The Crimson House was like stepping into a world Yasmin couldn’t have dreamed of. The entrance hall stretched on and on, its high, vaulted ceilings carved with images of wolves, stars, and ancient vines that twisted together in a mesmerizing pattern. Sunlight poured through enormous windows, casting a golden light across polished marble floors, and art lined the walls—paintings that told stories of the pack’s history, legends of battles, and serene landscapes of the northern forests. Portraits of former Alphas watched over the space, their faces resolute, capturing centuries of legacy and strength.Yasmin lingered near the entrance, feeling almost reluctant to move forward, her hand unconsciously tightening on the shoulder of her young son, Zephyr, who was wide-eyed with amazement. His mouth opened in a soft “wow,” and Yasmin couldn’t help but smile as she watched him take it all in. He looked so small against the vastness of the hall, yet his excitement filled her with a quiet streng
Yasmin stirred awake, slowly peeling her eyes open as the softness of the bed cradled her in a comforting cocoon. She sighed deeply, feeling as if she’d slept for a lifetime. This bed had to be enchanted; nothing else could explain how utterly refreshed she felt. A smile tugged at her lips as she stretched, her gaze drifting to the window where she noticed the sky deepening into shades of twilight. With a soft groan, she reluctantly sat up, brushing her hair back and deciding it was time to find Zephyr. She padded out of her room and crossed the hall to his, only to find it empty. Her heart fluttered with a slight pang of worry, her motherly instincts already kicking in as she glanced up and down the corridor. He could be anywhere in this enormous house, and the thought of him wandering alone made her stomach twist. Yasmin took a steadying breath, reminding herself that this wasn’t a strange place—at least, not to Zaid. And Zaid was with him, so he was safe. Squaring her shoulders,
As the last of the dishes were cleared away and the bustling dining hall began to quiet, Yasmin leaned back, content and full, her gaze drifting to where Zephyr was laughing with a group of children at a nearby table. His cheeks were flushed, his eyes bright, his happiness filling her with a profound, grateful warmth. She’d longed to see him like this, truly carefree.“Yasmin,” Zaid’s voice cut through her thoughts, gentle but commanding. She turned, meeting his thoughtful gaze. “I wanted to talk to you about Zephyr. I assume he's been receiving education?”Yasmin nodded. “Yes, just the basics—reading, a little arithmetic. Thistlethorn didn't offer much. And I know it’s not enough. I’ve been trying to teach him more, but…” She trailed off, unsure how to put into words the frustration and limitations she’d felt. “He deserves more.”Zaid’s expression softened. “I’ve seen his spirit. He’s hungry to learn, I can tell. And he should have the opportunity to grow—in every way.” He glanced ov
Yasmin woke before her alarm, her mind already racing with thoughts of Zephyr’s first day. She padded quietly through the room, the soft morning light filtering through the windows as she headed to Zephyr’s room. Pushing open the door, she found him sitting on the edge of his bed, still rubbing sleep from his eyes as he fumbled with the buttons on his crisp new uniform.She couldn’t help but smile as she moved closer, crouching down to fix his collar and smooth out the fabric of his shirt. “Look at you,” she murmured. “My little man, all grown up.”He grinned as she ruffled his hair. “Mom,” he mumbled, rolling his eyes. “It’s just school. I’ll be fine.”“Just school,” she repeated, her smile widening. “But you're really excited to start this ‘just school.’"Zephyr’s face softened, a faint, proud smile tugging at his lips, though he quickly tried to hide it. “I guess…”Yasmin brushed a stray curl from his forehead, feeling a lump in her throat. “And besides, this uniform makes you look
Zaid leaned over the cluttered table, his eyes sharp and focused on the files scattered around him. Various maps, reports, and plans lay in a disorderly array, but his mind was already piecing them together, analyzing every possible angle. Across from him, his Beta, Khal, had his arms folded, eyes narrowed as he studied the central map, occasionally throwing out ideas. His Gamma, Ren, paced back and forth, his voice punctuating the silence with suggestions.“What if we take a different approach here?” Ren pointed to a position on the map. “Maybe station an extra patrol at the eastern border. We’ve seen a lot more movement there.”Zaid considered this for a moment. “It’s a good point,” he muttered, tracing a line with his finger along the map. “But we’d need to draw resources from another area to make it work.” He glanced at Khal. “Thoughts?”Khal stroked his beard thoughtfully. “We could ease up the west boundary, bring two patrols over to cover that side. Haven’t seen activity over t
Zaid leaned against the stone wall of Crimson Academy, his sharp eyes scanning the grounds as children began to trickle out of the school in pairs and clusters. Parents waited along the sides, greeting their children with open arms, and some of the pack members who recognized him gave respectful nods, bowing their heads slightly in deference as they passed. After a moment, Zaid spotted Zephyr emerging from the school, his dark hair bouncing as he animatedly talked to two other boys. One of them, Zaid recognized immediately—it was Marla's son, whose laugh was as boisterous as his mother’s. Zaid couldn’t help but smile as he watched the easy camaraderie between the three boys, feeling a pang of pride. Zephyr caught sight of him then, and his whole face lit up. With a quick wave goodbye to his friends, he broke into a run, his small feet thumping against the ground as he crossed the courtyard toward Zaid. Zaid crouched down, a warm smile spreading across his face as he opened his arms
Zaid’s mother’s house was tucked a little way into the woods, removed from the bustling heart of the Crimson Fang Pack’s main grounds. As they approached, Yasmin took in the modest, two-story building with a warmth that suited the woman she was about to meet. The structure was quaint, with ivy creeping up the stone walls and a garden of herbs sprawling to the side. The scent of rosemary and sage filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of cooking, and Yasmin couldn’t help but feel a little comforted by the home’s earthy charm.Zaid stepped up to the door, gave it a solid knock, and after a moment, a voice called from inside, “Come in!”Yasmin took a steadying breath, her nerves fluttering as they stepped over the threshold. The interior of the house was inviting and lived-in, the kind of space that spoke to years of care and small touches of personality. Jars of dried herbs lined the shelves in the entryway, filling the air with a subtle, calming fragrance. Nearby, potted plants
The silence at the dinner table was thick, pressing down like a weighted blanket over Yasmin as she tried to focus on the beautifully arranged plates and not the piercing gaze of Zaid’s mother across from her. Yasmin stole a glance at Zephyr, who was busy marveling at the feast set before him, oblivious to the tension she felt building around her."So," Zaid’s mother began, her tone smooth but sharp as she studied Yasmin, as if weighing every word before speaking. "Tell me about yourself. You don’t seem to carry a family name."Yasmin swallowed, caught off guard by the blunt question. “No, ma’am,” she answered softly, meeting the woman’s gaze with as much confidence as she could muster. “I don’t… have one.”Zaid’s mother tilted her head, her expression neither approving nor disapproving, merely curious. “Just Yasmin, then. And your origins?” she asked, folding her hands neatly as she leaned forward.“Yes,” Yasmin replied, taking a quick breath to steady herself. “I’m from the Moonbeam
Zaid led Zephyr through the side door of the shed, flipping on the light with a flick of his wrist. The space came alive as the overhead bulbs illuminated the dusty, warm wooden beams and walls. Shelves upon shelves lined the room, stacked high with wooden carvings, tools, and unfinished pieces. There were intricately carved animal figurines, hand-forged furniture, delicate picture frames, and even detailed sculptures of wolves, their faces frozen in mid-snarls. The smell of sawdust and fresh-cut wood filled the air, grounding everything in the comforting scent of craftsmanship.Zephyr’s eyes widened in awe as he slowly took in the room. His small hands instinctively reached out, his fingers itching to touch the polished surfaces of the creations. “Wow! Did you make all these?” His voice was a mixture of amazement and genuine curiosity.Zaid chuckled, a low rumble that made the room feel warmer. “Yes, I did. Every single one.” He paused, stepping aside to give Zephyr room to explore.
The silence at the dinner table was thick, pressing down like a weighted blanket over Yasmin as she tried to focus on the beautifully arranged plates and not the piercing gaze of Zaid’s mother across from her. Yasmin stole a glance at Zephyr, who was busy marveling at the feast set before him, oblivious to the tension she felt building around her."So," Zaid’s mother began, her tone smooth but sharp as she studied Yasmin, as if weighing every word before speaking. "Tell me about yourself. You don’t seem to carry a family name."Yasmin swallowed, caught off guard by the blunt question. “No, ma’am,” she answered softly, meeting the woman’s gaze with as much confidence as she could muster. “I don’t… have one.”Zaid’s mother tilted her head, her expression neither approving nor disapproving, merely curious. “Just Yasmin, then. And your origins?” she asked, folding her hands neatly as she leaned forward.“Yes,” Yasmin replied, taking a quick breath to steady herself. “I’m from the Moonbeam
Zaid’s mother’s house was tucked a little way into the woods, removed from the bustling heart of the Crimson Fang Pack’s main grounds. As they approached, Yasmin took in the modest, two-story building with a warmth that suited the woman she was about to meet. The structure was quaint, with ivy creeping up the stone walls and a garden of herbs sprawling to the side. The scent of rosemary and sage filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of cooking, and Yasmin couldn’t help but feel a little comforted by the home’s earthy charm.Zaid stepped up to the door, gave it a solid knock, and after a moment, a voice called from inside, “Come in!”Yasmin took a steadying breath, her nerves fluttering as they stepped over the threshold. The interior of the house was inviting and lived-in, the kind of space that spoke to years of care and small touches of personality. Jars of dried herbs lined the shelves in the entryway, filling the air with a subtle, calming fragrance. Nearby, potted plants
Zaid leaned against the stone wall of Crimson Academy, his sharp eyes scanning the grounds as children began to trickle out of the school in pairs and clusters. Parents waited along the sides, greeting their children with open arms, and some of the pack members who recognized him gave respectful nods, bowing their heads slightly in deference as they passed. After a moment, Zaid spotted Zephyr emerging from the school, his dark hair bouncing as he animatedly talked to two other boys. One of them, Zaid recognized immediately—it was Marla's son, whose laugh was as boisterous as his mother’s. Zaid couldn’t help but smile as he watched the easy camaraderie between the three boys, feeling a pang of pride. Zephyr caught sight of him then, and his whole face lit up. With a quick wave goodbye to his friends, he broke into a run, his small feet thumping against the ground as he crossed the courtyard toward Zaid. Zaid crouched down, a warm smile spreading across his face as he opened his arms
Zaid leaned over the cluttered table, his eyes sharp and focused on the files scattered around him. Various maps, reports, and plans lay in a disorderly array, but his mind was already piecing them together, analyzing every possible angle. Across from him, his Beta, Khal, had his arms folded, eyes narrowed as he studied the central map, occasionally throwing out ideas. His Gamma, Ren, paced back and forth, his voice punctuating the silence with suggestions.“What if we take a different approach here?” Ren pointed to a position on the map. “Maybe station an extra patrol at the eastern border. We’ve seen a lot more movement there.”Zaid considered this for a moment. “It’s a good point,” he muttered, tracing a line with his finger along the map. “But we’d need to draw resources from another area to make it work.” He glanced at Khal. “Thoughts?”Khal stroked his beard thoughtfully. “We could ease up the west boundary, bring two patrols over to cover that side. Haven’t seen activity over t
Yasmin woke before her alarm, her mind already racing with thoughts of Zephyr’s first day. She padded quietly through the room, the soft morning light filtering through the windows as she headed to Zephyr’s room. Pushing open the door, she found him sitting on the edge of his bed, still rubbing sleep from his eyes as he fumbled with the buttons on his crisp new uniform.She couldn’t help but smile as she moved closer, crouching down to fix his collar and smooth out the fabric of his shirt. “Look at you,” she murmured. “My little man, all grown up.”He grinned as she ruffled his hair. “Mom,” he mumbled, rolling his eyes. “It’s just school. I’ll be fine.”“Just school,” she repeated, her smile widening. “But you're really excited to start this ‘just school.’"Zephyr’s face softened, a faint, proud smile tugging at his lips, though he quickly tried to hide it. “I guess…”Yasmin brushed a stray curl from his forehead, feeling a lump in her throat. “And besides, this uniform makes you look
As the last of the dishes were cleared away and the bustling dining hall began to quiet, Yasmin leaned back, content and full, her gaze drifting to where Zephyr was laughing with a group of children at a nearby table. His cheeks were flushed, his eyes bright, his happiness filling her with a profound, grateful warmth. She’d longed to see him like this, truly carefree.“Yasmin,” Zaid’s voice cut through her thoughts, gentle but commanding. She turned, meeting his thoughtful gaze. “I wanted to talk to you about Zephyr. I assume he's been receiving education?”Yasmin nodded. “Yes, just the basics—reading, a little arithmetic. Thistlethorn didn't offer much. And I know it’s not enough. I’ve been trying to teach him more, but…” She trailed off, unsure how to put into words the frustration and limitations she’d felt. “He deserves more.”Zaid’s expression softened. “I’ve seen his spirit. He’s hungry to learn, I can tell. And he should have the opportunity to grow—in every way.” He glanced ov
Yasmin stirred awake, slowly peeling her eyes open as the softness of the bed cradled her in a comforting cocoon. She sighed deeply, feeling as if she’d slept for a lifetime. This bed had to be enchanted; nothing else could explain how utterly refreshed she felt. A smile tugged at her lips as she stretched, her gaze drifting to the window where she noticed the sky deepening into shades of twilight. With a soft groan, she reluctantly sat up, brushing her hair back and deciding it was time to find Zephyr. She padded out of her room and crossed the hall to his, only to find it empty. Her heart fluttered with a slight pang of worry, her motherly instincts already kicking in as she glanced up and down the corridor. He could be anywhere in this enormous house, and the thought of him wandering alone made her stomach twist. Yasmin took a steadying breath, reminding herself that this wasn’t a strange place—at least, not to Zaid. And Zaid was with him, so he was safe. Squaring her shoulders,
The Crimson House was like stepping into a world Yasmin couldn’t have dreamed of. The entrance hall stretched on and on, its high, vaulted ceilings carved with images of wolves, stars, and ancient vines that twisted together in a mesmerizing pattern. Sunlight poured through enormous windows, casting a golden light across polished marble floors, and art lined the walls—paintings that told stories of the pack’s history, legends of battles, and serene landscapes of the northern forests. Portraits of former Alphas watched over the space, their faces resolute, capturing centuries of legacy and strength.Yasmin lingered near the entrance, feeling almost reluctant to move forward, her hand unconsciously tightening on the shoulder of her young son, Zephyr, who was wide-eyed with amazement. His mouth opened in a soft “wow,” and Yasmin couldn’t help but smile as she watched him take it all in. He looked so small against the vastness of the hall, yet his excitement filled her with a quiet streng