members roaming the streets, no Alpha dominance hanging heavy in the air-just normal, every

ery smelled constantly of warm bread and cinnamon.

vive. At first, she didn't know where to start. The humans here didn't know who she was, didn't care abo

ed to her new life. When her son was born, i

might never exist. The moment she held him in her arms, tiny and fra

undle. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but they weren't from sa

that was normal or not, but she didn't question it too deeply. He ha

in her pack, her skills as an herbalist had been dismissed as outdat

d simple remedies at first, things she'd learned from her mother. But word spread

apron dusted with flour. "Could you take a look at my daughte

sorting. She followed Mrs. Henson upstairs, where a littl

th her hand. "It's a fever," she said, glancing back at Mrs. Hen

Henson's face was all the

. She set up a small space in the corner of her apartment where she mixed and prepared her b

n she felt the weight of single motherhood pressing down on her shoulders. She wan

children. He was stronger than he should have been, faster too. At two years old, he could lift things no t

as the incidents added up, she realized the truth: Ryker had

pushed an old cart that had been sitting there for years. The thing wa

heart pounded in her chest as she knelt down in

th wide, innocent eyes.

g to keep her voice steady. "Listen to me, sweetheart. You c

er tilted his

he barely understood herself? "Just promise me, Ryker. Don't do any

ugh she could see the

d on keeping him happy and safe. She filled their days with small adventures-picnics by the creek, walks throu

t her son. He was kind, always quick to help others

tucked him into bed, "why don't

his blanket. The question hit her like a punc

he said softly. "And th

bout it before nodding.

y on her. She wanted to tell him the truth, but how could she? Ho

Willow Creek was growing into someone stronger. She still carried the scars of he

pect, a far cry from what she'd experienced in the pack.

h about Ryker-about who he was and where he came from-was a ticki

tched Ryker play with the other children in the square, his laughter echoing through th