As i walked into the house,i sensed something was off. Layla's smile seemed forced,and her eyes didn't sparkle like they usually did. "Layla,what's going on?"I asked,my voice filled with concern. Layla took a deep breath before speaking.
"I feel like I'm doing everything on my own,Damon. You're always away,taking care of pack business. I know it's important,but i feel abandoned".Her voice cracked,and i could see the frustration and sadness in her eyes.I felt a pang of guilt and regret. I had been so focused on my duties as pack leader nowadays that i hadn't realised the impact it was having on Layla. I took a step closer to her,my arms open. "Layla I'm so sorry.I had no idea you were feeling this way.I'll do better,i promise."Layla's eyes searched mine,and i could see the vulnerability and uncertainty there.I took another step closer,my voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm here for you my baby.Always. We're in this together,as a team." Layla's face softened and she nodded,a small smile on her lips. I knew i had to make some changes to support Layla.I started by taking on more responsibilities at home,helping with Ethan's care and household chores.I also made sure to spend quality time with Layla,listening to her and reconnecting on a deeper level. I also realized that i couldn't do everything on my own. I started delegating more responsibilities to other pack members,trusting them to handle tasks and make decisions.This allowed me to spend time at home with Layla and little Ethan.
One evening,I surprised Layla by taking Ethan to the pack's childcare center.I then took Layla on a romantic dinner date,just the two of us.We talked,laughed and reconnected,reminding ourselves why we fell in love in the first place. Layla's eyes sparkled with appreciation as we finished our dinner date."Thank you Damon.she said,her voice filled with emotion. This means so much to me.I feel like we're reconnecting,like we're us again."I smiled,feeling a sense of relief and happiness.
As we walked back to our home,hand in hand,i felt our emotional connection deepening. We talked about our hopes and dreams,our fears and insecurities.We laughed and joked feeling carefree and happy.The next day,i received a visit from Sam,my beta."Damon,the pack is noticing the changes in you,"he said,his eyes serious. "They're wondering if you're still committed to being their leader".I frowned,feeling a sense of unease. I took a deep breath,considering Sam's words. "I understand their concerns,Sam.But I'm not abandoning my duties as pack leader. I'm just prioritising my family,making sure they're talken care of".Sam nodded thoughtfully."i understand Damon.But you need to communicate this to the pack.They need to know that you're still committed to leading them". I nodded,knowing Sam was right.I called a pack meeting,gathering everyone together to address their concerns.I explained my situation,telling them about Layla's struggles as a new mother and my desire to support her.I assured them that my commitment to the pack hadn't wavered,but i needed to find a better balance between my duties as a pack leader and my responsibilities as a father and mate. The pack listened intently,their faces a mix of understanding and skepticism.Some of them nodded in agreement,while others looked uncertain.I knew it would take time for them to adjust to this new dynamic,but i was willing to work with them to find a solution.
As months passed,I watched in awe as Ethan grew and developed.He learned to smile,to laugh and to crawl.Every milestone was a source of pride and joy for me,and i felt grateful to be his father. As Ethan became more mobile,my protective instincts kicked in. I found myself worrying about every little thing,from sharp corners to hot surfaces. Layla would laugh and reassure me,telling me that i was being overly cautious.But i couldn't help it.I just wanted to keep our little boy safe. One day,when Ethan was about six months old,I witnessed something incredible. He was lying on his stomach,playing with a toy,when suddenly he let out a little growl and shifted into a tiny wolf cub.Layla and i exchanged a look of wonder and excitement. Our little boy was a shifter.Just like his father.When Ethan turned one year old,we held a First Moon Ceremony to celebrate his first shift under the full moon.The pack gathered around us,watching as Ethan shifted into a small wolf cub and ran around the clearing,yelping with excitement.I exchanged a proud glance with Layla,knowing that our son was growing up to be a strong and confident shifter.
During these happy moments,the rival pack,led by the ruthless and cunning alpha Victor,had been seeking to expand its territory for months.Victor was determined to become the most powerful alpha in the region,and he was willing to do whatever it took to achieve his goal.Victor's plan was to weaken our pack by stealing our resources and sabotaging our alliances.He had already begun to secretly meet with some of our pack members,trying to turn them against me and Layla.