Chapter 9: New Roots

At the Shadowfang quarters, reports came in fast. The main hall echoed with footsteps and raised voices. Maps covered long tables, red pins marking territories. Dim lights hung overhead, casting long shadows on the stone walls. Eli sat at the head with the council, fingers tapping impatiently.

A messenger burst in, out of breath, clothes torn at the sleeve. “They’re all gone,” he said. “The team that was sent to follow Jax’s tracks. They have been Slaughtered. Every last one. Bodies left in the clearing like warnings.”

Eli quickly stood up and pushed past the others without a word, ignoring calls of his name. The door slammed behind him as he left the council chamber. Hallway lights flickered. His boots echoed loud on the floor.

Shock hit him like cold water. His mind spun. How could Jax slaughter all of them alone? Was he always that strong? Was he hiding his strength from me? The questions burned. He’d known Jax as a lone wolf, broken and running. Not this.

Gasps filled the room. Council members leaned forward, faces pale. One older man slammed his fist on the table. “How many? Details, now.”

“Twelve of our best,” the messenger continued. “Torn apart. Signs of a full pack fight, not just one wolf. But the tracks… they point to Jax being heavily involved.”

Jax had changed. Eli paced in his private room, fists clenched. He never knew Jax had reunited with his family. Never knew he’d gotten help from an alpha and his pack. Jax was no longer a lone wolf. Allies. Strength. The thought made Eli’s blood boil and fear creep in at the edges. What else had Jax hidden all this time?

He grabbed a jacket and headed out. The reports still echoed in his head. This wasn’t over.

After the reports were given to the council, Eli called the reporter back in. The man stood nervously by the door.

“Take me there,” Eli said, voice sharp as a blade. “To where everything occurred. Now. I want to see it myself.”

The reporter hesitated, eyes wide. “It’s risky, sir. Going alone might still be—”

“Now,” Eli repeated, stepping close. His eyes gleamed with something dark. “I need to know what Jax has become.”

They moved fast toward the vehicles outside. Engines roared as they sped into the night. Whatever waited in that blood-soaked clearing, Eli was ready to face it. But deep down, a new doubt gnawed at him. Jax wasn’t running anymore. And that changed everything.

The road stretched dark ahead.

Back in the city

We finally rolled into the city just as the sun dipped low. Streetlights flickered on one by one, mixing with the glow from shop windows and passing cars. After the long drive from the forest, my body ached but my mind felt clearer. The pack vehicles stuck close together at first, weaving through traffic toward the guild building downtown. I sat in the back of the SUV, staring at the tall buildings that seemed to scrape the sky. Concrete and glass everywhere.

The alpha’s voice crackled over the radio. “Guild’s straight ahead. Prepare to unload quick and get some rest.”

But Ryan’s car, the one carrying me and Lila, didn’t follow the others. Ryan flicked the turn signal and took a side road when we entered the main city grid. I leaned forward between the seats.

“You are turning away from the direction they are pulling. Where are we going?” I asked.

Lila turned her head and smiled a little. “Home. Our real one. Not the guild.”

Ryan kept his eyes on the road. “We’ll catch up with the pack tomorrow. For now, family first.”

The drive to the outskirts wasn’t far anymore. We left the busy center behind, passing quieter neighborhoods with houses spaced farther apart. Trees lined the streets again, but these were planted neat, not wild like the forest. After about twenty minutes, Ryan pulled into a long driveway. The house at the end looked big, with a wide porch and windows that reflected the fading light. A garage sat off to the side, and the yard had fresh grass that smelled recently cut.

I stepped out, bag slung over my shoulder, and just stood there staring. “This is yours?”

Lila grabbed some of the luggage from the trunk and headed for the front door. “Come on, Jax. It’s not that fancy.”

Ryan locked the car and clapped me on the back. “Surprised?”

“Very,” I said. My voice came out quieter than I meant. “How do you afford a place like this? It’s huge.”

We walked inside together. The door opened into a wide living room with comfortable couches, a big TV on one wall, and photos on the shelves. Everything looked normal. Like any regular family’s home. Lila disappeared upstairs with the bags, her footsteps light on the wooden stairs.

Ryan kicked off his shoes and waved me toward the kitchen. “Want water or something?”

I nodded and took a stool at the counter. The fridge hummed softly. Ryan poured two glasses and slid one over.

“This is where we’ve been staying,” he explained, leaning on the counter. “Trying to blend into society. Making a life that doesn’t scream trouble. I’m the one working full time. Got a job at a construction firm downtown. Pays decent, covers the bills, mortgage, all that. Lila’s still in school. She handles her classes and tries hard to keep the wolf side quiet. No unexpected shifts in the hallway, you know?”

I took a sip, letting the cool water settle me. “Sounds tough. Especially for her.”

“It is,” Ryan agreed. “But she’s strong. She studies history mostly. Says it helps her understand ancient times. She reads a lot at night, stays focused. We have rules. Full moons mean extra caution. We take turns watching each other. It’s not perfect, but it works.”

Lila came back down then, hair tied back. She grabbed an apple from a bowl on the table.

I glanced around again. “You blend in perfectly. No one would guess what we are. The pictures on the wall, the mail on the table… it’s all so regular.”

Lila sat next to me. “That’s the point. Can’t hide forever in the woods. We tried that before. This way, we have roots. School, work, neighbors who don’t ask too many questions.”

We talked more as the evening settled in. Ryan heated up some leftover pasta, and we ate at the dining table like it was the most ordinary thing. Forks scraped plates. Outside, crickets started their song.

“How do you keep from shifting when things get stressful?” I asked Lila between bites.

She shrugged. “Practice. Breathing exercises. I run in the mornings before school, burn off the energy. And Ryan checks in. If I feel the pull, I text him right away.”

Ryan nodded. “That’s how we manage the bills too. My paycheck covers most, but Lila helps with small stuff after school.”

I pushed my plate away, impressed. “You two built this. While I was out there alone, scraping by.”

Ryan looked at me seriously. “You’re here now. That’s what matters.”

Later, we moved to the living room. I sank into the couch, feeling the weight of the day lift a bit. “So how can I fit in with you guys? I don’t want to just crash here without pulling weight.”

Ryan thought for a minute, rubbing his chin. “What do you specialize in? Skills, I mean. Fighting we know. But for normal life?”

I hesitated, staring at the floor. “I don’t know that much. Never stayed in one place long enough to learn a trade. Odd jobs here and there. School? Dropped out early.”

Lila listened quietly, legs tucked under her.

Ryan stayed quiet for a while too, eyes on the window. Then he spoke. “I’ve got an idea. You join the school Lila goes to. Beacon Hills High. It’s not far from here. That way you watch over her closer. Help her if the wolf tries to break out during a bad day. And you learn something while you’re at it. Blend in like us.”

I turned the idea over in my head. School. Sitting in classes, lockers, bells ringing. Watching my little sister, keeping her safe. It felt right. Warm, even. After years of running, the thought of staying put, of having purpose with family… I loved it.

“Yeah,” I said finally. “I like the sound of that. When do we start?”

“Tomorrow’s too soon,” Ryan laughed. “But soon. We’ll get you enrolled. Fake some records if needed. The pack can help with that.

We talked a little before we called it a night.

“Get some sleep,” Ryan said at the door. “ Lila show him his room. Big changes are coming.”

Lila stood up and told me to follow her. We walked a little before she opened a door and told me this is where I will be staying. Then she left.

I lay in bed later, staring at the ceiling. The house creaked softly. For the first time in forever, I felt like I belonged somewhere. Family. School. A chance to watch over my younger sister. It sounded good.

But what I never knew was that the school was about to change my life forever. Beacon Hills held secrets deeper than any forest fight. Old rival packs in the hallways, teachers who weren’t what they seemed, and a pull toward the full moon that would test every bit of control I had. Jax the lone wolf was gone. The new one was walking straight into fire he couldn’t see coming. And it will start with the first bell tomorrow.