“Thank you all for coming here together during this difficult time,” I begin, letting my voice carry to every corner of the room. “As you know, Pack Jade stands at a crossroads. The old ways of fear and control led us down a dark path—one that nearly destroyed everything we hold dear.”
Murmurs ripple through the crowd. Through our bond, I feel Aurora’s steady presence, giving me strength to continue.
“But out of that darkness comes a chance for something new. Something better.” I take Aurora’s hand, holding it up for all to see. “My mate and I stand before you not just as an alpha and his mate, but as equal partners and leaders. Together, we will lead Pack Jade into a future where strength isn’t measured by dominance alone, but by courage, compassion, and the ability to adapt.”
“And what about tradition?” Elder Orin steps forward with a scowl. “Our ways have kept us strong for generations. Now you would throw them aside for… for…” His eyes cut to Aurora dismissively.
Before I can respond, Aurora speaks up, her voice clear and confident. “For progress. For growth. For the chance to be stronger together than we ever were apart.” She meets the elder’s gaze steadily. “The fae nearly destroyed us by exploiting our divisions, our prejudices. We can’t afford to cling to old biases anymore.”
“She’s right.” To my surprise, it’s Dierdre who speaks up next. “I was wrong about you,” she tells Aurora, genuine regretin her voice. “We all were. You proved yourself a true leader when you fought to protect the pack, even after how we treated you. You set aside old grudges and resentment to save us all. That’s what a leader is.”
Warmth flows through our bond as Aurora acknowledges her former friend’s words with a nod of gratitude. “The past is in the past where it belongs. I’m not here to dwell on it or bring up old resentments and wounds. What matters now is how we move forward—together. United as one.”
More voices join the discussion, some supportive, others skeptical. I watch with pride as Aurora addresses each concern with wisdom and patience, never letting old hurts color her responses. Through our bond, I feel her determination to build something new from the ashes of the old.
“The threats we face won’t wait for us to stop fighting each other,” I remind them all. “The fae may have retreated, but they’ll be back. They’re desperate for land and resources and unlikely to forget that we have both. We need to be united and strong when they return.”
“And how do you propose we do that?” another elder asks, although her tone is more curious than confrontational. “What is the path forward?”
“It’s time for the pack to embrace change,” Aurora answers. “By recognizing that different doesn’t mean weak. By learning from each other instead of tearing each other down.” Her voice carries conviction born of hard experience. “I know what it’s like to be an outsider in your own pack. To feel less than because you’re different. But those differences can be our strengths—if we let them.”
Through our bond, I feel the echo of old pain in her words, but also the fierce hope that drives her forward. Squeezing her hand, I add my own voice to hers.
“From now on, Pack Jade welcomes all who wish to contribute, regardless of their abilities or background. No more casting out the weak. No more forcing people to the outskirts.” I meet the eyes of those who once doubted Aurora. “We’ve seen firsthand that true strength comes in many forms. My mate proved that when she saved us all, first with her knowledge, and then with her venom. We wouldn’t be here today if Aurora hadn’t saved us all, and as a pack… we didn’t deserve to be saved. Next time, we will, because next time, we won’t bully and exile our future savior. We’ll embrace them and show them our strength.”
A ripple of agreement moves through the crowd. Even some of the skeptics nod thoughtfully. The pack bonds hum with renewed energy as old ideas begin to crumble in the face of new experience and evidence.
Dana steps forward, her green eyes bright with purpose. “I can vouch for the skills Aurora brings as a leader. She survived on the outskirts without a wolf, learned to fight better than most shifters, and never once let anyone’s judgment stop her from being exactly who she is and kind to others.” She turns to address the skeptics directly. “Maybe it’s time we all learned from her example and the example of others like her.”
Pride flows through our bond as I watch my mate accept Dana’s support with quiet dignity. The pack bonds strengthen as more voices join in, sharing stories of how Aurora helped them during the crisis—healing the madness, teaching defensive techniques, showing compassion when others turned away.
“But what of the alpha’s bloodline? Mating strength to strength?” Elder Orin persists, although his opposition seems weaker now, curious as much as anything. “Your father?—”
“My father let his grief poison everything he touched,” I cut in, unable to keep the edge from my voice. “He chose power over pack, vengeance over healing, and was so consumed by denialand hatred that he let madness in. I choose a different path, for myself and for my pack.” Looking around the room, I continue, “the strength of a pack isn’t in its bloodline, but in its bonds. In how we support and protect each other.”
Through our bond, Aurora sends me waves of love and support. Her presence steadies me as I face down the ghosts of my father’s legacy.
“Besides,” Mason speaks up with a grin, “have you seen what Aurora can do now that she’s found her wolf? That white coat isn’t just for show—she’s got Pack Onyx’s venom in her bite. Any fae that comes near our territory will think twice about causing trouble.”
Murmurs of appreciation ripple through the crowd. I feel Aurora’s mixture of pride and slight embarrassment through our bond—she’s still not used to being praised instead of pitied.
“Which brings us to our first order of business,” I say, drawing attention back to the matters at hand. “We need to strengthen our defenses against future fae incursions. Aurora will lead training sessions on recognizing and countering fae tricks. Anyone who wants to learn is welcome to attend.”
“And what of those who don’t wish to change?” Elder Orin asks, although his tone has lost its bite. “Those who prefer the old ways?”
“Change doesn’t mean abandoning everything,” Aurora answers diplomatically. “It means taking what worked before and making it better. Adding new strengths to old traditions.” She meets the elder’s eyes steadily. “Your experience and wisdom are valuable to the pack. We just ask that you be open to new perspectives as well.”
The elder considers this for a long moment, then nods slowly. Through our bond, I feel Aurora’s relief at this small victory.
As the meeting continues, we outline our plans for the pack’s future. Aurora speaks of implementing new training programsthat combine traditional shifter skills with human combat techniques. I detail strategies for rebuilding relationships with neighboring packs, starting with those who helped us during the crisis.
The pack responds with growing enthusiasm. Even those who initially doubted begin to see the benefits of our vision. The pack bonds strengthen with each passing moment, old wounds beginning to heal.
Finally, as the sun sets outside, we conclude the meeting. The pack files out slowly, many stopping to offer support or ask questions about the changes to come. Through it all, Aurora stands beside me, her presence a constant source of strength.
When we’re finally alone, I pull her into my arms, breathing in her scent. “You were amazing.”
“We were amazing,” she corrects, snuggling closer. Through our bond, I feel her deep contentment mixed with lingering awe at how far we’ve come. “I still can’t quite believe this is real sometimes.”
