LOGINGINABy the time the large courtyard clock struck three in the afternoon, the place we had spent days preparing had transformed into something beautiful.Lanterns swayed gently from the tree branches above, their soft colors glowing even in the warm daylight. Cushions and chairs had been arranged in wide circles, and the long tables at the side were already filled with trays of food that filled the air with comforting scents.Women of all ages were arriving.Young mothers holding babies.Teenage girls whispering excitedly to one another.Older women walking in pairs, smiling with curiosity as they took in the decorations.As I stood near the entrance greeting everyone, I felt something warm swell inside my chest.It was working.The gathering had begun.And Silvercrest’s women were embracing it.Keal had agreed to serve as Father of the Day, and beside him stood his Beta, Nathan, who had also volunteered to assist. They stood near the refreshment tables greeting guests politely while
GINABy late afternoon the day before the women's social gathering the courtyard looked nothing like it had that morning.What had once been a simple open space beside the council hall was now slowly transforming into something warm and inviting.Lanterns hung from wooden beams and tree branches.Long tables had been arranged along one side of the courtyard, already covered with clothes where tomorrow night’s food would be served. Wooden chairs were arranged in wide circles across the open ground, leaving space in the center for conversations and activities.And everywhere I looked, women were working.Some climbed small ladders to tie lantern strings higher into the trees. Others spread blankets and cushions across the seating areas. A few women were already inside the kitchen building nearby, helping the caterer prepare the early batches of food that would be served the next day.The air carried a mixture of excitement, laughter, and the faint scent of spices drifting from the kitch
KEALI rarely had time to visit the pack school.Most afternoons were filled with meetings, briefings, training reviews, or disputes that needed the Alpha’s attention. The responsibilities of leading Silvercrest never truly paused.But that afternoon something pulled me there.Perhaps it was curiosity.Or perhaps it was something deeper.Daniel had been attending the pack’s elementary school for a few weeks now, and though Gina and Layla both assured me he was adjusting well, part of me still wanted to see it with my own eyes.So after finishing an earlier meeting than expected, I took a quiet walk toward the school grounds.The building stood near the eastern part of the pack territory, surrounded by tall trees that shaded the open playground beside it. Children’s laughter drifted through the air long before I reached the gates.I slowed my steps as I approached.Several teachers stood nearby, watching the cubs during recess.One of them noticed me and straightened immediately.“Alph
GINAThe council hall felt different again that afternoon with the delicious smell of food.The large wooden table at the center of the room was covered with plates, trays, and small bowls of samples brought by the caterer we had hired for the women’s gathering.It had taken us a few days to settle on one, but after speaking with several cooks within the pack, we finally chose a woman named Marissa who ran a small catering service with her sisters.She had arrived earlier with two assistants and nearly a dozen dishes for us to taste.Debbie leaned over the table, examining a tray carefully.“Oh my,” she murmured, picking up a small pastry. “If we serve food like this every Friday night, no one will ever miss a single gathering.”Tessa laughed from the other side of the table.“They won’t miss it anyway,” she said confidently.I smiled as I took a small bite from one of the dishes Marissa had presented.The flavors were rich but comforting, exactly the kind of food that would make peop
KEAL The sun had already begun dipping behind the tall silver pines by the time I got home from the office.The day had been long.Meetings, patrol reports, training oversight, and a dispute between two hunters who nearly came to blows over a territory misunderstanding. Being Alpha meant carrying the weight of every problem the pack faced, and some days it felt as though the responsibilities never ended.By the time I stepped through the front doors of the house, the quiet warmth inside felt like stepping into another world.For a moment I simply stood there.The familiar scent of the house; wood, warm food, and something faintly sweet Gina liked to burn in the evenings wrapped around me.Then I heard it.A small voice.Daniel’s.“…and the brave little wolf went into the forest…”His voice drifted from the living room, careful and deliberate.I walked quietly down the hallway and paused by the doorway.Gina sat on the sofa with a book open in her hands while Daniel sat beside her, le
THIRD PERSON Daniel had started elementary school within the Silvercrest Pack a week ago.The first morning had been the hardest.He had woken up earlier than usual, sitting quietly at the edge of his bed while staring at the neatly folded uniform Layla had prepared for him the night before. His small fingers had fidgeted with the hem of his shirt as uncertainty clouded his young face.Even though he had attended school before, everything still felt new.A new pack.A new home.New people.And somewhere deep inside his little heart was the lingering fear that things might change again.His mother had noticed his nervousness the moment she walked into his room that morning.She crouched down in front of him so their eyes were level.“First days are always the hardest,” she had said gently while straightening his collar. “But you’re a brave wolf cub. I know you’ll do just fine.”Daniel had nodded slowly.Her calm voice had helped.Now, one week later, things were already beginning to f
DARIUSThe Howl residence had always carried a peculiar weight to it.Not warmth. Not comfort. Just the kind of oppressive grandeur that came from money passed down without kindness. The walls were lined with portraits of ancestors; men with stern eyes, women with rigid smiles, people who believed
GINA By the time I left the rooftop gym, my body felt like it belonged to someone else.Every muscle protested as I walked down the corridor, my legs heavy, my arms trembling faintly at my sides. I had been tired before in my life from long workdays, sleepless nights with Daniel, emotional exhaust
GINAI returned from my morning run at exactly eight-thirty, sweat clinging to my skin and my lungs burning in that satisfying way that told me I’d pushed myself just enough. The pack grounds were quieter at that hour, the air cool and clean, the sky still stretched in soft shades of blue. Running
KEAL The last stretch of evening training that first day ended with the kind of silence that only came after exhaustion had been wrung dry.It was close to seven when I finally called it. The rooftop gym was bathed in amber light from the setting sun, shadows stretching long across the mats and eq







