Chapter 61 - Home

**Jack** -

After launching herself into my arms, I hold my love close to me, breathing in her scent and revelling in the sparks that erupt all over my body at the contact. Duke has finally stopped whimpering and is now purring, I am incredibly grateful that the others can't hear my so-called alpha wolf purring. Slowly, I pull away from her slightly, so I can check her over for injuries, but thankfully she seems unharmed. I shower her in kisses as I walk us out of the water and without putting her down I glance at her companions, who have joined us on the bank.

"You will need to reject your pack if you wish to come with us, for our safety, you understand?" I say to Dr Thorne and the girl standing beside him meekly, then I glance at the man that Thorne carried and feel a jolt of shock travel through me. This man is the pack's Alpha, he can't reject his pack without passing his title to someone, otherwise it will automatically divert to the highest ranked member of the pack, which in this case is Ace, "Alpha Sven, you will enter my lands as my personal guest and we will care for you as best we can, you need to think carefully of your next steps."

All three nod in agreement and Dr Thorne and Tara reject twin lakes as their pack. Alpha Sven sways in the doctor's arms and Daisy springs forward with a stretcher for him to rest on.

I have no idea when they made it, but it will be useful, they lay him down and he thanks Daisy for her thoughtfulness before drifting into what appears to be a fitful sleep.

Cassie has curled herself into me and seems to also be close to sleep. I want to discuss our wolves and the moon goddess but I decide to wait until we are alone. I don't know what she has experienced regarding her gift or if she has told anyone.

**Cassie** -

With Lexi and I being so closely connected now, our escape was so much easier, Lexi was able to tell me if we were approaching danger and we were able to avoid any problems, the others didn't know about her, I haven't told them, but they seemed to trust me when I voiced her warnings and heeded her advice to change course, if it hadn't been for Lexi we would not have made it at all. Dr Thorne looks exhausted, Alpha Sven is a very large man, at least twice his size, and he has been carrying him for a while now. I tried to help, to share some of his weight, but my slight build caused more problems than solutions. When I finally look up and see Jack across the water my heart begins to race with joy and my vision blurs as tears threaten to fall, but I manage to hold the tears at bay as I race towards him as fast as my legs would carry me.

Once out of the pack territory Jack has the others reject their pack so they can’t be tracked so easily, and so they might be initiated into our pack upon our return if they so wish it.

The journey home was a quick one, apparently while they waited for us to escape, Daisy had the brilliant idea of creating a stretcher for Alpha Sven, she and Dave used branches and vines. The stretcher helped to distribute Alpha Sven’s mass between 2 or 4 people which allowed us to move much quicker, Dave and Dr Thorne shared the weight between them, Daisy kept Tara close to her side, an arm tucked into hers as though she was scared Tara would run from us, she did look very skittish… and I clung to my mate like a koala bear, arms around his neck and legs wrapped around his torso, as close as it was physically possible for me to be. He seemed more than happy with my decision to stay in his arms as he held me just as tightly.

I was gone less than a day, I was unharmed and mostly unaffected by the ordeal, having Lexi block the ‘lesson’ saved me from the torment of witnessing anything traumatic. But Jack still needed me close, to reassure himself and his wolf that Lexi and I were OK. When we get close to the border, I encourage everyone to stop for a moment. I have something I need to say to the others. Before I would have kept it to myself, I would have internalised since nobody seemed to want to know, but now, knowing I have friends and loved ones by my side I want them to know, not for pity but for the sake of being open and honest. I want them to know I cherish them and that they can always talk to me.

Dave and Dr Thorne place Alpha Sven on the ground and everyone sits close together on a formation of rocks between the trees, Jack stays close, holding my hand and offering his strength silently.

I take a deep breath and with the sparks travelling between me and my mate and a reassuring squeeze from him, I start to speak.

“First, I want to thank all of you for loving me enough to want me safe. It has been a long time since I was loved the way I am now and I vow to never take that for granted, you all matter to me more than you can ever know. Secondly, as soon as I finish talking someone needs to tell me Jason is OK and healing nicely. Thirdly, Dr Thorne, Tara, thank you for the faith you have shown by rejecting your pack, I know how that feels and I know you will be happy at Rival River, it is a beautiful place with beautiful people, I felt welcome the moment I began meeting people, please know that you can always come to me or Jack if you have concerns or if you need anything. Fourthly, almost done I swear, Jack, having you for my mate is the greatest gift of all, while I was gone I knew you were close behind me, I knew you would wage war for me and I want you to know I would do the same for you, you are my world, my life and I want to step up before your back and accept my place if you will have me, I have hesitated enough and it almost cost us everything." I let out a rush of air, then suck it back in deeply waiting for their reactions.

"If I may," Dr Thorne speaks first, "Cassie, I'm so happy you were able to find happiness, I'm so privileged to know you and I can't wait to be a part of a pack that has you as their Luna." His words bring a lump to my throat and I extricate myself from Jack's grip to give him a grateful hug.

"Cassie, so proud of you, Lily would be too, so proud," Alpha Sven speaks in broken sentences and I take his hand and give it a squeeze offering a soft smile which he returns.

"Rest Alpha, we will talk more later," I whisper, placing a kiss on his brow.

"I need to talk to you in private, missy," is all Daisy has to say, she gives me a meaningful look then gives one sharp nod of her head to indicate she is done.

"Happy to help and glad you are safe Luna," Dave, the man of few words, speaks before glancing at Tara who blushes slightly before speaking in a quiet voice.

"I want to thank all of you, and I want to apologise to Alpha Sven, I'm sorry for rejecting the pack Alpha, but I couldn't stay there, you know what they tried to do, I can't let that happen." Alpha Sven smiles reassuringly at her before waving a hand as if to say 'forget about it'

"Okay, Cassie, Love, I want to assure you, Jason is fine, chomping at the bit to see you and he has already been discharged from the hospital," in a whisper Jack adds, "we Will talk when we can be alone, but I love you."

"Let's go then, I need a bath and some girl time," Daisy bounces up and down clapping her hands before turning and crossing the remaining distance between us and home.