“It is not,” the Great Luna nodded.
“And you…” Peri said. “You hear us when we call.”
“Always. And I will always answer.”
Peri felt the Great Luna’s warmth fade, and then Peri was standing in the driveway of the Colorado pack mansion again. She looked up and saw that all the eyes of her group were on her.
“Great Luna?” Elle asked.
Peri nodded.
“Are you alright?” Lucian cupped her face in his hand.
“I know how to save the pups, girls, and Costin,” she said in answer because that seemed more important than how she was freaking out inside. Lucian took her hand, and they started walking toward the door of the mansion with Sorin, Elle, Wadim, Zara, Adam, Crina, Chris, and Cindy right on their heels. Peri took a deep breath as Lucian knocked on the door. She had to prepare herself for seeing Fane. But she wasn’t sure that it was possible, not when her own heart was still crushed.
The door opened and Dillon, the Colorado pack alpha, stood there, not at all surprised to see them. “I was expecting someone, but I wasn’t sure it would be you,” Dillon admitted. “You’ve been MIA for a week.”
“It wasn’t because I didn’t want to help,” Peri said. “Unfortunately, evil villains don’t coordinate their attacks so that it’s convenient for the good guys.”
“Where is my nephew?” Lucian asked, obviously not in the mood for small talk.
Dillon stepped aside. “Come in. He’s in the main living area.”
Peri wasn’t sure what she was expecting to see, but Fane, standing, stoically calm, his eyes looking out the large window into the beautiful mountains behind the house, wasnotit. There was no destruction to the room … unless they’d magically cleaned it up. Decebel was standing a few feet away, his back against the wall but his gaze on Fane. Or at least they were until their group entered, then Decebel’s eyes shifted to them.
Sorin moved before anyone could speak. He walked straight to Decebel, and they embraced like brothers. Soft words were spoken and pats on the back given before they released one another. Then Sorin walked over to Fane. He stood a step behind him and bowed his head. Peri could see the pain and sorrow in the rigidness of Sorin’s shoulders. He wanted to embrace Fane in the same manner, but Fane was no longer Sorin’s charge to protect. He was now his alpha.
After a few tense moments, Fane slowly turned. When his gaze roamed over the room, every wolf dropped their eyes, and some even had to lower their heads, under the power of Fane’s wolf. His eyes were glowing brighter than Peri had ever seen them.
“Alpha,” Sorin said as he lowered his head even more.
Fane looked down at him, and Peri got a glimpse of the love Fane felt for Sorin. Even his wolf held deep affection for the older male. “Are you alright? Your mate?” Fane asked.
Again, it was not what Peri had been expecting. Fane reached out, lifted Sorin’s head, and turned it from side to side. Any bruising or cuts had now healed, as theCanis lupusrecovered quite quickly as long as the wounds weren’t bad.
“I am relatively unscathed, as is my female.” Sorin’s voice was tight, and Peri could tell he was holding back his emotions. “Fane, I’m…” Sorin stopped as his shoulders began to shake.
Fane pulled his long-time protector to him and hugged him, pressing his hand to the back of Sorin’s head so that his forehead pressed to Fane’s shoulder. Fane then spoke in the language of his people. “The pain is great. But the time to mourn has not yet come.” The strength in his voice was that of his father’s. Fane had not crumbled under the weight of his parents' deaths.
Peri glanced over at Decebel. The beta, if that’s what he still was, looked at Fane with pride shining in his amber eyes. He must have felt Peri’s gaze because he shifted his eyes to hers. He gave her a nod that made it clear he felt Fane was ready. This was not the boy from a year ago, or even six months ago. This was the man who’d grown into the alpha his parents had been raising from the day of his birth. This was the man who’d held fast in the face of adversaries. He’d confronted loss, turmoil, grief, and brokenness. But with the help of his parents, his pack, and his mate, he’d endured, and the result of all those trials was standing before them now—strong, powerful, determined, and ready to lead.
When Fane released Sorin, he walked over to his uncle and embraced him as well. Lucian didn’t hesitate. They were about the same height and build, though Lucian’s blond hair was a stark contrast to Fane’s black locks. They gave manly back pats, and then Fane moved on to Adam and then Crina, who openly cried. Fane grasped both of the she-wolf’s shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes. She held his gaze for a few seconds but then dropped hers.
“Be strong, Crina. You’ve been mentored by the strongest she-wolf we’ve ever known. They prepared us for this, though we never thought the day would come when we’d face the evil of the world without them. We can andwilldo this.”
“Yes, Alpha.” Crina wiped away her tears. She lifted her chin and stood a little taller, and Peri watched as her pain morphed into the same determination Fane exhibited.He was standing taller, his shoulders were pulled back and his piercing blue eyes were fierce. Peri could practically see him settling into the mantle that had been placed on him.
Next, Fane hugged Wadim and then looked at Zara. “I am thankful that you have joined our pack. I hope I can be half the alpha my father and mother were to you even in your brief time under their care.”
Zara smiled, though her eyes stayed down. “I have a feeling you’re going to do just fine.”
Fane looked at Chris and Cindy Morgan. “I am sorry we haven’t done a better job of protecting your daughter and grandson. They’re in the Order’s hands—Sally for the second time—and as her alpha, I make the promise that we will not let this happen again.”
Cindy walked over to Fane and wrapped him in her arms much like a mother would her own son. “You have nothing to apologize for,” she said gently. “I realize you are an alpha now. I know the responsibility you have on your shoulders, but for just a moment, be a son again. I’m not your mom, but I amamom and my heart breaks for you.” Her voice was very soft, but the room was full of supernaturals who had amazing hearing. Everyone bowed their heads, even those who hadn’t had to do so under Fane’s power, out of respect, giving them what little privacy they could.
Fane hugged Cindy back and dropped his face to her shoulder. For a few heartbeats, he was once again a twenty-year-old young man who had lost his mother. His shoulders shook a bit, and Cindy patted his back and said something else, but this time it was so soft that Peri didn’t catch it. After several minutes, Fane released Cindy and then pressed a chaste kiss to the woman’s forehead. It was so touching and tender that Peri nearly lost control of her own emotions. The kiss was something she’d seen him do to his own mother many times. The pain in his blue eyes was tangible and cut her to her core. Lucian pulled her closer to his side, offering comfort. It would be short lived. There was too much they had to face, and Peri knew there was more pain in store for them.
Finally, Fane walked back toward Lucian, but he stopped directly in front of Peri. She wished she could have kept the tears from falling. She looked into the face of a young man who was a perfect blend of both of his parents. He had his father’s strength and his mother’s kindness. And it made her miss them all over again.
