The phone's buzz had interrupted Gideon's work in his home office, a space filled with an organized mess of files and papers. He glanced at the caller ID, recognizing the name of Melissa, his contact at social services. "Hello, Melissa. To what do I owe the pleasure?" "Hey, Gideon," she said, her voice professional but friendly. "I've got all the paperwork ready for you to file for the adoption of the four boys. It's all straightforward, and we can expedite it if you're ready." Gideon smiled, feeling a warmth in his chest at the thought of officially making the boys part of their family. "That sounds great. We're all excited about it. Thank you for pushing this through." Melissa paused, and something in the gap of her words made Gideon frown. "Is there a problem?" "No, not a problem, just a question," she replied cautiously. "I noticed you're not filing to adopt Avery Jenkins. Any reason why?" "Avery Jenkins?" Gideon repeated, feeling a mix of confusion and apprehension. "I'm not

The phone buzzed on the wooden nightstand, rousing Gideon from a restless sleep. Rubbing his eyes, he grabbed it and squinted at the text message. It was from his contact at social services. The message read, "Would you like to meet Avery? If so, maybe just bring Avla, yourself, and one of the boys—perhaps Tanner—to keep things low-key." His thumb hovered over the keyboard as he pondered the reply. Eventually, he texted back, "Yes, we would love to meet her. Will arrange and let you know." Setting down his phone, he padded out of the room, his thoughts a whirlwind of emotion and anticipation. As he descended the stairs, he found Tanner in the living room. "Get ready. We've got something important to do today," he said, meeting Tanner's curious gaze with a reassuring smile. Gideon then proceeded to the bedroom, where he expected to find Avla. Upon entering, he noticed her by the window, her shoulders shaking softly. She was crying. Alarmed, he approached her cautiously. "What's wro

Gideon sat in his office, staring at the blueprints and plans sprawled across his desk. Maps, charts, and timetables seemed to pile up each passing day, a visual representation of the chaos he felt inside. As the Alpha, the responsibility for the pack's welfare was his, and right now, that meant overseeing the expansion of their land and the construction of new houses.Thomas and Kane walked in, their expressions brightening when they saw their Alpha. "Hey, Gideon, you called for us?""Yeah, come in. Have a seat," Gideon beckoned, gesturing to the chairs across from his desk. He took a deep breath, collecting his thoughts. "Look, we have so many projects going on right now. Everything is in various states of completion, and it's starting to eat at me. We need to finish something, anything, to give us a sense of accomplishment. And I think that should be Tanner's house."Thomas exchanged a glance with Kane. Both could sense that Gideon was tense, unlike his usual calm and collected sel

The house was silent except for the soft sound of their footsteps as Tanner, Gideon, Thomas, and Kane made their way upstairs. The atmosphere was thick with tension, an unspoken current of anger and relief flowing between them. Liam's reaction was immediate, his tiny fists pummeling against Tanner's legs, his face twisted in fear and fury. "You can't just run off like that, Tanner! You don't just leave!" Liam shouted, his voice breaking with the strain of held-back tears. Tanner's face softened, and he gently caught Liam's wrists, halting the bombardment. "Liam, I know, buddy. I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking straight," Tanner's voice was low, filled with regret. Avla's heart ached at the sight, and she intervened calmly yet firmly. "Liam, please go to your room for a little while. We need to sort this out, okay?" Reluctantly, Liam shot a hurt glance at Tanner before sulking away, his disappointment evident in his slumped shoulders. Once Liam had left, Gideon turned to them, the line

The following morning at training, the pack was buzzing with energy, their enthusiasm noticeable. Avla and Liam perched on the sidelines, their eyes following the pack's movements keenly. The training ground was a flurry of activity, with members engaged in various drills and exercises. Their movements were precise and fluid, a dance of strength and agility that captivated anyone who watched.Tanner, filled with a newfound vigor, was particularly active, darting in and out of sparring sessions. His movements were swift and confident, a testament to his growing skills and maturity. In a rash eruption of overzealous energy, Tanner found himself face-to-face with Gideon. Their eyes locked, and for a fleeting second, Tanner's gaze had a spark of mischievous defiance. Then, almost as if driven by an unseen force, Tanner's voice rang out, strong and unwavering, slicing through the hum of the training session."Alpha, care for a little spar? Let's see if you've still got it, old man!" Tann