Stuck with the enemy

Chapter 44: New Home Loading

Eventually, the kids began to drift back toward the houses, clutching their new treasures tightly. One by one, the older recruits started to arrive, greeting the children warmly as they passed. The twins, Arden and Caden, knelt to tie a loose shoelace for one of the smaller boys before heading to the platform. Kai had brought a handful of candies, handing them out with a grin. Even tough-as-nails Jane surprised everyone by producing a stack of hand-drawn comic pages, each one carefully illustrated for the kids to enjoy.

One by one, the rest of the team trickled in. Miriam, Mike, Callum, Roland, Simone, Arron, Jasmine. And Tommy. Each person bringing their own energy to the group. By the time everyone had arrived, the clearing was buzzing with excitement and anticipation.

"Alright, enough distractions," Aras said finally, his voice cutting through the chatter. "Time to focus."

I nodded, stepping onto the platform once again as the recruits gathered around. The children stayed on the outskirts, watching us with wide, curious eyes.

I stepped onto the platform, my heart pounding in my chest. The weight of their gazes pressed down on me, but I stood tall. This was it. The beginning of something bigger than all of us.

I cleared my throat, and the chatter died down almost instantly. The only sound was the waves crashing against the shore.

"I'm not going to lie to you," I began, my voice steady despite the nerves. "This isn't going to be easy. What we're about to do—joining the Alpha's patrol—it's going to change everything. For us, for this place, for the people who count on us. And it's dangerous."

I paused, letting my words sink in. "But I chose each of you because I believe in you. I believe in your strength, your loyalty, and your ability to do what's right. This isn't just about proving ourselves personally. It's about showing that people like us—people from the streets, from the margins—can be more than the world expects us to be."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the group.

"We're not just a team," I continued, my voice growing stronger. "We're a family. And as long as we stick together, there's nothing we can't handle."

Jacob let out a cheer, and the others quickly followed, their voices rising in unison. The energy was electric, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like we were truly unstoppable.

As I stepped down from the platform, Aras placed a hand on my shoulder. "Nice speech," he said, his tone almost grudging.

"Coming from you, I'll take that as high praise," I replied with a smirk.

He gave a small smile before walking away, and I turned to face the team.

Looking out at the faces of my team—at their expressions and the trust they'd placed in me—I felt a surge of pride.This was our moment.

The week given by Alpha Lucian has passed, and the pack is buzzing with excitement and impatience. Everyone seems caught in a whirlwind of emotions, but my thoughts are elsewhere, clouded by the unavoidable. Derek. He will be my superior now. I dread the idea of having to follow his orders. All I can hope is that Alpha won't assign me anything that involves working directly with him so I can keep as much distance as possible.

When the second letter from Alpha arrived, it brought another change: we are moving. There's no clear information about where we're going, but the purpose is obvious—to be closer to the training grounds. It makes sense since our current home is miles away, but that doesn't make it any less unsettling.

The morning of the move is chaotic yet full of purpose. The yard is packed with suitcases, boxes, and random items waiting to be loaded into the cars. Everyone is busy, carrying their belongings, shouting instructions, or double-checking their essentials.