Nancy discovered the problem two mornings later.
It started with one child.
A tiny wolf pup no older than six sitting silently outside the Alpha house holding a flower.
Nancy blinked sleepily at him from the doorway.
"…Hi?"
The child immediately held the flower upward like a sacred offering.
"For you."
Nancy stared.
Then carefully accepted the tiny crooked flower stem.
"…Thank you?"
The pup nodded once like an important diplomatic mission had been completed.
Then he walked directly into the house like he paid rent there.
Nancy watched him disappear toward the kitchen.
"Kai," she called slowly.
"There's a child in our house."
Kai looked up from breakfast completely unsurprised.
"Yeah."
"Yeah?"
"He comes here sometimes."
Nancy narrowed her eyes.
"How long has this been happening?"
"Three days."
"Three— why didn't you tell me?"
Kai looked genuinely confused.
"You seemed happy."
That was not the point.
Unfortunately—
the problem escalated.
By afternoon, there were five children.
Nancy had no idea where they kept coming from.
One sat beside her while she repaired torn fabric.
Another followed her through the settlement carrying sticks.
Two more somehow convinced her to tell them stories about the Veil battle.
Which absolutely should not have happened.
"And then Leo screamed because a shadow creature touched his foot—"
"I DID NOT SCREAM," Leo shouted from across the clearing instantly.
The children burst into laughter.
Nancy grinned innocently.
"My mistake. It was a terrified yell."
"It was tactical concern!"
Kai sat nearby openly enjoying her betrayal.
Traitor.
The smallest pup suddenly climbed directly into Nancy's lap mid-story like this was a completely normal thing to do.
Nancy froze instantly.
The child blinked up at her sleepily.
"…Hi again."
Kai's mouth twitched.
Nancy looked horrified.
"What do I do?"
"You're asking me like I know."
"You seem calmer."
"That's because they already accepted you."
"What does that mean?"
Kai gestured vaguely around the clearing.
Nancy followed his gaze.
Children surrounded her now almost unconsciously.
Not because she was Guardian.
Not because she was powerful.
Because they felt safe near her.
The realization hit unexpectedly hard.
Nancy looked down at the sleepy pup in her lap.
Small.
Warm.
Trusting.
Something painful softened quietly inside her chest.
Nyra's voice appeared gently in her mind.
They're not afraid around you.
Nancy swallowed slightly.
That mattered more than she expected.
The bond pulsed softly between the children and pack around her—not fully connected, just touched lightly by shared trust and safety.
Healthy.
Not overwhelming.
Not possessive.
Just belonging.
A loud crash suddenly exploded nearby.
Nancy looked up instantly.
Leo stood frozen beside several shattered crates while three children stared at him with identical expressions of fake innocence.
"…Explain," Leo said carefully.
One tiny voice answered:
"The boxes attacked us."
Kai immediately turned away to hide his laughter.
Leo pointed dramatically.
"They're learning deception from you people."
Nancy smiled sweetly.
"We call it creativity."
"You are all demons."
The children loved him.
Mostly because Leo complained while helping them anyway.
By evening, the settlement glowed warmly beneath lantern light as wolves settled into quieter routines.
Nancy sat outside the Alpha house watching children chase each other through the grass.
One tripped.
Before Nancy could even react, three others immediately stopped to help him back up.
The sight hit something deep inside her.
Not power.
Not destiny.
Just people caring for each other naturally.
Kai appeared beside her carrying two cups.
"You've been adopted," he informed her.
Nancy accepted the drink slowly.
"I noticed."
"You seem weirdly emotional about it."
She watched the children quietly.
"I spent so long thinking connection meant eventually losing people."
Kai leaned lightly against her shoulder.
"And now?"
Nancy smiled faintly as one of the pups waved excitedly at her from across the clearing.
"…Now I think maybe it also means having people worth staying for."
The bond glowed warmly beneath her skin.
Not heavy anymore.
Home.