A buzz runs through the gathering. People turn to look at us. Tolin’s hand squeezes mine.
“My brother has been away from us for five years,” Ronan says. “He left because of pride. Because of pain. Because sometimes the hardest thing in the world is admitting you were wrong and asking to come home.”
Tolin is rigid beside me. I squeeze his hand, offering what comfort I can.
“But tonight, he’s here. With his mate. Ready to take his place in this clan.” Ronan’s voice softens slightly. “Ready to come home.”
He gestures, and the crowd parts. Tolin looks at me, uncertainty in his eyes.
“Go,” I whisper. “This is your moment.”
He releases my hand and walks forward, through the parted crowd, until he’s standing before his brother. The two men face each other, so similar and so different.
“Tolin Ironwood,” Ronan says formally. “Do you wish to return to the Ironwood Clan? To serve as Beta, as is your birthright? To protect this community and lead beside me?”
The silence is absolute. Everyone watching, waiting.
Tolin drops to one knee.
I grip Mother Lenora’s arm. I’ve never seen him kneel before anyone. Never seen him submit. But here he is, headbowed, one knee in the snow, acknowledging his brother as Alpha.
Ronan reaches out and smooths his hand over Tolin’s head. A gesture of acceptance. Of blessing. Of welcome.
“Rise, brother,” he says. “Rise and take your place.”
Tolin stands, and the clan erupts.
Cheers and whoops and stamping feet. People surging forward to clap Tolin on the back, to shake his hand, to welcome him home. The noise is overwhelming, joyful, and I’m crying again without meaning to.
Mother Lenora appears beside me, her arm wrapping around my shoulders.
“Look at that,” she says, her own eyes wet. “Look at my boys.”
Ronan and Tolin are standing together, side by side, accepting congratulations from the clan. Tolin looks stunned. Overwhelmed. Like he can’t quite believe what’s happening.
“He didn’t expect this,” I say.
“No.” Mother Lenora shakes her head. “He thought they’d be angry. That they’d resent him for leaving. He never understood that they were just waiting for him to come back.”
Tolin’s eyes find me across the crowd. Even from this distance, I can feel his emotions through the bond. Shock. Joy. Gratitude. Love.
I blow him a kiss, and he smiles. A real smile, bright and unguarded, the kind I’ve only seen glimpses of until now.
Ronan calls for attention again, and the crowd settles.
“One more thing,” he says. “Before we light the tree.”
He gestures toward me, and suddenly everyone is looking.
“Imani.” Ronan’s voice carries across the clearing. “Come forward.”
My heart pounds as I walk through the parted crowd. Tolin meets me halfway, taking my hand, walking with me until we’re standing before the Alpha.
Ronan looks at me with those assessing eyes, the ones that see everything. Then his expression softens into something almost warm.
“Imani,” he says. “You’ve done something no one else could do. You’ve brought my brother home.” He reaches out and takes my free hand. “On behalf of the Ironwood Clan, I welcome you. Not as a guest. Not as a visitor. As family. As one of us.”
The crowd cheers again, and this time the sound sweeps me up, carries me along, makes me feel like I’m part of something bigger than myself.
