Page 29

Yelena

The sweet aroma of chocolate chip pancakes fills the kitchen, along with the sizzle of bacon. I hum a cheerful tune to myself as I finish setting the table and preparing for our breakfast. The first breakfast as a family of three.

Last night was incredible. My body is tired and sore, but in all the right places.

Austin loves me and is ready to finally accept our mate bond. He loves Cleo and can’t wait to be her Dad.

For the first time in years, I’m filled with hope.

I pour three glasses of orange juice and set them aside. The front door opens, and I look up, smiling when I see Austin come in the door. He’s carrying a small bouquet of pink flowers.

He walks over and kisses me hello. “Do you think she’ll like these?” he asks, nervously. “I wanted to have something for her.”

I look down at the delicate pink flowers and my heart threatens to burst.

He’s so different now. Before, the idea of him buying flowers or even kissing me hello would have been absurd. But now…

“She’ll love them. Let me get a vase,” I say, leaning up to kiss his cheek.

I can’t stop touching him. My wolf and I have been starved for physical contact for the years that we’ve lived apart. Even casual touches, like brushing past him in the kitchen or the way he reaches out to tuck my hair behind my ear, make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

“So, we’ll tell her at breakfast?” Austin confirms, sneaking a slice of bacon out of the pan. I swat at him playfully with the spatula but nod in agreement.

“She needs to know as soon as possible so she can adjust. There are a lot of changes coming up for her,” I say, biting my lip anxiously.

There’s a rustling coming from the hallway, so I shoo Austin away from me and hurry to put food on plates.

“Good morning, Mama,” Cleo says, sleepily. “Oh, chocolate chip pancakes!”

I walk over to give her a hug good morning. “We have a guest this morning,” I tell her, pointing at Austin.

He is holding the vase of flowers and looking uncharacteristically out of his element.

“Hi, Cleo,” he says, awkwardly. “I brought you these. Pretty flowers for the pretty princess!”

She brightens and comes over to look at them.

“Thank you,” she says politely. She looks at me, and then looks at Austin and a small smile creases her face.

“Austin,” she whispers, beckoning him to bend down. “Is today the day you tell me the news?” she whispers loudly.

Austin freezes and I stop what I’m doing to watch. He looks over at me and then back down at Cleo, and swallows hard, kneeling down so he’s at her level.

“What news is that, half-pint?” he asks carefully.

“You brought me the pink flowers, just like in my dream,” she says happily, “So I know you’re going to tell me news!”

Austin and I exchange a panicked glance, but before I can intervene, she launches herself at him, and he catches her in a big hug.

“My dreams tell the truth. Last time I dreamed that a big man with cookies would come visit me and tell me he’s my dad, and then you showed up and you had cookies”

Austin swallows hard. “And does that mean you think I’m your dad?” he asks, quietly.

She giggles and frames his face with her tiny hands. “I know you’re my dad, silly!” she exclaims. “And I’m glad you are. You’re fun. And you make Mama all glowy and happy. I want you to do that all the time.”

Austin hugs her tightly to him and I feel a tear slip down my cheek.

“I love you, Cleo,” he whispers, fiercely. She pats his back and then steps back, looking at me expectantly.

“So, when are we moving back home?” she asks, walking over to the table.

Austin and I exhale and move to sit at the table with her, each of us filling our plates before we

answer.

“We’re going home soon,” I say, hesitantly. “We’re all going to live together, you, me, and…your dad.”

She beams and shoves a huge bite of chocolate chip pancake in her mouth.

“Is that where the wolves live?”

I choke on my glass of orange juice but Austin steps in, reaching over to pat my hand reassuringly.

“What do you know of the wolves, princess?” he asks, softly.

She shrugs. “Not much. I just dream of them sometimes. Especially this great big black one. He’s nice to me and I think he’s the biggest of the wolves. Then, sometimes I dream about living with them. Like, we’re all wolves. Even Mama. She’s such a pretty wolf.”

Austin cracks a smile and looks at me. “Your Mama would be a very pretty wolf, wouldn’t she?” he asks.

She nods, solemnly, and he continues, “When we go home, you’re going to learn a lot more about the wolves. I promise. They are very important to us and our history.”

She looks at me and then back at Austin. “Does that mean that I can run in the woods? In my dream, I got to run in the woods with the big, black wolf!”

Austin reaches out and pats her hand. “I can’t wait to show you the woods, princess. There’s so much that you’re going to get to see.”

***

It took seven days for us to pack up my life in the city, quit my job at Ruby Clinic, and make arrangements to move back to the pack’s land.

My father came to help us pack and spend time with his granddaughter while Austin took care of some Pack affairs.

A part of me feels sad that I will see my father less now.

He still doesn’t come onto the pack properly, but I assure him we’ll make the trip to see him as often as we can.

Cleo has adjusted to the news that wolf shifters exist and that she is one, with surprising calm.

Her biggest concern is what color her wolf will be when she finally gets her wolf.

She constantly asks when it will happen and when she will get to shift like us.

I reassure her that it will happen when the time is right, and that it doesn’t matter what color her wolf is, because she will always be our little princess.

But I can understand her impatience. I remember how eager I was to shift for the first time, to feel the power of my wolf coursing through my veins. It’s an indescribable feeling, like a part of you that you never knew existed suddenly comes to life.

Austin, on the other hand, has been more hesitant.

It took her begging for two days before he agreed to shift in front of her.

He was so worried that she would be terrified of him.

But, after she told him that his wolf is what makes her feel safe during her bad dreams, he finally did it.

The look on her face was priceless when his majestic, black wolf stood in our living room.

I almost cried when she reached out, running her hands through his thick fur in wonder. It was a beautiful moment.

Now, she asks Austin to shift and lay with her every night while I read her bedtime story.

The look on his face when he heard that made me realize that Austin would stay in his wolf form permanently if it meant that his little girl felt safe.

Night after night, he shifts and they snuggle on the floor. I had to hide my laughter when she tried to make him do tricks in his wolf form like a pet dog.

The fact that he allows her to play and learn this way makes me love him anymore. To everyone else, he’s the Alpha. The protector of the pack. He’s fierce and unyielding when he has to be. But to us? He’s our love. The man who will do anything for us.

Unfortunately, the news that Cleo is a Seer has been harder for her to understand. Teaching her to control her powers and exist in this new reality is not going to be easy. At least I can console myself with the fact that the pack will work with us to keep her safe.

I put the last bag in the bed of Austin’s truck, and turn to face my little house. It’s time to say goodbye and go back home.

Austin sent word ahead to the pack and let them know that we are coming. He told me a small celebration has been planned, but I’m still nervous about how we will be accepted.

Cleo keeps up a steady stream of conversation as we make the long drive back to the pack lands. Her silly questions keep the mood light and soon, I see the familiar roads that mark the boundary of pack property.

We’re finally home.

Austin slows the truck as we enter the front gates. I raise my eyebrows when I see how many guards are posted by them. I look over at Austin with a question in my eyes, but he shakes his head quickly, his eyes going to the rearview mirror where he can see Cleo. Later, then.

“Are we here? Is this is it?” she says excitedly, peering out the window.

“Welcome home to Nightwing Pack, baby,” I say with a smile.

“To you as well,” Austin murmurs, reaching over to squeeze my knee. “Our Luna has finally come home.”

I flush red and my insides tingle at the way he looks at me. His Luna.

The future I once thought was lost, is now reality. It’s a little hard to wrap my head around.

“Mama, mama look! There’s wolves! I see them!

In the trees!” Cleo shrieks. I crane my head and smile when I see the pups playing in the meadow by the road.

They aren’t too much older than Cleo, in the first or second year of their shift.

They tumble and race through the grass and trees with wild abandon.

I look back at my daughter and I know that will be her soon.

When we turn onto the main street, I’m surprised to see a giant “Welcome Home” banner stretched out across the road, tied between two huge trees.

People, my packmates, line the street and cheer as we slow to a crawl.

“Your pack welcomes you,” Austin says with a smile.

I give a little wave and try to calm my racing heart. When we park, people swarm the car, forcing Austin to use his Alpha influence to get people to back up.

Cleo clings to me, peering out at everyone with interest.

The former Alpha Malakai and Luna Elizabeth come rushing out to meet us.

I hesitate for only a moment, unsure of the kind of welcome I will get now that they know I kept their granddaughter from them.

Austin told me that they were overjoyed by the news when he told them, but I’ve still been anxious.

However, as soon as Luna Elizabeth draws near, I know I needn't have worried. Her face is warm and welcoming as ever, a potent reminder that I’m truly home.

“Yelena, you’re home,” Luna Elizabeth says, crushing me to her chest in a bear hug. “Thank the Moon Goddess.” I wrap my arms around her as well, hugging her tightly.

When we pull back, I tug on Cleo’s hand and pull her forward. “This is Cleo,” I tell her.

Luna Elizabeth’s eyes fill with tears as she crouches down in front of Cleo.

“It’s very nice to meet you,” she says warmly. “I’m Elizabeth, your father’s mama. If you wanted, you could call me Nonna.”

Cleo studies her seriously for a moment before breaking out in a huge grin. “Nonna!” she exclaims, rushing to give her a hug.

Elizabeth embraces Cleo lovingly, tears of joy in her eyes as she holds her granddaughter for the first time.

I look over to see Austin looking on with pride.

My heart swells at the sight of his mother bonding with our child.

Malakai looks on, his face a mixture of pride and uncertainty as he watches his granddaughter frolic and play.

He’s never been one to be emotionally effusive, but something tells me that Cleo will have him wrapped around her finger in no time.

The reunion is interrupted by a commotion near the edge of the crowd. The pack parts to make way for Vincent, Austin's beta, who approaches with a grave expression.

I hurry to Austin’s side.

"Alpha," Vincent says urgently. "We must speak right away. The threat may be more serious than we realized."

Anxiety floods my veins, and I look to Austin. His face darkens and his smile disappears. Former Alpha Malakai looks alarmed as well.

Shit. What is happening right now?

Austin nods curtly at Vincent before turning back to me and Cleo.

"I'm sorry, my loves, but duty calls,” he says, motioning for his mom to come over. “Mom, can you help them get settled?” he asks.

She nods, but I turn to Austin with worry in my eyes.

“Tell me she’s going to be safe,” I whisper urgently. “Tell me the threat isn’t against Cleo.”

He kisses my cheek tenderly.

“Take Cleo and get settled back home. There was an unusual scent at the borders. Unknown wolf or wolves. We’re going to check it out, and then I’ll be home. You and Cleo will be safe here. I swear it.”

I don’t like the idea of an unknown wolf sniffing around our perimeter, but it does happen from time to time.

With Cleo and I only recently arrived back on the pack’s land, it feels particularly ominous.

Is it truly a visiting wolf or a rogue passing by, or is it a sign of something more nefarious?

Could the news that Cleo is the new Seer have spread that quickly?

Are they pushing at our boundaries because they want to get to her?

These questions, and more, press on my brain, almost to the point of overwhelming me. I look over at Austin and take a deep breath. Our mate is the Alpha. He will keep us safe.

My wolf whines in agreement and I manage a small smile and then go up on my tiptoes to kiss him quickly.

“Be safe, my love,” I whisper in his ear.

He squeezes my hand. “Always, my Luna.”

With that, he quickly shifts and bounds off, followed by Vincent. I watch them until they disappear beyond the tree line.

Elizabeth puts her arm around me reassuringly.

"Come now, let's get you two home. Austin will take care of things, not to worry."