It felt strange, entering Cereus territory with Kibba giving soft directions; I had been unconscious the last time I was brought to the pack town, and the trees surrounding it seemed both familiar and alien in the same moment. I rolled the window down, only halfway so the wind wouldn’t disturb my sleeping pups, and felt my heart begin to race as I caught the scents of other wolves in the air. It was subtle, only the perimeter marks of their territory, but I had been away from my people for so long that my wolf screamed for them- for companionship, a pack to call our own.

I heard Brandy huff behind me, a longing whine filling the space between us as her gaze focused on the open window. She had always been far more pack oriented than me- she had grown up under an alpha, a treasured omega with authority only Neo and her father could match, and she had left it behind for me. Glancing over my shoulder, seeing the grief twisting her face, I could only imagine how difficult that had been for her.

As if she felt my gaze on her, she gave her head a quick shake, her expression clearing as she met my gaze. Brandy gave me a small, sad smile, as she softly said, “I don’t regret it. I never have, not even for a moment.”

My throat tight, I gave a short nod and wrenched my gaze away from her. My hand gripped the side of Daniel’s carseat tightly as I looked down at my pup, seeing him begin to stir from his deep sleep. His breath came in short, inquisitive sniffs as he opened beautiful blue eyes. I stiffened, preparing for him to fuss again- seeing him look out the window instead, small hands waving toward the flow of air, I wondered if his wolf felt the same call mine did. Was my pup aching with the same loneliness I felt?

Closing my eyes, I battled a wash of guilt for having left the packs. My pups deserved to grow up surrounded by their people, by a pack which would treasure them as I did. Naomi would be considered a blessing, and my boys would be worshiped for the status in the same way. I had to believe coming back to the packs was the right decision, as Daniel’s small face was filled with wonder while he hauled in breaths of air filled with the scent of other wolves.

“We’re at the edge of town.” Kibba’s tense voice distracted me, and I dragged my gaze away from my pup to look at him. His shoulders were tight, his expression sharp with fear and concern as he looked back at me. “Are you sure you want to do this? I… I don’t know how Viktor will react to…” The doctor paused, brows pinching, as he glanced to Nathanial quickly before tilting his gaze to Maxwell.

I swallowed against my fear, clenching my jaw as I took a slow breath. My gaze met Nathanial’s in the rearview mirror, his copper eyes filled with concern and sorrow. Giving him a small smile, I said softly, “I’ll be okay. But are you sure, Nathanial? I know I’ve asked before… but this is different. I’ve told you how Neo acted, and I’m not confident Viktor will be any different. When they see me with you- it may drive them mad.”

“I’ve seen what instincts can do to a wolf,” he reminded me gently, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel tightly; I winced as I knew he must have been thinking of James and William, the massacre Imogen had caused which led to the deaths of the brothers he loved.

“All the more reason for me to be worried-”

“Tsuki.” The sound of my name passing his lips sent a pleasant shiver through me, and a faint smile crossed his lips as my scent no doubt grew thicker in the close confines of the vehicle. “I promise, I am doing this of my own accord. I want to be at your side- now, and for as long as you will have me.”

Kibba cleared his throat in the passenger seat, his gaze soft as he looked between us. I wondered how he saw us. He knew little of what happened in the Hive, and last Kibba saw me I had been risking my life for Viktor. Did it seem strange to him, seeing the depth of my emotions on my face as I looked at the man who I felt had saved me? Supported me in my weakest moments, unwavering, letting me find my own strength… Nathanial was everything I could have hoped to find, a true partner, and I bit my lip against the prickle of warmth in my eyes.

The slowing of the car as Nathanial hit the brakes made my breath catch, my gaze flashing up to the windshield.  With the sun shining brightly overhead, I could clearly see the core of the Cereus pack waiting for us. Zeke stood with his arms crossed, towering over Thrane as the human stared anxiously at the car. Seeing them without Cean sent a sharp pain through my chest, my hand gripping at my shirt as I struggled with the grief.

Then my gaze found Viktor, and it all seemed to fall away.

It had only been months, but I felt like I hadn’t seen him in years as my gaze met his through the glass; his brilliant green eyes were shadowed, piercing as his mouth formed my name. My breath sobbed out of me as I found myself desperately working my way past Daniel’s carseat, throwing myself out of the car.

Viktor ran for me, and I was swept up into his arms, crushed against his chest as he said my name over and over. I felt his tears in my hair as I wrapped my arms around him tightly, my face buried against his chest. As I inhaled his scent, the rich and exotic scent of a child of the stars, my wolf keened with longing.

I knew my pups waited for me in the car, Brandy and Kibba watching us- Nathanial, waiting patiently with absolute trust. I shouldn’t have been enjoying Viktor’s embrace so much, the touch of a man who had been the first to pull me out of Ipomoea’s darkness. A man who was spiraling into the same madness I had driven Neo to. I knew… and yet, as I breathed him in, there was a part of me that felt I had finally come home.