Chapter 85
Olivia's POV
The meeting room hummed with quiet energy, the kind that settled deep into your bones and demanded your attention.
Thorne Ridge and Stone Haven’s elders gathered in a semicircle, their expressions ranging from neutral curiosity to guarded skepticism. Despite their differences, they shared one thing in common: a fierce dedication to their Packs.
I stood at the head of the room, steadying my breathing as their gazes landed on me. The weight of leadership was something I was starting to accept over time but standing before this group – each a repository of wisdom and experience – I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of doubt.
“Thank you all for meeting today,” I began, my voice steady despite the swirl of nerves beneath the surface. “I wanted to bring us together as we work toward connecting our Packs. Your insight is invaluable, and I want to make sure your voices are heard.”
An older man with streaks of silver in his hair leaned forward, his piercing gaze assessing me. “Connection isn’t built on promises alone, Luna,” he said. “It requires trust. And trust must be earned.”
“I agree,” I said, meeting his gaze directly. “That’s why I’m here; to listen, to learn, and to help make decisions that benefit us all. This isn’t about replacing traditions or rewriting histories. It’s about finding strength in each other, for each other.”
A few murmurs rippled through the room, some nodding in cautious agreement while others remained quiet.
Mia, seated to my left, took the opportunity to step in. “Luna Olivia has already proven she’s willing to shoulder the burden of leadership. She’s not here to dictate but to collaborate.”
I glanced at her, gratitude swelling in my chest. Mia’s confidence in me had been steady over the past weeks, and her presence lent a sense of solidarity that boosted my own confidence.
Another elder spoke up, her tone softer but no less firm. “And what of the Rogues? The rumors surrounding Chloe and Aiden’s plans are troubling. How will you help Alpha ensure the safety of our Packs?”
I paused, choosing my words carefully. “By staying vigilant. Chloe’s tactics thrive on division, but we’ve seen firsthand what we can accomplish together. Our shared strength is our greatest defense.”
As the discussion continued, I leaned into my empathy, allowing myself to feel the undercurrents of emotion in the room. Some elders exuded cautious optimism, while others radiated lingering fear and doubt.
It wasn’t just their words that guided me but the emotions behind them.
When the room fell into a lull, I took a deep breath and spoke again. “I won’t pretend to have all the answers, but I can promise you this: I will keep with integrity, and I will always put our Packs first. Your voices matter to me, and your wisdom will inform decisions we make moving forward.”
The elder who had spoken first leaned back, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “You speak with conviction, Luna. Perhaps unity is possible after all.”
The room seemed to shift, the tension easing as a ripple of agreement spread through the group.
As the meeting adjourned, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. My empathy wasn’t just a burden or a secret – it was a tool that allowed me to connect with my Packs on a deeper level.
Grace, who had been silently observing from the side, caught my eye as the elders began to disperse. “You did well,” she said quietly.
I smiled, my resolve solidifying. This was something worth fighting for.
The sun filtered through the tall windows of the Stone Haven Pack’s main hall, casting golden streaks on the polished floor. Grace and I were seated at a large round table, its surface littered with notes, lists, and schedules for the mentorship program we’d started developing.
Across from me, Grace tapped her pen against her notebook, a thoughtful crease forming between her brows.
“This pairing between the younger wolves from both Packs,” she said, pointing at one of the lists, “it’ll be key. If they don’t connect, the whole program could feel forced. You’ll need strong personalities that complement each other, not just convenient matches.”
She wasn’t wrong. Pairing wolves from different Packs, especially younger ones, wasn’t just about building relationships, it was aimed at fostering trust. The skepticism surrounding the rumors of a merger was still palpable, and this initiative was meant to bridge that divide.
“I agree,” I replied, nodding. “I was thinking of involving some of the elders too. They could mentor the younger ones together, showing them how collaboration can work across the Packs. It could help ease the hesitance some of the older members feel.”
Grace leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. Her usual sharpness softened slightly as she considered my words. “That might actually work. They’re the ones holding onto traditions the most. If they see value in anything, the others will follow.”
I smiled, jotting down her suggestion. Grace had been more than willing to step up since her return, and while our introduction wase anything but easy, I could see her genuine investment in this initiative.
“Can I ask you something?” she said suddenly, breaking the quiet rhythm of our work.
“Of course.” I set my pen down, giving her my full attention.
She hesitated, glancing down at the papers between us before meeting my eyes. “Back when I first came here, I wasn’t exactly… welcoming. And I know I wasn’t easy to work with. I guess I let my jealousy cloud my judgment.”
Her admission caught me off guard, but I stayed quiet, letting her continue.
“You came in with big ideas, and honestly, I thought you’d bulldoze over everything we’d built here. I didn’t realize then that you were trying to build something better, not replace what we had.”
I took a moment to let her words sink in. “Grace,” I said gently, “you had every right to feel protective of your Pack and of your Alpha. I respect anyone with that level of loyalty to my Mate.”
Thinking back to when everything started, something scratched at the back of my mind until it dawned on me. Grace was the jealous woman I bumped into the night Mia unknowingly dragged me up to Ethan’s hotel room. “You’re in love with Ethan, aren’t you?”
Grace blinked, clearly not expecting my response. “Shit. Yeah, I am… I was,” she admitted. “Look, he sees me as a little sister and it used to piss me off, but I didn’t give you a fair chance. That’s on me.”
Her vulnerability was disarming, and for the first time, I saw just how much Grace had grown since we first met. “Well, Ethan is easy to love.”
I cleared my throat and brought the conversation back to the task at hand. “If this mentorship program succeeds, it’ll be because of efforts like yours.”
A small smile tugged at her lips. “Thanks, Luna. That means a lot.”
As we turned back to our plans, the air between us felt lighter, more collaborative. We spent the next hour refining details, mapping out logistics, and brainstorming ways to get more Pack members involved.
At one point, Grace leaned forward, her enthusiasm shining through. “If this works, it could set a precedent for other Packs too. Create a template of sorts.”
She was right. This wasn’t just testing the waters to see if merging Thorne Ridge and Stone Haven could work; it was building a foundation for something stronger, something future generations could be proud of.
“Then let’s make it happen,” I said, my resolve hardening.
As we wrapped up for the day, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in the program we were creating.
Grace’s support felt like a turning point, and it reminded me that even the hardest beginnings could lead to something remarkable.
