LOGINRyder pov The first package arrives days after we sent out messages to omega and hybrid networks. I'm walking past the main gate when Knox intercepts me, carrying a medium-sized box wrapped in plain brown paper. No return address, just a note pinned to the top."This just showed up." He hands it over carefully. "The guard said a motorcycle courier dropped it and left. Wouldn't give a name."I pull off the note, recognizing the careful handwriting immediately. It's from Rachel, an omega I met years ago when the Iron Fangs helped her pack relocate after a territorial dispute.You showed the Council for what they are. You gave us hope that change is possible. We're with you.Inside the box is money. Not a fortune, but enough to buy two weeks of food if we're careful. Beneath the cash is a list of contacts—omega packs throughout the region willing to trade, to help, to offer support however they can."Holy shit." Knox reads over my shoulder. "Is this real?""Rachel doesn't mess around."
Ryder pov The news hits days after our talk about the future. I'm in the command center reviewing supply inventories when Luna bursts through the door, a thick envelope in her hand. Her face is tight with anger."They're cutting us off." She tosses the envelope onto the table.I pick it up, scanning the formal letterhead. Council seal at the top, followed by dense legal language that boils down to one thing: economic sanctions. Traditional packs are forbidden from trading with Iron Fangs territory. Any pack that maintains contact with us faces their own penalties."When did this arrive?" I ask."This morning." Luna drops into a chair. "But the sanctions went into effect yesterday. Our suppliers in Montana? Cancelled our standing orders. The medical supply company in Oregon? Refused to ship. Even the damn butcher in town won't sell to us anymore."I flip through the pages, my jaw tightening with each line. They're strangling us without firing a shot, cutting off every supply line we'v
Jolie pov "I don't know if I can do this." She looks at me with terrified eyes. "If every healing session is this painful""They won't all be." I assure her. "Today was intense because we were breaking through major blockages. Future sessions will be gentler. We'll work on smaller sections, give your brain time to adjust between treatments.""How often?" She asks."Twice a week, if you're willing." I suggest. "That gives you time to process between sessions while maintaining steady progress.""Twice a week of feeling like this?" She sounds daunted."Twice a week of becoming more yourself." I correct. "Yes, it's painful. But it's also liberating, you are reclaiming pieces of yourself that the Academy stole. That's worth some temporary discomfort."She considers this, wiping her face. "Okay. Twice a week. I can do that.""You sure?" I ask. "I know it's hard""I'm sure." She straightens her spine. "Because even though this hurts, it's better than being empty. I'd rather feel too much t
Jolie POVWeeks after the integration sessions, I've finally recovered enough to begin deeper healing work. Doc cleared me yesterday after extensive testing. My moonfire is back to full strength, my empathy gift functioning normally. I'm ready to tackle the more intensive work of rebuilding what the Academy destroyed starting with Celeste.She sits across from me in the private healing room Doc set up, looking nervous. Over the past few weeks, she's made incredible progress—experiencing emotions, forming connections, learning to be human again. But we both know there's deeper damage that needs addressing."How does this work?" She asks. "The actual healing, I mean. Not just showing me emotions but rebuilding my ability to feel them naturally.""Honestly?" I lean back. "I'm not entirely sure. I've never done this before. Doc's research suggests I can use moonfire to help rebuild neural pathways that were damaged by conditioning, but the technique is experimental.""So I'm your guinea p
Jolie pov "Derek collapsed!" They're breathless. "He was working on cabin construction and just fell over. Doc's checking him now but"I'm running before they finish. My body protests, still exhausted, but I push through.At the medical bay, Doc is examining Derek while a crowd gathers."What's wrong with him?" Paul demands. "Is it serious?""He's exhausted." Doc says firmly. "Dehydrated, malnourished, and sleep-deprived. He's been working eighteen-hour days trying to build housing for everyone.""Why didn't he ask for help?" Tessa pushes through the crowd. "We would have helped!""I'm from Nightshade." Derek mumbles from the examination table. "We don't ask for help. We handle our responsibilities ourselves.""That's stupid." Tessa says bluntly. "This is a pack. Pack means helping each other.""In Iron Fangs, maybe." Derek tries to sit up. "In traditional packs, pulling your weight means not burdening others with your problems.""That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard." Another bi
Jolie pov He doesn’t stop. If anything he goes harder—sucking stronger, fingers curling tighter, thumb now rubbing fast little circles over my clit from the outside while his tongue lashes the underside. The orgasm hits like a punch.My back bows off the bed. My thighs clamp around his head. I come hard—walls pulsing and squeezing his fingers, fresh wetness flooding his mouth. He keeps licking through it, slower now, lapping up everything like he doesn’t want to miss a drop. His fingers stay inside, gentle pumps that draw the aftershocks out until I’m trembling and whimpering.When he finally pulls back, his lips and chin are shiny. He licks them slow, eyes locked on mine, looking proud and hungry at the same time. “Beautiful,” he says simply. “My beautiful mate.”He climbs back up my body slowly, kissing a wet trail from my stomach to my chest, then my neck. His cock brushes my thigh—hot, thick, still slick from my mouth earlier and leaking at the tip. I feel how hard he is, how hea







