Semua Bab The Alpha Needs Adult Supervison: Bab 21 - Bab 30

Incident Report #250 Operation: The Forest Has Opinions Filed By: Beta Mason Date: Today was apparently eventful. ⸻ Summary Following recent discoveries involving ancient Keeper history, the Alpha insisted another “perfectly reasonable walk” into the eastern forest was necessary. Against my better judgment… …he was correct. I continue to dislike this development. ⸻ Objectives * Document newly discovered stone carvings. * Translate portions of an ancient Keeper journal. * Prevent Rowan from touching unidentified magical objects. Results: 1. Successful. 2. Successful. 3. Failed almost immediately. ⸻ Significant Discoveries * Ancient Keeper journal recovered. * Living seeds confirmed. * Previously unknown stone carvings documented. * Forest appears capable of recognizing visitors. Additional observation: The forest has developed opinions. ⸻ Concerning Developments The trail continues changing. Plants appear to move without obvious cause. Flowers continue

Mason had expected questions.He had prepared for them.By the time they reached Wolf Ridge, he had already constructed several acceptable answers.We found another Keeper site.There were artifacts.Bramble remembered something.All technically true.None requiring him to explain the map folded inside his satchel.None requiring him to explain the six crossed-out symbols.And absolutely none requiring him to describe the moment Bramble had recoiled from the memory of fire.Unfortunately…Mason had forgotten one important detail.Wolf Ridge had Martha.She was waiting on her porch when they returned.One look at Bramble was all it took.“What happened?”Rowan opened his mouth.Martha lifted one finger.“Not you.”Rowan closed it.Mason almost smiled.Claire carried Bramble against her chest.He hadn’t asked to be carried.He also hadn’t tried to climb down.His ears drooped slightly, and the glow beneath his vine markings had faded to almost nothing.Martha’s expression softened.“Oh,

PACK RULE #26: If four ancient bells ring before breakfast, everyone is allowed one extra cup of coffee before discussing the consequences. Addendum: The Alpha does not get to count this as a strategic planning session. ⸻ Wolf Ridge slept badly. Not because anyone had been told to be afraid. Because nobody had been told enough not to be. By sunrise, the village already knew something had happened on the road from Silver Run. Mason had expected that. What he had not expected was Mrs. Abby waiting outside his office with a coffee pot. He stopped. She held it out. “You’re going to need this.” Mason looked at the pot. Then at her. “What have you heard?” “Enough.” “That isn’t reassuring.” “It wasn’t meant to be.” She poured his cup anyway. ⸻ Rowan appeared from the direction of Martha’s cottage. His hair was still slightly damp. He carried bread in one hand and a second cup of coffee in the other. Mason narrowed his eyes. “Why do you have t

PACK RULE #28: When an ancient archive reveals that someone spent decades protecting one small Keeper, breakfast is mandatory before anyone attempts to unravel seventy-three years of secrets. Addendum: Coffee counts as emotional support. It does not count as breakfast. This clarification exists because of Mason. Mason had slept for three hours. Technically. His body had been in a bed for five. His brain had participated for approximately three. The remaining two had been spent staring at the ceiling while one name repeated itself. Ronan. By sunrise, Mason had given up. He dressed. Made coffee. Found his notebook. And walked toward the village square. He made it twelve steps before Martha opened her front door. “Sit.” Mason stopped. He looked toward her porch. Martha stood in the doorway wearing a robe, slippers, and the expression of a woman who had already won an argument that had not yet begun. “I’m going to the archive.” “No.” “I wasn’t ask

PACK RULE #30: If you discover an ancient enemy may have become the evil everyone has been trying to contain for seventy-three years, do not immediately touch anything else. Addendum: This includes bells, doors, suspicious rocks, glowing symbols, mysterious artifacts, and anything Rowan describes as “probably fine.”⸻ Nobody touched Garrick’s bell. That made Mason suspicious. Usually Rowan touched something. ⸻ Mason looked at him. Rowan noticed. “What?” “Nothing.” “You’re staring at me.” “I’m impressed.” “By?” “You haven’t picked it up.” Rowan looked at the silver bell lying in Anwen’s hand. Then back at Mason. “I have survival instincts.” “Recent development?” Claire snorted. Rowan pointed at her. “See? She thinks I’m funny.” “No,” Mason said. “She thinks I’m funny.” Claire looked between them. “I’m going to let both of you have this.” ⸻ Bramble sat near Corwin’s grave. Gerald pressed against one side of him. Cricket occupied th