Page 90 of Secrets and S'mores
Onyx
My fists clench as I stare at the security system’s back end controls. It’s almost perfect, but a couple of components aren’t doing what I want. Considering I am updating three outdated systems and merging all the controls, it’s a miracle that most of it’s working.
Pushing my chair back, I stalk out of the cold office. I don’t mind Ferris’s taste in dark marble, so we haven’t made any updates to this room yet.
I can hear Ember singing along to alt rock that is older than she is as she works on the family room. My feet slow in the doorway, admiring the sight. Hair now a vivid purple and tied up in a messy bun, Ember’s hips sway as she drags a paintbrush down the built-in bookcases that span one side of the room. The bright white is covered by a sweep of dark emerald. Previously, theshelves were lined with expensive but soulless decor items. Soon it’ll be actual books and a rather impressive record collection, all currently stacked across the two sofas while she paints.
Piece by piece, she’s transforming this house into her own style - dark, rich, and colorful. I love it. It’s cozy and feels like home.
Hands going to her waist, I lean down and kiss below her ear. She leans into my touch. “Hey, ready for a break?” I ask.
My hopes of luring her back to bed are dashed when she turns and says, “Yeah, I’m almost done here. Then we should go check on how everyone’s doing today.”
Sighing, I make myself useful, cleaning up her painting supplies as she touches up the edges.
Ten minutes later, she’s picking dots of paint off her wrists and forearms while we step off the porch and survey our pack.
The cafeteria boasts a bakery case of treats, along with an updated kitchen in the back. Bracken Creek’s chef, Crickett, has been training the two cooks to prepare food with seasonings and flavor. Meals have been steadily improving.
In the training building opposite, my father stands with his arms crossed, surveying the wolves sparring. He’s teaching them to disable instead of harm, preparing the pack for any future conflicts we hope never come. A younger man and woman follow Fisher as he works - our replacement trainers. As amated pair, they will both be Deltas, once Fisher is satisfied with their abilities.
Other wolves bustle around, completing various projects. Marigold stands in the center, giving out instructions and directing movements. One of the houses is being converted to a school. There’s no teacher yet. There also aren't any children, but we want to be ready. A nearby empty house is being gutted so it can become a health clinic. We also need to acquire a healer, but perhaps Marigold’s brother Indigo could take the position someday.
I hug Ember around the shoulders and give her a squeeze. “Look at everything you’ve accomplished.”
“It’ll be good when it’s all done,” she mutters, her gaze tracking the work going on around us.
As we wander forward, she points out two houses now sport wreaths on their front doors, and someone has even painted their front door a cheery yellow. The renovations at the house have inspired pack members to start personalizing their homes.
“Hey, I had an idea,” she says, scuffing her feet along the dirt. “What if we took that empty house on the end and turned it into a rec center?”
“Yeah?”
“We could put in pool tables,” she continues, “maybe some arcade games. One room could be a movie theater.”
“That’s brilliant,” I say, kissing her temple. “Everyone already loves you, but imagine how much they’ll love their Alpha after you give them a whole gamehouse.”
She laughs softly, a soft blush coloring her cheeks.
“So are we going to the inter-pack gathering tonight?” she asks, a vulnerable look in her eyes.
“Yeah, I think we should. It’ll be a chance to see your other brother,” I say, pulling her closer. Her shoulders rise and drop in a sigh.
“I guess I need to change out of these painting clothes,” she says. “Should I dress up for this party?”
“I love you in anything and nothing at all,” I growl, hesitant to release my hold on her. But if we are going to the event, I’ve got work to get finished.
Ember
I cling to Onyx’s hand as we arrive at the party in an old pack car. Eventually I’ll buy him a nice vehicle worthy of an Alpha. Maybe a sports car. Jasper can help. I’d like to see the two of them car shopping together.
Wolves from every pack mingle in the Valley Pack’s central lawn. Onyx leads us toward the circle of Bracken Creek wolves. Marigold sits on Jasper’s lap, and Hazel stands behind Slate with her arms draped over his shoulders, one hand playing with his dark curls.
Cedar stands and thumps his twin on the back. “How’s it going?”
Onyx’s smile is proud. “Great. I think everyone is taking to our changes faster than we hoped.”
“That’s wonderful,” Hazel says, darting around Slate and throwing her arms around me. I’m getting used to hugs, and I even hug her back. As she pulls away, I see her wiping at her eyes before she plops into Slate’s lap. His arms band around her waist, pulling her tight against him.
