Chapter 320 The journey home

Chapter 320: Chapter 320 The journey home

Talia’s POV

The morning sun was warm on my face as I stepped out of the shelter.

I blinked against the light, and I saw the pack already moving around the campsite. Jax was kicking dirt over the fire, and I saw the smoke curling up into the blue sky. Piper was gathering the blankets, and Silas was dismantling the shelter we had built. Cain was already at the edge of the clearing, with his eyes scanning the forest.

I looked at my mother, and I saw the tears in her eyes. She was standing beside me, and she was looking at the trees, at the sky, and at everything she had not seen in fifteen years.

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

She looked at me, and I saw the hope in her tired eyes. "I have been ready for fifteen years, Talia."

I squeezed her hand. "Then let us go."

But before I could take another step, I felt a warmth spreading through my chest. It was not the warmth of the fire or the warmth of the sun. It was something else, and it was something familiar.

"Talia." Kaelen’s voice echoed in my mind, soft and warm.

I smiled, and I looked across the clearing. He was standing near the edge of the camp, and he was looking at me. His gray eyes were soft, and I could see the love in them.

"Good morning," I said through the mind link. "You are up early."

"Someone has to watch over you," he replied, and I could feel the smile in his voice. "I wanted to tell you that I had Silas and Jax ready the horses. We are leaving as soon as everyone is ready."

I looked toward the edge of the clearing, and I saw them. Silas was brushing down the horses, and Jax was checking the straps on the carriage. They had been working since before I woke up.

"Thank you," I said. "For everything."

"You do not have to thank me, Talia," he said. "We are going home."

I felt the warmth spreading through my chest, and I turned to my mother.

"Mother," I said. "We are leaving."

She nodded, and I saw the tears streaming down her face. "Then let us go."

I took her hand, and I led her out of the shelter. We walked toward the edge of the clearing, and I saw the horses standing there, their coats gleaming in the morning light.

Jax looked up, and I saw the grin spreading across his face. "Luna! You are awake. I was starting to think you were going to sleep all day."

Piper rolled her eyes. "Jax, she was resting. Unlike you, who spent half the night talking in your sleep."

Jax placed his hand over his heart. "I do not talk in my sleep, Piper. I have conversations with the Moon Goddess."

Piper snorted. "You were mumbling about rabbits."

Jax opened his mouth, and I saw the protest forming on his lips. But then he sighed, and I saw the mock defeat on his face. "Fine. I was dreaming about rabbits. Happy now?"

Piper grinned. "Very happy, Jax."

I laughed, and I felt the warmth spreading through my chest.

Jax turned to me, and I saw the playful gleam in his eyes. "I was starting to worry, Luna. I thought we might have to walk all the way back to Blackmoor Valley."

I raised an eyebrow. "Walk?"

Jax nodded, and I saw the exaggerated fear on his face. "Yes, Luna. Walk on our feet, like common wolves. I was terrified that we may not be able to find the horses where we had left them."

Piper shook her head. "Jax, you walked through the Ashen Lands without complaining."

Jax placed his hand over his heart. "That was different, Piper. That was survival. This would be unnecessary walking."

Silas looked up from the horses, and I saw the dry expression on his face. "You complained the entire way through the Ashen Lands, Jax."

Jax sighed dramatically. "I am surrounded by traitors."

I laughed, and I heard the others laughing with me.

I looked at my mother, and I saw the smile on her face. She was watching them, watching us, and I could see the wonder in her eyes.

"Are you okay, Mother?" I asked.

She nodded, and I saw the tears in her eyes. "I had forgotten what it felt like to laugh like this," she said. "I had forgotten what it felt like to be part of something."

I squeezed her hand. "You are part of this now, Mother. You are part of us."

She looked at me, and I saw the hope in her tired eyes.

Once everyone had fully packed and was ready to leave, I helped my mother into the carriage, and I climbed in beside her. Kaelen mounted his horse, and I saw him look back at me.

I smiled, and I felt the warmth spreading through my chest.

"Ready?" he asked.

I nodded. "Ready."

He smiled, and I saw the love in his eyes. "Then let us go home."

The carriage lurched forward, and I felt the wheels rolling over the grass. I looked at my mother, and I saw her looking out at the forest.

"Mother," I said. "What is the first thing you want to do when we get home?"

She looked at me, and I saw the tears in her eyes. "I want to see the sun rise over the mountains," she said. "I want to feel the grass beneath my feet, and I want to hear the sound of laughter."

I squeezed her hand. "You will, Mother. You will have all of that."

She smiled, and I saw the hope in her tired eyes. "I know, Talia. I know."

I looked at the path ahead, and I felt the determination settling in my chest.

"Mother," I said. "When we get home, I am going to show you everything. The pack house, the training grounds, and the gardens. I am going to show you the life I have built."

She looked at me, and I saw the pride in her eyes. "I cannot wait to see it, Talia."

I looked at my pack, and I felt the love and the gratitude swelling in my chest. They had followed me into the darkness, and they had brought me out.

I looked at Kaelen, and I saw the love in his eyes.

"Thank you," I whispered.

He nodded, and I knew he understood.

We traveled through the forest, and I felt the sun on my face and the warmth of my mother’s hand in mine. The birds were singing, and the wind was warm, and I could hear the laughter of my pack around me.

I looked at my mother, and I saw the tears on her face. But I knew that they were happy tears because, she was smiling.

"Thank you," she said. "For bringing me home."

I shook my head. "You are the one who brought me home, Mother. You always have been."

She looked at me, and I saw the love in her tired eyes.

"Where do we go from here?" she asked.

I looked at the path ahead, and I felt the hope rising in my chest.

"We go home, Mother. Together." I replied.

She nodded, and I saw the hope in her eyes. "Yes, Talia. Together.”