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 and Avla walked side by side, accompanying the social worker and Avery to their car. The atmosphere was thick with a sense of newly formed bonds, punctuated by lingering questions and unspoken anxieties. The social worker parked far away from where Tanner was waiting, a fact for which Gideon was silently grateful. As they reached the social worker's car, she looked earnestly at both of them. "You can call anytime if you have questions or concerns. We're always here to help." "Thank you," Avla said warmly, her eyes on Avery, who was now safely tucked in the car seat, looking out the window with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. The car engine roared to life, and as it pulled away, Gideon felt Avla's gaze turn to him. Her eyes were like open books, filled with emotion, complexity, and a sense of seeking, as if she were trying to read something in his face. "What's going on, Gideon? I can tell something is bothering you," she said, her voice tinged with concern. Gideon
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 woods were dense and vast, cloaking secrets within their folds. As Gideon, Meave, Kane, Thomas, Ethan, Marcus, and a group of seasoned warriors sprinted into the wilderness, the air felt thick with tension. They were guided not just by logic and intuition but also by the raw instinct that their werewolf lineage bestowed upon them. Back at the house, a different sort of drama unfolded. Avla, cradling Liam in her arms, attempted to console him. The boy's tears stained her shirt as memories of Avla's disappearance, not so long ago, echoed in his young mind. The events had deeply scarred him. The boy had just started healing, and Tanner's sudden absence threatened to rip open those emotional wounds again. Avla gently rocked the swing, her fingers running soothingly through Liam's hair. "Shh, it'll be okay. We'll find him," she whispered. But as each second ticked by, her own confidence wavered. As they sat in silence, Liam, with his innocent and wondering eyes, looked at Avla's s
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
Tanner and Avla worked side by side in the kitchen, the rhythmic chopping of vegetables creating a soothing backdrop to their conversation. Tanner glanced at Avla, the question on his mind finally spilling out. "Are you worried about all this... about Avery and me?"Avla stopped chopping for a moment, looking up with a puzzled expression. "Worried? No, not at all," she replied confidently. Her gaze softened as she leaned on the counter, facing Tanner. "Your story here isn't that different from mine and Gideon's. You're fortunate, really. Gideon spent many long years grappling with similar feelings. And he did it essentially alone. You have support here."She picked up the knife again, her movements deliberate. "I'm not scared, Tanner, because I've seen how things turned out with Gideon and me. I know you will navigate this with the same care and respect. These situations, as complex as they are, have a way of resolving themselves when there's understanding and patience."Tanner absorb
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
Gideon's steps echoed softly as he approached Tanner's house, the porch creaking slightly under his weight as he joined Tanner sitting there. He regarded Tanner with a calm, understanding look. "How are you holding up?" he asked, his voice steady and reassuring.Tanner exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "I'm nervous as hell, Gideon," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper."Just remember to breathe, Tanner. Everything's going to work out. And if you feel overwhelmed when the social worker is here, it's okay to stay back here until she leaves," he advised, his tone gentle yet firm.Their conversation paused as they both spotted the car approaching in the distance. Gideon stood up, patting Tanner's back encouragingly. "Come when you're ready," he said with a smile, before striding confidently towards the main house.Tanner remained seated, his heart pounding as the car drew near. The sight of the social worker helping a small figure out of the car sent a jolt through