a hug. The last twenty-four hours had brought me and my father even closer, and now he seemed to be the hugging emotional type.
“Did you and the pack get settled in okay?” I whispered to him. It was late by the time we came through the portal last night. Lilith and a few wolves fled, going rogue, but the rest of our pack and Midnight’s took a knee, recognizing Rage as king. Now, we just needed all the packs to do that formally with the High Mage Council there to witness, and we were good.
I thought of Rage standing in the snow-covered field, the embers of our pack’s lodge and my childhood home burning behind him. After killing Declan, Rage’s first order of business was to restore my pack’s rank within wolf shifter society and return possession of our lands and houses here on Alpha Island to my father. Rage said that he didn’t want to live in a world that would label me being born a crime, and he’d never go against fate, which is what my mother and funcle had been. Fated Mates.
“Lona and Mack are setting up our new house,” Dad said, releasing me. He glanced around the courtyard of the Harvest dorm, and then his gaze darted to Crescent Dorm across the stone path, in all its condemned glory. “It’s good to be back.”
I couldn’t help but grin. “I can see you all the time now.” The Crescent Pack lands were a twenty-minute run through the woods from school.
“This came for you,” he said, handing me a white envelope. The flap was sealed with silver wax, stamped with an owl. He lowered his voice and added, “It’s from your grandfather.”
I traced my finger over the owl—somehow, it suited him—I snapped the seal and skimmed the contents, relief flooding me. “The High Mage Council has unanimously agreed to let the matter of me being a ‘high crime’ go.”
“Halle-frickin-leujah!” Kaja cheered behind me as my friends flooded into the hallway.
Dad must’ve already known because he merely nodded at the news. “Are you ready to go?” he asked.
Callie grabbed her handbag, and Kaja plucked hers and mine off the vanity before stepping through the door. Honor sat next to me, waiting until I moved, and then Justice fell into step on my other side as we all started to walk to the castle.
As we crossed campus, I noticed hundreds of people exiting the woods, some dressed nicely and others in jeans and t-shirts. Even more surprising were those coming up from the boat docks. Who was coming from the mage lands?
Justice must’ve noticed me looking out at the full boat docks because he cleared his throat and said, “Rage invited all the rogues to return. He said to tell you John and Sara are coming.”
I grinned. Perfect.
Rage was already making great choices as alpha, and by calling in the rogues and inviting Crescent Pack to return, he demonstrated he’d do things differently than his asshat uncle.
I spotted Mallory and her sister walking with a giant male. The dude was at least six foot seven and two hundred and fifty pounds—almost bear shifter big. A large scar ran from one side of his forehead across his face to the opposite side of his mouth, barely missing his left eye; the old wound made his sneer even more fierce. Surrounding the male and my Daybreak nemeses were a dozen more wolf shifters, all staring at the guy like he was the Mother Mage incarnate. I narrowed my eyes at the sight of dark blue robes coming from the dude’s other side.
“Looks like this puppy king is letting anyone on the island,” the dude growled.
My father glanced his way and tensed, and I snarled at the insult to my mate and father.
‘Don’t,’ Honor said, his voice filled with warning. ‘Rage has enough to worry about without you picking a fight.’
The group tittered and snickered, but before I could even reply to Honor, my gaze fell on a mage among them.
The man dressed in seafoam green robes darted out of the fawning group, disappearing amongst the sea of bodies.
Was it Kian?
I strained to get another glimpse of him, but the guy was gone.
A low rumble emanated from my father’s chest, and Justice muttered, “Not worth it, bro.” With a jerk of his head, he added, “We’re going this way.”
Did he just call my dad, bro?
We diverted from the main walkway and, with a parting glare at the giant male’s back, I leaned into