The Alpha and his mate, and their mini entourage stood rooted before their carriage, even as the fuming green eyed alpha approached them, quite confused with the whole scene unfolding before them.
Their confusion quickly turned into annoyance though, for when Tyrone reached them—his own Beta, Patrick in tow, his angry countence quickly disappeared, and he began to burst into loud laughter instead.
“H—how I wish an artist could have captured your faces in a painting. I was just joking. ” He wheezed in amusement, turning to his beta who was for the sake of Kendra and Killian trying real hard to keep a straight face. “I guess my acting skills did pay off after all.” He said.
“This is not funny, Tyrone.” Kendra voiced out her displeasure, “I cannot even believe I missed this,” She muttered under her breath to Killian’s hearing, but Tyrone heard her too.
“Ouch.”
A hand went against his chest as though he had been wounded by her words, “I am going to ignore all of that irritation and focus on the fact that you missed me instead,” He smirked charmingly.
“Back off, Riverdale,” Killian growled, his wolf getting agitated at the way he was hitting on Kendra.
“Ah, Silvercrest… I can see you missed me too,” He chuckled in amusement, and then suddenly turning serious, he said, “I truly am glad that you were able to break the curse after all, friend…” Turning to Kendra, he smiled, “Rhea will not stop pacing the corridors—”
“Say no more,” The female-Beta interrupted with a grin, dashing toward the huge building to see her nanny after kissing her mate and muttering a, “See you soon.”
Beta Patrick made quick work of directing the footmen, the horses and the gift loaded carriage that had brought Kendra and Killian, leaving the two alphas all alone to stare at a retreating Kendra.
“If you ever hurt her,” Alpha Tyrone snarled, the smile long gone from his face.
“Kendra is not your concern, Riverdale… and I do not need to answer to you in any way concerning her,” Killian quickly cut him off, his voice deep and harsh, gaze as cutting as diamond, but he was fast to soften up a bit, for he knew his friend after all… and even though they mostly did not act like it, their concern for each other ran deep, and even he was aware that the blonde man had always had a thing for his Kendra, even though he always tried to hide it behind his normal charms and wiles.
So he could understand where Tyrone was coming from.
“Look, you can rest assured in the fact that I will love her and cherish, and protect her with all my life and all my heart.” Killian swore, “As a matter of fact, I think you already know this.” He finished, gaze still somewhat stern.
“Indeed, I do,” The green eyed Alpha confessed, looking shamefaced. “I envy you, Killian… but then I know I have no right to feel that way, especially with everything you have been through, you know?” He took a deep breath, “And it makes me feel bad… but then, I still cannot stop myself from wanting what you have. When will I also have a blessed relationship? One that does not care about looks or wealth or family?” Tyrone shrugged, “As the days go by, I realise that perhaps, I am not one of the lucky ones after all, and that perhaps I am wasting time waiting for something that might probably never come my way.”
Wow.
Now Killian did not know what to say to all that.
“Uh… look man, I—I would like to reassure you and tell you that everything is going to be fine… that you are going to find what you are looking for, but these things are in the hands of the gods, you know?” He slapped his friend on the shoulder in reassurance and solidarity, “Nevertheless, I pray that you do find what you are looking for. Don’t give up. It could happen.”
Tyrone shook his head, his miserable countenance quickly disappearing with the action as a smile popped up on his lips. The change back into his usual, bubbly self was so sudden that no one would have guessed that he had been down just a while ago. “Why are we looking all gloomy when this should be a hearty, happy reunion?” He boomed with laughter, “Come, come, everyone is waiting for you.”
*****
The cheering that greeted the Alpha and his mate was almost deafening as they stood in the searing heat, dressed in fighting clothes.
Their reunion with their pack had been nothing like they had imagined.
It was even better.
The entire Silvercrest Pack filled the large, open-roofed amphitheater, some screaming their Alpha’s name in excitement, others belting out Kendra’s name over and over again.
“ALRIGHT, CALM DOWN, CALM DOWN!” Alpha Tyrone boomed loudly, trying to calm the raging crowd. It took quite a while, but he got them to eventually listen. “I know your exhuberant welcome for your Alpha and Beta is already enough evidence, but you all know we are still going to have to follow protocol… and so I am going to ask, is there any one who would like to challenge Alpha Killian Silvercrest for the position of Alpha?”
There was no response.
“Anyone?” Tyrone pressed, “This is your only opportunity, so take it now, or forever hold your peace.”
He waited pointedly, silently daring whoever had the power to stand the mighty Alpha.
There was no one.
“Very well.” The blond haired Alpha nodded, his eyes scanning the crowd as he readied himself for his next words. “Is there any one who would like to challenge Beta Kendra Silvercrest for the position of Beta?”
A tall, burly, full bearded giant of a man stepped forward, shaped like a sumo wrestler, but surprisingly agile for a man his size. Damien was his name, and once Killian’s eyes chanced in him, a silent snarl escaped his lips, for Damien was one of the notorious wolves who ran in the pack, but he was a valuable asset to the pack, and had never really blantantly gotten out of line until now.
You want to know the funny part?
Every part of the bronze skinned Alpha was itching to step in in place of his mate— to fight her battles for her, to take on her enemies as his own… but he knew how this worked, and he knew that Kendra was not going to forgive him if he tried anything like that. He also knew that her authority as a Beta would be undermined if he stepped in, and so he was practically helpless.
Yet, as he watched her step into the fighting circle, a mischevious gleam in her eyes as she shot him a grin and muttered through their special mind link, the words, ‘Stop worrying, Kill, have some faith in your mate,’ he knew just then, that she was going to be alright.
And truly, she was.
The fight was over in barely ten minutes, for the same powers that had been bestowed upon Killian had been granted her as well. She had actually discovered them by accident, when she had tried to evade what would have been a very fatal blow from him. Sharper reflexes, even more speed than was normal, and an even sharper sense of hearing— if Kendra was being honest, the minutes were actually to explore just how much powers she had now, while showing them off of course... for it definitely could not be about fighting her opponent when apparently, beating him was such an absurd piece of cake.
No one told him to yield.
The mighty Damien fell before her puny feet, bowing for mercy, the act making the crowd erupt in a cacophony of cheers that Kendra could have sworn made the ground shake.
And then everything was settled.
They were free to go back home with their pack.
Two she-wolves could not return with them, having found their lovers in the Riverdale Pack, thanks to Aphrodite’s blessings.
But apart from them, everyone that was affiliated to the Silver Crest Pack—yes, even a shame faced Damien—joined in on the exodus, as Alpha Killian truly did not want to spend another night on another wolf’s territory.
It did not take much for them to get settled in when they arrived in Silver Crest, for not knowing, Maymunnah had gone ahead before them to ready the place in anticipation of their arrival, and apparently, a month and some days was not enough to cause any major damages. Everything was almost exactly as it had been left.
Kendra’s reunion with the old Seer had been a hearfelt one, for she had not exactly parted on good terms, having let her anger get the best of her… but she was truly repentant, and the oracle did not hold her folly against her in anyway. But then again, perhaps the young Elinor had had something to do with the quick forgiveness, for as soon as the young one had chanced on the female Beta, she had jumped into her arms and had not left her side since— not even when her mother Margery had tried to pull her away for her afternoon nap— it was almost as if she was afraid that her old friend would vanish if she let her out of her sight.
“We should head out to the welcome ceremony, child… it is to welcome you two back, after all.” Even as Maymunnah spoke in her normal croaky, raspy voice, she had this gleam in her eyes— one that Kendra realised that after a whole month, she could still recognise after all.
The old Seer knew something and was not ready to share.
It did not look like it was something dire or dreary… for if it was, or if it affected them in any way… she was sure the Oracle would readily divulge that information. Because everything was as it should be,
Restored.
Whatever this was, was most certainly good news then.
But you know the funny thing? Surprisingly, even though Kendra was very much curious about Maymunnah’s secrect, she did not ask about it... for even she knew without a doubt that she could sooner get a stone to talk than to get Maymunnah to spill whatever beans she had.
Nevertheless, it still did not stop Kendra from wondering what the Oracle could be hiding.