Chapter 31

Claire’s POV

My morning has been energetic since Nova came with me to the pack.

The house felt like it was incomplete before and was full of silence, now it is filled with joyful laughter like sunrise after dark. Nova's small yet cheerful voice carried the warmth and motivation which Leo needed the most, I always felt very emotional whenever I saw them be together.

Leo was sitting on the steps of the veranda, he sat relaxed, his legs stretched, his body was still stiff of how much time it took for him to recover. Nova happily ran across the yard towards Leo, she held a wooden stick like a sword and challenged him with a confident grin.

“Come on, Leo, you have to catch me!” she taunted him playfully, like a banner her hair flew behind her.

He groans playfully “But I don't want to run.” He argued but his eyes told otherwise, he was eager to play sword fight with her.

Nova huffed and rolled her eyes sassily but there was still innocent stubbornness in her eyes “You don’t have to run. Just stand up and walk to me.This is a part of training too!”

Leo hesitated but then he grabbed the railing of the stair and stood up with the help of it. I felt my breath hitch; many times I have seen him stumble and falter and saw his pride getting crushed due to his weakness.

But today… today he steadied himself. His legs trembled, but he managed to stand, his gaze fixed on his sister who didn’t even know she was his sister.

Nova looked at him happily and clapped and went forward to steady him when he almost stumbled. “See? You can do it! Just a little bit more.”

The smile that spread across Leo’s face nearly undid me. It was a genuine smile, his smile was no longer covered by shame and pain. It was pure and filled with joy. This was the smile the boy his age should always wear. I felt my heart ache, with emotions of pride, sorrow and guilt all mixed together.

I knew now was not the time to tell him the truth that I am not just his “Miss Warrior and Nova is his sister. But it feels like fate that I can be with both of my children, the truth will come out eventually no matter how hard I try to hide it.

Today was filled with relaxation and lazy warmth, Nova kept involving Leo to play games with her, the games like racing short distances, making him stretch his arms like wings and tossing pebbles. Every time he moved, I saw the color of his face return, his body started to remember what living properly means.

I knelt on the grass, my hands pressed to my mouth as if in prayer.”It means so much to me Moon Goddess, “Thank you for giving them this.”

I was grateful but a shadow of doubt lingered in my mind. For every joyful moment from Leo and Nova, I knew there are dangers outside the walls. Rogues are still out. A betrayal lingers in the pack.

And last but not least Gideon, he is carrying burdens even I couldn’t fully understand, I always saw how tense he is these days and never relaxed.

What brought me back was children's laughter, it made me stay in the moment. Leo stumbled but quickly caught Nova’s hand; it made both of them collapse into the grass and made them laugh. For a moment, I wanted to believe in this Peace even though I knew it wouldn't last long.

Gideon’s POV

I was standing by the window of my office, and behind me on the table were the maps of my pack's border, but my mind kept on getting distracted by the peaceful scenery outside.

On the training grounds below, two small figures tumbled across the grass. I could still hear Nova’s giggles and Leo’s laughter.

Something stirred in me as I watched them. A part of me long buried beneath the armor of Alpha duty.

That girl Nova got used to her life here so easily as if she belonged here. I felt something whenever I looked at her, a connection, an emotion I couldn't name. Before it was just Raven but now even Nova reminds me of Claire. Not because of her facial features but the way she took care of Leo and cared for him, she brought back light in Leo’s life and perhaps, mine too.

I forced myself to turn away. This was not the time for sentiment.

The prison break was still my main concern. I kept on reading those reports a lot of times, but I was not able to get any answer. The rouges didn't just simply vanish. Someone must have helped them, someone from the pack, the thought made me quite worried.

I looked at the map while tracing the trails we had found. A small camp was spotted close to the borderlands, their movements were too precise and organized to call it a coincidence. My gut feeling told me this wasn’t just random violence but it was planned. It looked like the rogues were planning to attack again, they were waiting for the right time.

I could not allow that moment to come.

My beta entered the office. I can tell he has found something as he handed me the scout reports. “They’ve confirmed the rogues are gathering in the abandoned outpost by the northern ridge.”

I read the scout reports as my eyebrows furrowed. That ridge was indeed a dangerous place with narrow passes and thick cover. An ambush waiting to happen.

I ordered with a firm and determined voice “Tell the warriors to get ready. We move before the week is over.”

“Yes, Alpha.” The Beta hesitated but asked “Should we tell this to others? Should we inform Daphne? The council?”

My eyes hardened. “No. This stays between us. The lesser the people know the better. Do you understand?”

He bowed his head and left, and once again I was alone with my thoughts.

I sighed as I dragged my hand on my face, the weight of responsibility was pressing me down. My duties are protecting my pack, hunting the threats, and carrying responsibility for everyone in my pack.

On the other side the smiling faces of Leo and Nova came into my mind. Their laughter affected me more than any war I had to face.

And Raven—damn her the more time I spent with her the more difficult it became to separate her from Claire’s memories. She treats Leo and Nova lovingly, the same way Claire would have treated Leo. Raven speaks with the same quiet strength as Claire. Every gesture and look from her made the wound of losing Claire fresh.

But I could not afford distraction. Not now.

I stood firmly, my eyes hardened, letting my responsibility as an Alpha settle in my head. Even though the rogues are close, I am ready to strike with precision and at the right time. There would be no mercy for those who dared threaten what was mine.

Still, as I moved to gather the war council, I caught one last glimpse of the children outside. Nova held Leo’s hand gently yet firmly as she urged him to take a few more steps. He stumbled but it didn't bother him anymore as he kept on walking.

For the first time after a long time my lips curved upwards as I felt hope in my chest. And that made me all the more determined to hunt down the shadows before they could ever reach them.