Chapter 103

Chapter 103
Gregory's POV

"Consider it passed. Unanimously."

Alpha Elena's words still echoed in my ears as the training ground began to clear. Harrison's team was being escorted away by pack security, their restraints a stark reminder of how thoroughly our methods had worked under real pressure.

The twenty-eight volunteers clustered around me, their faces bright with achievement and disbelief. We'd done it. Not just passed an assessment, but proven something revolutionary about what wolfless training could accomplish.

Before anyone could start discussing next steps or debriefing sessions, Kaedan approached our group. His usual composed Alpha demeanor had given way to something more open—sincere awe mixed with what looked almost like paternal pride.

"Gregory," he said warmly. "What you accomplished today..." He paused, shaking his head with a smile. "I knew you had potential, but this exceeded every expectation."

"You know what?" he continued, looking around at the group. "This deserves more than handshakes and congratulations. This deserves a real celebration."

"Hell yes," Kirk said immediately, his enthusiasm infectious. "We just changed everything about how the Alliance thinks about training. That's definitely worth celebrating."

"I could grab some supplies from storage," Dex offered, already looking toward the main buildings. "Get a fire going, maybe some music?"

"And food," Lila added with a grin. "Lots of food. I'm starving after all that adrenaline."

Kaedan's smile widened. "Make it happen. Everyone who wants to join is welcome—this is Gregory's night."

"Already on it, Alpha," Dex called out, jogging toward the supply building. "I'll grab the portable fire pit. Beck, you get the sound system."

Within minutes, the volunteers had organized themselves with the same efficiency they'd shown during the assessment. Kirk was directing the setup of chairs while Dex hauled equipment from storage. But as I watched, other figures began appearing—pack members who'd been observing from the edges of the training ground now stepping forward to help.

"Here, let me get that," someone said, and I turned to see Sarah from the medical team accepting supplies from a man I didn't recognize.

"Gregory," Sarah said, noticing my curious look, "this is my mate, Remy. He's been asking about you ever since word got around about the shadow training."

Remy stepped forward with a genuine smile. "What you did today—that wasn't just impressive tactics. That was leadership." He gestured toward where Lila was explaining something to a small group that had gathered around her. "My friends over there have been peppered me with questions all evening."

I followed his gaze and caught fragments of Lila's explanation: "...silent communication system... Gregory developed it specifically for situations where normal pack bonds might be compromised..."

"Could you teach that to our patrol team?" one of the listeners asked eagerly.

I watched my training ground transform into something unexpected—a place where people genuinely wanted to learn.

"Still processing?" Nephele appeared at my side, shadows dancing around her feet in response to her obvious happiness.

"Twenty-four hours ago, half these people thought I was a liability," I said quietly. "Now they're asking me to teach their friends."

"That's because you just proved them completely wrong," she replied simply. "They saw you in action. They saw what your methods could do. Hard to call someone a liability when they just saved everyone's ass."

She was right, but it was still hard to fully process. The shift felt too sudden, too complete to be real.

"Gregory!" Dex called out from across the training area. "Fire's ready!"

I looked over to see that someone had managed to get a proper bonfire going in the cleared area adjacent to the training ground.

There were a lot more faces in the firelight now—pack members who'd heard what happened and come to join the celebration, not just to gawk but to actually be part of it.

"Gregory!" Kirk called out, raising his beer. "Speech!"

"Speech! Speech!" The chant was picked up by others, good-natured and enthusiastic.

I felt my face heat up. "I'm not really a speech person—"

"Come on," Beck encouraged. "Just a few words."

I looked around at the circle of expectant faces—volunteers who'd trusted me, pack members who'd accepted me, friends I was still learning how to have, and Zara, whose encouraging smile made my chest tighten in ways I was still trying to understand.

"Today wasn't about proving I could teach," I said, my voice carrying clearly in the evening air. "It was about proving that all of you were already capable of more than you knew. I just gave you permission to use abilities you already had."

Murmurs of appreciation rippled through the crowd.

"When I was young, I was told I'd never amount to anything because I couldn't shift. Today, you proved that strength comes in many forms, and that thinking for yourself is more valuable than any supernatural ability."

The applause was warm, genuine, and lasted longer than I'd expected.

"Now let's celebrate what we built together," I finished, raising my own beer.

As conversations resumed around the fire, I watched pack members discussing techniques they wanted to learn, volunteers explaining their experiences to newcomers.

For the first time in my life, I wasn't the outsider looking in.

"Nice speech."

I turned to find Zara approaching with two fresh beers. She'd been in the crowd during my speech, nodding along in a way that made me feel genuinely good.

"Thanks," I said, accepting the beer. "Though I'm pretty sure I rambled."

"You didn't ramble. You said exactly what needed to be said." She moved to stand beside me, close enough that our shoulders almost touched. "How does it feel? Having everyone finally see what I've been seeing?"

The way she said it—like she'd been paying attention to me, like she'd formed her own opinion separate from everyone else's—made my pulse quicken.

"What have you been seeing?" I asked, genuinely curious.

She was quiet for a moment, then looked directly at me. "Someone who survived hell and chose to help people instead of letting it break him. Someone who makes me feel..." She paused, seeming to search for the right words. "Safe. And impressed. And like there are kinds of strength I never thought to look for before."

I wasn't sure what to say to that. It sounded like more than just being grateful for good training.

"Zara," I said carefully.

"Look, I'm not great with this kind of thing," she continued, her confidence wavering slightly. "But watching you today... the way you stayed calm when everything went to hell, the way you actually trusted us to figure things out instead of just barking orders—" She stopped, took a breath. "I guess what I'm trying to say is, I like you. More than just as an instructor."

Before I could figure out how to respond, someone nearby started playing guitar. The melody was soft, intimate, and several wolves around the fire began swaying together.

"Want to dance?" she asked, then immediately looked uncertain. "I mean, if you want to. I know it's not really your thing, but..."

"I'd like that," I said, surprising myself with how much I meant it. "Fair warning though—I have no idea what I'm doing."

Her smile returned, bright and heartfelt. "Good thing I do."