Chapter 28: When the Pack Runs Wild

The morning sun filtered softly through towering pines, dappling the woven paths of the Nightshade compound in golden light. Sophia walked beside Brynhild, her steps tentative but determined, eyes tracing the familiar but still mysterious cluster of buildings and faces that made up the pack.

Brynhild moved with a calm, steady grace, hands often resting on the gentle swell of her heavily pregnant belly. Her voice was confident and clear, the cadence of someone used to command, strength softening into warmth when she spoke to Sophia.

"So, this is where the magic happens," Brynhild said, gesturing ahead. "Over there, you’ll find the medical center. Lysander and his apprentices tend to wounds, mend bones, and offer what little comfort medicine can."

Sophia’s gaze flicked toward the sturdy stone building, its windows glowing softly. "And you’ll be there too?" she asked.

"What will I be doing there? I only know how to break bones, not fix them, that’s all on Lysander." She told Sophia who laughed.

Truly, Brynhild did not look like someone who could actually mend bones.

"So you haven’t tried to assist him at all?" Sophia asked her curiously.

Brynhild laughed. "Oh, I have but he sent me out immediately. I tried to help mix herbs but it was like I had two left hands. I slowed them down instead."

"I’m better with taking care of the defenses of the pack." She told her.

They continued walking and Brynhild pointed out to another building where children were gathered. They looked older than Serena’s kids and Sophia wondered what was going on. There was a man at the front and the children had...

"Are they holding books?" Sophia asked in shock.

"Yep." Brynhild replied to her. "Philip was the one who brought the idea that we should teach the children of the pack. Apart from Eldric, he has profound knowledge and he is better at passing that knowledge."

Sophia had no idea who Eldric was but she was sure she would find out later. And she couldn’t explain it but it warmed her heart to see something like this and the children looked very eager to learn.

"That’s nice." She said to Brynhild who nodded.

"The people my age didn’t have the luxury especially after we moved here but Philip thought it would be great to have it here and this time, it will be just our own and not in someone’s pack where we have to walk to get to." Brynhild said to Sophia.

Sophia wanted to ask her what she meant by ’after they moved here’. Did they not leave here all along? But she kept quiet. Besides, she had only just been accepted to the pack although it even that that was debatable given how some people stared at her but she knew when to draw the line sometimes.

They continued walking with Brynhild showing her everything she could and explaining what each building was used for. Brynhild pointed out the blacksmith workshop, a place that was filled with heat. She also showed Sophia the building where artisans, carpenters and the like worked in. Funny how she had been curious about the building the previous day especially because of how it was constructed but Orion didn’t care. They had just walked past everything and even with her grumbling, he didn’t care.

"Remind me why Orion wasted my time giving me a tour?" Sophia muttered, voice edged with annoyance.

"Orion gave you a tour?" Brynhild asked her in surprise.

"I didn’t tell you?" Sophia replied to her.

"No."

"Well he did but I’m sure that can hardly be called a tour. I’d rather call it a movement instead." Sophia grumbled out

Brynhild’s lips twitched in an amused half-smile. "I’m pretty sure it wasn’t that bad."

Sophia gave her a look. "It was that bad." She replied as she demonstrated exactly what Orion had done the previous day, making Brynhild laugh.

The compound settled around them in gentle bustle, people moving with purpose and familiar ease though some kept wary, eyes flickering with curiosity toward the newcomer in their midst.

Suddenly, a gust of wind raced past them, stirring Brynhild’s cloak and whipping Sophia’s hair into her face.

"What the hell?" Sophia asked loudly.

Out of the corner of her eye, Sophia caught sight of someone dashing down the trail, a streak of dark limbs and muscular motion cutting a path through the morning calm.

Before she could fully register, another figure pursued the first, shouting sharply, "Come back here, you idiot!"

She recognized the voice immediately and noticed how the pack’s mood shifted instantly. Laughter bloomed like wildfire as spectators gathered, some cheering while others watched on with fond amusement.

Sophia frowned. "What in the goddess’ name is this?"

Brynhild let out a hearty laugh, her breath coming in easily despite the pregnancy. "Ah, this? You’ll see it often here, once a week at least."

Sophia blinked. "Once a week? What is happening? What the hell kind of pack is Orion running?"

Brynhild shook her head playfully. "The type where even the alpha runs when the paperwork calls."

Sophia turned just in time to see the source of the current chaos, two figures weaving through the crowd, laughter and shouts bouncing between them like thunderclaps.

"Go, Orion!" Sophia heard people cheering and clapping.

"You’ll get him this time, Ronan!" Some others cheered.

It was like she was watching a game or a sports event where there were two teams.

Orion’s eyes were wide with panic as he ran and hot on his heels, was Ronan, who looked tired, angry and amused all at once. There was a bulging vein in his temple as he ran after his alpha.

"You’re not getting away," Ronan called out, voice ringing with a mix of frustration and mischievous delight.

"Just this once please." Orion begged not to stop at all.

"That was the same thing you said yesterday." Ronan screamed at him.

"Then let’s focus on today. Old things have passed away, right?!"

Sophia’s mouth twitched, a laugh escaping despite herself. It surprised her, how often she allowed amusement in this place and the sight of Orion, usually so formidable and prideful, reduced to a blur of desperate sprinting was oddly refreshing.

"Running because he’s dumb," Sophia quipped under her breath. "Or he just hates paperwork so much, his brains would explode if he stayed still too long."

A rich, warm chuckle came from behind them.

Sophia turned to find an older man watching with keen eyes that sparkled beneath thick silver eyebrows. His hair, peppered with gray but full and well kept, framed a face that was strong without hardness, kind but unyielding.

"Well said," the man said with a friendly nod. "But I’ll wager Orion’s not just running out of fear or foolishness."

Sophia arched a brow, intrigued despite herself. "Oh? And what makes you say that?"

He smiled a deep, knowing curl of lips unlikely to be found on a man who had lived long without laughter. "Because I’m sure that, dumb or not, he enjoys it. The chase is part of the dance."

Brynhild offered a subtle nod of agreement.

"He enjoys being chased like this?" Sophia asked in surprise.

"Orion loved the burst of adrenaline. Sometimes, he chases it." Brynhild said to her.

"Exactly," the old man said then turned to Sophia, "my name’s Caspian," the elder added, extending a hand once Sophia had introduced herself. His grip was firm, reassuring, rich with years of survival in a harsh world.

"Nice to meet you in person, Sophia," he said warmly. "We haven’t had the pleasure until now."

Sophia felt the weight of his gaze not judgmental, but measuring, acknowledging her place in the wolf pack’s tide.

"Um...do I know you?" Sophia asked him unsure if who this man was.

"Oh, you don’t but I know you. Everyone in this pack knows you." He told her. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"She is famous." Brynhild added.

"True, but not as famous as me." Caspian said to her.

Behind them, Orion finally slowed, stopping in the middle of the square, chest heaving but a triumphant grin on his face.

Ronan approached slowly as if scared Orion would bolt again. "Giving up?" He asked Orion.

"Can you give this a rest? Have you seen the paperwork? It’s huge!"

"Of course I have you idiot. I went through most of them and the rest just need your stamp of approval."

"That’s what you said the last time but that didn’t happen." Orion told him.

"It’s not my fault you like going through everything again."

"I hate you." Orion said to him, sounding like a child.

"I may not have your ability but I know that’s a lie." Ronan said to him.

Sophia couldn’t help but watch these two friends with amusement in her eyes. They didn’t care that people were watching them at all. Orion opened his mouth to speak again when all of a sudden, his body went tight. Brynhild also stiffened and Sophia was about to ask what’s wrong when she heard the sound of a horn.