Chapter 246

Almara’s Pov

With the vortex closed off and gone, the air becomes breathable again and the storm lessens. Still, my paws squelch in the wet terrain.

Unfortunately, as I look around at the battlefield and see the piles of bodies slumped over one another, I think it’s more than just mud causing the stickiness.

I try not to look down at the innocent blood shed on the ground. As I take careful consideration to step over and around the bodies, I tell myself they chose to come out and help us fight knowing it was their duty to protect the freedom of not only the Hurricane Pack, but for wolves everywhere.

Still, my heart breaks. They died sacrificing themselves and now they lay here their body becoming a home to the worms. We’re going to have to honor them in some way when we get home.

Home. That word has never sounded so sweet. Images of our state-of-the-art kitchen, forest backyard, and king-sized bed all flood my brain. It feels like a distant memory that no longer belongs to me. I get to go back there. The thought is bittersweet as I yet again step over the poor body of a wolf I never had the pleasure of formally meeting.

The last time I was home, I had only just found out that I was pregnant, and now I get to bring that little baby home. Assuming he’s alive, I shake off the intrusive thought. I know my children are still okay, I feel it in my bones.

Everything else around me is broken, dead, or a pile of rubble, but my family is living and breathing amongst it all.

I look behind me and see half the castle has crashed, as though sloughing off from itself leaving what once was the center of the castle completely exposed. I try not to think of those that maybe didn’t get out in time.

The black bricks that once erected to a monumental structure, now pile on top of each other like ash. I have a feeling that perhaps even the vampires don’t care about this building. They might knock down the other half rather than rebuild it. It never really belonged to them anyway.

The surviving wolves and vampires loosely take heed to my command of finding my family, and I can’t blame them. Now that the fight is over, for now at least according to the fleeing screeches of the familiars, those who are left are seeking out their own members.

Every hug I see repairs my heart bit by bit. I stop and look at this one couple, younger than Arthur and I who stand in a silent embrace, not needing to say anything as tears quietly flow from their eyes. Without a word exchange between them, what they’re saying to one another is obvious.

Others are knelt down, also hanging their heads in a much more painful silence over those who cannot respond. When they see me looking, I hang my head in mournful respect with them. Though, I know it will never be enough.

“Almara!” I hear my name being called and snap my head in the direction of that wonderful familiar voice. Roman stands on a hill, waving his arms. I suck in my breath at the uncanny resemblance to Arthur.

Though I never noticed before, I suppose technically Arthur looks like Roman but in this moment it’s really Roman who looks like Arthur. Roman looks youthful, covered in blood and dirt showing that he was fighting with his wolves like a true leader.

My feet start moving before my brain has a chance to catch up. I run to him and before I realize it, we’ve become like others on the battlefield in a silent embrace. “You did good,” Roman says in my ear and I have no idea what he’s referring to but it’s exactly what I needed to hear.

I squeeze back tighter. “All right, let go of my husband,” Elenor says standing off to the side. I can’t tell if she’s joking or not, but I laugh and pull her into a hug. She resists, but her body is smaller than mine so she makes her way into my arms regardless.

“I’m so glad you’re both okay,” I tell them and truly mean it.

“Of course we’re okay. We’re the Hurricane Pack,” Roman says. I laugh at that one. Maybe there really is some truth behind it, some magic to the name because when I think that even I’m still standing here alive- it’s nothing short of a miracle.

“Where’s Arthur?” I ask and realize how tired I am of asking that question.

“We figured he’d be with you,” Elenor says.

“Almara!” I spin around and see my mother and my father coming towards me, though at a much slower speed than usual. My father is limping, but other than that they seem just fine. I meet them halfway.

I hug my dad first, nearly knocking him over. “And look who we found along the way,” My mother says nodding over her shoulder. I see Arthur looking off to the side, his eyes in pain and I now he’s empathizing with those on the ground crying over loved ones.

He holds Grace in his one arm with her face buried in his shoulder, shielding her eyes from the carnage and Robbie lays peacefully in the hook of his other arm. My knees go weak at the sight of my beautiful family.

This time, I’m the one who calls out. I yell to him, a smile playing on my lips. He looks up at me and I see the sadness in his eyes transform to relief. He picks up his pace and I cross over to him, shortening the distance between us until eventually, we stand nose to nose with one another.

“They were with Delfino,” Arthur says.

“He saved them,” I shrug and though I hate to admit it, it’s the truth.

“Hi Mommy,” Grace says her face still burrowed in Arthur’s chest, her voice sleepy and muffled.

“Hi sweetie,” I say and stroke her back. I hear footsteps behind me and see the rest of the family has caught up to us. It becomes surreal, the eight of us standing together.

Roman is the first to speak, and I shouldn’t be surprised when he jumps right into his business tone. “After the video of your call aired and went viral, the gammas all came together and organized a march here,”

Roman looks around as something crosses his face as though seeing the impact of their decisions for the first time. “Everyone started to realize that the call for Grace was just a ploy, that if they already had the royal couple captured, nothing else would appease them.” Roman cocks his head to the side.

“Not that anyone wanted to appease them, I think they just wanted the war to stop and realized the only way to make that happen was to go fight,” Roman says, then he clears his throat and lowers his voice.

“I believe if you two hadn’t lowered yourself to their status years back, no one would’ve come and fought.” Roman looks around wearily, “I don’t think they would do it if it were me and Elenor.”

I’m pretty sure my jaw falls open. Did Roman just humble himself?

“Speak for yourself darling,” Elenor says with a dismissive hand and instantly everything is back to normal.

“Can we go home?” Grace whines.

“Yes,” Arthur says and kisses the top of her head, then mine. “Let’s go home.”