The send-off party had been a truly wonderful blast.
It had gone on deep into the wee hours of dawn, ensuring that the Alpha and his mate did not go back to bed for a brief moment of shut-eye even.
Instead, they had headed straight into a provided carriage almost immediately after the ceremony had ended, waving their goodbyes to the crowd that had come to see them off after they had said their special goodbyes to Aiyisha and her sister, Yelena, Sanjit and Leray and the old couple, Saul and Rida. They had even bid the old, annoying, retired Alpha a special goodbye before they left, for despite his bad side, he had not cast them out of his pack when they had come to him for help.
Honestly speaking, the two would have just been content with two horses as their parting gift which they would have had had returned once they retrieved their own horses from Désirée’s tavern— but Aiyisha would have none of it, insisting that she wanted to send them off in true Dnakle fashion. The elegant carriage aside, the blue eyed female Alpha had loaded them with so many gifts than they had need or want for. It was really crazy how she had managed to get all of these things ready when they had informed her of their departure just yesterday morning.
For Kendra, the honouring was just too much— all the love, the well wishes… she was feeling a bit more emotional than usual, and so tears stood in her eyes, because even though she knew that they could come and visit Dnakle anytime they wanted, she also knew that their duties would not allow them to take any such liberties anymore.
She understood that very well, but of course it did not mean that she could not be sad about it.
Killian on the other hand was not as nostalgic as his mate though, being rather excited get back to his wolves so he could get started on his new and second chance at being Alpha.
True, he had loved his stay in Dnakle (well, most of it anyway) but he liked to think of it from this perspective: That he had come to Dnakle to fulfill a purpose, which was help them get ready for battle. He had finished that purpose, and it was time to move on to other things. Other better things.
It was as simple as that.
And so while he was a bit bummed out about their departure, he had chosen to focus on the positive things to come instead.
As they started on their journey, Kendra rested in her mate’s arms, both of them lost in thought, which was quite normal if you thought about it because there was so much to be done.
So damn much!
Their day long journey was first going to take them to Désirée’s tavern in QYEPOE where they would retrieve their horses, Ethereal and Nightshade. And then they were going to pass through the other smaller werewolf communities nearby to see how they were faring after the Curers’ invasion, and to see if there was any help they could offer them… any way they could offer assistance. Killian actually wanted to do this because he really had a lot to tell the council when next he met them. They were seriously going to have a long discussion and put some reforms in place for all werewolf societies all across the Axon. Because it did not make sense to have a council created with the interests of werewolves at heart, only for some werewolves to suffer with only a select few being under the council’s protection. And then they were of course going to end their journey in Riverdale.
A fast courrier had been sent ahead of them to make Tyrone aware of their impending arrival, and so he was already expecting them.
“You good?” Killian asked his mate after a while of silence, because Kendra was not the kind of person who kept quiet for long. This much silence was unusual for her, especially when she was not angry with him or trying to prove a point in anyway.
“Yes, Kill… I am fine, why are you asking?” She raised her head up from its position on his chest to look up at him.
Killian shrugged, “Well its unlike you to be quiet for this long, and so I’m trying to make sure that its my Kendra that I have with me in this carriage and not some imposter,” He teased, grinning like a mad, lovestruck idiot when she burst into laughter. “I do not think there can be anyone like me,” She mused out loud, an arrogant smile on her face,
“Indeed there cannot be,” The Alpha agreed totally.
“I am just more lost in thought and a little emotional than usual, that is all,” The female beta explained her silence, a little sadness ruining her beautiful smile, “I guess I did not expect to be this tied to Dnakle… especially with the way I hated the place on my first day there.” She chuckled in wonderment, “I really cannot believe we have been gone from Silver Crest for more than a month.”
Killian shared the same sentiment. “I cannot believe it myself either.” He muttered, a far away look making its way onto his face, “A lot of things would have changed by now.”
“Oh, most definitely,” She agreed completely, “I only hope they are all good changes though,” The dark skinned she wolf prayed fervently, looking down as her mate clasped her hand in his.
“I pray so too.”
******
Kendra and Killian’s reunion with their horses was almost too emotional to watch.
The chargers were over the top with joy at the sight of their owners, and according to the overweight inn keeper, Ethereal had not even been eating much since Killian left.
They had paid the man their wages due and then led the beasts to where their carriage stood waiting.
“How are we going to go about this?” Killian chuckled, referring to how they were going to get the horses to go with them. It was going to be hard, but one of the footmen could ride with Nightshade, but for Ethereal, it was most certainly out of the question.
“You should ride with her a little bit, at least until we get to the next wolf village… that should calm her down enough to make her more susceptible to ponying.” Kendra reasoned, but her full grown, usually very intimidating mate only pouted adorably, “But I want to ride with you,”
Kendra laughed, “Oh, don’t be like that, Kill… Ethereal needs you,” As if in support of her statement, the horse in question nuzzled her affectionately, making the two wolves shoot each other a look of surprise.
“D—did you see that?” Kendra asked for confirmation, her mouth wide open in awe at the action, for the female horse only saved all her loving for her rider. She was vicious with anyone else especially those who cleaned her up.
And now Kendra had earned her love.
It was all settled then.
Killian was riding his possessive horse, end of story.
*****
By the time the carriage finally stopped in front of the Riverdale Pack house, it was almost dawn.
To think they had not slept a wink all day.
But surprisingly, they were not in the least bit exhausted. There was this excitement that had been coursing through their veins all day, fueling them up like caffeine did an obsessed addict, making them so giddy that sleep had been the last thing on their mind.
They had gone to about eight wolf communities in all, and honestly speaking, the conditions their eyes had met were nothing to write home about. The council was going to have to get involved and soon. Killian was going to see to it.
“Are you cold?” He asked his mate as he helped her down from the carriage, grinning inwardly at how she had been too tired to refuse his help. Under normal circumstances, that would never have happened.
“No,” The curly haired she wolf shook her head a tired smile on her face, “I really cannot wait to see Tyrone, and all the others though.”
Killian felt his wolf’s anger flare at the annoying Alpha’s name, but he did his best to quell it. Anything he was going to say in response to Kendra’s response was cut off by the loud banging of the main door.
The Alpha in question stood before the staircase that would take him down to meet them, a truly murderous expression on his face, “SILVERCREST!” He boomed, “What is this I am hearing of you getting together with the only person I have ever felt a connection with?”