Where There's Smoke

The smoke cleared, but the fire remained…

The fire took everything I worked for:

My rescue.

My livelihood.

My home.

But I won't let it take my passion for the lost animals of this world.

In time, I will rebuild, but for now, the only roof over my head is my car. I had every intention of sleeping off the adrenaline and anxiety in my little bubble of solitude until a grumpy firefighter practically drags me to his firehouse where he demands I stay put and take time to heal from the disaster.

How can I heal when the arsonist is still out there and the entire firehouse is insisting I'm an omega? I'm a beta. Always have been, always will be, but something about these men is making me doubt that reality, and with each passing day, I'm finding it harder to disagree with them.

I didn't expect to find love when the smoke cleared. With the scent lingering, and the destruction ever present, will the ashes nurture hope and a new beginning for me and the animals I care for, or will the air grow thin, leaving us breathless and unsalvageable?