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Chapter Forty-Three

AUTUMN

T wo more trysts later, Renall finally shows me what he brought for me. He pulls a shimmering gold fabric dress with green accents out of the box and holds it out for me. Its V-cut is deeper than even the green dress was, and the thick long sleeves flare at the tips. There is a slit up one leg. “It’s gorgeous … where did you–”

“It’s no matter. You are one of us now, my love.”

One of us. A part of the pack with Renall as my mate. I knew the repercussions of my actions, but hearing him say it—it warms my heart. A family. I belong somewhere now.

The tears threaten to come as I dress in the gold Guardian dress and pin my hair up with gold pins. My eyes still glow golden and bright as I peer into the mirror before me. A far cry from the person I was the last time I looked into this mirror. I know this is me staring back. I know she was in there deep inside all this time. I’m proud of who she is becoming and what Renall and I will become together.

I exit the bathroom to find Renall peeking out the cave door.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

His eyes meet mine and his smile falters, his knees look about to tremble before he composes himself and walks up to me. “Better than fine. My love, you look ethereal. Let’s go show off my mate to everyone.”

With his hand on the small of my back, we step out onto the ledge of the cave and pause … the scent hits me first. Flowers. Blooming floral scents mingle and fill the cave around me. The walls are covered in thick winding branches from the floor to the ceiling and blooming flowers are scattered all across it. The branches climb to the apex of the cave where a huge golden flower sits glowing and warm like an autumn sunrise.

“Day flower,” Renall’s warm breath whispers into my ear.

“Like the Moon Flower?” I ask.

“Only it blooms in the sun.”

“Wow.” I whisper as he guides me across the ledge. That’s when a hush falls over the cave below. My gaze travels down to the people, but they are watching me .

“Renall …what is going on?” I ask as a couple slink away from us, lowering their gaze as they make room for us to pass them on the ledge. Down the stairs we go, one by one in utter silence. The cave is never silent. It’s growing unnerving. “Renall, what are they staring at?” My cheeks flush. “It’s like they know what we did last night.”

“Oh, they know.”

My cheeks redden further. “How?”

As we reach the cave floor, a spark of light draws my attention to the far dais. The day flower casts a spotlight on the two thrones. One is bright gold, as if it were polished overnight, blossoming with flowers over its arms and back. The wooden throne beside it glistens as if it were freshly sanded and stained. The cave is alive again, just like in my dream.

“The Queen has returned,” Renall answers me as we pass under the shadow of the ledge above.

“The Queen? Where?”

He doesn’t respond, just looks at me with that calm, prideful look. Realization smacks into me like a crashing wave. His glancing out the door. Renall’s anticipation. The dress. He dressed me in gold and green—the royal colors. “No,” I gasp. “No, it can’t be ...”

“I thought the scent in your family home was familiar. I was very good friends with Gweneviere.”

“How do you know my Mother’s name?”

“Autumn, for weeks now I’ve had suspicions. The second wolf, the immense power, the strength of our bond. This morning what I felt and saw … it confirms everything. Your Mother was our long-lost Queen.”

“No …”

I don’t have all the answers, but with her death–”

No.

“And our mating.”

No . I’m not breathing.

“You became our Queen.”

A mating bond that is powerful enough to break an Alpha order. The bond growing stronger and stronger no matter the power I felt; my Mother’s voice calling to me in my sleep. The way I always felt like I’ve been here before. Only the Queen has more than one affinity, Renall pointed out—I have three.

I am their Queen. As the thought comes, I feel its truth deep in my soul. Had I always known? I’d been drawn to Renall. I had fought to stay. I feel connected to these people despite their attempts to kill and rape me. I still wanted to stay and I want to make a difference.

“Okay?” Renall asks me.

I meet his eyes then, the tears fall. “I’m better than okay, I’m home. I’m finally home.”

“Welcome home, Love. Greet your people. They’ve been waiting long enough.”

Renall’s hand remains on the small of my back as I approach the dais. The day flower casts a ray of sunshine on me as I start to walk and the wolves and Guardians I pass begin to fall to their knees. I climb up to the throne. Doves fly from behind them and scatter into the cave. I turn to face the pack. My eyes scan the ledges, and they all kneel before me. Movement catches my eye to my left where Lupe and Zev stand in the doorway to the Alpha rooms. Zev kneels before me hiding his face. Lupe watches me for a few moments before she, too, takes a knee. A whisper starts from the back and echoes from their lips. There were whispers of that word when I won Renall’s freedom from the Blood Rite. Only now, because of the mating bond, I can understand it.

“My Queen.”

Beside me Renall kisses my hand, drawing my attention before he, too, kneels, keeping his eyes on me. They darken as his lips murmur against my skin on the back of my hand. He’s whispering, “My soul mate and Guardian, but you are so much more … you, my Autumn, are my Queen.”

Something feels wrong. “No, you rise. You are my mate, my equal. You rise with me.”

His eyes widen. “No one is equal to the Queen.”

“You are my soulbonded mate, you will stand beside me as such.”

He whispers low so only I can hear, “Are you sure?”

I nod once. Renall slowly rises to his feet, still holding my hand to the gasps around the cavern.

My eyes take in the room, the bowed heads, those who have knelt. My mate standing by my side. I let the tears fall as feelings overwhelm me. I’m home. The Queen has returned. Although we have a long fight ahead of us, the cave is alive again, and I will make it my mission to restore Protector Clan to its former glory.

The demon hunters won’t stand a chance.

More importantly, Mother and Colton would be proud.

The End