CHAPTER 3
1711 Words
The next morning, I wake up to the smell of bread baking. For a moment, I think I’m home. Then I open my eyes and remember — I’m still in the Moonfire Pack house.
I sit up slowly and hug my teddy. The light coming through the window is soft and gold. I can hear voices and footsteps downstairs, and something that sounds like laughter.
I get dressed and brush my hair with the small brush Luna Elsie left on the dresser. My hair is a little messy, but that’s okay. My mother used to say messy hair means you slept like a wolf — wild and strong.
When I go downstairs, I see Luna Elsie in the kitchen, pulling loaves of bread from the oven. The smell makes my mouth water.
She turns and smiles when she sees me. “Good morning, Sage.” She says warmly. “You’re just in time. Come on, wash your hands — we’re making breakfast again.”
I wash my hands in the sink and dry them carefully. She hands me a bowl with flour and sugar in it.
“Do you remember how to mix?” She asks.
“Yes.” I say softly.
“Good. You can do the first batch.”
I start stirring, careful not to spill. My arms hurt a little, but I don’t stop. I want to do it right.
Jax walks into the kitchen, his hair still messy from sleep. He grins when he sees me. “Morning, Sage.”
“Morning.” I say back.
He grabs an apple from the counter and leans against the table. “Mom, can I go outside after breakfast?”
“After chores.” She says.
He groans but nods. “Fine.” Then he looks at me again. “You want to play later? I can show you the stream behind the house.”
I blink. “There’s a stream?”
“Yeah.” He says. “It’s small, but the water’s really clear. Sometimes you can see little fish.”
I can’t help smiling a bit. “Okay.” I say quietly.
He grins wider. “Cool.”
Then Jesse walks in. His golden eyes land on me right away, and his smile disappears. “Oh great.” He says. “She’s still here.”
“Jesse.” Elsie says sharply, not even looking up from the dough she’s kneading. “Enough.”
“I didn’t even say anything bad.” He says quickly.
“You were about to.” She answers.
Jesse folds his arms. “She’s always in the kitchen. Why does she get to help? Jax and I never get to.”
“Because Sage wants to learn.” Elsie says calmly. “And you two never asked.”
Jax snickers. “Yeah, because we don’t want to.”
Jesse glares at him. “Shut up.”
“Boys.” Elsie warns again, and they both go quiet.
I try not to laugh, but a small giggle escapes. Jax hears it and grins. “See? Even Sage thinks you’re being dramatic.”
Jesse glares harder. “You’re both annoying.”
He climbs onto a stool near the counter and reaches for the bowl of sugar.
“Don’t touch that.” Elsie says quickly.
He smirks and grabs a handful anyway, sprinkling it onto his toast. Sugar falls everywhere — on the floor, the counter, and his shirt.
“Jesse!”
He jumps down before she can scold him again and runs out of the kitchen, laughing.
Elsie sighs and shakes her head. “That boy.” She mutters. Then she smiles at me. “Don’t worry about him, Sage. He’ll come around eventually.”
I nod, though I don’t believe it. Jesse doesn’t seem like he’ll ever like me.
Jax leans closer and whispers, “He’s always like that. Don’t take it personal.”
“I’ll try.” I whisper back.
We finish mixing the batter. Elsie shows me how to pour it into a hot pan. The smell of pancakes fills the air again.
“Good job, Sage.” She says. “You’re learning fast.”
“Thank you.” I say, trying not to smile too much.
When the food is ready, we all sit at the table. Alpha Joseph joins us this time, quiet and serious as always. He nods at me but doesn’t smile. I nod back.
“Good morning.” Elsie says brightly.
“Morning.” Joseph says, reading something on his phone.
Jesse sits across from me, glaring again. He sticks his fork in his pancake and makes a face. “Why does she get to sit here?”
“Because she’s part of this family while she’s with us.” Elsie says.
“She’s not family.” Jesse mutters.
“Enough.” Joseph says without looking up. His voice is low but powerful. Jesse shuts up right away.
Jax hides a grin behind his fork.
We eat quietly for a while. The pancakes taste perfect — warm and soft, just like yesterday. I almost feel happy, sitting there. Almost.
After breakfast, Elsie stands and claps her hands. “Alright, everyone has chores. Jax, you’re helping your father in the yard. Jesse, you’re sweeping the back porch. Sage, you’re with me again.”
Jesse groans. “Why can’t she do my job?”
“Because I said so.” Elsie answers. “Now move.”
Jesse mutters something under his breath but stomps outside.
Jax gives me a quick smile before following his dad.
I help Elsie wash the dishes. The warm water feels nice on my hands. She hums that same soft tune again.
After a while, she says, “You did well today. You’re getting stronger already.”
I nod shyly. “I like helping you.”
She smiles. “I like having your help.”
We dry the dishes together. When we finish, she asks, “Would you like to help me make lunch later?”
“Yes, please.” I say.
“Good.” She says. “We’ll make stew. It’s simple but important to learn.”
Her smile makes me feel warm inside, like maybe I really can belong here — even if just for a little while.
A sudden crash from outside makes both of us jump.
Elsie sighs. “What now?”
We walk to the back porch. Jesse is standing there with a broken broom in his hands. There’s dirt all over the floor.
“It broke!” He says quickly.
Elsie folds her arms. “It didn’t just break, Jesse. You were playing with it, weren’t you?”
He looks away. “Maybe.”
She takes a deep breath. “Go get another one from the shed and clean this up properly.”
“But—”
“No buts.”
He stomps away again.
Elsie shakes her head and mutters, “That boy will be the end of me.”
I try not to laugh, but a small giggle slips out. She looks at me, then starts laughing too.
“He’s lucky I love him.” She says softly. “Both of them.”
I smile a little. “You’re a good mom.”
She blinks, surprised. Then she smiles warmly. “Thank you, Sage.”
The words come out before I can stop them. “My mom used to sing like you.”
Her eyes soften. “Did she?”
I nod. “When she brushed my hair. The song you hum — it sounds like hers.”
She’s quiet for a long moment. Then she says softly, “Your mother and I went to school together, a long time ago.”
My eyes widen. “You did?”
“Yes.” She says. “She was kind. Strong, too. You have her eyes, you know.”
My chest aches. “Do you know where she is?”
Elsie looks away. “I’m not sure, sweetheart. But I know she loved you very much.”
I nod slowly. My throat feels tight.
Elsie clears her throat and changes the subject. “Come on. Let’s clean this porch before Jesse ruins something else.”
We sweep together, and even though it’s boring, I don’t mind. The sun is warm on my back, and the smell of the forest fills the air. Jax runs past with a bucket of water, laughing. Joseph shouts something from the yard, and Jax shouts back happily.
For the first time, it almost feels like a normal morning — like maybe I’m part of something.
When we finish, Elsie pats my shoulder. “Good work. Go wash up, and then you can rest a bit.”
I nod and go back inside. On my way upstairs, I hear Jesse’s voice.
“She’s trying to take Mom away from us.” He says quietly, but I can hear the anger in his tone.
“She’s not.” Jax replies. “She didn’t ask to be here, Jesse.”
“She’s weird. I don’t like her.”
“Then stop being mean.”
“You always take her side.” Jesse snaps.
“Because you’re being a brat.”
“Shut up!”
Their voices fade as I walk down the hall. My chest feels tight again. I don’t want them to fight because of me.
In my room, I sit on the bed and hug my teddy. I can still hear faint sounds from outside — Jax laughing again, Jesse muttering, Elsie humming somewhere in the kitchen.
My little wolf is quiet but awake inside me. She’s not scared this morning. She’s watching, learning.
“This pack is strange.” I whisper to her. “But maybe… maybe it’s not bad.”
She doesn’t answer, but I feel her agree.
I lie back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The smell of bread still hangs in the air, warm and sweet.
For the first time since I arrived, I don’t feel like crying.
Maybe this place isn’t home. But maybe it could be something close — if I learn, if I behave, if I make Luna Elsie proud.
And maybe, just maybe, I can make Jax laugh again tomorrow.
Even if Jesse hates me forever.
- Writer
