the pack leader Jyrus

First Shift (edited) part 1

Narrator pov

Cyrus trudged down the block after breakfast, mentally preparing himself for the day ahead. Today was his birthday—his first shift—and he wasn't exactly looking forward to it. He'd heard that shifting without a mate could be pretty painful, and although he was excited to eventually meet his soulmate, he couldn't shake the nerves.

As he rounded the corner, he spotted his best friends, Andi and Buffy, already waiting for him. They were standing close, laughing together like the disgustingly cute couple they were. Cyrus rolled his eyes and approached them with a smirk.

"Hey, how's the most disgustingly cute couple doing this fine morning?" he teased, crossing his arms with a playful grin.

Andi and Buffy turned toward him, both of them smiling wide.

"Hey, pup! Happy birthday!" they chimed in unison, clearly amused.

Cyrus groaned, running a hand over his face. "Ugh, stop calling me that. You're only like a year and a half older than me!"

Andi and Buffy exchanged a look, each of them suppressing a laugh.

"Oh, come on, Cyrus. You're always gonna be our pup," Andi said, ruffling his hair.

Cyrus rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help the grin creeping onto his face.

Buffy and Andi laugh as they see the soon-to-be alpha and military commander goofing off together while making their way to school. Andi and Buffy smile and look over at Cyrus, who is as red as a tomato. Buffy, being herself, starts teasing him. Despite having many chances to talk to Jonah, Cyrus never does—he just becomes a stuttering mess. Little did they know, though, that Jonah could smell Cyrus from a mile away because of his incredibly strong scent. Andi and Buffy both knew exactly why his scent was so strong, but Jonah didn't. TJ teased Jonah too, joking that he was an alpha too scared to talk to his potential mate. Even though Jonah didn't know Cyrus personally, he had overheard enough conversations to find him interesting. With smiles and laughter, both groups continued their walk to the high school.

As they approached the school gates, Cyrus tried to calm his racing heart, desperately wishing he could manage to speak to Jonah without feeling like his words were glued to his tongue. Buffy and Andi walked beside him, exchanging knowing looks, the mischief in their eyes clear as day.

"Honestly, Cy, it's painful watching you like this," Andi teased, giving him a nudge. "He's just a guy. A guy with good looks and alpha status, sure, but still just a guy."

Cyrus grumbled, tugging his hoodie over his head as if that would shield him from the embarrassment. "Easy for you to say. I can't help it! He just... he's so—" he stammered, struggling to find the right word, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Magnificent? Impressive? Captivating? Shall I keep going?" Buffy smirked, listing off adjectives with a playful glint in her eye.

But Cyrus didn't need to answer, because just then, Jonah's laugh echoed down the hallway. Cyrus froze mid-step, his face heating up all over again. Jonah was leaning against a locker, talking with TJ, his arms crossed over his chest as he listened, his easy smile and confident posture making him look effortlessly cool.

TJ caught Cyrus staring and flashed a sly grin. "Look who it is—the one and only tomato himself," he said loud enough for Jonah to hear. Jonah turned to follow TJ's gaze, and when he spotted Cyrus, his expression softened, his usual alpha bravado slipping away for a moment. Cyrus thought he saw the briefest hint of nervousness flash in Jonah's eyes, but it was gone so quickly, he wondered if he'd imagined it.

Cyrus barely managed to lift his hand in an awkward half-wave, already kicking himself for looking like an idiot. Jonah's smile widened as he waved back, but before Cyrus could convince himself to take a step closer, a bell echoed through the hallway, signaling the start of first period.

"Saved by the bell," Andi whispered to Cyrus with a wink, guiding him toward their classroom. "You're lucky we still have time before the big event tomorrow. Plenty of opportunities to talk to him. Right, Buff?"

Buffy nodded with a grin. "Absolutely. Besides, we all know Jonah won't be able to resist you for long." She winked. "Especially with that scent of yours."

Cyrus blushed even harder at the mention of his scent, a peculiar trait that had only grown stronger as he got older. Unlike other omegas, his scent was incredibly distinct—intense and earthy, with a hint of something Jonah had once described as "electric." It was as if fate itself were trying to give him away, pushing him right into Jonah's orbit, even though he wished he could melt into the floor every time they crossed paths.

Throughout the day, Cyrus couldn't shake the butterflies in his stomach. The "big event" Buffy mentioned was tomorrow's full moon festival—a night when the pack's hierarchy was openly celebrated. And this year, Jonah, as the alpha heir, would be taking on a more prominent role. He'd be leading some of the ceremonial dances, a big step toward his eventual position as pack leader. Cyrus knew he'd be expected to attend, but the idea of Jonah's eyes on him during the festivities sent his heart racing.

By the time he met up with Buffy and Andi at lunch, he was a bundle of nerves. They were sitting under their usual tree in the courtyard, chatting about the festival and the outfits they planned to wear. Buffy was mid-sentence when Cyrus noticed Jonah and TJ heading their way, each holding a tray of food.

"Mind if we join?" Jonah asked, looking directly at Cyrus.

Buffy and Andi stifled their giggles, moving over to make room. Cyrus felt his heart leap into his throat as Jonah sat down beside him, the warmth radiating off him somehow calming and intimidating at the same time.

"So, are you excited about tomorrow?" Jonah asked, his eyes fixed on Cyrus.

Cyrus opened his mouth, the words catching before he managed to squeak out, "Y-yeah, totally." He winced at his own awkwardness, but Jonah didn't seem to mind. In fact, he just smiled, a soft, encouraging smile that Cyrus felt straight to his core.

"Well," Jonah continued, leaning a little closer, "if you need someone to sit with, you know, during the ceremony, you could always... find me?"

Cyrus's breath hitched. It was a simple offer, casual even, but the weight of it pressed on him like gravity. Buffy and Andi's grins were wide, but they stayed silent, for once giving him space to respond.

He finally nodded, managing a tiny smile. "I'd like that," he whispered, his voice trembling just a bit, but Jonah didn't seem to mind.

In that moment, surrounded by his friends and with Jonah's warm gaze on him, Cyrus realized that maybe—just maybe—he could be brave enough to take the chance.