The morning sunlight streamed through the kitchen windows, casting a golden glow on the warm wooden floors of the Blackwood estate. The house, with its rustic charm and years of family memories, felt alive today, brimming with the comforting sense of normalcy that only home could provide. Their mother was finally coming home, and despite the unease Alden couldn’t fully shake, there was a quiet comfort in her presence.
Alden stood by the stove, flipping pancakes with an air of distraction. The batter sizzled and popped, but his attention wasn’t entirely on the task. Xander rummaged through the refrigerator, clinking glass bottles as he searched for juice.
“You’re burning them,” Xander teased, glancing over his shoulder with a smirk.
Alden didn’t even look up, his voice dry. “I’m not. They’re golden brown, like you like them.”
“Golden brown, huh?” Xander raised an eyebrow, pulling a slightly overdone pancake from the plate beside him. “Sure, let’s go with that.”
Before Alden could respond, the familiar creak of the front door sounded, followed by the light shuffle of footsteps. Then, the unmistakable scent of lavender and cedarwood wafted through the kitchen—a fragrance that always made the house feel just a little more like home.
“Mom’s home!” Xander called, a wide grin spreading across his face.
Eleanor Blackwood stepped into the kitchen, her auburn hair neatly pinned back and a tailored coat draped over one arm. Despite her poised appearance, there was a tiredness in her eyes that Alden immediately noticed. Still, her smile warmed the room, and for a moment, the world seemed to slow.
“Hello, my loves,” she greeted, setting her bag down with a soft clink and enveloping Xander in a tight hug before turning to Alden. “It’s so good to be home.”
“We missed you,” Xander said, spinning her playfully before pulling out a chair for her at the table. “How was the seminar?”
Eleanor sighed, settling into the chair. “Informative, but exhausting. I’m just glad to be back with you two. How have things been here?”
Xander dove into a lively recount of their week—exaggerating Alden’s failed cooking attempts and their heated debates over TV shows. Eleanor listened, her gaze flicking to Alden occasionally. She could sense the quiet weight in him, the something unspoken.
When Xander paused to take a sip of juice, Eleanor’s brown eyes softened, turning to Alden with a knowing look. “And you, my quiet one? What’s on your mind?”
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Alden hesitated, fingers tapping rhythmically on the table as he glanced at Xander. The air felt heavy, but Xander gave him a subtle nod, a silent encouragement. Alden drew in a breath, then met his mother’s gaze.
“Mom, there’s something… something unusual happening in Blackwater Hollow.” His voice was tentative, but the words felt like a stone in his chest.
Eleanor’s expression shifted, concern creeping into her eyes. “Go on.”
Alden explained the encounter with Nyx, the strange accusations about a bite, and his growing suspicion that there was an unknown Alpha in their territory—someone who could disrupt the delicate balance of their community.
“I didn’t want to bring it up until I was sure,” Alden said quietly. “But if there’s another Alpha here, it’s not just a threat to us—it’s a threat to everyone in the Hollow.”
Eleanor leaned back in her chair, lacing her fingers together thoughtfully. “An unknown Alpha…” she murmured. “That’s not something to ignore. Have you spoken to anyone else about this?”
“No,” Alden replied quickly. “I didn’t want to cause a panic. And honestly, I’m not sure who to trust outside of this house.”
Eleanor reached across the table, placing a warm hand over his. “You did the right thing by telling me. We’ll handle this as a family. Whatever’s happening, we’ll face it together.”
Before Alden could respond, Xander suddenly sat up straighter, his usual playful demeanor giving way to genuine concern. “Wait, hold on. You’re telling me about this now? Why didn’t you tell me sooner, Alden?” He glanced between them, his brow furrowed. “And… Nyx—he’s the one who suspected Amaya might be the Alpha, right?”
Alden nodded slowly. “Yeah. Nyx mentioned it. He thought that maybe Amaya was the Alpha we’ve been sensing, but he wasn’t sure.”
Xander’s eyes widened. “So you and Nyx… you went to Dante to get the purple wolfsbane, to test Amaya?”
Alden hesitated, but then nodded. “Yeah. Nyx called me last night, telling me that he made Amaya drink the wolfsbane but it didn’t affected her. So now we are back to square one. There is a unknown Alpha in our territory. I have also been keeping an eye on the Harrow family to know whether they get the reports of any animal attack but so far there is none.”
Eleanor’s brow furrowed slightly. “And you didn’t tell me about this earlier?”
Alden looked down, guilt gnawing at him. “I didn’t want to worry you. I thought I could handle it myself.” He met her gaze again, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. “But now, with everything feeling more… urgent, I needed to tell you.”
Eleanor’s expression softened, though the concern remained in her eyes. “You’ve done well by being cautious, Alden. But we’ll face this together, alright? We can’t afford to be divided right now.”
The room fell silent as they all absorbed the weight of what lay ahead. Despite the uncertainty, the warmth of family—the unspoken promise to face whatever came next together—hung in the air, steady and reassuring.
Alden spoke softly, “Thank you, Mom. For believing me.”
Eleanor smiled gently, her hand squeezing his. “You’re my son. I’ll always believe in you.”
Xander, ever the lighthearted one, grinned again. “Well, now that we’ve got a plan, how about we eat? Alden’s pancakes might be a little questionable, but I’m starving.”
Eleanor laughed, the sound ringing through the kitchen like the familiar comfort of home. For a moment, it felt like everything was okay again—the three of them, sitting around the table, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. Together, as a family.
