Third person POV
The summer sun beat down on the pack as they gathered in the woods on the edge of their territory, their excitement building as each moment passed. Today was the day they'd release two prisoners who'd been separated from their mates for five long years.
It was a rare sight—nobody had ever survived that long apart from their mates. The pack's curiosity was mixed with awe. Countless discussions going in the background as to how these two had managed the unbearable pain of separation.
Cassian's scowl deepened, his discontent palpable. The alpha's hope was clear: he wanted the prisoners to die in prison. That’s how it should’ve been.
The pack's healers whispered among themselves a lot of things, suggesting different reasons for the pair's remarkable endurance—perhaps they weren't true mates after all. Maybe the rogue had deceived Liya, manipulating her into believing a false bond.
Beside the alpha, Ivy snuggled her two-year-old son closer, and moved towards her mate, who offered a reassuring glance and a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"What are you waiting for?" she asked, her head cocked to the side, keeping minimum eye contact with her mate. The omega harbored a secret, a small but significant one, and she knew her mate wouldn't like it one bit if he was about to know. Still, her conscience reassured her that her actions were justified.
She had been secretly helping Liya and her mate by exchanging their clothes, allowing their wolves to sense each other's presence and maintain their bond. It was a small act of kindness, one that Ivy knew her mate wouldn't understand, given their history with the pair. But Ivy saw something in Liya that others didn't. The girl might have been a bad person but she wasn't a killer; if she were, Ivy and Cassian would have met their demise that fateful night, when Liya had the perfect opportunity to end Cassian's life with a single bullet.
Ivy simply viewed her little act as a silent thank you for Liya's unintended mercy of sparing Cassian's life when she could have easily taken it.
Cassian exhaled slowly and gestured for the pack members to release the prisoners' restraints and blindfolds. The pack held its collective breath as the pair winced, adjusting to the sudden freedom. They blinked rapidly, taking in their surroundings, before their frantic gazes met, locking onto each other with a mix of desperation and longing. Time seemed to stand still as the two mates reunited.
Liya's body shook with uncontrollable sobs as she looked at her mate, her eyes streaming with tears. Silas, on the other hand, remained stoic, his face a mask of emotions, his fists clenched at his sides. A pack member approached cautiously, offering a set of clean clothes, a fruit, and a bottle of water for each of them. Liya gazed at the things through red, puffy eyes, her once fiery spirit now reduced to a fragile, hauntingly broken girl. The scene unsettled Ivy a bit. As if on cue, the girl looked up at her, grateful eyes staring at her—a silent thank you for things she did for them.
"Take these and flee as far as you can," Cassian growled, his voice like a warning bell. "Your imprisonment may be over, but our mercy ends here. Head north, and don't dare look back. Our warriors will be tracking your every move. For the first two days, don't stop except to rest under the cover of night, or death will be swift." Liya flinched at the sound of Cassian's voice, her eyes darting to her mate, who sat motionless, like a statue carved from stone. She inched closer to him, seeking comfort in his presence. "Don't even think of seeking revenge," Cassian continued, his tone dripping with menace. "Next time, there will be no prison, no mercy of my mate, and no survival. You'll be dead before you can think of it.”
Ivy's head snapped towards her mate, shock and shame flashing across her face as she realized he knew her secret.
Cassian's words cut through the air, his tone firm but tinged with a hint of understanding. "Take your mate and make the most of this second chance, Silas. Not many get one. Be grateful for what you have." With that, the alpha turned and walked away, leaving a trail of murmurs and whispers in his wake. The crowd began to disperse soon after, their voices hushed as the warriors stepped forward, ordering Liya and Silas to rise and begin their journey. Before the pair walked away, Liya threw a look of gratitude towards Ivy. The omega only watched them with a small smile.
Ivy jogged a bit to catch up with her alpha. “Cassian!” She called, causing her mate to stop.
He turned around with a raised brow which made the girl look down in embarrassment. “I’m sorry for hiding that from you…It didn’t feel right to put her through something horrible like that…” she admitted, her voice soft.
Cassian sighed, his expression a mix of understanding and concern as he tucked a few stray strands of his mate’s hair behind her ear. “You need to have a little more fear of survival. How could you easily trust them like that?”
"Are you angry with me?" Ivy asked, shifting the baby to her other arm while she nervously gazed up at her mate. The little one swiftly took the opportunity to wrap his arms around Cassian's neck, squealing with delight.
"Dada!"
Cassian cradled the baby almost immediately and lightly scented the pup only to be met with a flurry of tiny fingers tangling in his hair.
“I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t when I first learned it.” he admitted, his expression softening. “But then I realized your kindness is one of the qualities that makes you so fit to be the Luna of this pack. How can I be upset about that? You can't expect a tree to provide shade only for you, can you?" he smiled.
Ivy's face lit up with a warm smile, heart brimming with love for her mate. She silently thanked the moon goddess for giving her a perfect pair. “Thank you for understanding. I’m sorry for not telling you this earlier.”
Cassian's response was a tender kiss, followed by a gentle smile. "Where's Alexie?" he asked, scanning their surroundings.
"She's with Ruth," Ivy replied. Cassian's attention shifted to their rambunctious pup who was enthusiastically tangled in his hair.
"Ah, is little Ren trying to claim all of Daddy's hair as his own?" Cassian teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief. He swiftly captured the little omega’s tiny hands and began to nuzzle his belly, sending the pup into uncontrollable giggles.
"Dada, u-up, up!" The little one squealed, his tiny hands reaching for the sky.
"Ah, does my little Ren want to fly?" Cassian chuckled, lifting Ren up for a brief moment, making the pup erupt into a fit of giggles.
"Phy!!" Ren exclaimed, his eyes shining with delight.
"Let’s go see your big sis and play?" Cassian asked, and the little omega nodded enthusiastically, bouncing up and down in his father's arms. As they made their way towards the pack house, Ivy followed behind, a soft smile on her face, taking in the heartwarming scene.
———
"I'm telling you, you're doing it all wrong!" Alexie exclaimed, her little face scrunched up in frustration as she watched Ruth struggle to create a paper boat. "You have to fold it like this, see?" Alexie demonstrated again, her small hands moving deftly. "Just like before, don't forget!" she reminded Ruth, who nodded eagerly, a hint of a smile on her face.
"Yes, teacher," Ruth replied, her tone playful, as Alexie took on the role of instructor with endearing seriousness.
"Can we join the lesson, teacher?" Cassian asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he entered the pack hall.
Alexie looked up when she heard her father’s voice, her expression stern as she shook her head. "No, Papa, you're late. I'm only teaching Rennie today." She crossed her arms, her tiny chest heaving with determination.
Cassian feigned a pout, his gaze apologetic as he turned to the pup. "Papa promises to be on time next time, little one. Can you please forgive me just this once?" He then appealed to Ren, "Rennie, tell your big sister to let Papa join the fun!" Ren, sensing the playful atmosphere, giggled and babbled, trying to mediate between his father and sister.
"Dada tho!" The little pup exclaimed, nodding enthusiastically at his big sister, who couldn't help but surrender to his charm.
"Fine...sit down. I'll give you both paper," Alexie said with a resigned smile.
Ivy observed the heartwarming scene with a smile, watching as Cassian, Alexie, and Ren all focused on the lesson together while Ruth giggled at the little omega’s effort to fold a paper. She grabbed an apple from the kitchen and returned to check on their progress, enjoying the warm atmosphere.
Ryder entered the room a few minutes later, a hint of a smile on his face as he took in the scene before him. "What's all the fuss about?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.
"Uncle Ry, want to learn how to make a paper boat?" Alexie asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"And who's the teacher?" Ryder inquired, his tone playful.
"Me!" The little alpha declared, her chest puffing out with pride.
"Well, in that case, I definitely want in," Ryder said with a chuckle.
"Make room, Ruth, Uncle Ry's joining the class," Alexie instructed, her tiny voice full of authority.
Ruth's face flushed slightly as she scooted over to make room for Ryder, her eyes darting away as she nervously bit her lip, an action that didn’t fail to catch Ivy’s attention.
The omega raised her brows in surprise before understanding sparked in her mind. A soft gasp escaped Ivy's lips, and Ruth's eyes snapped back to hers, their gazes meeting.
Ivy's eyes widened as she gazed at Ruth, her head tilting in silent inquiry. Her eyes darted to Ryder and back to Ruth, conveying a clear message. Ruth swiftly shook her head, immediately grasping Ivy's unspoken question.
A playful smile threatened to emerge on Ivy's lips, but she held it back, opting to let things unfold naturally.
The omega was intrigued by the unexpected developments, and her curiosity was piqued. Things were unfolding in ways she never imagined they would.