Chapter 1 Perfect Beginnings

I blinked awake to the soft glow of morning sun slipping through the curtains, casting warm, lazy patterns on my bed. For a moment, I lay still, savoring the calm that filled my small, familiar room. Life here in the pack had its ups and downs, sure, but there was a stability, a grounding, in every day starting just like this.

"Amelia!" My mom's voice called out from downstairs, breaking the silence.

"Coming!" I threw off my blanket and slipped into a pair of worn slippers by my bed, smiling to myself as I imagined her tapping her foot at the bottom of the stairs. My mom was always one for routines - breakfast at 7, chores done by noon, and dinner on the table by six. It was a rhythm, a safety net I'd come to depend on. Some people might think life here was a little dull, but to me, it was everything I needed.

I bounded down the stairs, following the smell of coffee and pancakes, and found my mom standing at the stove. Her auburn hair was tied back, a few stray curls escaping, and her smile, as always, was warm and steady. She looked up as I entered, grinning.

"Finally. I thought you were going to sleep all day," she teased, pushing a plate of pancakes toward me.

"I would if you let me," I shot back, grabbing the syrup and drenching my stack.

Just then, my little brother, Finn, stumbled into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes and yawning. He was only seven, still that awkward mix of limbs and untamed energy, with an infectious laugh that filled any space. He looked at me, his face lighting up. "Morning, Mel!"

"Hey, buddy," I greeted, ruffling his dark hair.

Mom placed a small plate in front of him, and he dug in without a second thought. I watched him, this little ball of innocence, completely in his own world. Even as the world changed around us, our small pack enduring challenges and occasional rivalries, there was something comforting in knowing we had each other.

"So, what's on the agenda for today, Amelia?" Mom asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

"I'm meeting Bea and Levi at the river," I said, trying to sound casual.

Mom gave me a knowing look. "Just don't come back with muddy clothes this time. I swear, last week, you looked like you'd rolled through every patch of mud from here to the border."

I grinned sheepishly. "No promises."

---

Later that morning, I wandered down the familiar path toward the river, the sun rising higher and the sounds of birds filling the forest around me. Bea was already there when I arrived, skipping stones across the water, her blonde hair glinting in the light. She spotted me and waved, her face breaking into a wide grin.

"Amelia! Took you long enough," she teased.

"Had to wrestle my pancakes out of Finn's hands first," I joked, and she laughed.

"You and that little brother of yours. I swear, you're his favorite person," Bea said, playfully nudging me.

"Yeah, well, he can be a pain, but he's my pain," I replied with a smile, feeling that familiar warmth. Finn and I might argue, but he was my little shadow, following me everywhere I went.

Moments later, Bea's brother, Levi, appeared from the trees, carrying a small fishing rod and grinning at us. Levi was a bit of a wild card - tall, strong, and always seeming to know something we didn't. He leaned against a tree, giving us both an exaggerated nod.

"Good morning, ladies. Ready to catch some fish?"

"Only if you don't scare them all away like last time," I shot back, rolling my eyes.

"Hey, I didn't scare them. I was helping them, setting them free," Levi retorted, chuckling.

I watched him with a shake of my head, taking in the easy banter. Levi and Bea felt like family, the way they'd always been there, through thick and thin. In this moment, there wasn't a single worry on my mind, just the comfort of familiar faces and laughter echoing off the water.

We spent the next couple of hours splashing in the shallows, casting lines, and telling stories, each one more exaggerated than the last. Bea recounted the time she'd supposedly outrun a wolf on a dare, and Levi had us in stitches with a story about the time he tried to cook and nearly set their entire kitchen on fire.

"Amelia, you're too quiet," Bea said, catching me off guard. "What's on your mind?"

I paused, realizing I'd been drifting off into my own thoughts. "Just... this," I said softly. "It's perfect. You guys, my family... this pack. I don't think I'd ever want to be anywhere else."

Bea's face softened. "You know, for all your daydreams, I think you're the one who loves this place the most."

I smiled, feeling a swell of contentment. She was right. To me, this pack wasn't just home - it was my world.