Chapter 336

The urge to take my mate upstairs and complete our bond is overwhelming, but duty calls. The pack lands need my attention. I know there's much work to be done, though I hope progress has been made in my absence.

We don't linger in the packhouse. I'd started repairs before bringing Evelyn here, but it seems little has changed. As we step outside, Leopold gestures toward the construction sites.

"We're recycling concrete blocks from the crumbling structures to build homes for new families." He points to another cluster of houses. "Those had solid foundations, so we're just renovating them."

"How do you track occupancy?"

He rubs his neck sheepishly. "More paperwork. I try to keep count of families and available homes. People don't mind working when housing's the reward, but we've run out of salvageable buildings. Now we're cutting timber to meet demand."

The pack bustles with activity. Some dismantle unstable structures while others haul usable materials to construction sites. Near the tree line, fresh stumps mark where we've harvested lumber.

"Those trees became building materials?" I ask.

Leopold nods. "Not ideal, but necessary. Supplies were running low."

The financial burden weighs on me. While our people work willingly for shelter, a pack can't survive on labor alone.

We reach a fenced garden where a woman rises from tending plants. "Good afternoon, Alpha. Luna. Beta." She inclines her head respectfully.

Isolde steps forward. "What are you growing here?"

The woman removes her gloves. "Would you like a tour?"

"I'd love that," Isolde says, glancing at me for approval.

"Beatrice," the gardener introduces herself, extending a hand.

Isolde shakes it warmly. "I'm Isolde. This is Adrian."

"Word travels fast," Beatrice smiles. "Call me Bea. Welcome home, Alpha."

Her garden impresses with its variety - tomatoes, peppers, melons, root vegetables, and fruit trees. The scale matches our pack's needs.

"How many tend these crops?" Isolde asks.

"Five of us maintain them daily. During planting and harvest, we recruit more hands. Hunger motivates volunteers, and it's good work for pups."

After thanking Bea, we move on to security. "How are patrols organized?"

Leopold explains the rotation system. "Eight-hour shifts with overlapping meal breaks ensure constant border coverage."

"Any trespassers?"

"Few even know we're here. Most get redirected peacefully. Only a couple required... persuasion." His tone suggests those encounters ended in our favor.

The tour continues, revealing both progress and challenges. My mate's sharp questions show her mind working, though I can't yet decipher her thoughts. Every answer paints a clearer picture of what our pack has become - and what it might yet be.