Heirs, 28

(POV: Lúcia)

"There you are," I say as I sit down next to Isabella, who is lying under a tree.

"Why aren't you with Luan?" Isabella asks, sitting up and looking at me.

"He went home, said he was going to train with Lena," I explained. "I imagine Lucca will go too," I say, looking at the flowers in a small garden near the academy.

"I hope that with this training, Lucca gets better at fighting and stops being a pushover," Isa says angrily. "I can't believe he accepts criticism and taunts. He's the future beta supreme, he needs to command respect. If not through admiration, then through fear."

"I also hope he does better in class after these training sessions with Lena, but not everything can be solved with violence," I ponder.

"In this case, it can," Isa says, unfazed by my words. "Rapha has called him to train several times, and he always dodges it, seems like he enjoys being humiliated."

"The harsh words Lena used on him encouraged him," I say, shrugging.

"Lucca is a good-hearted guy," Isabella says, smiling. "But I don't accept what they do to him. I hope his mate is an extra source of strength for him, not someone pitiful, naive, and fearful."

"Lucca is indeed a good guy," I agree.

"Yes, now I think we should be tougher on him too. Friends shouldn't just pat each other on the back; friends also need to point out flaws so they can be improved," she says, looking up at the sky.

"Luan tried to encourage him," I say, remembering the countless times Luan called Lucca to train.

"Luan Raphael was never tough enough," Isa retorts.

'Very true, despite being big like that, he's extremely kind to the people he loves. I admire that about him. Looking at all those muscles, you wouldn't imagine he's a sweetheart of a wolf, or in his case, a future wolf.' - I say in my thoughts.

"Isa," I get her attention. "Next year, we'll be sixteen years old," I remind her, and she looks at me confused. "Who will be our mates?" I ask, looking at the sky. "Could they be from our pack?"

"I don't care who my mate is, but I hope yours is Luan Raphael," she says his name, tickling me, and I laugh.

"Doubtful," I say, and she hugs me from the side.

Luan hasn't shifted into a wolf yet. We've been friends for a long time, and we have the intimacy to talk about many things, but I've never had the courage to tell him I like him. I don't understand why I feel this strong attraction to him. I'm not at the age to have a mate, and I can't like anyone since I'm destined for a mate. I have no idea who it is. But I can't control my heart, and certainly not my wolf; she's as attracted and fascinated by Luan as I am, and neither of us can explain why. Perhaps the Moon Goddess has an explanation.

"I don't hold out hope for that," I say, dejected. "Luan is so strong, masculine, handsome," I say, feeling my cheeks warm up. "His mate is probably someone of high status, as beautiful and strong as him... and then there's me," I sigh. "Just an omega, weak and unremarkable."

"Hey!" Isa caresses my face and makes me look at her. "You're not weak; you're one of the strongest omegas I know, and don't argue with me!" She coaxes a weak smile out of me. "You're beautiful, strong, courageous, kind," she doesn't spare compliments, and I desperately try to believe her words. "The wolf who has the honor of being your mate will be very lucky. If it's Luan, he'll be a supremo very fortunate."

"Isa, don't make me dream of the possibility," I plead. "If by some miracle of life and destiny, the Moon Goddess interceded for me and blessed me with this great feat, the members of the pack's upper echelons would never accept an omega as the mate of the supreme alpha," I sigh in defeat. There's nothing in favor of this crush of mine, and I can't keep deluding myself.

"Let's ask the Moon Goddess to help you," she says, getting up. "And that's a concern for the future."

"Yes," I agree.

"Want to come to my house?" she invites.

"Can we run in the forest in our wolf forms?" I ask excitedly.

I love shifting; my wolf is named Lika, and she's passionate about nature and the wind against her snout. The feeling of freedom is incredible. My wolf is white, but my paws are brown.

"Of course!" She agrees, getting excited. "It's been a long time since our last shift," she says, and I almost jump for joy. "I want to feel the soft earth under my paws."

I've never shifted near Luan Raphael; I'm too shy. The only people who have seen my wolf are Isabella and my parents. I don't participate in practical transformation classes, but since my dad is the instructor, he gives me lessons separately and marks it as if I did it with the class. I know it's wrong, but I hate the feeling of eyes on me, like they're judging me, laughing at me. The only gaze I'd like to receive, I won't get. At least not the way my heart would like.

"Let's go!" Isa says, running into the forest. I quickly get up and follow her.

When we're far enough from the academy, we shift and start racing. The feeling of the wind on my snout and the scent of the trees put me in ecstasy.

(POV: Renata)

"Ready?" Luan asks, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

"Just a second," I say and take the last spoonful of coconut-flavored ice cream.

Today's dessert was coconut ice cream, and I loved the sweet coldness that melts in your mouth. Ice cream wasn't something I used to have with my mother, so it's another new and delicious thing I've tried and fallen in love with.

"Let's go," I get up from the table and put the container in the sink.

"Do I really have to go?" Lucca questions. I just raise an eyebrow at him and decide to ignore his words.

"Where will the training be?" I ask as I wash my hands. Then we walked to the living room.

"We're going to the forest; it's calm there, and no one will disturb us," Rapha says, and I nod in agreement, looking for Lucca, who hasn't followed us.

"Lucca," I shouted his name after a sigh. "Let's go already."

"I'm here already," he comes to us, forcing a smile.

"Finally," Rapha says and hugs him. One hand goes over his shoulder and around his neck, and the other messes up Lucca's hair. "Today, you're going to learn to fight. Lena, she achieved what I've been trying for a long time."

"I'll do my best," Lucca responds, breaking free from his brother's grip, and I see determination in his eyes. "But ease up, Rapha," he says, laughing.

"Shall we, ladies?" I tease them, and I see their faces turn serious. I laugh openly.

"We'll show you who the ladies are!" Lucca says, and the two of them start running after me. Before they can catch up to me, I sprint ahead and pass through the exit door.

I put as much strength as I can into my legs and head towards the forest, but they're faster and catch up to me with a few strides. Then they tackle me to the ground and start tickling me.

"Say who the ladies are now," Luan requests, tickling my stomach. I squirm, laughing, trying to get away, but it's futile.

"You guys," I say with difficulty, laughing nonstop.