Chapter 312 The Frost Boy

Chapter 312: Chapter 312 The Frost Boy

Talia’s POV

I drifted in and out of sleep, but I did not truly rest.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the silver bars and the guards and the darkness of the Ashen Lands. Every time I opened them, I saw Kaelen sitting beside me, with his gray eyes watching over me.

The sun was lower now, and the sky was painted in shades of orange and pink. I could hear the soft crackle of a fire, and I could smell something cooking.

I pushed myself up slowly, and I looked around. The pack had made camp. Piper was tending to the fire, and Jax was helping her. Silas was sitting on a rock, with his eyes scanning the horizon. And Cain was still standing watch, with his back to us.

And my mother. She was sitting beside me, with her hand resting on my arm.

"Mother," I said, and my voice was stronger now.

She smiled, and I saw the tears in her eyes. "My brave girl, you are awake."

I nodded. "How long was I asleep?"

"A few hours," she answered. "You needed the rest."

I looked at the camp, and I felt the warmth spreading through my chest. They had set up a small fire, and they had laid out blankets, and they had built a shelter out of branches and leaves.

"You did all this?" I asked.

Piper looked up, and I saw the smile on her face. "We all helped. It is not much, but it is home for now."

Jax stood and stretched. "Speaking of home, we need more wood for the fire. Silas, you are coming with me. Once we are back, we will build our camp properly. Because we cannot sleep in that thing standing over there." He said, pointing to the thin wood made shelter, that had no cover.

Silas nodded and stood. "I will go."

Piper jumped up. "I will come too."

Jax looked at her, and I saw the mock horror on his face. "Piper, no. There are wild animals out there."

Piper crossed her arms. "Then the wild animals will have to kill you first before they get to me."

Jax placed his hand over his heart. "That is the sweetest thing you have ever said to me, Piper."

Piper rolled her eyes. "Do not get used to it, Jax."

I laughed, and I heard the others laughing with me. It was a small thing, but it felt important. It felt like hope.

Jax, Silas, and Piper walked into the trees, and I watched them go. Cain was still standing watch, with his eyes scanning the horizon.

I looked at Kaelen, and I saw the exhaustion on his face. He had not slept. He had been watching over me the whole time.

"Kaelen," I said. "You need to sleep."

He shook his head. "I am fine, Talia."

"Kaelen..." I said slowly.

"Talia," he replied, with his voice firm. "I will sleep when I know you are safe."

I looked at him, and I knew there was no point arguing. He was as stubborn as I was.

I looked at my mother, and I saw the tears on her face. She was looking at the fire, and I could see the emotions playing across her face.

"Mother," I said. "Are you okay?"

She looked at me, and I saw the tears streaming down her face. "I never thought I would see a fire again," she whispered. "I never thought I would feel warmth like this."

I reached for her hand, and I squeezed it. "You are free now, Mother. You are never going back."

She nodded, and I saw the hope in her tired eyes.

I looked at the sky, and I watched the stars begin to appear. The fire crackled beside us, and the wind whispered through the grass.

For the first time in days, I felt safe.

I leaned against Kaelen, and I felt his arm wrapping around me. "Thank you," I whispered. "For everything."

He pressed his lips to my forehead. "You have nothing to thank me for, Talia. I told you that already."

I nodded, then I closed my eyes, and I let myself rest.

I was not sure how much time had passed when I heard my mother’s voice. She was speaking softly, and I realized she was talking to Kaelen.

I opened my eyes and watched them both.

"You are the Frost boy," she said, with her eyes studying his face.

Kaelen nodded. "I am, ma."

My mother looked at him for a long moment, and I saw the recognition flickering in her tired eyes. "You have your father’s eyes," she said softly. "I would recognize them anywhere."

Kaelen’s jaw tightened, and I saw the emotion flickering across his face. "I have been... told that before."

My mother smiled gently. "I knew your father, Kaelen. I knew him well. He was a good wolf."

Kaelen was silent for a moment. "What was he like?"

My mother looked at the fire, and I could see her lost in memories. "He was strong, and he was proud. But he had a good heart, Kaelen. He loved his pack, and he loved his family. He always talked about you, even when you were just a pup."

Kaelen’s voice was barely a whisper. "He talked about me?"

My mother nodded. "He said you were going to be a great Alpha. He said you had his eyes, and his strength, and he was so proud of you, Kaelen."

I saw Kaelen’s face change, and I saw the raw emotion in his eyes. "I never knew much of him. Because he died when I was young."

My mother reached out, and she touched his hand. "I know. I was there, Kaelen. I was there when he died."

Kaelen stared at her, his gray eyes widening. "You were there?"

My mother nodded, and I saw the tears streaming down her face. "He died saving me, Kaelen. He gave his life to protect me. That is why I owe your family a debt I can never repay."

Kaelen was silent for a long moment. Then he spoke, and his voice was thick with emotion. "He died saving you?"

My mother nodded. "He was a good wolf, Kaelen. The best of wolves. And he died so that I could live. I never forgot it, and I never forgot him."

I saw Kaelen’s hand trembling, and I saw the tears in his eyes. "Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you for telling me."

My mother leaned forward, and she squeezed his hand. "You have his eyes, Kaelen. And his heart too. And he would be so proud of you."

Kaelen did not speak. He just nodded, and I saw the tears falling down his face, but he quickly turned away, and wiped them.

I reached for his hand, and I squeezed it. He turned back, and looked at me, and I saw the love and the grief mixing in his eyes.

I did not say anything. I just held his hand, and I let him know that I was there.