Chapter 401

Nathan

“Thank you again for meeting with me, Mr. Forsythe,” I said, standing from the conference table and shaking the hand of the man who had been sitting across from me. “I’m certain that this agreement will benefit both of our packs.”

Mr. Forsythe, the older Alpha who was shaking my hand now, gave me a curt nod. His eyes were a cold gray color, and his demeanor was just as cold. He was a good Alpha, though, and an even better businessman.

“I certainly hope so,” he said in that gravelly tone of voice that had become oddly annoying to me over the past thirty minutes that we had been hashing out this plan. “With the land you’ve conceded to my pack, this logging business will finally have a chance to boom.”

“And the profits?” I asked, just wanting to reiterate one last time in case he tried to pull the wool over my eyes.

“Yes, yes,” Mr. Forsythe said with another curt nod. “As discussed: seventy-thirty split. My pack keeps seventy percent of the profits, and yours keeps thirty. For the next three years, of course.”

I offered the Alpha a warm smile as I showed him out. This land on the border of our pack had been a point of contention with Forsythe’s pack for years, and my father had always refused to hand it over. But Forsythe needed that land for his logging business, and it was all just unused forest for us.

As much as it pained me to concede land to other packs, our agreement was simple: Forsythe had acquired the land for a good price from us, and we also received some of the profits from his logging business for the next three years. It was win-win, really.

And it was good for inter-pack relations, which we were desperate for thanks to the trouble my father had caused over the years.

The Council building was bustling with more activity than usual today. I made my way back to my personal office between meetings, needing just a few minutes to myself before my next chat with Alpha Gray from another neighboring pack—this time about seaport access and trade routes.

But, when I entered my office, I was only met with more chaos. My desk was piled high with unfinished paperwork, and before I knew it, my fifteen minutes of reprieve had turned into fifteen minutes of trying to squeeze more tasks in.

As I delved into reviewing a proposal for a new partnership with a neighboring pack, Levi, my trusted Beta, leaned against the door frame. His presence was a welcome distraction, and I looked up from my work, offering him a tired smile.

“Hey, Levi,” I greeted him, setting the papers aside for a moment. “Something on your mind?”

Levi’s expression was thoughtful, his brows furrowed with concern. “Nathan, I’ve been noticing something lately,” he began, his voice measured. “Your approval ratings have been dipping, just ever so slightly.”

I sighed, my weariness evident in the heavy exhale. “I know, I just saw the reports. But I can’t put my finger on what’s causing it. Am I not doing enough?”

Levi stepped further into the room. “It’s not like you’re not doing enough, Nathan,” he assured me. “In fact, you’re doing more than most Alphas I’ve known during my time. The issue might be that people just can’t see it.”

I frowned, puzzled by his words. “What are you saying?”

Levi took a moment to gather his thoughts, clearly choosing his words carefully. “Listen, you’re making business partnerships with neighboring packs, meeting with investors for new projects in the town, and making plans for improving our infrastructure,” he explained. “But it’s not outwardly obvious to everyone. People might not realize the extent of what you’re doing, and they might feel like you’re not doing enough.”

I rubbed my temples, feeling a bit frustrated. “These people are never happy,” I complained with yet another weary sigh. “What should I do? Should I hold a press conference or something?”

Levi contemplated for a moment, and as he did, his gaze was fixed on the window overlooking the town square. “Maybe it’s not just about what you’re doing, but also about how people feel,” he suggested in a thoughtful tone of voice. “It’s possible that morale is dropping. People need something to look forward to, something that brings a sense of unity and happiness. Especially with the holidays coming up soon.”

I tilted my head, intrigued by his idea. “What do you have in mind?”

Levi’s eyes brightened ever so slightly. “Remember the First Snow festival?” he asked. “It used to be a big, fun event in town, especially around the holidays. But we haven’t held it in over a decade. Maybe it’s time to bring it back.”

Memories of the First Snow festival flooded my mind almost instantly. It had been so long ago that I had almost forgotten, but I remembered now; it was so much fun, and brought a lot of joy to the winter season.

I could still remember all of the vendors, the live music, the hay rides, the Christmas plays, and the caroling. And with autumn coming to a close soon, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to bring back a bit of that joy.

“You might be onto something,” I admitted. “I remember how much fun it was as a kid, and it did bring business to the town.”

Levi nodded, his eyes filled with a glimmer of excitement. “People need a reason to celebrate, Nathan,” he said. “It’s a chance to bring the pack closer together and remind them that you’re not just an Alpha, but that you’re also a leader who cares about their well-being.”

I couldn’t help but smile at Levi’s insight. He was a good Beta; he always knew what to say, and he could often see things from angles that I hadn’t thought of.

“You’re right, Levi,” I agreed, standing from my desk. “I think it’s time to announce the return of the First Snow festival. Let’s give our pack something to look forward to and remind them that we’re a community that supports one another.”

Levi’s eyes sparkled with satisfaction, and he clapped me on the shoulder. “That’s the spirit, Nathan. I’ll help you with the preparations, and I’m sure the pack will appreciate the effort.”

I nodded, shooting him a smile as he walked out of my office. It was an intriguing idea, and if bringing the First Snow festival back was the key to making my pack happy, then I would do it. And besides, what sort of father would I be if I didn’t allow my kids to experience the fun and excitement of the festival?

That day, as I continued powering through my meetings and filling out paperwork, it was as if a new sense of determination had welled up inside of me.

No matter how frustrating everything got, I couldn’t entirely wipe the smile off of my face; thoughts of the First Snow Festival, of bringing the twins and Olivia on a hay ride and drinking hot cider, kept floating through my mind and reminding me that sometimes, maybe having something to look forward to was necessary after all.

And I began to think that maybe, just maybe, I had been secretly craving that little slice of childhood wonder all along.