The Howling Heart's Forgiveness

Chapter 69

The urge to kick down the door is strong as I had scented Brynlee just inside. I knew she was watching me talking to Chase. Knew she knew I was here to check on her, but she still allowed that little shit of a cousin I have to slam the door in my face. I know I deserve it, deserve the cold shoulder from Chase and his siblings, but it still stings when they are my only family here. Letting out a sigh, I rub my hand across my face while reluctantly leaving the porch.

Quincy had sent me a text last night telling me to be at the pack house by ten in the morning to meet the Warrior I will be shadowing. I thought this would be a good opportunity to see Brynlee and ask how she is doing so I woke up earlier than I needed to and made my way down to my Aunt’s house. I was not prepared for my cousin to stop me as soon as I opened the front door. Never would have expected the fifteen-year-old to have so much power pre-shift. I could try to barge inside, demand to see Brynlee, but that would only cause her to yell at me and ruin what ever progress has mended the Mate Bond.

With a growl of frustration I make the trek towards the pack house, nodding and wave to the wolves already out and about. Some are heading to work at the nearest town, others to patrol the pack border for any threat. Since it is a Saturday, the pups will either be shadowing a member of the pack to see if they want to become a Warrior or Hunter while the rest would be helping at the small gardens that provide fresh fruit and vegetables to the pack. I am glad Jett told me all of this last night and even happier to know that everyone here works together no matter how small the task.

It is clear as day that there is no fear of someone trying to stir up trouble because they think they deserve more for being stronger. Here, you earn your promotions through training and actions. It’s how a pack should be. It’s how I wished Pine Moon had been.

Stopping as I crest a hill, I look at the pack house in the distant. The building is old, similar to a larger Victorian era mansion, and has stood the test of time with minor repairs throughout the years. It’s white bricks are aged with signs of repair. The roof having been renovated throughout the years as the previous Alphas worked hard to bring the old building into the modern age. When looking at it, I get a feeling of warmth and safety, something I never felt at Pine Moon or Onix Moon. Both of those pack houses felt like prisons. Like a place to go and never be allowed to leave.

A few wolves rush by me breaking me from my thoughts as I try not to be trampled. One yells over his shoulder that breakfast at the pack house is available if I am hungry and I find myself running after them. I can’t help but let the competitiveness come out as I pass each wolf with ease until our group of five arrives at the pack house. Three of the four men that raced past me now bent over trying to catch their breath while the fourth one stares at me curiously.

“You’re Rune, right?” He asks as his friends straighten out and lead the way into the pack house.

“Yes, I am.” I answer, joining the line of wolves that wait to dig into the buffet.

“Great, that saves me the hassle of tracking you down.” This wolf laughs out, patting me on my shoulder. For a moment I want to swat his arm away, but something inside me tells me to wait and see what he wants.

“I am Ricky, the wolf you’ll be shadowing this week. It’s nice to meet you!” Ricky continues, moving his focus to the food. Happy to find the man that will help me integrate into the pack, I ask Ricky about the training routine of the Warriors and what shifts I will be on as we finally reach the beginning of the buffet and start to pile food onto our own plates. Ricky wastes no time into explaining the details to me and I listen diligently. I already know that Crescent Phoenix runs differently from most packs in which the focus is to grow stronger both individually and as a pack through training, hard work and dedication..

It turns out that other than regular training schedules, there is a patrol rotation split between four shifts - Day Shift A and B and Night Shift A and B. Luckily for me I am on Day Shift A working Monday to Friday alongside Night Shift A. It turns out Shift A is the main force, these wolves always working Monday to Friday while those studying and working outside of the pack take Saturday and Sunday shifts. This way, shift A can take a break while still having Shift B as the packs reserve strength in case of an emergency.

“So why am I starting today?” I ask considering today is Saturday.

“Today and tomorrow I will be showing you around the pack. You clearly know your way to and from the pack house from the Alpha’s house and the dorms, but you also need to know how to get to and from the many buildings from anywhere within the pack.” Sitting with Ricky at a nearby table, I take in his explanation and find it fitting. He is right. I need to learn the layout of Crescent Phoenix and if spending the weekend to learn what I can is what I have to do, then I will do it.

With the two of us talking over breakfast, I soon learn that Ricky is actually one of the strongest Warriors in the pack coming in fourth on the list. Originally, Quincy was supposed to show me the ropes but after Gale stepped in citing that it would be more harm than good considering our rivalry for Brynlee, Ricky volunteered to show me around.

Mid conversation, Ricky admits to knowing about me being Brynlee’s Mate and that the email has spread throughout the werewolf community. Before I could feel some apprehension on working closely with this wolf, he then states that he is on my side believing that I truly love Brynlee to give up Pine Moon and the safety of the wolves in the pack for her. I am happy when we finish eating, our dishes being cleared away by an Omega on duty while Ricky leads me outside, promising his friends he will see them later tonight. We walk for a few minutes away from the pack house, finding a clear spot where we can see everything around us.

“So, you already know that the dorms are just over there.” Ricky states, pointing towards the larger building just inside the tree line behind the pack house.

“But we also have a training facility past the dorms for our pups.” He adds.

“Why is it so close to the pack house? Shouldn’t the pups training facilities be closer to the ones for Warriors and Hunters?” I ask, confused by the layout.

“Its closer to the dorms and pack house for safety reasons. If something happens like Rogues snuck into the pack or an enemy attacks, we can rush there easily and get the pups to safety.” Ricky explains, motioning for me to follow him. We walk past the dormitories, making our way into the forest. Ricky explains that the pup training usually takes place on Saturdays and Sundays as it allows working wolves a chance to enjoy an hour alone or catch up on their own training without having to worry about their pups. It is actually a great idea considering when school starts, pups will be to busy studying and won’t have time to train.

I notice a small pond on the way towards the training facility where I find Jett working with a few other wolves in training smaller pups how to swim. We wave to them, the pups excitedly waving back before we continue walking to the pup training facility where he shows me inside. It is a perfect mix of practical and fun furniture, and it makes me wonder that if Brynlee and I have pups, would they train here in the future.

“Where do Hunters and Warriors train?” I ask, excitement growing within me. It is clear that whoever designed the training facility for the pups focused on the details here. If they also designed the training facilities for us adults, then I can see myself growing stronger with each passing day.

“That’s a little further into the forest.” Ricky shrugs, motioning for me to follow him once more, leaving the pup’s facility behind us.

“We used to have them close to the pack house, but Beta Brynlee and Alpha Asteria said we would benefit having a facility with both indoor training and out door agility courses.” With this tidbit of information, I smile as we continue our tour. With what little I have seen so far, I have a feeling it will only be a matter of time until Crescent Phoenix is on par with Blood Claws and becomes one of the strongest packs in the country.

∭

“So far you have seen the training facilities, the storage sheds and the green houses. We have a few more places to go to but that will be for tomorrow.” Ricky states as we exit the humid building. The two of us just finished visiting the last of the green houses, Ricky explaining to me that Uncle Gale took the project to expand the farming here in the pack and offering jobs for the Omegas and weaker Hunters while also mentioning the type of fruits and vegetables grown in each. I never thought my Uncle to be the “Luna” type as the man always worked as a Warrior in Pine Moon, but it is clear that Uncle Gale found his calling here as the Luan.

“So what do we do now?” I ask, walking with Ricky towards the pack house.

“Well, Alpha Asteria returned home around noon today and since it is close to five, I am going to say the bonfire will be happening soon. We should just go enjoy ourselves.” I nearly trip over a root at how relaxed Ricky sounds. How could he be so nonchalant about their Alpha returning home after helping another pack deal with a tyrant of an Alpha.

Ricky laughs as I stumble a few steps before we continue walking, explaining that here we have a pack bonfire to welcome our members home be it the top wolves to the lowest on the hierarchy. Everyone deserves a warm welcome after completing their job and being away for so long. I can’t help but agree with this sentiment and wonder what the bonfires here are like.

As we grow closer to the pack house, the scent of fire wafts around me mixed with the scent of food. Everyone is happily mingling, the pups are playing in the fields just to the side. What makes me stop walking is Brynlee standing beside a willow tree, a white dress flowing around her in the wind. I can’t help but stare at her as she looks so happy talking to her pack mates, the she-wolves surrounding her and laughing while the males keep a respectful distance. The only two that stand beside her are Quest and Quincy, the two looking like guards as they each take a place on either side of Brynlee.

“Everyone loves her, Beta Brynlee that is.” Ricky states with a soft voice, his eyes watching the scene.

“She was the one to take charge of identifying our dead after Onix Moon attacked Golden Fang. I worked with her as well as a few others.” The wolf muses, turning to look at me.

“We all know she deserves to be more than a Beta. She has the making of a Luna, maybe even an Alpha, and we can all see it. So win her back, make her happy and make her into the role she should be.” With that, Ricky pats my shoulder before walking away towards the food table.

For a moment I stay rooted in my spot watching Brynlee as she interacts with her pack. At one point she turns and looks at me, uncertainty in her gaze, before nodding a greeting and returning her attention to her ever changing crowd.

She looks exhausted from what I can see, the toll of her kidnapping showing itself in the way she leans heavily on the tree. But she also looks happy – happier than I have ever seen her. It is this happiness that I want to protect. To cherish and to grow. I want to be the one to make sure Brynlee never cries again and always has this carefree smile like I see now.