Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Joy

Asher

I wear my brightest smile as I wave at Isabelle Moon, a petite woman in her thirties who is probably one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met.

“So glad you could make it, Alpha!” She practically squeals, wrapping her arms around me. “When people heard you’d be here, we had a huge influx of people wanting to volunteer.”

“Glad I could help,” I reply, clapping my hands together. “Where do you want me?”

“Oh?” She asks, surprised. “I thought you were just overseeing.”

I chuckle. “No, I came to get my hands dirty,” I reply. “I grew up on a farm, so I’m used to manual labor.”

“Perfect!” She celebrates. “Well, as you know, we’ve been having soil erosion issues, so the plan is to plant trees along the stream to build natural barriers with roots as they grow stronger. But, for more critical areas, we will be installing silt fences. So, first things first, we need to dig some holes for the trees.”

“Looks like you’ll need a shovel then,” I hear from behind me as Margaery approaches, tossing me one, which I catch quickly.

I laugh, surveying her outfit. She’s wearing thick camo pants and a long-sleeved shirt that I can smell DEET radiating off of. She’s also wearing a bucket hat with a tail on the back.

“Marg, we’re not going on a week-long expedition through the wilderness,” I tease, gesturing to my plain t-shirt and old cargo pants. “Plus, with all that gear, you’re missing the most important part.”

“What?” She asks, panicking. “What am I missing?”

“You’re wearing gym shoes,” I point out. “We’re going to be in the mud; you should’ve worn boots!”

She wrinkles her nose, hissing under her breath, “Shit!”

“Someone’s gonna have stinky feet,” I quip, which earns me a slap on the arm.

“How far apart do the holes have to be?” I ask Isabelle.

“I’ve already marked where they all need to go with red flags,” she replies. “That way, nobody needs to do the math on that.”

“Smart,” I joke. “I’m not very good at math, but I am good at shoveling.”

I plant my shovel in the dirt, the first to break ground, which kicks all the other volunteers into gear as the chatter in the forest dies down, and everyone gets to work.

“This was a good idea, Ash,” Margaery whispers under her breath as she moves tiny bits of dirt at a time. “Shows you care about the pack.”

“Also hoping it’ll help repair the image they have of me as some kind of bitch-boy,” I add. “Genevive seemed to have erased where I came from from everyone’s minds. Including mine.”

She frowns sympathetically as I continue digging, the sun hot through the trees, beaming down on us. I hear panting all around me, the smell of sweat slowly drifting through the air.

I’m already dripping, but I’m used to it and don’t mind. I’ve missed doing stuff like this. I never wanted to be a paper-pusher Alpha, but Gen wouldn’t let me do anything. I was a shut-in for so long when I grew up, always running outside, building something, working, caring for animals, bringing my mom and dad snacks and water, or running around the field with my siblings during a game of tag. We didn’t have much money, but we had so much fun. We were rich with joy.

For the first time in a long time, aside from when I’m with Rose, I feel joy again. It feels good to help my pack because forest restoration is crucial since so much of our livelihood and culture relates to the wilderness. It’s almost a religious practice, too, to take care of our environment since the Moon Goddess’ spirit lives within it. We are part of nature, having evolved from dire wolves, the rulers of the forests.

The work goes on for an hour, and I notice how much faster I’m moving through digging holes than anyone else, with minimal help from Margaery, not that I mind. She’s good company.

She’s sitting and taking a break along with most of the other volunteers, but I don’t need one. My blood is still moving through my veins, pumped by my heart and fueling my muscles. I’m the most energized I’ve felt in years. No part of me wants to sit and idle, not when this feels so electric.

I feel like a true Alpha for the first time in my life.

The sun is at its highest now, though, my shirt damp with sweat, so I pull it over my head, discarding it to the side.

I hear a soft gasp in the crowd, my head snapping toward it to see a young girl blushing, smacking her friend on the leg. I hide my laugh as I get back to work, well aware that there are many eyes on my now half-naked body.

“How’s Rose gonna feel about you giving all these people the gun show?” Margaery teases under her breath with a little smirk.

I roll my eyes, running my fingers through my hair, which earns another reaction from the bashful crowd.

“Oh, you are milking this,” Margaery giggles.

“Hey, better for them to talk about how hot I am than to talk about being lashed,” I reply, pushing the shovel into the dirt again, loving the feeling of the dirt as it floats through the air onto me.

I haven’t been dirty in a very long time. I was filthy almost all the time my whole childhood, from playing all day to working hard, with dirt under my nails almost at all times. It’s like I’m discovering a part of myself that’s been hiding within me for so long, scared to come out. My childhood self, who I abandoned and neglected, and he’s finally seeing the sun again.

“I forgot to tell you something, by the way,” Margaery says. “Gen told me she’s going to be out of town until tomorrow night.”

“Oh yeah?” I ask. “That’s good fucking news. She made me sleep next to her the last few nights, which have been hell. Maybe I’ll finally be able to get some sleep.”

“And it would be a good time to sneak off and see Rose,” she mutters as she stands, making eye contact. “It’s been a while since you’ve been able to, right?”

I sigh, pressing my lips in a line as my heart clenches.

“It has,” I reply.

“Well, as you can tell, manual labor is not my thing,” Margaery jokes, which earns a chuckle from me. “So, if you wouldn’t mind my departure, I’ll work on getting the word out to her to meet you at the cabin tonight. Have a little romantic night to yourselves.”

“That would be fantastic,” I admit with a longing sigh. “Thanks, Marg.”

She rests her hand on my shoulder to squeeze it but immediately gags. “Eww! You’re so sweaty!”

I throw my head back, laughing as she wipes her hand on her shirt.

“I’ll see you soon,” I tell her. “I’ll have to take a long-ass shower when I get home.”

“Yeah, definitely don’t go to the cabin smelling like that,” she replies with a grimace. “Vamps have super smell, too. Poor girl would spend the whole night throwing up.”

“Alright, alright,” I brush off. “Get going. Have a nice nap.”

“Will do, Alpha,” she replies, saluting me before rushing off.

I get back to work immediately, motivated to finish faster now that I know I can see Rose tonight. I miss her desperately, even if it’s only been a few days. But it feels like months—an eternity.

And I can’t wipe the huge smile off my face, not only from reconnecting with myself but from the eagerness to see my mate.

I can’t wait.