Chapter 158: You Deserve Nice Things - Sam's POV

A week passes, and for the first time in what feels like forever, the world isn’t burning down around us. There are still some places that smolders, but the flames aren’t spreading anymore. They’re shrinking and dying out.

Halley finally did it.

Every day, I watch the packs around us shift. It’s slow at first, even cautious, but with growing certainty as the week stretches on, things are finally settling. As for those who came to ask if she’d find mates, well, they have stayed true to their word. They keep their distance, have given her space, and hold the line, especially when their packs arrive to join the fray fully. Their presence alone seems to calm the wolves who were probably on the fence.

Now, more of them are choosing to follow without question.

“Sam,” one of Tyler’s wolves, comes up to me. “We just received word that one of the alphas supporting the council has pulled support. Things are falling apart quickly.”

“Good,” I say, though the word comes out tight and clipped. My body hasn’t figured out how to unclench even though everything around us is finally softening.

The man nods and hurries away.

I rub the back of my neck, forcing myself to breathe. I’ve spent a week expecting a new disaster to come, but instead, peace is blossoming. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start.

I hear Halley’s laughter down the hall before I even see her, and it makes my wolf push forward with so much warmth I nearly stumble.

She’s sitting in her father’s room when I reach it, curled up in a chair beside his bed. Her hair is tied up messily on top of her head, a few strands falling loose around her face. She’s wearing one of my shirts, which she insists she didn’t steal, though she definitely stole it.

And her father… he’s awake. He’s exhausted and weak, but he’s alive. The creature didn’t end him, though it seemed close in the beginning.

He looks at Halley with eyes that finally have color again.

“Sam,” Halley says when she spots me, her smile brightening. “Tell him what you told me.”

I step inside, closing the door gently behind me. Her father watches me with quiet focus, studying every shift of my stance like an alpha evaluating a threat or a potential son-in-law.

It’s hard to tell with him.

“Another alpha pulled their support,” I report. “And the Crescent Hills alpha is meeting with Tyler today. Sounds like he’s leaning our way. We’re gaining ground and they are falling apart, just as we expected. This is the start of the end. We will have a new rule soon.”

Halley’s father exhales slowly, sinking a little deeper against his pillows. “The cracks are spreading,” he murmurs. “The old laws die slowly, but at least they’re finally dying. It’s time we all moved on from them.”

“They are,” Halley says softly. “We’re getting closer every single day.”

She looks at him like she’s afraid he’ll break. Like she’ll never stop being relieved to still have him. I don’t blame her. A week ago, we didn’t know if he would survive the night. Now his wolf is returning, his strength flickering back to life piece by piece.

I walk over and place my hand on Halley’s shoulder. She reaches up, intertwining our fingers without even looking. Her father watches, nodding once in approval.

“I’m glad she has you. I wish you could have known your real father and spent more time with your mother, but at least you’ll have a good mate to look after you.”

“I’m sorry,” Halley says softly. “That it all came out like this.”

He shakes his head. “It should have never happened, Halley. The rules were wrong and should have never existed. Nothing should interfere with what fate has deemed yours, but I was just a worried father, hoping to keep you alive. I hate that you thought I betrayed you. Anyway, have you rested today?”

“No,” I answer before she can lie. “She hasn’t. But she said she would after this.”

Halley shoots me a glare. “I did not say that.”

“You implied it.”

“You imagined it.” She smiles as she says it.

Her father’s lips twitch weakly into something that almost resembles amusement. “Some things never change. You two were always the best of friends before the incident when she was a teen. I should have picked up on it sooner.”

“No,” I say, leaning down to kiss the top of Halley’s head. “They don’t. Well, we tried to hide it well, I think. And I tried to do what was right to keep her safe, knowing that I would never get over her.”

The room falls quiet for a moment, but it’s comfortable this time.

A week ago, everything felt fragile and teetering. Now things feel… steady. Not finished, but on track as we move in the right direction.

Halley brushes her thumb across her father’s knuckles. “You scared me,” she whispers.

“I know.” His voice is low, rough with healing. “But I heard you. Even when I couldn’t respond. I heard you telling me to stay, so I did. I’ll be here.”

My chest tightens. Halley goes still, her eyes glistening.

I squeeze her shoulder. “Told you he was stubborn.”

She elbows me without looking away from her father. “He gets it from me.”

He snorts, an actual snort. “Unfortunately.”

That tiny bit of teasing is enough to make Halley and I laugh, and for once, I feel at ease. Her wolf brushes mine, warm and bright. I swear I could live in that feeling forever.

After a while, Halley rests her head on my arm. “We’re getting closer to peace,” she murmurs. “I can feel it.”

“You are,” her father corrects. “And once it’s settled, I think we should have your wedding. An official one. I understand you all have already bonded, but it’s only right that you get a ceremony.”

The way he says it makes Halley’s cheeks blush faintly, and it makes my wolf preen.

“I’m proud of you,” he adds, his voice soft.

Halley blinks rapidly, holding back tears. “I’m not doing all this alone.”

“Yes, I know, but you deserve nice things too,” he says.

Silence settles again, but this time it’s full of warmth, not fear.

After a moment, Halley stands and kisses her father’s forehead. “I’ll come back after lunch.”

He nods, already drifting toward sleep. I guide her out gently, shutting the door behind us.

As soon as we’re in the hallway, she leans into me, her forehead resting on my chest. “He’s really going to be okay.”

“Yeah,” I murmur into her hair. “We all are.”

“Are you sure?” She asks softly.

I slide my hand under her chin, lifting her face so she meets my eyes.

“Halley,” I say, my voice low, “for the first time in our lives… everything is finally heading toward the future we deserve. We’re getting our happily ever after when we weren’t even supposed to be together.

“Good, because I’m ready,” she whispers.

I press my forehead to hers. “So am I.”