“Every one we can reach. The pack grows stronger with each warrior we reclaim. And the stronger we become, the better position we’re in to negotiate with the human villages.”
A compassionate outlook but also a practical one. His admiration for Seren increased. He shot a quick glance at Ariella and she smiled at him, clearly agreeing.
“There is one more thing,” he said. He reached for the satchel, his fingers brushing hers as she handed it to him. He opened the flap and withdrew the echo-pipe.
“Ariella found this in a deep-sea trench near the coast.” He held the instrument out for Seren’s inspection. “It responded to her voice. I have made some inquiries but so far we have discovered nothing that explains it.”
The Alpha’s amber eyes went wide.
“That’s impossible.” He took the pipe with reverent hands, turning it over to examine the ancient carvings. “The echo-pipes choose their wielders, yes, but they’ve only ever chosen Vultor. Never humans.”
“But I am not entirely human,” she said quietly. “My voice can do things no other human voice can do.”
“The Song.” Understanding dawned in Seren’s eyes. “You have the gift of the old sea-singers. Not Vultor-born, but Vultor-touched.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I. Not fully.” Seren gave the echo-pipe back, deliberately handing it to her and not to him. “But we have archives, records of the old times. If the answer exists anywhere, we’ll find it.”
“Thank you.” He clasped the Alpha’s forearm once more. “For everything.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” But Seren’s eyes were warm. “The hard work is just beginning. Go home to your daughter. Build your bridge. And when the time comes—” His gaze moved to Ariella. “—sing us a new song.”
They walked quietly back down the mountain.
The sun was setting by the time they reached the cliffs, painting the ocean in shades of copper and gold. Lilani was waiting at the cave entrance, practically vibrating with impatience, and she launched herself at Ariella the moment they came into view.
“You’re back! You’re back! Did you see the other wolves? Were they scary? Did they have big teeth? Did you?—”
Ariella scooped her up, laughing. “So many questions! Yes, we saw them. No, they weren’t scary. And yes, they have big teeth, but they’re friendly.”
“Really?” Lilani’s eyes went wide.
“Really.” Ariella kissed her forehead. “And guess what? They want us to be part of their pack. All three of us. And they sent pastries.”
The squeal of delight that followed could probably be heard back at the settlement.
He watched them—his mate and his daughter, tangled together in the dying light—and felt something he hadn’t felt in twenty years.
Peace. Not the absence of conflict. Not the exhausted surrender of someone who had simply stopped fighting. But true peace—the deep, settling kind that came from finally being where you belonged.
One month later…
Lilani’s laughterrang out across the rocks like wind chimes caught in a summer breeze.
“Watch me, Mama! Watch!”
Ariella looked up from the tide pool she’d been examining, a smile already spreading across her face. The little girl stood balanced on a flat boulder near the water’s edge, her arms spread wide, her wild curls dancing in the salt-tinged wind.
“I’m watching!”
Lilani took a deep breath, puffed out her cheeks, and attempted what she called a real Vultor roar. What came out was closer to an enthusiastic squeak—but she followed it with a dramatic leap onto the next rock, landing with the kind of fearless grace that made her heart clench with equal parts pride and terror.
“Impressive.” Valrek’s voice rumbled from somewhere behind her, warm with amusement. “She’ll be leading hunting parties before she’s ten at this rate.”
“She’ll give me grey hair before I’m thirty.”
“So?” His huge body settled beside her on the rocks, close enough that their shoulders touched. “You’ll still be the most beautiful creature in these waters when you’re a hundred.”
