“Of course, I will,” Nia said. “And I need to train to fight,” her tone lowered to a threat, “next time they plan to take me away, I am biting all their heads off.”
A creeping smile crossed Rem’s face, liking the change in Nia. “That’s a plan. We canbothlearn to fight, and maybe I can meet more families like yours. They remind me of mine.”
The she-wolf’s eyes widened. “My nan would love to meet a Silver.”
“I’d love to!”
The smile on Nia's face made Rem think that everything might actually work and that somehow, someway, she’d find a new home among the shifters.
R O N A N
Ronan trottedthrough the forest on all fours, the earth cold beneath his paws. He ran close to the covered carriage that housed Rem and a few others. He was grateful to be rid of the metal death traps that offended him, Scarlet keeping the rest to help repair the cities.
His body still ached, having done nothing but run, fight, and run again in the last two weeks. They were on their fifth day of journeying home, with the sun now setting. He and the other Alphas agreed they didn't want to remain in Scarlet for longer than necessary.
The queen was nowhere to be found, nor Marcus or the two Silvers that came with him. In that, Ronan refused to leave any of his people in Scarlet, taking every wolf with him.
He breathed in the air, the smell of home now detectable.Back on my soil. Just a few more hours until we reach home.
Two other Silvers journeyed with Rem back to Warden, totaling three Silvers within Ronan’s shadow. Surprisingly, all the Silvers agreed to be mated, and for that, the Alphas allowed them to choose which pack they went to.
Ronan ran close to the carriage as the wind swam through his fur, looking at the driver, who knew that meant to stop.
Once the vehicle began to slow, the Alpha ran over to the cream-colored wolf nearby, the she-wolf quickly maneuvering through the trees. He gave a bark, and Suna faced him before she eyed the slowing carriage. She halted and howled for those that escorted the Silvers to do the same.
His sister ran to greet them when their scouts smelled them in the wind, determined to check on their mother, who had been bitten a few times but otherwise fine.
Reclaiming his human form, he said to Suna, “We rest momentarily. It’s been a while.”
The human version of his sister greeted him once she shifted, swatting at something in her face. “We are a few hours away from home.”
“We will finish the journey by tonight. For now, let the Silvers stretch their legs.”
“We’d be there by now if we didn’t have to go slow for that giant monstrosity,” Suna said, nodding to the carriage. “Should have taken a bunch of small carriages, or put them all on horses.”
He glanced at it, the driver dismounting to open the side doors. Humanswereodd. He preferred the carriages, however, because he hated how trucks and other chunks of metal piled up on roadsides from an era long gone. The Earth didn't deserve to be cluttered by inanimate, unnatural creations.
It made him excited to be home–to stand in familiar, wild lands; where Mother Nature was alive, and he felt the gods on a full moon. He also looked forward to leaving all the outlandish drama behind, to focus on what he needed to do next.
“I like keeping them in one place, and also on something that’s more sheltered than a horse,” he replied. “Who knows if the hunters are out here with their scentless wolfshit.”
It worried him to think about what the humans offered—or were hiding—that inspired Enola, and even Marcus, to abandon their positions. And where did they go? What was their plan? Was all of Malus Moon going to revolt against the other packs now?
The other Alphas were to hold a summit within a month, to observe the Silver’s integration and to form a plan against the hunters. They also needed to discuss the betrayal of Enola and how they would move forward.
Which meant, for now, he needed to try and live somewhat normally until. It was important to rest his mind and heart, to avoid exhausting himself before any of this even began.
Rem floated through his mind as he breathed in the forest, eyeing the silhouettes of the evergreens against the darkening sky. The faintest colors of red and orange peeked through from the setting sun. He smelled animals in the distance, the air cold in his lungs.
He wondered how Jemma was going to react, especially since lingering traces of his scent still clung to Rem.
Ronan couldn’t deny how a deeply rooted, domineering instinct wanted nothing more than to claim her as soon as he could, to treat her like any other shifter female, even deeply fill her before his other wolves saw her. But he’d given her some space… For now. He knew one of those other Silvers was brewing with competition to claim his attention. He didn’t want to instigate any unnecessary drama while they were stuck in that carriage for days.
He did make sure to let his gaze linger on Rem though, to maintain the interest he had given her. She seemed unabashed in returning the same looks.
Movements through the trees stole his attention, spotting a few wolves on the run.Shifters of Warden. He had his people travel home on all fours, leaving in waves, so there would always be shifters in the woods. He wasn't going to repeat the same mistake twice. If Crowley hunters wanted to test him, then they were always welcome to try a second time.
"Looks like—what’s his name… Cillian. Looks like Cillian appreciates your Silver," Suna said.
