Chapter 62
Elowen POV
1:
The pack dining hall was absolutely buzzing.
Bodies were crammed in shoulder to shoulder, laughter echoing off stone walls.The scent of roasted meat, fresh bread, and buttery everything swirled around like a damn hug for my soul. Long wooden tables stretched end to end with wolves. Omegas darted through with pitchers of cider, and Jace was already stealing bread rolls three seats over.
It felt good to be home. I sat between my chaos gremlins, Ash, Dax, and Lachlan, all three pressed in close like I might disappear if they blinked. Which, fair. The last few days had been a lot.
Across from me, Taya was whispering something wildly inappropriate into Rylen’s ear, and he was turning the exact shade of a ripe tomato. Jace sat beside them, alternating between stealing Rylen’s drink and pretending he wasn’t listening.
And then the Alpha King stood.
Draven’s presence silenced the room in seconds, Luna Aelira rising gracefully beside him, her dark curls pinned up like a damn queen (because, well, she was one).
“Welcome home,” Draven rumbled, his voice deep and commanding, but tinged with something warmer this time, pride. “Our travelers have returned safely from Scotland. We are thrilled to have our daughter of the moon,“….his gaze landed on me…“and her mates back where they belong.”
Everyone clapped. And by clapped, I mean howled. Banged fists on tables. Someone whistled. Lachlan gave a sheepish wave, which made half the omega girls sigh like he was a damn rom com poster.
“And,” Aelira added with a wink, “they’ve returned just in time. Because as of tomorrow night, our grounds will begin to fill. The week long Pack Convergence begins Monday at noon.”
The room exploded again….cheering, growling, people slamming drinks together like it was a medieval frat party.
I blinked. “Wait, what?”
Ash leaned over. “They moved it up.”
“Of course they did,” Dax muttered. “Because gods forbid we get five minutes to recover from vampire ambushes and fate boning.”
Lachlan just chuckled, already sipping from a tankard someone handed him. “What’s this
convergence, then?”
Draven continued, “We’ve extended invitations to all five major wolf packs. They will arrive Sunday evening and Monday morning. For one full week, we will host training events, bonding activities, market days, feast nights, and…” he raised his cup “…a mate ball on Friday night, where any new fated pairs may formally announce their bonds.”
Oh hell. The room erupted again, but louder this time. Some wolves stood to howl. Others started chanting “Mate ball! Mate ball!”
Jace leaned toward me, his eyes wide. “Okay but real question, is there like…a buffet? At the mate ball? Asking for science.”
“I’m bringing a flask,” Taya said seriously.
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Chapter 62
“Fuck, I love you people,” I muttered, already halfway through my second cider.
Aelira spoke again, her voice strong, “This will not only be an opportunity for joy and connection, but for strength. We need unity. The Aegis Protocol is out there. Watching. This convergence may be our greatest shield against them. So prepare yourselves. And welcome those who come with open hearts, but guarded minds.”
Luna wisdom, sharp as ever. Draven raised his goblet high. “To our pack. To fate. To the week ahead.”
“To fate!” the hall roared.
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“To sex and speed dating,” Jace muttered beside me, and Rylen spit his drink halfway across the table. And as everyone dug into the feast again, howling and toasting and teasing Lachlan about being “the hot Scottish import,” I sat back in my chair and let myself breathe.
One day to prepare. One day until the world changed again.
Let’s fucking go.
Daxon POV
The castle halls were quiet for once. Not dead, but still, like the whole pack was finally exhaling after holding its breath for too long. I moved through the dimly lit corridor with that bone deep ache that only came from battle adrenaline, skipped sleep, and a vampire ambush before boarding a goddamn private jet.
I should’ve gone straight to bed. Elowen was already half asleep leaning on Lachlan when we passed the great staircase, and Ash looked like he might literally stab someone if they interrupted his post flight cuddles. But instead, I found myself knocking twice on the heavy oak door to my father’s study.
“Enter,” came his voice, deep and sharp.
I pushed in and shut the door behind me. He stood at the hearth, a glass of whiskey in his hand. The flames cast golden shadows over his strong frame. Still in his dress shirt, sleeves rolled up. His tie hung from the back of a chair like it had lost a fight.
“Figured you’d stop in,” he said without turning. I didn’t answer right away. Just crossed the room, grabbed the second glass he’d already poured, and took a long pull.
I sighed heavily. “It was bad. Worse than we thought.”
Now he turned. “Tell me everything.”
So I did.
Every fucking detail. The potion. Morrigan’s terms. The vision from Selene. The Aegis ambush. The spell that innkeeper unleashed. Even the new mate. Lachlan, the elemental mage with the accent so thick you needed subtitles.
My father didn’t interrupt once. When I finished, he just stared into the fire for a while. Like he was holding the weight of it all in his
chest.
“We’ve underestimated the threat,” he finally said, his voice low. “If they’re already crossing borders to come after her…after us…we can’t afford to play defense anymore.”
I nodded. “She’s not scared. Not even after everything. She’s… charging into the chaos like it’s hers to tame.”
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Chapter 62
He glanced over at me. “And how are you?”
I blinked. That was rare. Direct. Personal.
พร
“I’m… fucking exhausted, if I’m honest. But I’m good. She’s it for me, Dad. I’d die for her, and I know Ash would too. Now we’ve got this damn Scottish wonderboy making moon eyes at her and somehow, weirdly… it feels right. The bond is weird like that.”
He smiled at that. Just barely. “Fate doesn’t ask for permission. But it usually gives us what we need.”
“Even if it’s a walking Abercrombie ad with elemental powers?”
That got a real laugh out of him, gruff and short.
“Sounds like you boys have your hands full.”
“We do. And I wouldn’t change a damn thing.”
He clapped a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Get some rest. You’ve got tomorrow, then you’re back in the fire.”
I raised my glass in a silent toast and downed the rest. “Night, Dad.”
“Proud of you, son.”
Yeah… that hit harder than I expected. I left the study and made my way upstairs, the warmth of the fire and my mates arms and that quiet blessing settling deep in my chest.
Tomorrow, we breathe.
Monday?
We burn.
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