Chapter 5

The room fell silent, tension thickening the air. Maison shifted subtly closer to me, his presence a steady anchor at my side.

Elder Miriam's expression grew solemn. "What they did was unforgivable, Alpha. Many of us failed you then. We cannot change the past, but we are here now offering our loyalty for the future."

"Loyalty," I echoed, the word hollow on my tongue. "Where was that loyalty when Dominick murdered my parents? When did he exile a child?"

"We were afraid," Caleb spoke up, his weathered face lined with regret. "Dominick eliminated anyone who questioned him. Those of us who survived learned to hide our true allegiance."

"And now that I've won, you're suddenly brave again," I observed, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice.

Robert stepped forward, his gaze finally meeting mine. The arrogant boy I remembered had been replaced by a man carrying visible weight on his shoulders.

"I don't expect forgiveness," he said quietly. "What I did—what we did—to you was monstrous. We were cruel children following Dominick's example, trying to curry favour with him by tormenting you."

"You did more than torment me," I said, my hand unconsciously moving to the scars on my wrist. "You tried to kill me."

Jackson's sharp intake of breath beside me revealed that this detail hadn't been shared. Maison's energy shifted dangerously, his protective instincts surging.

"Yes," Robert admitted, not flinching from the accusation. "And I've lived with that shame every day since. When Dominick ordered us to finish what we started after your father's death, Elijah and I refused. That's why we were demoted, stripped of rank."

I studied them both, searching for deception but finding only raw regret. "Why come back now? What do you want from me?"

"A chance," Elijah spoke for the first time, his voice rough with emotion. "Not for ourselves, but for the pack. The Graystone territory is suffering under Dominick's legacy. The younger generation deserves better leadership."

"And you think I'm that leader?" I laughed incredulously. "I've been living as a human for 11 years eight years of which in Steel Fangs land. I know nothing about running a pack."

"You know more than you realise," Miriam said gently. "The way you handled the challenge—offering choice rather than demanding submission—that alone shows wisdom beyond your years."

I paced the small space, hyperaware of the eyes tracking my movement. "What about the rest of the pack? Those who didn't stay?"

"Many are waiting to see what happens next," Caleb explained.

“Ah ha, ok, so those who told their children that I had mange, the moon wolf breed of werewolves were demons that happened to be my favourite excuse for the rest of the pups in the pack not to be allowed to play with me, they want me to do what exactly? Oh, Elijah and Robert, I’m sure that Alpha heirs Maison and Jackson here would love to hear the whole story of how you two and Marcus nearly killed me. I was what, eight at the time, so that would have made you three what, 13, 15 and 17.” I challenged.

The color drained from Robert and Elijah's faces. The air in the room grew dense with tension as the Steel twins' postures shifted subtly, their Alpha presence expanding with barely contained rage.

"We were following orders," Elijah whispered, his voice hollow. "Dominick told us it was a test of loyalty—to prove we were worthy of being in your future Alpha unit."

"A test of loyalty?" I repeated incredulously. "Cornering an eight-year-old child in the forest? Holding me down while Marcus carved into my skin?"

Maison took a half-step forward, his voice dangerously soft. "You carved into her?"

Robert flinched at the deadly calm in Maison's tone. "Marcus did the cutting. We... we held her down."

"And when I fought back?" I pressed, memories I'd tried to bury for years surging to the surface. "When I shifted and managed to break free? What was your excuse for hunting me through the woods like prey?"

"There is no excuse," Robert said, his eyes downcast. "We were cruel, vicious children raised by a monster to become monsters ourselves."

Elder Miriam looked stricken. "Alpha, many of us had no idea—"

"Of course you did," I cut her off. "You all knew. You just looked away. It was easier to pretend the half-breed Moon Wolf child deserved whatever happened to her."

Jackson's hand found the small of my back, a steady presence grounding me as rage threatened to overwhelm my control.

"What changed?" he asked the two men, his analytical mind seeking the missing pieces. "If you were so loyal to Dominick then, why turn against him later?"

Elijah and Robert exchanged a glance heavy with shared history.

"We saw what happened to your parents," Elijah finally said, his voice barely audible. "The way your mother died protecting you... it wasn't quick or merciful like Dominick claimed to the pack. She could have escaped, but she stayed to give you time."

My throat tightened painfully. "I know. I was there."

"After that," Robert continued, "something... broke in us. We realised what we'd become a part of. We couldn't do it when Dominick ordered us to track you down and finish what we'd started."

"So you refused," Maison said, studying them with cold assessment. "And he punished you."

Robert nodded, unconsciously touching a scar that disappeared beneath his collar. "We were lucky to survive. Others who questioned him weren't so fortunate."

I turned away, needing a moment to process. Star prowled restlessly in my mind, her emotions a complex tangle of rage, vindication, and something dangerously close to pity.

-They were children too,- she reluctantly acknowledged. -Twisted by a monster.-

-They knew better,- I argued silently.

-Yes,- Star agreed. -But they're trying to make amends now.-

I turned back to face the small delegation, my decision crystallising. "Here's what's going to happen. I am claiming my position as Alpha of the Graystone pack, but on my terms. The pack structure will change. The territory will change. And those who can't accept those changes are free to leave."

Elder Miriam nodded cautiously. "What changes do you envision, Alpha?"

"First, an alliance with the Steel pack," I said, feeling Maison and Jackson shift slightly beside me. "Our territories share a border. It makes strategic sense."

"And the nature of this alliance?" Caleb asked, his eyes flickering between me and the Steel twins with dawning understanding.

I ignored the implication. "To be determined. Second, we establish a council with equal representation from all factions within the pack, including those previously marginalized. No more hierarchy based solely on bloodlines."

Robert and Elijah exchanged surprised glances. This was radical thinking for a traditional pack.

"Third," I continued, my voice hardening, "anyone who participated in my parents' murder or who directly supported Dominick's coup will be exiled permanently. I won't have traitors in my pack."

"That's fair," Miriam agreed. "Many have already fled with Dominick."

I took a deep breath, coming to the most difficult part. "As for you two," I addressed Robert and Elijah directly, "I don't forgive you. I may never forgive you. But I recognise that you were children manipulated by a monster, and that you eventually tried to make better choices."

They remained silent, accepting my judgment without protest.

"You won't serve in my Alpha unit," I stated firmly. "That trust is forever broken. But you may remain in the pack on probation, working to rebuild what Dominick destroyed. Your actions going forward will determine your place."

Relief washed over their faces—they had clearly expected exile or worse.

"Thank you, Alpha," Robert said quietly. "We won't disappoint you again."

"See that you don't," Maison growled, his protective instincts still clearly engaged.

I turned to Elder Miriam. "I'll come to the Graystone territory in one week, once I've fully recovered. Spread the word that all pack members must be present for my formal claiming of the Alpha position. Those who choose not to attend will be considered to have chosen exile."

Miriam bowed her head respectfully. "It will be done, Alpha."

After they left, I sank into a chair, suddenly exhausted despite my improved physical condition. The emotional toll of confronting my past had drained what little energy I'd recovered.

"You handled that well," Jackson observed, taking the seat beside me.

I snorted. "I wanted to tear their throats out."

"But you didn't," Maison pointed out, remaining standing, his body still tense with protective energy. "That's what makes you different from Dominick."

I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache building. "I'm not sure mercy was the right choice."

"It wasn't mercy," Jackson said thoughtfully. "It was strategy. You've shown the pack that you lead differently than Dominick—that you can acknowledge past wrongs without being controlled by them."

"Very political of me," I muttered.

"Very Alpha of you," Maison corrected.

I looked up at him, studying the fierce pride in his expression. Something had shifted between us since the challenge—perhaps a new understanding or the freedom to acknowledge what had been hidden for so long.

"I need some air," I said abruptly, rising from my chair.

The twins exchanged a glance before Jackson nodded. "The eastern gardens are private. No one will disturb you there."

I found my way through the sprawling compound to the gardens Jackson had mentioned. The space was beautiful—wildflowers growing in seemingly random patterns that somehow created perfect harmony, tall trees providing dappled shade over stone benches. I sank onto one, tilting my face to catch the afternoon sunlight filtering through the leaves.

Star pushed forward in my consciousness, more insistent than usual after yesterday's full shift.

-We should run,- she urged. -Our body needs movement to heal properly.-

"Later," I promised aloud. "When there are fewer eyes watching."

-The Steel twins would run with us,- Star suggested, her interest in them obvious.

"I'm sure they would," I agreed dryly. "That's not happening."

-You're fighting the inevitable,- she chided. -They are ours.-

"They're complicated," I countered. "And I have enough complications right now."

A soft chuckle from behind me made me whirl around. Jackson stood at the garden entrance, amusement playing across his features.

"Do you often argue with Star out loud?" he asked, approaching slowly.

Heat crawled up my cheeks. "Only when I think I'm alone."

"Sorry to intrude." He sat beside me, keeping a respectful distance. "Maison's handling some pack business. I thought you might want company, but I can leave if you prefer."

I should have said yes and maintained the distance I'd cultivated for years. Instead, I found myself shaking my head.

"You can stay," I said quietly. "I could use the distraction."

Jackson raised an eyebrow. "From Star's matchmaking efforts?"

I laughed despite myself. "She's not subtle."

"Neither is Maison, though he thinks he is." Jackson's smile was genuine, softening his usual calculating demeanour. "He's been half-feral since you were injured. Barely slept, wouldn't leave your side. The pack healer finally had to threaten him to get him to shower."

"And you?" I asked curiously.

"I process things differently," Jackson admitted, his eyes more vulnerable than I'd ever seen them. "Maison externalises his worry through action. I internalise it through strategy."

"So you were... what? Planning contingencies in case I didn't wake up?"

His face tightened. "Something like that."

The admission hit harder than I expected. For years, I'd convinced myself that the Steel twins' indifference was genuine, that their occasional attention was merely duty. The idea that they had been silently suffering their own version of exile—forced to keep distance from someone they considered their mate—was difficult to reconcile with my long-held beliefs.

"This is all happening so fast," I murmured, more to myself than to him. "Yesterday I was just Daisy Thompson, waitress and culinary student. Today I'm an Alpha with enemies, allies, and supposed mates."

Jackson's mouth quirked. "Don't forget bestselling author."

"Not exactly bestselling," I corrected with a reluctant smile.

"Yet," he countered. "Your last chapter had over fifty thousand reads within twenty-four hours. Dean was practically vibrating, waiting for the update."

I shook my head, still unable to wrap my mind around Dean being a fan of my work. "What happens now, Jackson? Realistically?"

He considered the question with his usual thoughtfulness. "You claim your position as Graystone Alpha. We formalise an alliance between our packs. You decide what you want your future to look like."

"And if that future includes Tokyo?"

His eyes met mine steadily. "Then we support that decision, while hoping you'll eventually return."

"Just like that? No pressure, no manipulation?"

"Would it work if we tried?" he asked, a hint of genuine curiosity in his tone.

I snorted. "No."

"Exactly." He leaned back, his posture relaxing slightly. "Maison and I have waited eight years, Daisy. We can wait longer if necessary."

A comfortable silence fell between us. In the distance, birds called to each other, and the scent of wildflowers hung heavy in the afternoon air. For the first time in years, I allowed myself to simply exist in the moment without planning my next escape.

"I think I'd like to see the Graystone territory," I said finally. "Before the formal ceremony. Just... to remember."

Jackson nodded. "We can arrange that. When you're stronger."

"I'm stronger than I look," I reminded him.

His smile was genuine. "Believe me, I know. You took down an Alpha wolf with decades more experience. That's not something I'll forget anytime soon."

The pride in his voice warmed something in me that had been cold for too long. Star rumbled with satisfaction in my mind.

-See? They recognise our strength,- she purred. -Not like the others who feared it.-

Before I could respond to her, footsteps approached.

Maison appeared at the garden entrance, his expression softening when he saw us. There was something different about him—a relaxed quality I rarely witnessed, as if some invisible weight had lifted from his shoulders.

"Am I interrupting?" he asked, his eyes moving between Jackson and me.

"Just discussing future plans," Jackson replied. "Daisy wants to visit the Graystone territory before the formal ceremony."

Maison nodded, approaching to join us. "A good idea. It would give you a chance to assess what you're dealing with before the pack gathers."

"And to remember," I added quietly. "It's been 11 years since I've seen my childhood home."

"We'll go when you're ready," Maison said, sitting on my other side. Unlike Jackson, who maintained a careful distance, Maison sat close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his body.

The three of us remained in the garden as afternoon faded toward evening, discussing practical matters—the condition of the Graystone territory, potential council members, security concerns. This planning session with two Alphas I'd spent years avoiding felt strangely normal.

"What about Sneakz?" I asked suddenly, remembering the life I'd built. "I can't just abandon it."

"You don't have to," Jackson assured me. "The restaurant is secure. You could continue your work there while establishing your position as Alpha."

"Or," Maison suggested, "you could expand. The concept clearly works. Why not open a second location in the merged territory?"

The idea took root immediately—a restaurant that could serve as neutral ground between packs, a place where supernatural beings could gather safely. "That... actually makes sense."

"Of course it does," Maison said with surprising humour. "Occasionally, I have good ideas."

I found myself smiling at him, the gesture feeling foreign after so many years of carefully maintained distance. "Occasionally."

As twilight deepened, we made our way back to the compound. My muscles ached from sitting too long, and my healing injuries were protesting the day's activities.

"You should rest," Jackson observed, noticing my discomfort.

"Actually," I said, making a sudden decision, "I'd like to shift. Star's been restless, and the healer said movement would help with recovery."

The twins exchanged a quick glance.

"The northern woods are private," Maison offered. "No pack members patrol there after dark."

"Would you..." I hesitated, unsure how to phrase the request. "Would you run with me?"

The question hung between us, loaded with meaning beyond the simple words. Running together was significant—an acknowledgment of trust, of connection.

"Yes," they answered in unison, the eagerness in their voices impossible to miss.

Twenty minutes later, we stood at the edge of the northern woods. The moon hung low and full in the sky, bathing the forest in silver light. I breathed deeply, letting the wild scents of the forest fill my lungs. Pine and loam, night-blooming flowers and the distant musk of deer—it called to Star, who surged forward eagerly.

"Ready?" I asked, already slipping out of my clothes without self-consciousness. The shift was too important, too necessary for modesty.

Maison and Jackson followed suit, their movements efficient and practised. In the moonlight, I caught glimpses of powerful shoulders and taut muscle before looking away, heat rising to my cheeks despite my best efforts.

The shift came easily this time, and the star flowed through me like quicksilver. My bones realigned, fur erupting across my skin in swirling patterns of silver and shadow. Beside me, the twins transformed with the fluid grace of born Alphas—Maison's wolf massive and midnight black, Jackson's slightly leaner with hints of dark gray at his muzzle and paws.

They were beautiful, I realised with a jolt—powerful and perfectly matched, their wolves as complementary as their human forms. Star's approval rumbled through our shared consciousness.

-Strong mates,- she approved. -Worthy.-

I huffed in response and took off into the trees, not waiting to see if they would follow. The feel of earth beneath my paws, wind rushing through my fur was freedom in its purest form. My injuries still ached, but the pain was distant, secondary to the joy of movement.

The twins caught up easily, flanking me rather than trying to lead. We ran in perfect synchronicity, our bodies instinctively adjusting to one another's pace and rhythm. No words, no conscious thought—just three wolves moving as one through moonlit woods.

We crested a hill, and I stopped abruptly. Below us stretched a valley I recognised, even after eight years. The Graystone territory—my ancestral home. I hadn't realised we'd come so far, hadn't noticed that Maison and Jackson had been subtly guiding our run toward this overlook.

I sat back on my haunches, gazing down at what had once been mine, what would soon be mine again. Even from this distance, I could see changes—sections of forest that had been clear-cut, buildings that hadn't existed before, a general sense of neglect that made Star whine softly.

Maison's wolf pressed against my side, offering silent comfort. Jackson moved to my other flank, the three of us forming a living bulwark against painful memories.

-Home,- Star whispered, the word tinged with both longing and apprehension.

-Soon,- I promised her.

We remained on the hilltop for what felt like hours, watching as clouds drifted across the moon, casting shifting shadows across the valley below. Something settled in me during that silent vigil—a certainty that had been missing since the challenge. This was my legacy, my responsibility. Not just to the pack that had once rejected me, but to myself.

What happened next surprised me. Maison’s wolf turned to me and licked my muzzle. It was as if his wolf was trying to kiss me, and my wolf Star in that moment, and I guess in way he was.

I froze at the unexpected gesture. Jackson's wolf watched us, his head tilted slightly as if gauging my reaction. Maison's wolf—midnight black and powerful—maintained the contact for just a moment before backing away, his golden eyes never leaving mine.

Star didn't hesitate. She surged forward in our shared consciousness, taking control before I could stop her. Our body moved of its own accord, returning the gesture with a quick brush of muzzle against Maison's. A wolf kiss—tentative but unmistakable in its meaning.

-Star!- I protested internally.

-He is ours,- she replied simply. -As is the other. Why fight what we all know?-

Before I could regain control, Star turned to Jackson's wolf and repeated the gesture. His eyes widened momentarily before he pressed back gently, a rumble of satisfaction vibrating through his chest.

I wrested control back from Star, backing away from both wolves with a warning growl. They maintained their distance, but something had shifted in the air between us—an acknowledgment that couldn't be taken back.

We ran again, this time in a wide arc that avoided the Graystone territory. The twins kept pace, never pushing for more than I was willing to give. By the time we returned to the edge of the Steel compound, exhaustion pulled at my limbs, but it was the clean fatigue of exertion rather than the bone-deep weariness of healing.

We shifted back to human form in the shelter of the trees. I kept my eyes averted as we dressed quickly, the vulnerability of nakedness suddenly more significant after what had passed between our wolves.

"Star took control," I said finally, breaking the silence as we walked toward the compound. "I wouldn't have—"

"We know," Jackson assured me, his voice gentle. "Wolf instincts are powerful, especially for Moon Wolves."

"It doesn't change anything," I insisted, though the words rang hollow even to my own ears.

Maison's expression was unreadable in the moonlight. "Doesn't it?"

I had no answer for that. We walked the rest of the way in silence, the compound's lights guiding us home.

Maison caught my arm, “I’ve waited to do this for some time,” he said, tilting my face to meet his. he closed the gap slowly so that I could pull away if I wanted to, but I did something surprising all three of us, as Maison’s lips met mine.

I felt my resolve crumble under his lips' gentle pressure against mine. The kiss was tentative at first, a question rather than a demand. Heat spread from the point of contact, racing through my veins like wildfire as my body responded to something my mind had been fighting for too long.

Star surged forward with triumphant satisfaction, her presence merging with mine until I couldn't tell where my resistance ended and her acceptance began. My hands found their way to Maison's chest of their own accord, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt.

When we finally broke apart, my breath came in short gasps, my heart hammering against my ribs. Maison's eyes had darkened, the gold of his wolf visible around the edges of his irises.

"I should have done that years ago," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion.

Before I could formulate a response, Jackson cleared his throat. I turned to find him watching us with an intensity that made my skin prickle with awareness.

"Your turn," Maison said to his brother, stepping back without releasing my hand.

Jackson approached slowly, giving me every opportunity to retreat. But something had broken loose inside me—some final barrier of resistance. When his lips met mine, the kiss differed from Maison's—more controlled and calculating, but no less devastating in its effect. Where Maison's kiss had been fire, Jackson's was like drowning in deep water, consuming in an entirely different way.

When we separated, I found myself caught between them, the three of us connected by intertwined hands and something far more profound. The moonstone bracelet glowed brightly in the darkness, pulsing in time with my racing heart.

"I should go," I whispered, overwhelmed by the intensity of what had just happened. "I need to think."

"Of course," Jackson said, releasing my hand reluctantly.

Maison held on a moment longer, his thumb tracing circles on my palm. "Sleep well, Daisy."

I practically fled to my room, closing the door and leaning against it as if I could physically hold back the tide of emotions threatening to drown me. Star's satisfaction radiated through our shared consciousness.

-Finally,- she purred. -You acknowledge what I've known all along.-

"It was just a kiss," I whispered, pressing my fingers to my still-tingling lips. "Two kisses. It doesn't mean anything."

-Lie to yourself if you must,- Star replied smugly. -But you cannot lie to me. I feel what you feel.-

She was right, of course. Something fundamental had shifted tonight—not just in my relationship with the twins, but in my understanding of myself. For years, I'd defined myself by what I was running from. Perhaps it was time to consider what I might be running toward.

The next morning, I found Uncle Mateo waiting outside my door, his expression caught between concern and amusement.

"So," he said, falling into step beside me as we walked toward the dining hall. "Word travels fast in a wolf pack."

I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Please tell me everyone doesn't know."

"Everyone knows," he confirmed, his voice gentle despite the teasing glint in his eyes. "The Steel twins kissing the new Graystone Alpha under the full moon? That's the kind of gossip that spreads faster than wildfire."

"It wasn't like that," I protested weakly. "It was just... I don't know what it was."

"It was inevitable," Mateo said simply. "Some things are written in the stars, little one. No matter how far or fast you run."

I shot him a suspicious look. "Did you know? About the mate bond?"

He sighed, his expression turning serious. "I suspected. The way they watched you, even when they were pretending not to. The way Logan kept them on such a tight leash where you were concerned."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Would you have believed me?" he countered. "Or would you have run even faster in the opposite direction?"

I couldn't argue with that. The dining hall fell silent as we entered, dozens of eyes turning to watch our approach. The Steel pack members quickly resumed their conversations, but the undercurrent of awareness remained—a palpable shift in how they perceived me.

Dean sat at a table with Carter and Tristan. To my surprise, he rose as I approached, offering a stiff nod that seemed to physically pain him.

"Alpha Graystone," he said formally, the title awkward on his tongue.

"Just Daisy is fine," I replied, uncomfortable with the sudden deference from someone who had spent years tormenting me.

"We saved you a seat," Carter said, gesturing to the empty space beside him. "If you'd like to join us."

The invitation was so unexpected that I almost laughed. Instead, I glanced at Mateo, who nodded encouragingly.

"Sure," I said, sliding into the offered seat. "Why not."

Breakfast was a surreal experience. The same wolves who had whispered "stray" behind my back for years now hung on my every word, asking about the challenge fight and my plans for the Graystone territory. Dean remained largely silent, but I caught him watching me with an expression I couldn't quite decipher.

"Is it true you're Silver Star?" he finally blurted, interrupting Carter's question about my healing injuries.

The table fell silent, all eyes turning to me. Heat crawled up my neck.

"Yes," I admitted. "I am."

Dean's face went through a fascinating series of expressions—disbelief, shock, and finally something like awe. "The last chapter of 'Moon's Shadow' was brilliant. The way Lyra finally confronted her past..."

"You actually read my stories?" I couldn't keep the incredulity from my voice.

"Read them?" Dean scoffed, offended at my doubt. "I've read every chapter at least three times. Your characterisation of pack dynamics is the most accurate I've ever seen in fiction."

Carter nodded enthusiastically. "How you write about Lyra's struggle to find her place is incredible. I stayed up all night when you posted the confrontation scene with her uncle."

I stared at them, trying to reconcile these enthusiastic readers with the wolves who had tormented me for years. "I don't understand. If you enjoyed my writing so much, why did you treat me like dirt in person?"

The table fell uncomfortably silent. Dean shifted in his seat, his eyes dropping to his plate.

"Because we're idiots," Tristan finally said. "Following the pack hierarchy without questioning it."

"And because it was easier than admitting we were wrong about you," Carter added quietly.

Dean cleared his throat. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry. We all are."

Before I could respond, the dining hall doors opened, and the Steel twins entered. The room's energy shifted immediately, conversations pausing as the Alphas scanned the space. When their eyes found me sitting with their Alpha unit, something like approval flickered across their faces.

"If you'll excuse me," I said, rising from the table. "I have some things to discuss with your Alphas."

Dean nodded, a hint of his old arrogance returning. "Just don't forget about finishing 'Moon's Shadow.' The readers are dying to know if Lyra accepts her mate bond."

I froze, suddenly seeing the parallels between my protagonist's journey and my own. "Art imitates life," I murmured, then walked away before they could question me further.

Maison and Jackson met me halfway across the dining hall, their expressions carefully neutral despite the whispers that followed us.

"Sleep well?" Jackson asked, his voice pitched low for my ears only.

"Well enough," I replied, ignoring the knowing smile that played at the corners of his mouth. "I want to visit the Graystone territory today. I'm strong enough."

"Are you sure?" Maison frowned, his eyes scanning me for signs of lingering weakness.

"I've made my decision," I said firmly. "I need to see what I'm dealing with before the formal ceremony."

The twins exchanged one of their silent communications before nodding in agreement.

"We'll arrange a small security detail," Maison said. "Just as a precaution."

"No," I countered. "Just the three of us. And Uncle Mateo, if he wants to come. I need to see my childhood home without an audience."

Jackson looked like he wanted to argue, but reconsidered. "As you wish, Alpha."

The title still felt strange coming from him—a reminder of how much had changed in such a short time. I glanced back at the table where Dean and the others sat watching our interaction with undisguised interest. “Oh, boys, by the way, I usually write roughly three chapters at a time, edit, and then upload them, but only release one chapter at a time. Currently, the book stands about 18 chapters behind what my notes might say. But then, even my handwritten notes don’t always look the same after I’ve typed them up.”

Dean's jaw dropped, and Carter practically vibrated with excitement. "Eighteen chapters ahead?" he sputtered. "That's... that's torture!"

"That's business," I replied with a small smile, enjoying their distress perhaps more than I should have. "Keep the readers hungry."

I turned back to the twins, who were watching me with matching expressions of amusement. "Shall we go? I'd like to see the territory while there's still daylight."

An hour later, we were driving along the winding road that separated Steel Fangs' territory from Graystone lands. Uncle Mateo sat beside me in the back seat, his presence a steadying influence as memories began to surface—some good, most painful.

"It's changed," he murmured as we crossed the invisible boundary. "Dominick never cared for maintaining the old ways."

I nodded, taking in the overgrown access roads and neglected boundary markers. Where the Steel territory was meticulously maintained, the Graystone lands showed years of mismanagement—trees harvested without replanting, streams diverted without concern for the ecosystem.

"He stripped the resources without reinvesting," Jackson observed, his analytical mind cataloguing each sign of decay. "Classic tyrant behaviour."

As we approached the main compound, my heart rate accelerated. The grand house where I'd spent my early childhood came into view—once beautiful, now showing signs of neglect. The gardens my mother had lovingly tended were overgrown, and the fountain in the centre courtyard was dry and cracked.

"Stop here," I said suddenly, unable to go further by car. "I need to walk."

Maison pulled over without question. The four of us continued on foot, approaching the compound slowly. A few wolves patrolled the perimeter—skeleton security compared to the Steel pack's vigilant system. They straightened as they recognized us, uncertainty clear in their postures.

"Alpha Graystone," one called, dropping to a knee. "We weren't expecting you until the ceremony."

"Rise," I said, uncomfortable with the deference. "I'm here to see my childhood home. That's all."

The guard nodded, stepping aside. "Of course. Elder Miriam is inside if you wish to speak with her."