6. Fiona
6
FIONA
F iona adjusted the construction plans spread across her new desk inside the former manager’s office, squinting at the measurements. The playground design had gone through three iterations already, but she refused to give up until it was perfect. A stack of volunteer sign-up sheets sat beside her, filled with more names than she'd initially hoped for.
"You're going to burn a hole through those papers if you stare any harder," Emmett said, settling into the chair across from her desk. His weathered face crinkled with amusement.
"I just want to make sure everything's right. These kids deserve a proper playground, not some half-hearted attempt."
"The pack's warming up to you, you know. Martha was singing your praises at the bakery this morning."
"Really?" Fiona's eyebrows shot up. Martha had been one of the most vocal opponents to her working here. "What changed her mind?"
"She saw you staying late to help Tommy with his homework when his mother got stuck at work." Emmett's eyes twinkled. "Said anyone who'd spend two hours explaining fractions to a ten-year-old couldn't be all bad."
A flush came over Fiona's cheeks. "It wasn't a big deal. Besides, math is easier than dealing with bridezillas who change their minds about centerpieces three days before the wedding."
A young wolf shifter poked his head into her new office. "Miss Ashwood? We've got the lumber delivery outside."
"Perfect timing." Fiona gathered up her plans. "Ready to show these youngsters how it's done, Emmett?"
"Lead the way, boss."
Outside, a group of pack members milled around the pile of fresh lumber. Some cast uncertain glances her way, but most offered friendly nods. Considerable progress, Fiona thought.
"Alright, team!" She clapped her hands together. "First things first - we need to sort this lumber by size. Jake, can you and your crew handle that while Jenny's group starts clearing the old equipment?"
"You sure you want to trust us with this?" A voice called from the back. "What does a witch know about building playgrounds anyway?"
"More than you might think." Fiona pulled out her well-worn work gloves. "My father was a contractor. I spent every summer helping him build decks and tree houses. Now, are we going to stand around questioning my credentials, or are we going to give these kids somewhere awesome to play?"
Emmett stepped forward. "I'm with her. Anyone else?"
One by one, the volunteers moved to their assigned tasks. Fiona rolled up her sleeves, grabbed a wheelbarrow, and joined in.
Sweat trickled down Fiona's back as she hauled another load of debris away from the playground site. The sun beat down mercilessly, but she refused to let it slow her down. A few feet away, Jenny and two other pack members were dismantling the remains of a twisted slide.
"Hey, witch!" Jake called out. "Got a minute?"
Fiona wiped her forehead with her sleeve. "Only if you stop calling me 'witch.' I have a name."
"Fair enough." He grinned, revealing dimples that transformed his whole face. "We could use your help with these support beams. They're being stubborn."
As she approached, Fiona noticed the scorched metal poles. Her fingers tingled with the familiar pull of her magic. "Stand back."
"What are you going to do?" A teenage wolf – Tommy's older sister, if she remembered correctly – asked.
"Watch and learn." Fiona placed her hands on the metal, letting her power flow. The heat built gradually, focused and controlled, until the metal glowed red-hot. "Now pull!"
Jake and his team yanked, and the poles slid free like butter from a warm knife.
"That was awesome!" Tommy's sister exclaimed. "I'm Amy, by the way. Do you think you could teach me about magic sometime?"
"I'd love to, but shouldn't you ask your parents first?"
"Mom says you're cool." Amy shrugged. "She liked how you handled that angry tourist yesterday."
Fiona remembered the incident – a man throwing a fit because the community center's pool was "members only." She'd managed to deflect his tantrum without singeing his eyebrows off, which she considered a personal victory.
"Speaking of handling things," Jenny called over, "anyone know where these bolts go?"
"Color-coded containers in the supply tent," Fiona answered, pointing. "Red for rusty, blue for good condition."
"You've really thought of everything, haven't you?" Jake helped her load the poles into the wheelbarrow.
"I try." Fiona pushed her hair back, grimacing at the dirt that must be streaked across her face. "Though I didn't account for looking like I lost a fight with a mud pit."
"It's a good look on you," Jake teased. "Very earthy. Almost like a real wolf."
Their laughter carried across the playground, drawing smiles from other workers. Fiona felt something warm bloom in her chest that had nothing to do with her magic. For the first time since moving here, she felt like she might actually belong.
Fiona wiped more sweat from her brow as she settled onto a bench, gratefully accepting the water bottle Amy handed her. Her muscles ached, but the good kind of ache that came from honest work. Movement caught her eye, and she spotted Caleb near the center's entrance, deep in conversation with two guards.
Even covered in construction dust, he cut an impressive figure. His broad shoulders were tense as he gestured at something on a tablet, dark hair falling across his forehead. The scowl on his face could have melted steel.
"Does he ever relax?" Fiona muttered, taking another sip of water.
Emmett chuckled as he sat down beside her. "Caleb? Only when he's sleeping, and I'm not even sure about that."
"He's going to give himself an ulcer if he keeps this up."
"That's our alpha for you. Always putting the pack first." Emmett stretched his legs out in front of him. "You should have seen him three years ago when that flash flood hit. Spent four days straight helping evacuate families, wouldn't rest until every last pup was safe."
"Really?" Fiona watched as Caleb's scowl deepened at whatever he saw on the tablet.
"Oh yeah. Last winter, he gave up his vacation to help rebuild old Mrs. Henderson's roof after that big storm. And when the Miller twins both got sick with wolf pox? He sat with them for a week straight so their single mom could keep working."
"Wolf pox?" Fiona raised an eyebrow. "Is that like chicken pox?"
"Worse. Much worse. Imagine chicken pox combined with uncontrolled shifting and the worst case of fleas you've ever seen."
Fiona winced. "And he volunteered for that?"
"That's Caleb. Last month, he even-" Emmett stopped as Caleb approached them, his boots crunching on the gravel.
"The playground's looking good," Caleb said, his intense blue eyes scanning the construction site before landing on Fiona. "Your idea about the volunteers was... not terrible."
"High praise indeed." Fiona rolled her eyes. "We should be finished by Friday if the weather holds."
"And if more pack members show up tomorrow," Emmett added with a knowing smile. "Word's getting around about our witch's construction skills."
A hint of a smile tugged at Caleb's lips. "Is that so?"
"Don't sound so surprised," Fiona said. "Some of us can do more than just set things on fire."
"Speaking of which," Caleb's expression turned serious again. "We need to talk about the security protocols for-"
"Nope." Fiona stood up, brushing dust from her jeans. "Break time's over. Unless you're planning to help us build this playground, business talk can wait until we're done."
Caleb blinked, clearly not used to being interrupted. Emmett's shoulders shook with silent laughter.
Fiona's jaw dropped as Caleb abruptly shrugged off his leather jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his henley. His muscles flexed as he picked up a beam that two other pack members had been struggling with.
"What?" He caught her staring. "Never seen an alpha do manual labor before?"
"Just didn't expect you to actually help." She grabbed the other end of the beam. "Thought you'd be too busy brooding in corners."
"I don't brood." He adjusted his grip, matching her pace as they carried the beam to the frame. "I contemplate. There's a difference."
"Right. And I don't set things on fire, I just make them really warm."
Their eyes met, and to her surprise, Caleb cracked a genuine smile. The expression transformed his entire face, softening the hard edges and making him look years younger. Fiona's heart did a peculiar little flip.
They worked side by side for the next hour, falling into an easy rhythm. Fiona found herself stealing glances at him when he wasn't looking. Sweat dampened his dark hair, and a smudge of dirt streaked across his jaw. It was unfair how good he looked even covered in dust and dirt.
"You're not half bad at this," she said as they secured another support beam.
"Such glowing praise." He handed her a level. "I rebuilt my cabin last summer. This is nothing."
"Of course you did." Fiona checked the beam's alignment. "Let me guess - you chopped down the trees yourself? With your bare hands?"
"Don't be ridiculous." His blue eyes sparkled with amusement. "I used my teeth. Wolf form, you know."
Fiona snorted, nearly dropping the level. Who knew the big bad alpha had a sense of humor?
After they finished setting the main frame, Caleb touched her elbow. "We really need to talk."
The serious tone in his voice sobered her mood. "About the Nightfang?"
He nodded, glancing around at the other workers. "Somewhere private."
Fiona followed him to the side of the building, away from curious ears. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the grass, and a cool breeze carried the scent of approaching rain.
"Listen," he started, running a hand through his hair. "About what happened the other night-"
A crash from the playground interrupted him, followed by several loud curses.
"We should probably..." Fiona gestured toward the commotion.
"Yeah." Caleb sighed. "But this conversation isn't over."
"I wouldn't dream of it." She patted his arm as she passed. "Come on, alpha. Let's make sure they haven't destroyed all our hard work."