Having Orion around the Willow Pack for the past few days had made the house feel warmer, louder, and a little more chaotic than usual. He’d been staying with us to help with the planning and restructuring of our infrastructure systems. As someone who was soon to be named Alpha, Alpha Simmons insisted that I attend every single meeting, no matter how small or technical. “You’ll learn faster by being involved,” he always said.
Irina was always beside me, as was Dad. Since he used to lead the Riverdale Pack, his insights were still highly respected. I found myself watching him in those meetings—how he spoke, how he listened, how he carried the authority in his voice even when he wasn’t in charge. I hoped one day I could do the same.
But it was Orion who impressed everyone the most. My brot
