The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth as Nene stood in the training yard, stretching out her muscles.
Across from her, her grandmother watched with a sharp, assessing gaze, her arms crossed over her chest.
"You're improving," Grandma noted. "Less hesitation in your stance today."
Nene rolled her shoulders, shaking out her limbs.
"Not much of a compliment," she muttered. "Still getting my ass kicked every session."
Grandma chuckled.
"That's how you learn," she said smoothly. "Better here than out in the real world where mistakes cost lives."
Nene huffed, adjusting her stance.
She was still sore from the last session, but she wasn't about to complain.
She took a deep breath.
Then—casually, carefully—
She asked, "What happens when two dominants meet?"
Her grandmother raised an eyebrow.
"In a fight or a bond?"
"Both."
Grandma nodded approvingly.
"Good question," she mused. "In a fight, dominance clashes are pure instinct. Strength, control, aggression—it all comes down to who can hold their ground longer without folding."
Nene frowned.
"And in a bond?"
Grandma exhaled, tilting her head slightly.
"That's more complicated," she admitted. "Most dominant pairs don't work. Too much tension, too much struggle over control. But if it does work?"
A pause.
Then—thoughtful, knowing—
"It either becomes unshakable… or completely destructive."
Nene swallowed.
She didn't have to say anything.
Didn't have to name the person she was thinking about.
Because Grandma already knew.
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"You're asking about Alexander, aren't you?"
Nene exhaled, rubbing the back of her neck.
"...What do you think about him?"
Grandma watched her for a long moment.
Then—flat, even, honest—
"He's dangerous," she said. "But he's not reckless. He knows exactly what he's doing."
Nene tensed slightly.
"But is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
Grandma smirked slightly.
"That depends on whether you can keep up with him."
Nene exhaled sharply, processing that.
Then—a new thought hit her.
She tilted her head, studying her grandmother.
"You and Grandpa," she said slowly. "You never merged your packs. Why?"
Grandma smirked.
"Because I outrank him."
Nene blinked.
Wait, what?
Her grandmother shrugged, completely unbothered.
"He's a strong Alpha, but I was stronger. If we had merged, I would have had to take the lead, and neither of us wanted that."
Nene stared.
"You mean… you were too dominant to merge packs?"
"Exactly."
A pause.
Then—curious, hesitant—
"Then why is Jin taking Grandpa's last name?"
Grandma sighed, rolling her shoulders.
"Because pack inheritance doesn't always follow strength," she admitted. "It follows structure. My pack is stable, but your grandfather's needed a successor. Jin stepping up ensures balance."
Nene nodded slowly.
It made sense.
Hierarchy wasn't just about dominance—it was about what the pack needed most.
Finally—carefully, cautiously—
She asked, "And me? How dominant am I?"
Grandma gave her a slow, amused look.
"Do you really need me to answer that?"
Nene exhaled sharply.
Because she already knew.
She wasn't just dominant.
She was a problem.
And Alexander?
He was the only one who could handle it.
Nene rolled her shoulders, sweat cooling against her skin.
Her training session had been brutal, as usual.
And her grandmother?
Still watching her with that sharp, measuring look.
"You have fighting instincts," Grandma noted.
Nene exhaled, stretching out her arms.
"That's obvious," she muttered.
Grandma smirked.
"You say that, but not every Alpha does," she said smoothly. "Some are strategists. Some are leaders. Some are brute force. You? You don't hesitate to fight."
Nene paused.
Because… that was true.
She didn't just react to challenges—she leaned into them.
And even when she wasn't supposed to, even when she knew it wasn't the smartest option…
She still pushed back.
Hard.
Her grandmother crossed her arms.
"If I had to put it bluntly," she mused, "I'd say you have anger issues."
Nene snorted.
"Gee, thanks."
Grandma chuckled.
"It's not a bad thing," she admitted. "Not if you learn to control it. Anger is just power without direction. Right now, yours is all over the place."
Nene frowned slightly.
"So what do I do?"
Grandma tilted her head, thoughtful.
"We wait."
Nene blinked.
"Wait? For what?"
Grandma's smirk widened.
"For your growth to finish."
She stretched out her arms, nodding toward Nene's stance.
"You're still changing," she explained. "Physically, hormonally, instinctively. You're creeping up toward my level, but we won't know for sure until your body fully stabilizes."
Nene's stomach twisted slightly.
Because that sounded important.
Like she wasn't just going through normal changes.
Like she was becoming something else entirely.
Something bigger.
Something stronger.
Something that even her grandmother had to wait and see.
Nene swallowed, exhaling slowly.
"Great," she muttered. "So I just have to wait and hope I don't lose my mind?"
Grandma grinned, clearly enjoying this way too much.
"Pretty much."
Nene huffed, kicking at the dirt beneath her boot.
This was not what she wanted to hear.
She needed something to do—
Something to distract herself from whatever biological mess she was going through.
Her grandmother tilted her head, watching her carefully.
Then—smooth, casual—
"Why don't you go to that club of yours?" she suggested.
Nene blinked.
"My club?"
Grandma nodded.
"Go watch the activities," she mused. "Lunch at clubs are always entertaining. Beta speed hookups are fascinating."
Nene snorted.
"You say that like you're some scientist observing wildlife."
Grandma chuckled.
"That's exactly what it is," she said smoothly. "Betas have no ranking pressure, so they move fast. No posturing, no dominance struggles—just pure instinct and compatibility checks."
Nene rolled her eyes.
"So, what? You're telling me to go people-watch?"
Grandma smirked.
"I'm telling you to do something than sit around waiting for your instincts to drive you insane."
Nene exhaled sharply, thinking.
The club was running smoothly without her interference.
But maybe… checking in wouldn't be the worst idea.
And if nothing else?
At least it would be a distraction.
Nene sighed, stretching her arms.
"Fine," she muttered. "I'll go."
Grandma grinned.
"Good choice," she said.
Then—with a knowing glint in her eyes—
"Just try not to start a dominance fight while you're there."
Nene rolled her eyes.
"No promises."
Nene stretched out her arms, still sore from training, when her grandmother tossed a set of keys at her.
She caught them instinctively, blinking down at the sleek emblem.
A car key.
She looked back up, suspicious.
"What's this?"
Grandma smirked.
"A car."
Nene narrowed her eyes.
"Obviously."
Grandma chuckled, completely unbothered.
"Take it to your club," she said smoothly. "When you're done, bring it back here and take a car with a driver to school."
Nene frowned.
"Why?"
Grandma tilted her head slightly, amused.
"Because if I let you take your usual ride, you'll have your husband breathing down your neck before you even step inside the club."
Nene stiffened.
Because… yeah.
That was a fair point.
Alexander's security was always watching.
If she took one of his cars, they'd report back before she even made it through the damn door.
Nene sighed, pocketing the keys.
"Fine," she muttered. "I'll bring it back."
Grandma grinned.
"You better."