"Emma doesn't know because we haven't finalized details," Xavier replies. "But she'll appreciate having a venue that accommodates her guest list without compromising her vision."
"And Savannah?" Griff asks.
"Savannah coordinates the overall event while we handle venue preparation," Xavier says firmly. "She's been managing crisis after crisis without adequate support. Our job is to provide her with a functional venue so she can focus on making Emma's wedding beautiful."
Xavier's phone buzzes again, and he checks the screen with obvious frustration. "I need to get to the hospital. But there's one more thing."
"What now?" Dax asks.
"Tonight, your pack needs to do something special for Emma. Let her know her happiness matters, that her wedding will be everything she dreamed of." Xavier's voice carries alpha authority mixed with genuine affection. "She's been stressed and worried. She needs to know her pack family is committed to making her day perfect."
"What kind of something special?" Ryan asks.
"That's up to you. But make it meaningful. Make it clear she's valued and supported."
"And Savannah?" I ask, though I'm not sure I want to hear the answer.
"We're going to do something special for Savannah too," Xavier says, his eyes finding mine with intensity that makes my chest tight. "She's been carrying this burden alone while dealing with pack members who create more problems than they solve. She deserves to know she's appreciated, valued, and..." He pauses, choosing his words carefully. "And that some mistakes won't be repeated."
The marking incident again. Xavier's making it clear my territorial behavior was unacceptable and that I need to make amends.
"What did you have in mind?" Griff asks.
"Something we need to figure out together," Xavier replies. "But it needs to be genuine. Savannah has excellent instincts for detecting bullshit."
Xavier's phone rings again, and this time he answers immediately. "Dr. Blackwell... yes, I'm on my way... I'll be there in ten minutes."
He hangs up and starts gathering his things with efficient movements. "Griff, start working on permits and structural assessment tomorrow morning. Derek, coordinates with Griff on the construction timeline. Ryan, begin researching catering logistics for the venue. Dax, handle health department compliance and emergency service coordination."
"What about you?" I ask.
"Medical emergencies and coordinating with Savannah on overall event planning." Xavier pauses at the door, his mint scent carrying notes of determination and something that might be affection. "And Logan?"
"Yeah?"
"Fix whatever you broke with Savannah. She's been through enough stress without managing inappropriate territorial behavior on top of everything else."
With that diplomatic but pointed observation, Xavier leaves us five alphas processing the fact that we just committed to the most insane wedding venue restoration project in Pine Hollow history.
"Well," Griff says cheerfully, "this should be interesting."
"Insane is probably more accurate," Derek mutters.
"Impossible might be most accurate," Ryan concludes.
I look around at four other alphas thinking the same thing: we just committed to a project that could be the most impressive display of pack coordination in our history, or the most spectacular failure any of us has ever been involved in.
"You know what?" I say finally. "Fuck it. Let's do this."
"Really?" Dax asks. "You think we can pull this off?"
"I think Emma deserves a wedding that lives up to her dreams, and Savannah deserves a pack that supports her efforts instead of creating additional problems." I stand up, feeling the alpha authority I rarely use but never doubt. "And we're all tired of being failures who disappoint the people we care about."
"Damn right," Griff agrees, his arrogance shifting into something more focused and determined. "Emma's getting the wedding she deserves, and we're going to prove this pack can handle whatever challenges come our way."
"Even renovating a condemned ski resort in seven weeks?” Derek asks.
"Especially that," Griff replies with complete confidence. "This is going to be legendary."
