Chapter 47 047

Chapter 47 047

Chapter 46

Aria's POV

Winter arrived hard and fast.

The first snow fell two weeks after the school opened. Within days, the entire territory was covered in white. The cold bit through even the thickest furs.

"We need to check the outer cabins," Drogo announced at morning council. "Make sure everyone has enough firewood and supplies to last through the worst of it."

Derek volunteered to organize the supply runs. "I'll take teams out to each settlement. Make sure nobody's stuck without heat or food."

I went with the first group. We loaded wagons with extra firewood, preserved food, blankets, and medicine. Then we headed to the furthest cabins where families lived away from the main fortress.

The first family we visited was an older couple who'd lived on the edge of Shadow Peak territory for thirty years. They were grateful for the supplies but insisted they had plenty.

"We've survived worse winters than this," the old man declared. "But we appreciate you checking on us."

The next cabin belonged to a young family with three small children. They needed everything. The father had been injured during the battle with Damien and couldn't chop firewood properly yet.

"We're managing," the mother insisted, but I could see the worry in her eyes.

We unloaded twice as many supplies as planned. Derek made a note to send someone back weekly to check on them.

By the time we'd visited all the outer settlements, it was getting dark and the snow was falling harder. We headed back to the fortress cold and exhausted.

Rosa had hot soup waiting. "Everyone accounted for?"

"Everyone's secure for now," Derek confirmed. "But we'll need to maintain regular supply runs through winter. Some families are struggling more than others."

Drogo added it to the winter schedule. Every week, teams would visit the outer settlements. Check on people. Bring supplies. Make sure nobody was forgotten or left to freeze.

The school continued despite the weather. Children bundled up and walked through snow to attend lessons. Their dedication impressed me.

Beth had taken to teaching with unexpected enthusiasm. "They actually want to learn," she marveled one afternoon. "They ask questions and pay attention. It's nothing like I expected."

"What did you expect?"

"Bored kids forced to sit through lessons. But they're genuinely curious. They want to know things."

"That's because most of them have never had the opportunity before. Education wasn't a priority in pack life. Just survival and combat training."

"Well, they're making up for lost time now."

Two months into winter, we got word from my father. The Eastern Pack situation had finally resolved. A wolf named Kade had consolidated power and declared himself Alpha.

"Kade reached out to me," Aldric wrote. "He wants to establish formal relations with neighboring packs. Assure us he has no hostile intentions. I'm meeting with him next week. Thought you should know."

Drogo read the message twice. "This could be genuine. Or it could be Kade trying to seem peaceful while he plans something."

"What do you think we should do?"

"I think we let your father take the meeting and report back. He's closer to Eastern territory. He has more at stake. We'll see what Kade actually wants before we commit to anything."

My father met with Kade and sent a detailed report. The new Eastern Alpha seemed reasonable. He acknowledged that Damien had been reckless and destructive. He wanted stability, not expansion.

"Kade proposed a non-aggression pact," Aldric wrote. "All three packs agree not to attack each other. Simple but effective. I'm inclined to accept."

Drogo called a council meeting to discuss it.

"Non-aggression pacts only work if everyone honors them," Cole pointed out. "What's to stop Kade from breaking it when it suits him?"

"The same thing that stops anyone from breaking agreements," Rosa responded. "The cost of being seen as untrustworthy. If Kade breaks a non-aggression pact, no other pack will negotiate with him."

"That didn't stop Damien," Derek muttered.

"Damien was unstable. From what Aldric describes, Kade is more calculating. He understands long-term strategy."

We debated for hours. Eventually decided that a non-aggression pact was worth the risk. It didn't cost us anything and might actually prevent future conflicts.

Drogo sent word to my father that we'd support the pact. The formal agreement was signed a month later with all three packs represented.

For the first time in years, Shadow Peak wasn't actively at war or preparing for one.

"It's weird," I told Drogo one night. "Not having enemies actively trying to destroy us."

"Don't jinx it."

"I'm not jinxing anything. I'm just noticing that life feels almost normal right now."

"Enjoy it while it lasts."

I intended to. We spent more time together without crisis interrupting. Had actual conversations about things that weren't battle strategy or survival. Started making plans that extended beyond the next few months.

"I want to expand the school," I mentioned one evening. "Add more teachers. More subjects. Maybe even open it to children from allied packs."

"That would make Shadow Peak a center of learning. Other Alphas might see that as a threat."

"Or they might see it as a resource. Somewhere to send their children to get education they can't provide themselves."

Drogo thought about it. "It could work. Build influence through education instead of force. That's different from how most packs operate."

"Different is good. Different means we're building something new."

Spring arrived slowly. The snow melted. Green returned to the forest. People emerged from winter quarters ready for warmer weather and new projects.

The school had grown to twenty-five students. We were running out of space in the original building.

"We need to expand," Beth reported. "Add another room at minimum. Maybe build a completely new structure dedicated to education."

Drogo approved the construction. Derek designed a building twice the size of the current school. Work began as soon as the ground thawed enough to dig foundations.

My father visited Shadow Peak for the first time since I'd left his pack. It was strange seeing him walk through our territory, seeing how people reacted to his presence.

Some remembered what he'd tried to do. Remembered the pain his manipulation had caused. They watched him with suspicion.

Others just saw a neighboring Alpha here for diplomatic purposes. They were polite and respectful.

Aldric noticed the mixed reception but didn't comment on it. He met with Drogo to discuss trade and alliance business. Everything was cordial and professional.

Before he left, my father asked to speak with me privately.

"What do you want?" I asked warily.

"Just to see how you're doing. You seem happy here."

"I am happy here."

"Good. That's good." Aldric hesitated, which was unusual for him. "I know I haven't been the father you needed. I made choices that hurt you. Pushed you toward things that weren't right. I won't apologize because I think apologies are empty. But I wanted you to know that I see what you've built here. What you and Drogo have created. It's impressive."

I didn't know what to say to that.

"The school especially," Aldric continued. "That was your idea, wasn't it?"

"Mostly."

"It's good work. Important work. The kind of thing that actually changes packs for the better."

He left after that. No demands. No manipulation. Just acknowledgment.

"That was weird," I told Drogo later.

"Maybe he actually is changing. Or maybe he's just playing a longer game."

"Either way, I don't trust it."

"Neither do I. But we can accept the compliment without trusting the source."

Life moved forward. The new school building took shape. Trade with the Northern Pa

ck continued smoothly. The non-aggression pact with the Eastern Pack held.

Shadow Peak was thriving.

And for now, that was all I needed.