"Hey." James's hand found my shoulder. "You okay?"
"Yeah." I stood slowly. "It just feels surreal. A few months ago, I didn't even know what I was. Now we're building an entire campus because of what I can do."
"Because of who you are," he corrected. "The abilities are just part of it."
Cole joined us, his tablet tucked under his arm. "The council wants a meeting tomorrow to discuss staffing. They're particularly interested in your input, Lumi."
"My input?"
"You're going to be spending significant time at the sanctuary. They want to make sure the environment is designed with your needs in mind, not just the ferals'."
My needs. It still felt strange to be considered, consulted, treated like my preferences mattered.
"I'll be there," I said.
We walked out of the council chamber together—my pack surrounding me, the bonds humming with shared satisfaction. The late afternoon sun was warm on my face, the campus peaceful and ordinary around us.
Stone was waiting outside.
He'd stayed in the east wing during the hearing, not ready to face a room full of council members even for something this important. But he'd been tracking my emotions through the bond, and now he fell into step beside me without a word.
"It passed," I told him.
"I know. I felt it." He glanced at me. "Gray spoke?"
"He was incredible. You would have been proud."
Something flickered across Stone's face. "Maybe next time I can..."
He didn't finish. But I understood.
Next time. The idea that there would be a next time. That he was thinking about a future where he could stand in a room full of strangers and speak for himself.
Progress. Small and fragile, but real.
"Construction starts in spring," Cole said. "We'll have input on the design. Training facilities, housing, therapy spaces, classrooms—all of it needs to be planned with the wolves' needs in mind."
We reached the Healing Center as the sun was setting. The building looked different now—not a containment facility or a temporary solution, but a bridge. A place where wolves could stabilize before moving on to something better.
Gray met us at the door.
"Is it real?" he asked. "Did it pass?"
"It's real. Construction starts in spring."
He nodded slowly. Processing. "I can help. With the planning. I know what we need. What would help."
"I'd like that."
He almost smiled. Then he retreated back inside, moving with more purpose than I'd ever seen from him.
That night, we gathered in the common room.
Not just my pack—some of the ferals too. Gray and Ben and a few others who were stable enough for group interaction. We didn't do anything special. Just sat together, talking quietly, existing in the same space.
Cal was explaining the sanctuary to Ben, who listened with wide eyes. Stone sat in the corner, still preferring distance but present. James had somehow procured a deck of cards and was teaching Gray a game that seemed to involve a lot of bluffing.
It looked like family.
