Chapter 132: Crimsontail Wayward Wolf

Jiro POV

The first time Jiro marched into Crimsontail territory with his family around him, it was to invade, to rescue Lilia and oppose Cyran's tyranny. Battles, stealth, and a lot of worry and constantly benign on the alert for danger made up his march music.

The second time he paraded through the territory, it was as the newly chosen Alpha, with Garnet as the new Luna at his side. That time, the focus was on being visible, reassuring the people, and showing strength and kindness as a leader. Folk music and dancing accompanied that procession.

Now, the march reflected homecoming and alliances, and the singing and dancing reflected unity. The singers that accompanied their march belted out the Crimsontail and Silverpaw anthems, as well as Evenhide, and, surprisingly, Lugdunum. 

With Garnet beside him and their crowns on their heads, Jiro marched with Kelara and Talon on their right and Ravyn and Jude on their left. Cyran, Naomi, Lilia, Dane, and the rest of the family followed, with the Crimsontail council in the middle and the pack's honor guard and citizens bringing up the rear, watching for any threats.

Just because Hades had gone who knew where didn't mean Jiro, Garnet, or any shifter anywhere could get complacent. The Dark Goddess still waited to inject her poison into whatever she touched. In addition, threats could crop up anywhere–although having representatives of the royal court of Lugdunum combined with witches, shifters, and wood elves made a bold and unmistakable statement: We stand together. Try and divide us at your peril.

Talon, Kelara, and Wiliam glanced around them at the green and gold hills like sentinels that marked the entrance into Red Crescent City. Those ancient hills dotted with huge fir trees had seen centuries of Crimsontail history and many Alpha processions passing through.

"Ready?" he asked Talon, Kelara, and William.

The boy responded by chasing after his overzealous bunny, Flufftail, who hopped ahead blissfully. She didn't seem to worry about wolves mistaking her for dinner. But William, looking anxious, scooped her up anyway and fussed with her ears and her little ribbon he'd tied around her neck, wanting her to look her best. Ravyn and Jude laughed softly. "What's he going to be like with your baby?" Ravyn asked Kelara.

With a fond smile, Kelara said, "Spoil him like no one's business. He'll be doting on his little brother."

Jude grinned. "As it should be for an Alpha's child. The little brother will make a great Beta of your hidden pack in the human world someday."

Jiro's alert nose picked up on the scent of the grass. Also, the scent of Murmuring Lake in the city. The smell of home.

Crimsontail Shadows lands were home. He felt the ground under his feet, and it made his steps springier, his strides prouder and stronger. The crests of the hills looked down, and the wolf sentinels perched on top of them gazed with their yellow and red eyes ever watchful, tracking their progress into the city.

Red Crescent City had expanded in the three years since Jiro became Alpha. A new ring of shops, businesses, and homes had joined the other rings of the city that radiated outward from the city square near Sinsworth House. The shopkeepers and residents came out to watch their Alpha's and Luna's return. Excited chatter and music filled the air, along with the smells of shifters and of food that vendors sold to the gathering crowd. It looked like a festival day.

He glanced at the newest pack members and smiled. "Come on. The pack is waiting to meet you."

* * * * *

Talon POV

Home.

After a lifetime of being a rogue in a strange way, he was home.

His wolf felt it. He knew it. His wolf was doing a dance, elated to be on home ground. Talon transformed into a wolf and knelt for Kelara and William to climb on. He heard Florinda change, and sensed Walter shifting. Proudly, he, Florinda, and Walter let their paws touch the earth and then the city's cobblestone paths.

So many shifters! So much excitement. Such a beautiful, majestic castle rising above the city. Sinsworth House looked as grand as his own castle. And he could smell the lake. Living on a lake when they stayed in pack territory would be lovely. Talon loved to fish, and he and William would fish anytime, anywhere. 

Red Crescent City looked charmingly spread out, with lots of room to move for wolves and humans. The early afternoon sun glowed. Buildings of red brick, red roofs, shades of red and orange and gold everywhere. A bell in a bell tower tolled, calling the pack to gather in the square. An impressive pentagon-shaped building looked like it housed the council. 

The people impressed Talon more than anything. They lined the streets to see the Alpha and Luna return home. They followed the procession into the square. Their laughter, their smiles, their greetings all filled him with joy.

He could feel Kelara's contentment and smell William's eagerness. Two red wolves slipped past them. Jiro and Garnet. Jude and Ravyn also rushed past them in wolf form. A black wolf and a pale golden wolf. 

White wolf Dane, with Lilia riding on him, joined the royal wolves. Red wolf Cyran and red-and-brown wolf Naomi pranced regally.

The Crimsontail crowd ate it up. Jiro could have come home riding in a hay wagon and they would cheer their triumphant Alpha who defied the odds and defeated their eternal foe on a mysterious, cursed island, and rescued new couple Ravyn and Jude.

The scent of humans, Marieke, Alicia, and Aldwin, didn't kill the jubilant mood. In fact, the Crimsontails looked more curious than anything, staring and sniffing at Alicia and Aldwin. Marieke and Daxius waved, their faces reserved. All this attention could be overwhelming. A full pack welcome was loud, enthusiastic, and full of the spirit of the wolf. Talon always wondered what it would be like. The Evenhide one would live on in his memory … but the Crimsontail one stole his heart.

Jiro and Garnet halted in front of the pack as the council, Wise Woman Roslynn, and Beta Barrett took their places in front of Sinsworth House. 

Shifting, Jiro and Garnet retrieved their crowns and placed them on their heads. Dane and lilia did the same. Jude and Ravyn shifted, and Naomi and Cyran. 

Kelara squeezed Talon's hackles and scratched his ears before she climbed down. William leapt down and raised his little fists in the air excitedly, evoking howls of approval from the pack. Talon returned to his human form and turned to face the crowd. This strange sea of faces felt familiar in the depths of his being.

"I'm home," he shouted.

Jiro's hand gripped his and raised it over their heads, to the crowd's enthusiastic applause and howls. The cheers filled the air. 

Talon gripped William's hand with his free one, while Kelara held the boy's other hand.

"You are home, Talon Sinsworth Blackthorn, Alpha Lord of the Blackthorn Clan," Jiro declared. "Separated from us by love–the love your ancestor, also named Talon, had for his human mate. Brought back to us by love. Welcome to you, and to your mate, the Lady Luna Kelara Blackthorn, and to your son William Blackthorn, a future Alpha, and also to your pup-to-be. Welcome home, all of you! And long live the friendship with the human court in Lugdunum that sent you, your family Lady Florinda and Lady Alicia, Head Mage Pascalline, lord's counsel Walter Longbridge, and protector Aldwin Brocius. You are all part of our pack."

As Talon waved to the crowd and William let out his best howl, delighting the pack, the contentment burrowed into his heart and refused to leave.

* * * * *

Ravyn POV

Happy to not be the sole focus of the cheers, Ravyn stood with her family, simply enjoying Talon's homecoming and the sense of peace she felt from him. Now, as a wolf, she understood the power of the pack, the strength of the community, in a way she couldn't as just a witch. She partly understood before, even as an outsider. The bonds in the pack seemed similar to the tight-knit witch community. The witches and wizards had an understanding of each other that went beyond just their magic. 

Garnet continued. "Who knew that in the human court, we would find you? Who knew that we would fight beside you and be saved by you on Abandonnado Island, not once, but twice? Many brave souls, in the human court and in shifter lands helped make this homecoming possible."

A surge of pride flowed from Jude to Ravyn. Of course. Talon and Kelara had become part of the ever-growing Cresta family.

Jiro added solemnly, "Of course, they also showed great bravery in helping defeat their own ancestor, several times, and then stood by him when he tried to atone for all his crimes by facing the Dark Goddess in a death match. Hades Ombra, or at least his last incarnation, was killed again and we haven't seen any sign of him since."

The deafening cheers made everyone cover their ears, and Ravyn felt Jude's emotions churn, genuinely sad. She was lucky. She even had a mate who, after clawing and fighting to take down Hades and getting huffy with her over helping him, understood the waste of his death.

Cyran howled to quiet the crowd, and they all stared at him and Naomi with wide eyes.

"We mustn't get complacent again," he said in a serious tone. "But for now, we celebrate the alliance with the humans, who have been d*mn good friends, and we're all going to be having a howling good time as we share in the happiness of Alpha Jude and his new Luna Ravyn of the Silverpaw Pack. They started all this with their quest, and we got Daxius and Marieke as family too."

Jiro looked at Talon, who held the kneeling Kelara's hands. "Talon and Kelara Blackthorn, is it your intention to be bonded today before this gathering and the Moon Goddess?"

William squealed with excitement.

Talon and Kelara answered as one. "Yes."

"Kelara," Jiro said in a mild voice. "Recite the words that will bind you to Talon for eternity."

Gazing at him, Kelara gripped his hands in her warm ones and said in her sweet voice, "From this moment on, I pledge my love, my life, and my soul to you. I promise to be your partner, your Luna, your protector, and your friend, for the rest of our lives. I will submit to you as the submissive partner. I take you as my mate, to love, honor, and cherish, until the end of time and beyond."

Talon held her hands. "I accept your submission. From this moment on, I pledge my love, my life, and my soul to you. I promise to be your partner, your protector, your Alpha, and your friend, for the rest of our lives. I will rule you with kindness, fairness, and love as the dominant partner. I take you as my mate, to love, honor, and cherish, until the end of time and beyond."

His voice thick and his heart so full it might burst, he added, "With this vow, I rule you as my submissive partner, forever and always."

Jiro's voice rang out. "Then as the Alpha of this pack, I declare your bonding legal and binding before the entire pack! Let's rejoice!"

Smiling, Ravyn and Jude basked in the cheers, but she could feel the ache forming between her eyes. Jude winced and rubbed his head.

She murmured to him quietly, her voice masked by the crowd. "Your headache is catching. As soon as we can, let's see Healer Kellam and then rest together. I don't think we're quite over our ordeal."