Silver Moon: Shadows and Vengence

Krystal's POV

Last night was incredible. For the first time in what felt like forever, I got to be my true self. No more hiding, no more secrets. Well, mostly. There were still a few things kept under wraps, like my immunity to wolfsbane, a secret shared only by a select few. But for the most part, I felt free, and that freedom was intoxicating. It felt like shedding a skin I'd been trapped in for years, and I was finally able to breathe.

This morning, I had an important meeting with Ash Timberwood to discuss the plans for my grandparents’ new home, as well as an ambitious project that had been occupying my thoughts—a school for werewolves. The idea had taken root the moment I realized the power and potential of my newly inherited wealth, and I was eager to make it a reality.

I awoke to a familiar, comforting weight on top of me. Opening my eyes, I found my mate, Jonathan, grinning down at me, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Good morning, beautiful,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble filled with affection.

“Good morning,” I replied, smiling up at him. He shifted his weight, grinding his hips against me in a way that left no room for misinterpretation. I couldn’t help but laugh. No matter how busy our lives were, he always found time to be close to me, especially before bed and first thing in the morning. Not that I was complaining. Our intimate moments were a treasured part of our relationship, a quiet space just for us, but his playful eagerness always made me laugh.

I pulled his face down to mine, letting him take over and surrendering to the warmth of our connection. We moved with a silent, practiced rhythm, our bodies a perfect fit. When we finally separated, an hour had slipped by, and the reality of the day ahead started to sink in. “We need to get up,” I said, my voice still soft with the remnants of sleep. “We have a meeting with Ash in an hour.”

Reluctantly, I climbed off him and headed to the bathroom. But before I could even close the door, he was right behind me, his desire evident. “A quickie in the shower?” he suggested, a mischievous grin on his face.

I laughed, shaking my head even as I gave in. How could I resist him when he looked at me like that? The hot water cascaded over us, and we lost ourselves in each other once more. The steam swirled around us, wrapping us in a thick, hazy cocoon of passion. We finished our shower, feeling more connected than ever, and got dressed for the day.

My stomach rumbled with hunger, and I hoped to grab a quick breakfast before Ash arrived. But just as Jonathan and I sat down at the table, Ash walked in, joining us just as the food was served. Thankfully, he was ready to eat as well, so we could discuss the projects over a meal. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air, a perfect backdrop for our discussion.

“Alright, what are these projects you have for me and my family?” Ash asked, his deep green eyes attentive as he settled into the chair opposite me.

I took a moment to study him. Ash Timberwood was a sight to behold—ruggedly handsome with a tall, muscular build shaped by years of physical labor. His skin had a warm, sun-kissed tone, and his hands were calloused from working with wood. Sharp, angular features framed his face, and his dark brown hair, slightly tousled, gave him a relaxed, earthy appearance. But what struck me most about Ash was the quiet strength that radiated from him, a calm presence that put everyone around him at ease. He was a man of the earth, and it showed in every line of his body.

“The first project will be a piece of cake for you,” I began, smiling at him. “My grandparents, Ruth and Nathan, are moving to the pack. They’re buying some pack land near the forest and would like you to build a home for them. They’re looking for a three-bedroom house with a secure office, a gourmet kitchen, a great room that combines the kitchen, living, and dining areas, and a home gym. Each bedroom will have an en-suite bathroom, and they’d like an additional bathroom accessible from the living room and gym for guests.”

Ash nodded thoughtfully, chewing on a piece of bacon. “That sounds straightforward enough. But what do you mean by a secure office?”

“Soundproof, and resistant to bugs and other listening or recording devices,” I explained. “My grandpa can help with that—he’s created a similar office before, but he wants this one to be bigger. The walls should be lined with bookshelves. Oh, and I’d like you to add a safe room for them, just to keep them extra safe.”

Jonathan leaned forward, intrigued. “A safe room? What kind of security are we talking about here?”

“Think of it as a fortified bunker,” I clarified. “Reinforced walls, a heavy-duty steel door, a separate ventilation system, and its own power supply. It’s for emergencies—if there’s a rogue attack or any threat where they need to hunker down. My grandparents have a lot of secrets and have made a lot of enemies in the human world. I want them to be completely safe here.”

Ash’s eyes gleamed with a mix of understanding and professional curiosity. “That makes sense. We’ve done something similar on a few of our larger projects. What about the style? Do they have any specific design in mind? Rustic, modern, a blend?”

“They’re leaning towards a rustic feel,” I said. “Lots of natural wood and stone, big windows to let in the light. They want it to feel like a cabin, but with all the modern amenities.”

“I’ll let my family know,” Ash said, taking a sip of his coffee. “We have a job in the human world that finishes next week, and we’ll hold off on taking more jobs so we can focus on this. Now, what’s project two?” he asked, his tone light but clearly intrigued.

“This one is my baby,” I said, unable to hide the excitement in my voice. “I’m not sure where we’ll build yet, as I don’t know how much land we’ll need, but I recently inherited a large fortune, and I want to use it to build and run a school for werewolves. We’ll need classrooms, offices, a gym, an auditorium, computer rooms, and dorms. The dorms will be separated by age groups—there will be one for the younger kids and different dorms for the various paths older students can take. I also want indoor and outdoor training grounds, as well as playgrounds for the younger kids and an obstacle course for warriors to train on.”

Ash’s eyes widened slightly as he processed the scope of the project. A low whistle escaped his lips. “Now that sounds like a fun challenge. So, you’ll have kids from five to eighteen there? And a whole campus for them? It's like building an entire village. We’ll need to do a full land survey to figure out the best location and how much space is needed for all those different facilities. The dorms alone will be a massive undertaking.”

“That’s exactly right,” I said, feeling a thrill at his excitement. “It’s about giving our youth the best possible education, not just in standard subjects, but in our history, our culture, and our abilities. We’ll have teachers for everything from math and science to advanced combat and shifting. We're hoping all twelve packs will participate, but no pack will be forced to attend.”

Jonathan nodded, his expression serious. “This is a game-changer, Krystal. A place where our children can learn to be werewolves without having to hide. It will strengthen our entire community.”

Ash smiled, a hint of excitement in his expression. “Looks like you’ll be keeping my family busy for a while. After the announcement last night about us becoming the royal pack, we thought we’d be adding on to the pack house.”

I laughed, nodding. “That’s project three, but it’s not as urgent, so it can wait.”

“Oh, so you do have plans for the pack house too?” Ash asked. “What’s the vision for that?”

“We need to expand it to be worthy of a royal pack,” Jonathan chimed in, now fully engaged. “We’ll need a place for royal functions, including enough guest rooms for visiting Alphas and dignitaries. And a proper throne room, for lack of a better term, where we can hold official ceremonies and meetings. A formal dining room for events will also be a necessity.”

Ash leaned back, a thoughtful expression on his face. “So, more of a large-scale renovation and addition, then. We can definitely create some preliminary designs for that as well. It’s good to have a long-term plan.”

“Sounds perfect,” I said, feeling a sense of relief. Ash finished his breakfast, took his notes, and departed, leaving me and Jonathan alone.

Jonathan turned to me, a thoughtful expression on his face. “It’s a lot to take on, but you seem so passionate about it all. The school… it’s a brilliant idea.”

“It is,” I admitted, “but it’s not just a project. It feels like we’re not just building houses and a school, we’re building a future for the entire werewolf community.”

Before he could respond, Luna Grace approached us, her eyes bright with anticipation. “Ah, there you two are. We need to start planning your mating ceremony and your Alpha and Luna ceremony.”

A shiver of both excitement and apprehension ran through me. As we began discussing the details—the guest list, the ceremony, the feast—I couldn’t help but feel a sense of my future unfolding before me. The path ahead was filled with promise, but I knew it wouldn’t be without challenges. But with Jonathan by my side, and with the support of our pack, I felt ready to face whatever came our way. We weren’t just building a pack; we were building a kingdom.