All Chapters of Alpha of Smoke: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

*Isabella*Steppin’ out into the sunlight, I squint against the brightness, realizin’ it’s later in the mornin’ than I thought.“My goodness, we must’ve slept late,” I murmur to Chet just as a pony races by, nearly knockin’ me off my feet.“Hey, Izzy!” Robert hollers, grinnin’ from atop a gorgeous Appaloosa filly, his small hands tight on the reins.“Hey, Robert! Look at you go!” I call back, my heart lighter seein’ him safe and happy.Pa strides over, his expression unreadable as he takes in the sight before us. The Chyara settlement is alive with movement. Everywhere, people are workin’ in harmony, tendin’ to the land and each other.Shepherds guide flocks through open fields while other men tend to their herds. Women kneel in gardens, their hands skillful as they pull weeds and harvest food. Others weave baskets, likely used for gatherin’ nuts, berries, and roots. Older children fetch water from the creek while the younger ones follow their mothers or play in groups, watched over b

*Isabella*Dust—thick and red—coats everything, clingin’ to my skin, my clothes, my hair. It is a far cry from the lush green hills of Tennessee, where willows dip their branches into cool streams. That life feels like a dream now. This place is different. Harsh, untamed… but it is ours.For days, we scouted the land, searchin’ for the right place to settle. And then, we found it. A valley nestled between the pines and the open prairie, with a river runnin’ nearby and enough game to keep our bellies full through the winter. The land is rough, but it is rich. The air is clean, the sky endless. This will be home.I glance around at the others. I can smell their hesitation—a sour tang beneath the crisp scent of pine. They see the dry grass, the rocky soil. They worry about the winters, about what this land will give and what it will take.But I feel it in my bones—this land is alive.I press my palm against the earth and close my eyes, listenin’ to the wind as it rustles through the tree

*Isabella*The scent of fresh-cut cedar fills the air as axes swing and saws cut through the sturdy trunks. The rhythmic thunk of wood hittin’ the ground echoes through the trees, minglin’ with the voices of our packmates workin’ together to build our new homes.It feels real now—this land, this future we’re claimin’ as our own.Chet stands beside me, sleeves rolled up, sweat glistenin’ on his skin as he directs the men on how to lay the foundation beams. The strength in his arms, the way his muscles move beneath his tanned skin, sends warmth spreadin’ through my chest. My Alpha. My mate. My future.“We’ll have the first cabins framed before nightfall,” he says, his tone full of certainty. “Once we have a few homes built, we can start work on a meeting hall and a proper cookhouse.”I nod, feelin’ the weight of what we’re creatin’ here. “It’s gonna be a beautiful place, Chet.”His eyes soften as he glances at me. “It already is.”I smile, restin’ my palm against a newly stripped log, b

*Chet*The rain has finally passed, leaving the land damp and rich with the scent of earth and renewal. The morning sun peeks through the dissipating clouds, casting golden light over our encampment. It is a welcome sight, one that signals a shift—a new beginning.As I step out of our wagon, the air is crisp, carrying with it the promise of hard work and progress. The storm may have disrupted our scouting efforts last night, but it also left behind the perfect conditions to resume building.I find Unega already awake, speaking with her father and a few of the men about the cabins we have begun constructing.“The soil’s soft now,” Pa notes, inspecting the ground. “It’ll be easier to get these cedar trees cut and the foundation set.”“We got lucky with that rain,” I remark, and Unega nods.“Lucky or blessed,” she says with a small smile. “Either way, I’m just glad it let up when it did.”“We should thank the Moon Goddess,” I agree. “She has watched over us since we left Tennessee.”The

*Chet* The alliance with the Chyara has been a blessing to our pack. Over the past several months, we have learned valuable lessons from them—about the land, the migration of game, and the dangers that lurk beyond our borders. The knowledge they have shared has made us stronger, but it has also opened our eyes to the reality that we are not alone in this vast wilderness.Tonight, we have invited them to join us around our fire. One of the elders, a small woman with long white braids, sits behind Alice, weaving her hair into a similar braid while sharing wisdom about the land.“You have settled well here,” she says, her voice calm but firm. “But danger still circles like a wolf on the hunt.”I glance at Unega, who stiffens beside me. “What does she mean?” Unega asks through the mind-link.The elder gestures westward, her dark eyes sharp. “There are others,” she says. “Wolves who have no home, no honor. They take what they want, destroy what they cannot. They do not fight for survival,