Chapter 130 : He’s Back

*Lena*

Two Months Later

Mom turned a letter over in her hands, peering down at the return address with a skeptical eye. I looked up from the pile of letters scattered in front of me on the long table in the library at the Castle of Drogomor, situated on the outskirts of Mirage.

“Who is that one from?" I asked, extending a hand.

She wordlessly handed me the letter, but I didn't recognize the name.

“Who is Warren?" I asked before ripping it open. I unfurled the paper and then set it down on the table.

Mom arched her brow at me. “What?"

“This isn't for us," I said, sliding the letter to the side. “It's for Grandpa, I think."

“Well, what does it say?"

“He'll kill us if we read his mail!"

“Your grandfather doesn't live here," she said with a little laugh, snatching up the letter before I could stop her. We'd been blocking out at least two hours a day reading through the letters that had been arriving at the castle recently. Most of it was for Dad, but the Alpha King of Valoria had been in Breles for the last two weeks trying to get the radio towers and landline system working again. We were picking up his slack, as a good Luna and princess would do, of course.

“Why would anyone send mail meant for Grandpa here?" I prodded, but Mom's brow began to furrow as she quickly read through the letter's contents, then abruptly rose from her seat. “What?" I said quickly, adrenaline prickling my fingertips. “What's wrong?"

“Nothing's wrong," she murmured, but she looked entirely confused as her gaze flicked to the top of the letter and she started reading it over again. “This is from–"

I snatched the letter out of her hands and darted toward the window, where pale morning sunlight was filtering through the stained glass. Rainbows of light danced across the muted pink cotton dress I was wearing.

“Dear Elder Gray," I began, reading it aloud. “I'm responding to an inquiry regarding an open position on the High Elder Council in the Realm of Light. My Alpha King has chosen me for the position, and I'm writing with my intentions to accept the position to serve on your council. I'm under the impression Soren Black was originally the one called to serve, but he has graciously declined–"

Mom exhaled audibly as she dropped into one of the armchairs by the dormant hearth. It was summer, and there was no need for a fire. I could already feel the heat that was threatening to embrace Mirage, and it was only morning. I glanced at her, trying to read her expression before I continued.

“I am the brother and ally of Theo of Egoren and his mate Ciana."

The rest of the letter was just… business. The man asked about lodgings and accommodations for his family, where he would live. What this role would entail.

I said, my chest tightening with excitement, “Warren

turned to fully face the window. The Castle of Drogomor was miles and miles away from

letter is from Egoren," I breathed, mostly to myself. Mom was squeezing the bridge of her

people from that

“Lena–"

toward the door to the

“Lena!"

who let out

“What?"

know if Xander accompanied this letter to the port. This could have been sent from anywhere, and we have

walked over to her and dropped the letter in her lap,

like Dad's

“Lena!"

with excitement. Xander could be at the port right now. I had to find him, or at least

going to the port

three hours away by train!" I protested. “I'll

“You're pregnant–"

I going to give birth on

your last scan," she said, clicking her

the

into

me, but she couldn't hide the glimmer in her eyes at the mention of Alexis, her soon to be granddaughter. We'd taken to calling her by her name instead of just “Baby" over the past couple of weeks. I'd been on multiple shopping trips to Mirage to buy baby clothes and fluffy

baby suddenly felt real. I was going to be a

got to see every little finger and every little toe. Being home was peaceful and easy, but my heart had never

Warriors from every pack still lingered in the west, and the High Elder Council was hard at work alongside the Alphas of our realm as they tried to piece together the fractured communities in the west who were stuck in places like Mirage, Avondale, and

go in the sprawling metropolis where more than a dozen territories bled into one massive city. Drogomor, my own pack, had taken many of the refugees from Breles into what was simply called “Old Town," a medieval-looking area with stone buildings and cobblestone streets dusted with magnolia petals. As the

without one or both parents. An orphanage had been set up in Old Town to house the children who had nowhere else

spent the most time. I was great with children, especially after my brief stint as a teacher in Cedar Hollow.

all. I needed something to take my mind off my

taking no for an answer. “I just… I'll go to the post office and see if they can tell me where this letter came from and when exactly it

a nod of her head, and I

***

the counter at the post office looked down at the envelope the letter from Warren had been in, her brow knitted in

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255