Over the next couple of days, Harper worked hard to regain her strength by staying out of the room as much as possible and helping the omegas in the pack. She spent lots of hours in the kitchen and the infirmary caring for injured men and women who had been hurt during the battle at The Casa.
Moreover, she had been successful in avoiding either Alex or Lucas. Seeing the two men working together on the farm brought her to a state of complete contentment.
On the third day, once they had completed their tasks, she joined Gwinifer for supper. After a nice dinner, she and Hazel went for a walk around the pack land in the early evening. The pack's beta introduced her to some of their pack's hunters. Harper talked with them for a few minutes before Hazel led her to see some of The Casa's freed slaves who knew her. She spent a couple of hours with them, listening to their stories and learning how they had never dreamed the day when they would be free would come.
They couldn't express enough how grateful they were to Harper for speaking with the Moon Queen and convincing her to send aid.
When it was already late, Harper returned to the main house, where she had been staying for the past few days. The chill from the breeze that was blowing through her open window made her skin quiver as she walked into her room. She hurriedly closed the window and lit a little fire on the hearth.
Soon after, she was getting ready for bed when she heard a knock on the door. She jumped to her feet and opened the door, only to be greeted by a friendly smile from the mage. "Gwinifer, uh, please come in."
"How was your day?" the mage asked as she entered the room.
She shrugged. "Pretty good. It's been a busy day. Hazel and I met with the others from The Casa. They are happy to be free."
"And they're free because of you," Gwinifer said. However, she noticed a spark of uncertainty on Harper's face. "Is everything alright?"
Harper took a deep breath and sat at the small desk. "Everything is great. But, you know, they shouldn't just be thanking me. Without you, Gwin, I would not have been able to talk with Queen Niran."
"All I did was show you the door, Harper. It was you who marched through it, spoke up and urged the Moon Queen to send aid, and nearly died."
"But I wouldn't be there at all if it weren't for you. And I didn't have to go through the trouble of persuading the Moon Queen. Gillen was a wicked man. I mean, he's half-demon, after all. Even if she hadn't been persuaded, I'm confident that Queen Niran would have stepped in."
Gwinifer gave a fleeting smile before going on to explain, "She wouldn't. Because of what Gillen forced my grandfather to do, Velaris is a free land, free from the control of the Royal Council and the Moon Queen. That's one of the reasons Gillen had been in control of the land for such a long time."
Harper shook her head, disgusted by Gillen's viciousness even back then.
Gwinifer walked over and took a seat on the bed. "We will be eternally thankful to you, Harper," Gwinifer said, looking her in the eyes with a solemn yet grateful expression. "Whatever it was that you did or said to the Moon Queen, we value you for doing it. And if there's anything else you need..."
Harper wished she could tell her she didn't have to beg the queen. Queen Niran made the offer because their treaty had messed up and had screwed her over. But she didn't think Gwinifer or anyone else needed to know that. It was enough for her that the Moon Queen stated she would use her to show the High Chairs that the treaty they fought for and defended was causing problems.
"…Harper?"
She fixed her gaze on Gwinifer and forced the thoughts to the back of her mind. "I'm sorry…"
"Please don't be." Gwinifer flashed a smile. "I think you should get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow..."
"*Big day*?"
The mage's smile grew into a full grin. "Well, you and your friends are *finally* going home."
*Home*. Harper's gut churned and her heart beat when she heard the word.
"What about Francine?" she asked, concerned that they would be returning home without the vampiress. "We haven't been able to track her down yet."
Gwinifer sighed and scowled. "I'm starting to think Lucas is right; she doesn't want to be found."
"We can't leave her behind."
She paused for a while, unsure of how to answer or how to inform Harper of what she had known. "Harper, I'm aware of what she's done to you."
"What do you mean?"
"I saw Francine walk up to you before I went to help Hazel. On her face, I could see a slew of conflicting emotions. And I felt her inner turmoil when she fled away right before I saw you covered in your blood. It wasn't difficult to put two and two together and figure out what she'd done."
"Thank you for keeping what you already know from others." Harper lowered her gaze to her hands. "I'm sure you can see now why we can't go back without her. If we left without her, she'd feel betrayed again."
"Harper, you can't do this to yourself."
"Well, I'm not going to do it to her either."
"Look, I understand that you might believe I don't know anything because we've only recently met, but I'm well aware that you've been through hell. I get that Lucas is your mate, but you're a human. You are allowed to fall in love with anyone, and it is not your fault that you fell in love with Alex." Gwinifer smiled. "I can't even say I blame you. That guy isn't just unbelievably attractive, but he's a charming, wonderful person too."
Harper couldn't help but chuckle as she remembered the old Alex in her head. "You should've met him before he lost his memories."
"It doesn't matter what he was like back then. What counts is who he is now. He loves you and he loves his brother. I can see he is trying his best not to hurt him."
She dreaded having to confront what was happening between her and the two men. That's why she'd been trying to avoid the two. "I'm not sure if I want to deal with him and Lucas right now."
"Then don't. It's entirely up to you, Harper. But, I'm telling you now, I know how badly you want to go home, so please don't put it off any longer for Francine's sake."
Suddenly, the cogs in her brain started turning, and she released a long and deep sigh. "I suppose you're right. But, will you promise me that your father will not give up on his search for Francine?"
"I promise."
"And, please tell her that I'm sorry and that I forgive her for what she did. Please, please send her back home. Promise me you'd make her go home."
"You have a good heart, Harper. And certainly, I swear to do everything in my power."
"Thank you."
The mage exited the room as soon as she told Harper that they would be returning home the following day and as soon as she gave her word concerning Francine.
Harper slowly succumbed to sleep as the hours of the night passed. The warmth of the fire in the fireplace kept the coldness at bay. For the first time that night, Harper's dreams were filled with memories from her childhood.
The following morning, she was startled awake by the tolling of the bell, which was loud enough for everyone in the pack to hear. She jumped to her feet and gazed out her window with excitement. The sun was shining brightly, and the sky was clear. She hurriedly dressed in a blue dress that Gwinifer had given her, fled her room, and ran down the corridors.
"Harper! You're up."
"Good morning, Hazel."
"Perfect timing! Gwinifer is all set. They're waiting for you."
Harper's heart hammered in her chest as she understood what the beta meant. She took a deep breath. "Okay."
"Follow me."
They walked out of the main pack house together and continued walking a short distance farther into the forest until they came to a small clearing. She looked left and right and was surprised to see that the trees had stopped in a perfectly straight line. But what was in front of her was even more astonishing: Lucas and Alex were standing next to each other, staring at her like everyone else.
For a brief moment, she was surprised by the fact that the two men had arrived there together ahead of her. And, as if that wasn't enough, both Lucas and Alex extended their hands to her. She took a deep breath and took a step forward, taking both Lucas' and Alex's hands in hers.
"Ready?" Gwinifer asked.
"Yes," she replied, her heart was racing fast as she stood between Alex and Lucas.
"Farewell. Alpha wishes to thank you. We will never forget your bravery." Hazel said with all her heart. "May the Moon Goddess shower you with love and peace in your return."
"*See you when I see you*," Gwinifer said between a fleeting smile, and before she began whispering her chants. A soft breeze swept through the field, making the leaves sway and the branches of the trees shake a little.
It had been a long time coming, but Harper, Alex, and Lucas were finally going home.
Gwinifer raised her hands into the air and whispered another chant before a glow emerged in front of them. Slowly but steadily, it got bigger and bigger until Harper, Lucas, and Alex were completely engulfed by the luminous sphere. The mage continued to chant, and a significant amount of magical force, manifested in the shape of golden light, began to appear around her form.
"Close your eyes and visualize yourself in the place you desire to be," Gwinifer ordered in a commanding voice.
Harper, Lucas, and Alex all closed their eyes at the same time. Their hearts were pounding wildly and loudly in their chests. They tried to move, but they were rendered immobile by the massive blazing orb.
"I love you," Alex said softly to Harper as Alex tilted his head in Harper's direction and softly said, "*I love you*."
Tears welled up in the corners of Harper's eyes almost immediately.
"This is it!" Gwinifer declared. She was getting ready to utter the last and most important passage of her chant. "Concentrate. Now. Think of *home*."
And that's exactly what the three of them did. Then, in the blink of an eye, in a snap, they *vanished* from where they stood.