The wind is cold and sharp in my fur as I race through Pack Onyx territory in my white wolf form, my paws carrying me swiftly over ground that hums with ancient magic. The land knows me now—knows my blood and my purpose here, rises up for me eagerly and gratefully. What were once painful echoes of the past have become whispered guidance, carried on winds that ruffle my fur and fill my lungs with the scent of belonging. The lands give me a final parting squeeze, like a hug almost, as I leave them and head west, back toward Pack Jade territory.
Shifting back to human form at the edge of Pack Jade, I pull on clothes and survey the changing territory. In the distance, I can just make out the construction site where my garage and sanctuary will stand—a bridge between the center and outskirts, exactly as it should be. The new roads we’ve built make it easy to move between the two places that have defined me: my childhood in the center of Pack Jade, at Gran’s house, and my adulthood in the outskirts, at Dana’s house. Now united by the new home Kieran and I have chosen smack dab in between the two.
“You’re here early.” Dana’s voice carries across the morning air as she approaches, blueprints tucked under her arm. Hergreen eyes sparkle with knowing amusement. “Couldn’t sleep again?”
“Too excited.” I take the plans from her, spreading them out on a fallen column. “The contractor says we can start on the foundation today.”
The plans show exactly what I’ve dreamed of building: a spacious garage with state-of-the-art equipment, perfect for fixing motorcycles and cars. Behind it, a bar designed to welcome everyone—traditional booths for pack gatherings, quiet corners for loners who need space, and an outdoor area where different fighting styles can be practiced.
“It’s really happening.” Dana’s voice carries a note of wonder as she traces the outlined walls. “Our own little kingdom of misfits.”
“Not misfits,” I correct her gently. “Not anymore. They’ll be part of the pack now just like everyone else.”
The sound of approaching vehicles reaches us—the construction crew arriving right on schedule. Among them, I recognize faces that once sneered at me, who approved when Kieran rejected me. Now they’re here to help build something new.
Through our mate bond, I feel Kieran’s quiet pride as he handles his duties back in the pack center. The connection between us hums with shared purpose—his work strengthening the pack from within while I create safe spaces at its edges.
“Alright people,” I call out as the crew gathers around. “Let’s build something amazing.”
The day passes in a blur of activity. Foundation markers are laid out, ground is broken, and slowly my vision begins taking physical form. The days pass in a blur of activity. Between directing workers and reviewing plans, I make regular trips to Pack Onyx lands to oversee the preservation work there. It was one other thing I confessed to Kieran that I dreamed of onenight: to be able to teach others, including our future children, the history of the pack I lost. As soon as he learned of my dreams, he made them happen—just like the mate I love so deeply.
The contrast between the two sites feels right. In my ancestral home, we’re carefully restoring ritual spaces and training grounds—not to inhabit, but to honor and learn from. Here in Pack Jade, we’re building something entirely new, shaped by the harsh lessons we’ve learned as outcasts and exiles.
“You’ve really thought of everything,” one of the younger workers comments, studying the bar’s floor plan. “Even the layout of the booths feels purposeful. There are sections that are set aside, separate from the rest of the bar, where people won’t be forced to mingle with the crowd.”
“I learned the hard way what it feels like to need sanctuary.” Setting down my tools, I survey the progress we’ve made. “Sometimes all it takes is one safe place, one person who sees your strength, to change everything.”
Dana appears at my side, her expression soft with memory. “Like finding a half-dead girl on the road and teaching her how to fight?”
“Exactly like that.” I bump her shoulder affectionately. “Although now we can offer more than just a spare bedroom and martial arts lessons.”
Late afternoon brings unexpected visitors—a small group of outcasts who’ve heard rumors of what we’re building. They hover at the edge of the construction site, uncertainty written in every line of their bodies. One of them, a young woman with burn scars covering half her face, catches my eye.
“Welcome,” I call out, making my way over to them. “I’m Aurora.”
“We know who you are.” The scarred woman’s voice carries equal parts hope and wariness. “They say you’re building a place for… people like us.”
“I’m building a place for anyone who needs it.” I gesture to the partially-finished walls. “Want to see the plans?”
They gather around as I show them the blueprints, explaining my vision. With each detail, I watch tension ease from their shoulders. By the time I describe the training area where different fighting styles will be taught, they’re actively offering suggestions.
“You could add a meditation room,” the scarred woman—Fortuna—suggests hesitantly. “For those of us who struggle with controlling our shift during hormonal phases.”
“Brilliant idea.” I make a note on the plans. “Any other thoughts?”
Soon they’re fully engaged, their initial wariness forgotten as they help refine the sanctuary’s design. Fortuna, it turns out, has experience as a mechanic. By sunset, she’s officially joined the construction crew.
“See?” Dana nudges me as we watch the outcasts integrate with the other workers. “You’re already changing lives.”
“We’re changing lives,” I correct her. “I couldn’t do any of this alone.”
As the day winds down, I make one final trip to Pack Onyx lands, using the direct route we’ve built and the speed of my wolf form. The preservation work is coming along well—the ritual circles carefully protected, training grounds taking shape. Standing in the gathering darkness, I press my palm to ancient stone and feel answering magic hum through my blood. I also feel my mate nearby, winding up a day he spent working here on my dreams, now shared by both of us.
“I think they’d be proud of you.” Kieran’s voice carries across the sacred ground as he approaches. Through our bond, I feel hisbone-deep certainty. “Your parents. Your pack. They protected you so you could build something new, and you’ve done exactly that and so much more.”
Turning, I take in the sight of my mate outlined against the sunset. So much has changed since that day in the amphitheater—both of us growing into wholly new people, making the impossible into reality.
“That’s exactly what I’m trying to do.” I step into his embrace, letting his warmth chase away the evening chill. “Build something new while honoring everything they sacrificed to protect.”
