Chapter 5 05

Neither of them had any extracurricular activities after school today, which meant I caught a ride with them this morning instead of going in my own vehicle. It was unusual for me to depend on others, but today it made sense. The day had already felt off, and I wasn't exactly in the mood to drive myself around.

The cold air hit my skin as I stepped outside the school, and the sight of Reed's black Dodge Charger made me feel a little better. I liked the sleekness of the car-it was everything Reed, and the pack, represented: power, style, and confidence. Dylan leaned casually against the side of the car, speaking to Charlotte and Ella, the Third in Command's twin daughters. The two girls were younger than me, but they had recently shifted, which gave them a sort of intensity that I couldn't ignore.

As I approached them, Charlotte's golden eyes flicked toward me, the subtle signs of the wolf in her gaze still raw, unfamiliar. Ella, beside her, had a similar look in her eyes, although I noticed the faintest hints of uncertainty in her posture. Newly shifted wolves often struggled to control their instincts. Charlotte and Ella were no exception, and I could tell they were still getting used to the wild power that surged beneath their skin.

"Hey," I said, offering them a small smile, which they returned. I respected them for taking the shift so seriously, but I knew it wasn't easy. They were working hard to master their wolves, though, with their older brother River-our future Third in Command-taking the next three weeks off school to focus on his own training. He was the one who had always been the most focused, the most driven in the family, and if anyone could help the twins get their control down, it was him.

"Ready to go?" Reed's deep voice broke through my thoughts. His question was directed at me, but I noticed the twins exchanged a look before saying their goodbyes. They didn't rush their goodbyes, taking a few extra moments to say something under their breath. I couldn't hear it, but the way their voices dipped into a soft murmur told me it was something important.

I nodded at Reed, my thoughts scattering, and then climbed into the backseat of the car. Dylan followed me in, and Reed quickly started the engine. With the sound of the engine rumbling to life, I let out a soft breath, letting the tension of the day slide off me.

The ride back to the pack house was a short one. Our high school was located right inside the pack's territory, barely a 15-minute drive from the pack house itself. The pack house wasn't the largest, but it was functional. It mostly housed newly mated wolves and had the pack infirmary as well as the Alpha's spare office. It wasn't the grandest building, but it had a comfortable feel to it. I suppose that's what mattered.

The drive went by in a blur, the scenery flashing by as Reed took us down the familiar road. The woods on either side of the highway blurred with the setting sun, casting everything in an amber glow. It wasn't long before we pulled up outside the Beta's house-my house.

I climbed out of the car, grateful to stretch my legs. The house always felt imposing in a way, with its towering structure and white walls that glowed against the darkening sky. The sleek black windows caught the last light of the day and reflected it back at us, but for all its grandeur, it felt like home.

Dylan and I made our way up the steps, the chill of the evening air biting at my exposed skin. He gave a quick wave as he turned to head off toward the office. "I'm gonna go check in with my dad," he said, his usual easy grin flashing before he disappeared down the hallway. It was no surprise. Dylan's father, as the Beta, was always working-always busy. Dylan, always the dutiful son, spent a lot of time helping him out with various matters.

I didn't need to follow Dylan. Instead, I headed straight for the kitchen, knowing Grace would be in the middle of preparing dinner. I was pretty much always welcome there. Grace, the Beta's mate, had a way of making you feel at home, no matter what. Her warm presence always grounded me.

When I entered the kitchen, she turned to greet me, a wide smile spreading across her face. Her eyes sparkled as she wiped her hands on her apron and gestured for me to sit down. Grace had the kind of beauty that was understated but still powerful. She was graceful, no pun intended, and had this aura that made you feel like everything was going to be okay.

"Hi, sweetheart," she said as she grabbed a handful of seasoning and sprinkled it generously into the pot on the stove. "How was school today?"

I sighed as I slid into one of the counter stools, my legs dangling lazily beneath me. "School's school," I said with a shrug, not caring to go into detail. I glanced up at her, catching the light in her eyes as she focused on stirring the spaghetti sauce.

"It wasn't the worst," I added, letting out a small chuckle. "I have a math exam next week which I need to study for, but other than that, I'm fully caught up with work."

She raised an eyebrow at me, a playful glint in her gaze. "Caught up, huh? That's impressive. You always seem to have everything under control."

I laughed lightly, running a hand through my hair. "I try. But you know how it is... it's the senior year stress."

Grace nodded, wiping her hands on the kitchen towel before turning to look at me more seriously. "You're almost done with school, sweetheart. Just one more year. I know we've talked about this before, but have you thought about what you want to do after graduation? College? Full-time warrior duties?"

Her question made me hesitate. I wasn't sure how to answer it. I had been asking myself the same thing for a while now. College was appealing-I could experience the world outside the pack, gain a different kind of knowledge, and maybe meet new people. But the pull of warrior duties was strong too. Following in my father's footsteps had always been the plan.

"I don't know," I admitted, my voice quiet. "I'm still conflicted. I'd like to go to college, have the experience, but I also feel like I should follow my father's footsteps. Being a warrior, protecting the pack-it's what I've been raised to do. But..." I trailed off, my mind swirling with doubt. "Part of me wonders if I'm supposed to do something else."

Grace didn't say anything right away. She gave me a soft, understanding smile and walked over to the counter where she had a bowl of mixed greens. She picked up a few leaves, tossing them into the salad bowl. "It's not an easy decision," she said thoughtfully. "But whatever you decide, I know you'll find your path. You have a lot of time to figure it out."

I appreciated her words more than I could say. Grace was like a second mother to me, and her wisdom was something I often sought when I didn't know which way to turn. As I sat there, the smell of dinner filling the room, I couldn't help but feel like I was standing at a crossroads. My future was waiting, but which road was I supposed to take?