Falling in Love with the King of Beasts

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*****

RETH

Reth had barely slept. Between his tension over the wolves and the next steps they would need to take there, his excitement that he could be seeing Elia within a day or two at most—to touch her and smell her and speak to his daughter within her…  his body wouldn't rest. Even though he was exhausted.

He didn't even lay down until the early hours of morning. 

After the melding of minds no one had seemed to know what to do. But Reth had known what they needed was something as normal as possible. So, at his request, the Tree City citizens had prepared a meal and taken it to the clearing to share with the wolves. 

Reth had stayed, along with Behryn and the Councils, to continue in talks for peace. 

The tension had definitely lifted somewhat from the people, but the mood still felt like a wary ceasefire, more than peace.

The meal helped. Everyone relaxed, and the people began to mingle. The wolves, especially, from both sides of the divide, joined in the middle to eat together. Reth saw some of the birds reunite with family as well. But still the people stayed mostly segregated.

How were they going to get to them to finally fall in together and stop seeing each other through this filter of war? How could they return to normal life—to merchants, and feasts, and educating their young—if they continued to be suspicious?

So, he and the Councils had agreed that their day of mourning—or morning of mourning, more accurately—would remain. They would all work together the next morning to prepare and bury the bodies of those who fell in the battle of the Hallowed Grounds. It would be a sobering time, and he'd recognized the risk that seeing the dead and the evidence of conflict, might reignite the flames of anger.

But the wolves themselves had bridged the gap, offering not only to remove the bodies of the fallen, but to consecrate the ground. 

Reth had agreed, then spent the rest of the evening, and most of the night, ensuring that all the necessary supplies and provisions were in place so that there would be no conflict over resources, or the ugly job of burying the dead.

All adults that didn't have young remained at the clearing, bedding down together for a night in a show of solidarity. 

And so the first day of the new Anima, the new WildWood, dawned with creaking bones and gritty eyes.

But they'd done it. 

It was lunchtime, and Reth stood at the opening to the Hallowed Grounds, surveying the land and asking the forgiveness of the Creator, as the people all began to move, hesitantly at first, then with more confidence, towards the Tree City. 

He had announced to them all that this marked the end of their war. From this moment on, they were one people. One Kingdom. And he, their King. 

"Tonight we feast," he'd called across the Hallowed Grounds as the people raised cheers. "Tonight we remember peace. Take the next few hours to gather your things. If you are no longer in your own home, return to it. If you are returning to the City, be patient, but your home will be made available to you—or you may take one of those Trees that are now empty," he said, his voice heavy with grief.

"From this moment we no longer look back, we look forward. We rebuild. We forgive. And we become stronger together."

Although the applause was quiet, there was a strength in it, a hope that lifted Reth's heart. 

And so, along with his people, he trudged back to the Tree City, where he, Behryn, Aymora—and a healing Brant—stood at the main intersection of trails and watched families reunite. And watched peace begin to take hold—hesitantly, reluctantly in some cases. But with relief for all.

The Tree City was at peace.

The Tree City was at peace.

And as he surveyed his people, Reth's heart turned to his mate. He needed his own reunion. He needed his own peace and rest and relief.

"I'm going to get her tonight," he said quietly to his friends. "After the feast. I'm going to get her. I'll do my best to return before breakfast tomorrow. But if I can't… I will need you to carry the people for a few hours."

"Reth—" Behryn said, shaking his head. "It's too soon."

"I will not wait another day, Behr," Reth said with finality, giving it every ounce of his Alpha strength and power, until a passing Serpent shuddered and submitted. He sent the male on his way, then turned to his friend. "I need peace as much as the people do. And I can't have it without her."

"You don't even know what kind of state she's in. She may not be able to travel—or may not be there if she doesn't know you're coming. You can't assume you'll get back here in a few hours—even if you can cross the traverse safely which isn't guaranteed!" Behryn said, his arms gesturing wildly with his frustration. "Tomorrow will be crucial for the people! They need to see you and be reminded of what they're doing and why."

"They will be so busy returning to their lives and family and friends, they won't even notice if they don't see me for a few hours," Reth said.

Aymora stood with her arms folded, chewing her lip. Reth shot her a look from the corner of his eye. "You can argue if you want to, but you won't change my mind."

"I think he should go, if anyone cares," Brant said wearily. The other two turned to stare at him, and Reth smiled. The older male didn't take his eyes off a family of wolves that were greeting each other at the door of their old tree. "Bringing the Queen back will be a symbol of Reth's love and trust for the people—and his assurance that they wolves won't take her again. Not to mention that the people need her too. Whether they realize it or not. She holds their hearts. They need to see her here and safe and ruling alongside Reth."

Aymora frowned. "Our daughter may not be in any state to rule when she first comes back. She is pregnant, and possibly suffering shifts she can't control. Even if that's not right," she said with an apologetic look at Reth, "being in the human world will have taken it's toll. She will need time to rest and recuperate."

Reth's stomach clenched, but Brant just nodded. "All the more reason to get her back here. Anima will heal her—or you will, Aymora. Either way, the process will begin sooner if she's here."

Reth clasped Brant's arm and thanked him for his support.

Behryn was still shaking his head, but he didn't raise any further arguments. "You're taking a full fist with you, Reth, to guard the Portal. And we pray that either Gawhr got the message or none of the other bears wake when we travel through. This is risky. Very risky."

Reth nodded. "Whatever you think we need, I will do," he said. "But I'm not waiting another day. We go tonight."

Then he took a deep breath and turned to watch the people again, warmed by the thoughts of seeing his mate again in mere hours.

The time couldn't pass quickly enough. 

*****

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