A week had passed, and Casey had never been busier. Her days blend into one another, long and filled with tasks that are endless— yet she embraced every bit of it. The exhaustion didn't matter. All that mattered was the extra coin. The more she worked, the more she earned, and the closer she got to putting Lily in school.
That thought alone pushed through the fatigue.
She spent mornings tending the gardens—planting, pruning, sometimes rearranging florals at the front steps of the pack house. When that was done, she reported to the medicine woman, helping to grind herbs, dry petals, and prepare balms. She didn't mind the extra cleaning work either, though it often left her tired to do much else when she got home.
But anything was worth it, if it meant Lily didn't have to stay home alone, when she was at work
One late afternoon, she was assigned to clean a room on the upper floor—one of the guest chambers. The hall was quiet, the sun filtering in through wide windows as she cleaned. Her focus was broken when the door creaked open and a soldier stepped inside.
He was tall, broad—shouldered, with sandy hair and a crooked smile. His eyes scanned the room, and then landed on her.
"Haven't seen you around before," he said casually. Leaning against the door frame.
Casey stiffened slightly. "I'm just cleaning. I help around with the gardens and kitchen too."
He didn't move. Just kept watching her as she wiped down a table. She tried her best not to look, but she could feel his eyes on her the whole time. It made her skin crawl, making her wipe faster.
She kept her gaze low, focused on the rag in her hand. "I'm almost done here," she said, keeping her voice neutral.
He gave a low hum, then stepped out of the room, muttering something she couldn't catch.
When she finished and stepped into the hallway, one of the younger maids hurried towards her.
"Casey! They need help bringing drinks into the meeting hall."
Without hesitation, she followed, joining two other maids as they carefully carried trays of drinks into the large council room.
Inside. Alpha Vlad sat at the head of the table. His eyes were serious and calculating, as he listened to his advisors. To his left and right were his betas—Luca and Leywin—and directly opposite them was his guest Alpha.
Casey's eyes flickered briefly to the man. He was older than Vlad, with a graying hair and a sharp, angular jaw. His presence radiated dominance. Though not the calm, controlled type that Alpha Vlad carried—it was something colder, hungrier.
Alpha Adolph of the Greyfall Pack.
As she moved between seats, gently placing goblets in front of each man, she felt Adolph's gaze crawl on her like a chill. She didn't dare look up again, but she could feel his eyes on her as if he were trying to unearth the secrets from her, just by staring.
She quickly finished and turned to leave with the others.
Behind her, a low conversation resumed.
"She's not one of yours," Adolph said, his tone conversational, but his words with meaning.
"I'm aware," Vlad replied calmly, his eyes fixed on the table.
"She looks…. Familiar"
Vlad looked up at him. "She's not available."
Adolph raised a brow, smirking. "Didn't say she was."
"You didn't have to."
The edge in Vlad's voice silenced the room for a second. Adolph let out a short laugh and leaned back into his seat.
"Noted."
Casey made her way to the courtyard, ready to finally leave for the day. He back ached, and her hands were raw from scrubbing and sorting herbs. Just as she stepped outside, one of her coworkers stopped her
"The Alpha wishes to see you," she said. Giving her a look that was more curious than cautious. "He's in his chambers."
Casey's heart skipped. "Did he say why?"
"No. Just said to send you"
Swallowing her nerves, Casey walked towards Alpha Vlad's chambers. Her feet dragged slightly with unease. Despite everything—the safety he provided, the shelter, the work—he still intimidated her. And being called to his private room at this hour didn't help.
She knocked lightly.
"Come in," came in the response.
She stepped inside, closing the door behind her. The room smelled of cedar wood and faint myrrh. They say the same smell that clung to the journal she had found the other day. The fire in the hearth crackled, casting its amber lights to the wall.
Vlad stood by the tall windows, his arms crossed behind his back.
"You wanted to see me Alpha?"
He turned, his expression unreadable. "Yes, I wanted to ask if you have any complaints. About the lack. About your work. Anything at all."
Casey blinked in surprise. "No... No complaints. I'm very grateful for everything you've done for me. Truly"
His dark eyes narrowed slightly, searching hers. "You seem.... Uneasy."
She looked down at her hands, and nodded slowly. "It's not the work or the people. It's Lily. She's always alone when I'm here. I just….. I want her to be around children. Somewhere she can learn. Grow. Be safe."
Vlad was silent for a moment, his gaze lingering on her as if weighing something internal. Then he spoke.
"Bring her to the pack house tomorrow."
Casey's eyes widened. "I—what?"
"She'll stay here during the day. She can learn with other pups. We have classes. It will keep her safe and occupied.
She didn't know what to say. Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.
"Thank you." She finally managed. "I don't know what to say. That means…..so much."
He gave her a slight nod, then turned back to the window.
"You can go."
She bowed her head, still dazed and left the room quietly. Outside, the night had deepened, and the stars blinked faintly in the sky.
As she walked home, she felt lighter than it had in months. For the first time in a long while, she wasn't just surviving—she was starting to hope.