips. “Yeah, let's go Alpha.”