Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 1175 - 86 : Bumps in the Road

Chapter 1175: Chapter 86 : Bumps in the Road

*Rion*

After a few months, we decided it was time to restore the old pack mansion and set our sights on the future of the pack.

Once the renovations on the pack house were complete, Daphne and I officially moved out of our cozy cottage and into the Alpha’s wing of the mansion. We even had an adjoining nursery set up for Ayla and Selene. I could tell Daphne was happy to get the twins into their new home.

I watched as she set them in their bassinets on our first night in the repaired packhouse.

“Thorn Forest has come a long way since we got here,” I commented as Daphne kissed each of the girls on the forehead.

“It’s been hard work, but it seems like the pack is finally stabilizing.”

I nodded. “There’s one more thing we need to see this work long term.”

“What’s that?” Daphne came to me and I looped my arm around her shoulders, kissing the side of her head.

“We need more residents. This pack has so much potential and now that it’s on its feet, we need to see growth or it will all fall apart again.”

“I don’t know, Rion. Do you really think it is the right time to spread the word? We barely have enough to go around for the people who are here.” She sighed and rested her head on my shoulder.

I didn’t reply right away. The soft sound of my daughters breathing in their sleep captivated me for a moment. They were so young and so innocent. But in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help worrying about the long-term effects of the blood magic I used to save them.

“The only way to get more resources is to bring in more people with new skills and to increase our labor force,” I explained.

“If you think that’s best.” Daphne yawned. She kissed my cheek and headed to bed.

I stayed up a little later drafting letters to the Dark Realm capital and a few major cities in the Light Realm. The letters were invitations to anyone in either realm who was looking for a fresh start or wanted a chance at a quieter, more peaceful life.

The letters would go out first thing in the morning.

I slipped into bed with Daphne and held her in my arms. This was finally the life I’d always wanted. I had a home and a family, and everything was falling into place.

***

It only took a few days before I knew my letters had been received. A slow but steady trickle of new residents began to arrive in Thorn Forest.

We had a few empty homes that were ready to be occupied, and everyone who showed up agreed to help build new homes as the need arose.

Daphne took names and made a database of the skillsets all our new arrivals brought to the pack.

Most of the newcomers were shifters, but we also had a lot of vampires showing up, too.

“There are so few vampire settlements that are exclusive but also incorporated in pack territory. Most of us have assimilated into the shifter cities and territories, but it isn’t the same,” one of the vampires told us when she arrived.

Daphne smiled and took her name. “Welcome, Sidra. I’m glad we have what you’re looking for.”

It didn’t take long to be able to organize the newcomers for the best division of labor. I put new hunting parties together that brought in more meat and helped keep the borders safe for all the residents.

Daphne assigned many newcomers to the farms to boost food production, and she oversaw the construction of new homes and buildings with a team of shifters and vampires that had experience with construction.

As important as it was to get all of those areas filled, we couldn’t just rely on food and protection. The village needed more to sustain itself.

Unfortunately, the transition wasn’t as smooth as I wanted. With the newcomers coming in more rapidly, we had to divert labor from the farms and the hunting parties to keep up with the lumber and housing needs.

I was happy to see the rapid growth, but I knew that the longer we stretched our resources, the more tensions would rise. I knew that eventually, Eva and I would have to go back for more of Hestia’s treasure.

I brought the twins to Daphne in bed one morning so she could feed them. I watched her with them. She’d managed to ease into motherhood so expertly. And with twins... Daphne never ceased to amaze me.

We heard a knock at the door.

“Who is calling this early?” I muttered, glancing toward the stairs that led to the front door.

“Alpha Rion!”

“That sounds urgent,” Daphne said.

“I still can’t get used to being called ‘Alpha.’” I chuckled and shook my head. “Well, I’d better see what’s going on.”

Sighing, I pushed off the door frame and headed downstairs.

“Alpha Rion, Sir!” the voice called more urgently.

I picked up my pace and yanked the front door open. One of the loyal pack members stood on the porch, his eyes wide and fearful.

Immediately, I became serious. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s trouble in the village square.”

“Lead the way.”

He hurried off the porch and I followed him to the village square. There was a huge crowd gathered, and I could hear some yelling from the center of the crowd.

“Everyone move aside!” I ordered.

The crowd parted instantly and I got to the center, where two males were going head to head, their eyes bright, muscles twitching. It looked like any second they’d burst out of their clothes and shift.

“What is going on here!” I demanded, my voice booming around the square.

Everyone stopped and the two males turned to me. One of them bowed his head respectfully and showed clear remorse. The other still bristled.

“This little weasel is trying to get more food than he’s rationed!” the riled up one said, pointing an accusing finger at the other male.

“Is that true?” I asked, giving the more submissive male a chance to defend himself.

“No. I wasn’t trying to take more than my share. I have two growing teenagers at home who are always hungry. He has no kids and thinks he should get the same amount as my whole family.”

I sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of my nose. This wasn’t unexpected. With resources scarce, people were tense and at odds.

We had so many people from different realms and lifestyles in our pack, and they had clashing values and different ideas of right and wrong.

“Okay, look. We’ve worked out the food rations based on the number of people in the home. Someday soon, I’m hoping we won’t have to ration, but we will have to make it through a full growing season. Do you think the two of you can do that?”

The angry male scoffed and rolled his eyes.

“If it is too much for you, then you’re free to leave.” I motioned to the main road out of town.

Both the males bowed their heads this time. The angrier one mumbled something under his breath but they peacefully left the square and eventually, the rest of the onlookers dispersed.

I hung around until I was sure the excitement was over and then headed back to Daphne and the twins.

“Well, we had our first brawl,” I told her.

She looked up from her breakfast cereal and arched an eyebrow. “How’d it go?”

“I settled things, for now, but I’m thinking this won’t be the end of it.” I sighed and walked up behind Daphne, kissing the top of her head. I put my hands on her shoulders and gently massaged them.

“We knew this wouldn’t be easy. Of course, there are going to be squabbles.”

I sat down beside Daphne and poured myself some coffee. The dining room window was open, and morning birds sang outside in the pack house yard. Someday, I wanted to see a garden out there and a place for the twins to play.

“I’d like to reorganize our hunting groups a bit. Anyone who seems to have more energy or... has anger issues, should be out in the woods hunting, getting lumber, and patrolling the borders. It’ll keep their attention away from what’s going on here.”

“Rion, do you think that there’s more of an emotional component behind the tension?”

“What do you mean?” I creased my brow at her.

“A lot of these people have been displaced for one reason or another. They are technically refugees. I’d like to work with them and see if I can help any of them adjust to their new circumstances.”

Smiling, I took Daphne’s hand and squeezed her fingers. “That’s a good idea. Maybe if they see they aren’t alone in their feelings, they won’t be as quick to get angry.”

Daphne set up a small support group at the pack mansion. I wasn’t surprised by how many people started showing up to talk to her.

I was so proud of Daphne and her decision to help them out. It was what any good, experienced Luna would do. She had a natural knack for leadership, and I knew she was the best person for the job.

Now, it was just up to me to enforce peace and security, like any good Alpha.

***

“I learned something interesting while in the support group today,” Daphne told me when I came back from a long patrol.

The plan was working. Keeping the more hot-headed males busy in the woods definitely cooled tensions within the village.

I pulled my coat and boots off, flopping down on the couch.

Daphne brought me a glass of wine and sat down beside me. Sighing, I put my arm around her shoulders and tucked her against me.

“Ah, what would I do without you?” I took a long, slow swig of my wine.

“Be bored out of your mind,” she teased.

“Alright, what did you learn today?” I squeezed her against me, loving the way she felt tucked against my side.

“There are so many people from all over the place, and they bring their own traditions and skill sets from different regions. I think we should let them use their knowledge and crafts from their regions. It would give a more personal, unique touch to Thorn Forest and make them feel more at home.”

“Yeah. It would give them all a chance to feel more connected and part of a stronger community. You never cease to amaze me Daphne,” I said, running my nose through her hair.

“Why?”

“You have come up with so many ideas to help integrate everyone, and I’m focused on enforcing peace.”

She giggled. “Well, that’s why we work so well together. Every Alpha needs a Luna, right?” She pulled away from me and looked deeply into my eyes.

“No doubt.” I cupped her cheek for a moment and pulled her closer for a kiss. The moment our lips met, another knock on the door broke the moment.

Growling, I set my wine aside and stood up.

“What now?” I stalked to the door, ready to rip the intruder a new one. Was it too much to ask to have a relaxing, romantic night with my Luna?

I ripped the door open and froze.

“Surprise!” Eva jumped on me and hugged me tightly.

I stumbled back from her sneak attack and heard Jasper laughing behind her.

“Um... hi....”

“Aren’t you happy to see me?” she pouted as she pulled away.

“Yes... I’m just surprised.”

Eva smiled and glanced behind her, beckoning Jasper into the mansion. Daphne joined us in the front hall and hugged Eva.

“Have you finished your courses?”

Eva sighed and shook her head. She lifted her pant leg and showed us the dampening anklet.

Daphne gasped. “You didn’t run off, did you!?”

“No, definitely not,” Jasper assured. “Queen Lena gave Eva some leave. We have to be back in a few days.”

“Right, so there’s no time to waste. I want to meet my nieces right now!” Eva demanded.