The soft morning light filtered through the curtains of the Davidson estate clinic — a small, warm refuge for injured wolves. Tyler sat on the side of the bed, bandage wrapped around his forehead, while Bella lay asleep beside him, her breaths calm and steady.
Mr. Hudson had come in the morning, his presence calm and reassuring.
"I'm so glad you and Bella are okay," he said, smiling.
"We're fine, sir," Tyler replied quietly. He glanced down at Bella's resting face.
Mr. Hudson chuckled gently. "I heard Jasper finally shifted. Said it was because of you."
Bella stirred, eyes fluttering open with a faint smile. "It wasn't because of me," she said softly. "Jasper shifted because he broke past whatever was holding him back."
"Still," Hudson said, grinning, "it was an emotional discharge. He did it to save you. That's a bond worth respecting."
He looked at Tyler again. "All six of you… your pack is something special."
Tyler's eyes shifted sideways. "Sophia is leading well," he said. "We're just following."
Hudson smiled but didn't argue. He knew leadership came in many forms.
Just then, the door burst open with a bang, and Sophia, Jasper, Henry, and James poured in waking him up from his thoughts.
"Tyler!" James shouted, striding toward the bed with a grin. "How you doing, bro?"
He threw himself on the edge of Tyler's bed, jostling it slightly.
"Gosh," Tyler groaned, teeth clenched. "Can't you keep your voice down? Bella's sleeping."
"Oh my bad," James replied, chuckling sheepishly.
Sophia and Jasper quietly sat on either side of Bella, while Henry stood by the foot of the bed.
"How you feeling, bro?" Henry asked.
"Getting better," Tyler muttered, forcing a small smile.
Jasper's eyes were fixed on Bella, his expression filled with silent worry. He looked down for a moment, then spoke quietly.
"I never thought I'd shift again," he said.
The room went silent.
"When I first changed… my siblings were terrified. They screamed, like they saw a monster."
He paused, voice shaking. "My parents were scared too. They called the police."
He swallowed. "I broke through the wall… the roof of our home. I didn't understand what was happening."
A tear slipped down his cheek as he continued.
"I felt like I was cursed. My little sister called me a monster. I managed to shift back before the police arrived… but my parents told them everything. They didn't believe it. I ran. I thought I was cursed. I thought werewolves were just fiction movies. Never thought I'd be one of them."
He wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket. Silence lingered like a thick fog.
"Take it easy, Jasper," James said, voice softer now. "We all have our history. Our own backstory."
James looked away for a moment, sadness in his gaze.
"My mom… she loved me a lot. I was an only child. But when I changed… she was scared. My dad tried to explain things, but she wouldn't calm down."
He sighed. "He brought me here. Said this place would take care of me. I could see the pain in his eyes when he left, he never returned since then."
The weight in the room grew heavier.
Sophia reached out, gently taking Jasper's hand.
"You're not alone, Jasper," she said softly. "Every kid out there has a story—homeless, lost, afraid. But we don't let our pain define us. You're one of us now. This pack is your family. You fight with it, and for it."
Jasper gave her a weak smile, the emotion still heavy on his face.
"Sophia's right," Henry added. "I've got my own story too. But I didn't let it hold me back." He smiled faintly. "None of us did."
Tyler leaned forward, locking eyes with Jasper.
"We can't change what happened," he said, voice firm but kind. "This is who we are. But we can make a difference no matter where we came from or what we've been through we can always make a difference."
Then, with a grin: "So cheer up already."
A light laughter rolled through the room, easing the weight in the air. The darkness lifted if only a little and the pack sat there, closer than ever.
Because this wasn't just recovery.
It was healing.
Together.