Chapter 250

Chapter 250
Hazel's POV

I woke up the next morning feeling like I'd been hit by a truck. Every muscle in my body protested as I tried to move. Not only had I been stabbed yesterday, but we'd only managed a few hours of sleep on a hard floor with nothing but some thin blankets between us and the cold surface.

Thank the Moon Goddess for my mate, who had pulled me against his chest, keeping me warm with his body heat. His scent and our mate bond had helped my body recover somewhat during the night.

As we distributed the food we'd found last night, I noticed several pack members had already left—most notably my father's Beta.

I wasn't upset about losing some members. Those leaving now were saving me from potential trouble within the pack later. If they couldn't accept Steven and me as their Alphas, they needed to find somewhere else to live.

Besides, my father's Beta had known exactly what my father did to my mother and me, and he did nothing. Someone who could turn a blind eye to such cruelty had no place in my pack.

"Are you sure you don't want to take anything?" Steven asked as we helped families pack their belongings.

I shook my head. "There's nothing here that belonged to me or my mother. He got rid of everything after we left."

This house holds nothing but bad memories, Lupa agreed within me.

By the time we returned to our territory with another group of relocating members, I was impressed to see Christopher and Zinnia had everything running smoothly.

Each new member was being processed, registered, and assigned temporary housing.

"I want to check on the new members and see what else they might need," I told Steven after we'd unloaded the latest arrivals. "We should make a list of supplies to purchase."

Steven leaned down to kiss me. "Go ahead. I'll help Christopher and Zinnia sort out the housing situation."

The transition went more smoothly than I'd anticipated. Without the troublemakers who'd chosen to leave, the remaining pack members seemed to have no issues accepting my leadership.

The next morning, we gathered everyone in front of the packhouse. Steven handed me the microphone, knowing this was my moment.

"We're glad to welcome you all here," I began, looking out at the mixture of faces—both familiar and new. "As long as you follow pack rules, you're all welcome. We expect you to respect the high-ranking members, and in return, we'll respect you. Ask anyone who's been here—has anyone been abused or mistreated?" I paused, letting my question hang in the air. "The answer is no, and that applies to everyone. There's a reason we call ourselves Wayward Home Pack. If you have disagreements with anyone, either resolve them yourselves or bring them to a high-ranking member. Violence is not permitted here. Abuse in any form will not be tolerated. If you're found abusing pack members, you'll be punished and warned. A second offense means banishment. If you can't accept these rules, you're free to leave now. But if you're willing to embrace this way of life and build a home with us, we'll hold a ceremony tonight where you can pledge your loyalty to Wayward Home Pack and officially become members."

I took a deep breath, scanning the crowd.

"If you have any questions, feel free to approach us. We're happy to answer them. Otherwise, feel free to explore, see the home we're building, and talk with other members."

Our final count showed about 150 people had chosen to stay. I wasn't sure they'd all remain permanently, but many had children, and staying with a pack was much safer than being on their own. Several members approached us immediately, eager to start working. They were grateful for the opportunity to build their own homes and earn money through their labor.

Those with specialized skills were quickly assigned to construction, carpentry, painting, and other essential roles.

A week passed, and almost everyone had adapted to their new life.

Because of my performance against the hunters, Steven and I had arranged a meeting with my Guardian sisters and Elf King Justin to further explore Lupa's abilities.

Ethan and William had gathered significant intelligence about the hunters. These monsters were constantly capturing our kind and other supernatural beings, either killing them or experimenting on them.

William's Beta, Benjamin, was leading a team to locate the hunters' base. I'd hoped that after witnessing the Guardians' power, the hunters would back off, but it seemed they might have simply shifted their focus to other supernatural creatures.

The sprites had been helping us patrol the forest, searching for any trace of hunters.

On the day of our scheduled training, William, Grace, Ethan, and Skylar arrived for lunch, with Justin and George expected in the afternoon.

Our nursery and children's home were now complete, allowing the children to be properly cared for while we trained.

After lunch, as the nursery staff took the children to the backyard, I watched them while waiting for Justin's arrival.

"Your pack has really come together," William remarked, looking around admiringly.

"It's not quite finished, but it's definitely feeling more like home," I replied. "I'm planning to develop the newly acquired land too. Several new members have asked about building houses there, and we're considering a new marketplace so their shops will be closer to home." I turned to Ethan. "Elwood is amazing, by the way. He's an excellent contractor—organized, thoughtful, and comes up with layout ideas I never would have considered."

"He's one of my best," Ethan nodded. "And I hear your pack has quite a few skilled workers. If you agree, I'd like him to talk with them about possibly continuing to work with my company."

We discussed pack development plans for a while longer until we spotted Justin and George emerging from the woods, surrounded by chattering sprites.

Even from this distance, I could hear their excited voices.

Steven and I stood up, joined by Junia, Ondine, Sterling, Azalea, Oberon, and Soren.

The sprites immediately bowed to Justin.

"Rise, my children," Justin said, extending his arms with palms upward. On anyone else, the gesture might have seemed ridiculous, but he carried it with regal authority.

The sprites' love for their king was obvious. They were excited to see Justin and George, but much quieter and more respectful than usual. I wondered silently how long that would last.

Justin approached, his keen eyes immediately noticing the bond between Soren and the twins.

"I hear a wolf and sprites have mated?" he asked.

"Yes, King Justin," Soren replied while the twins nodded enthusiastically.

"He is our mate. We love him. He loves us," Junia added proudly.

Justin turned to Soren. "You will take good care of my children, won't you?"

Soren pulled his mates closer. "They are my mates. I would die for them." The twins nearly melted at his words, their tiny faces glowing with emotion.

"Are you certain you accept them in their damaged state?" Justin's question was pointed, but Soren's eyes reflected nothing but sincerity.

Justin asked the twins to show him their injuries.

I explained, "Hunters tore off their wings." He hovered his hands over their backs, closing his eyes. I watched him take several deep breaths before his hands began to glow.

When the light touched the twins, they released a synchronized moan. Gradually, new wings began to grow from their damaged stumps.

Steven and I watched in disbelief as the miracle unfolded before us. Soren was so moved that tears formed in his eyes. Even I felt my own eyes growing moist.

When Justin stepped back, Junia and Ondine fluttered their new wings experimentally, moving with perfect harmony.

They thanked Justin respectfully before flying back to Soren's side.

Suddenly, before our eyes, their bodies began to elongate and transform, growing from barely a foot tall to nearly five feet. Though still petite compared to Soren's towering frame, the change was dramatic.

"What's happening?" I asked, fascinated.

Justin smiled. "Sprites are gentle beings, but they're not strong or skilled in combat. They have few ways to protect themselves from predators or hunters. In the past, wolves protected sprites, while sprites kept watch for wolves, warning of approaching enemies. This arrangement benefited both. Wolves and sprites make excellent mates. When the mate bond between a sprite and wolf is truly sealed, the sprite gradually transforms into the form their mate most desires."

I watched in amazement as Soren embraced his now much taller mates, his face a picture of pure joy and wonder.