The pack gathering was in full swing by the time Alex Jr. arrived. Lanterns hung from the trees around the big clearing, casting warm golden light over the grass. Music thumped from a set of speakers someone had dragged out, and the smell of grilled meat and sweet pastries filled the air. Wolves from three allied packs had come together tonight—celebrating the recent peace treaty and just enjoying the chance to run and laugh without borders getting in the way.
Alex Jr. moved through the crowd with a easy smile on his face, nodding at familiar faces. Inside, though, he felt restless. That pull from his first full shift two days ago hadn’t left him. It hummed under his skin, low and constant, making it hard to focus.
“Junior!” one of the older warriors called, slapping him on the back. “He
