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Lucas

Helping Kaylee pack the mesh bags into a wagon, I smiled as I heard many of the Ivory Fangs wolves chatter with the Growling Heart wolves. Everyone had fun learning about foraging today, some even becoming excited when they found a poisonous plant that we could use in the upcoming battle.

Simon was the one to carefully pick these plants, with their red veins and black-tipped leaves, as he explained the use of the poison. The plant was similar to wolfsbane but was called wolfsblood—in high enough doses, it causes a victim’s blood to curdle in their system, leaving them to die a quick and painful death.

“Ready to head home?” Kaylee asks as I place the last bag into the wagon.

“Actually, I was going to find Kurt and talk to him about this morning,” I answer, turning to face Kaylee.

She looks happier, as if the stress from this morning has melted away thanks to the lesson’s fun. I know Kaylee loves to learn and share what she knows—it’s one of the reasons that made me realize just how perfect she is as a Luna and why I left to find her and make amends.

Now, though, I can see the strength an alpha needs to lead within her—her love for those in her pack and her willingness to protect them. I know leaving Ivory Fangs will be rough for her, but it will also be a good thing. The restlessness I’ve noticed in her has settled slightly since we decided to take back Oak Fur.

“Okay. I think Simon is going to check on Maya. Kurt should be with her at her and Marco’s house,” Kaylee says, stepping closer to me and wrapping her arms around my neck, bringing me in for a kiss. I smile when we pull away as Titus, Daisy, Simon, and Evette come to our side.

“That was fun,” Daisy exclaims, a smile on the petite Luna’s face.

“Do you think if we talk to Amelia, she will add more foraging into our training routine?” Titus asks, wrapping his arms around his mate.

“I think she would. We can talk to her tomorrow at breakfast,” Kaylee answers with a smile.

Simon chimes in that he and Evette would be happy to help run the foraging training, stating it was fun teaching a bunch of wolves. Evette agrees right away before yawning. I’m happy my friend found his mate here—happy he could find his happiness. But I worry he won’t want to join us back in Oak Fur because of it and that Kaylee and I will have to look for a new beta pair.

“So, what does everyone have planned for the rest of the day?” Simon asks as we all start to head towards the pack house.

“I’m going to grab my truck from the pack house, then head back to my cottage,” Kaylee answers, her hand in mine.

“My packmates and I are doing a movie night in the guest house. It’s kind of become a weekly thing since we took over,” Titus answers, lifting Daisy up onto his back to carry her.

“You’re not going back home with Kaylee and Lucas, then?” Simon turns his attention to me, and I shake my head no.

“I need to talk to Kurt about something, actually,” I answer, watching my friend perk up.

“That’s great. I want to check on Maya before I head to see how Ash and Devon are doing. Do you want to go together?” Simon asks.

“Sure.”

“If Evette wants, she can stay with me at the cottage. You guys can take the truck if you drop us off first,” Kaylee chimes in.

Simon and I agree as Evette happily takes Kaylee away from me. I can’t help but shake my head helplessly as the two she-wolves walk further ahead to converse. Kaylee rarely had female friends back in Oak Fur, save for a few omegas. Marilyn had been the cause of that. Seeing her with a friend now—one mated to her sworn brother—makes me happy.

Titus, Simon, and I walk behind Kaylee and Evette. By now, Daisy is fast asleep on Titus’ back, and he explains that she’s exhausted from being a mother and a Luna.

I ask where their pup is and learn that Daisy’s parents took the job of babysitting their pup while Titus and Daisy are with us. Part of me is jealous that my friend has a caring support system, but then I catch sight of my aunt with her pups in front of the packhouse and realize I have that support system myself. If Kaylee or I ever needed anything, my aunt and her family would be there for us right away.

We say goodnight to Titus, Kaylee looking on in amusement at the sleeping Daisy. Her gaze has a knowing look like she can see something we can’t. Knowing Kaylee won’t share what she is thinking, I push that thought aside. Chase, Henry, and Lace have already rushed to hug Kaylee, the pups excitedly asking her when she will be over for dinner. I smile, picturing the day Kaylee will be surrounded by our own pups like this as my aunt comes to stand beside me.

“Marco will be punished tomorrow for what he did today,” she whispers to me as Simon picks up Lace and spins with my little cousin in his arms. “As much as I hate to do so, he crossed the line instead of coming to talk to me or even one of the pack therapists.”

I sigh, reaching out and hugging my aunt. She accepts it, her body relaxing, and for a moment, I realize just how hard being an alpha is.

It isn’t just about the day-to-day operations of keeping a pack running. It also involves protecting pack members, managing dynamics and relationships, planning, strategizing, breaking up tense fights, and punishing those who have crossed boundaries—boundaries set in place to keep everyone safe.

“How about tomorrow night, Kaylee and I come over for dinner and some family time?” I ask, watching my aunt perk up at the suggestion.

“I’d like that. Bring Simon and Evette with you.”

I laugh and readily agree. She’d helped raise the three of us alongside her own pups. Simon, Kaylee, and I often found ourselves crowded in her kitchen, learning to bake, or curled up in front of Kaylee’s television in the living room while my mom, aunt, and uncle chatted away with Kaylee’s parents. One day, I hope to have that life again—this time, having my house be the place for our friends and their children to gather. I want that earlier childhood I had for my pups.

My aunt pulls away from my hug, calling her pups so they can go home for the night, and I wave goodbye. Lace surprises me by rushing towards me, arms outstretched. On instinct, I bend down and wrap her in my arms for a big bear hug. It’s been years since she’s done that, and I have to fight back tears when I release her to join her mother and brothers.

“That was adorable,” Kaylee gushes, her fingers reaching out to wipe away the tears from my eyes.

“It was unexpected,” I agree, laughing. Simon watches on, his own eyes shining while I take a moment to compose myself. If Lace is rushing to me like that like she did when she was just a toddler, then that means the man I used to be must truly be gone. I’d stopped being the big cousin who played with them because of Ramos’ treatment and training. I’d stopped rushing to their aid, thinking they were weaknesses I needed to leave behind me. I was wrong. My family is my strength, and I know that now.

After composing myself, our group of four climbed into Kaylee’s truck. Simon took the front passenger seat beside me while Kaylee opted for the back seat with Evette. After dropping the girls off at the cottage, I navigate the truck towards Marco’s house. The truck cabin is quiet as Simon and I are lost in our own thoughts in the still night.

“Kaylee said I would make a good beta,” he blurts out, turning to look at me.

“That’s because you would,” I answer with a shrug, smiling as I look at my confused friend. “The reason we’re training so hard is we—Kaylee and I—plan to take back Oak Fur as the pack’s alphas,” I explain, deciding to go into detail about last week’s meeting.

Simon listens, his eyes wide, as I explain everything. After my explanation, the truck goes silent again, and I pull into Marco’s driveway, his Jeep parked just ahead.

“I’ll do it,” Simon states with a grin.

“What?” I ask, turning to face my friend.

“I linked Evette, and she agreed. You and Kaylee will need betas. Kaylee can help train Evette when we return to Oak Fur on how to be a good beta to her, and I can be your beta,” he explains.

My own grin takes over my face at this. It seems we had nothing to worry about when it came to Simon. With Evette agreeing, my mate won’t lose her friend when we take back our rightful pack.