Chapter 323 The Journey Continues 1

Chapter 323: Chapter 323 The Journey Continues 1

Talia’s POV

I stood on the other side of the river, and I watched the water rushing behind us.

The cold was still clinging to my skin, and I could feel the dampness seeping through my clothes, but I did not move. I could not look away from the river, and from the water that had carried us from one side to the other.

Jax was still shaking the water from his clothes, and I heard him muttering under his breath. "I am never going to be warm again. I am going to freeze to death right here, and you are all going to have to carry my frozen body back to Blackmoor Valley."

Piper laughed, and I saw the joy on her face. "Jax, you are such a baby."

Jax pointed at her, and I saw the mock anger in his eyes. "I am not a baby, Piper. I am a wolf who does not like cold water. There is a difference."

I smiled, and I turned to look at the river.

Kaelen was on the other side, and I watched him guiding the horses across the water. Cain was beside him, and Silas was leading the carriage. They were moving slowly, and carefully, making sure the horses did not slip on the rocks.

I watched them, and I felt the love swelling in my chest.

Kaelen looked up, and I saw him smile at me. He raised his hand, and I raised mine in return.

"Almost there," he called out.

I nodded, and I turned back to my mother. She was standing beside me, with her hand still gripping mine.

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

She nodded, and I saw the tears in her eyes. "I am fine, Talia. I am just... I am just taking it all in."

I squeezed her hand. "Take as long as you need, Mother."

Jax was still shaking the water from his clothes, and I heard him groan. "I am going to smell like wet wolf for the rest of the journey."

Piper snorted. "You always smell like wet wolf, Jax."

Jax placed his hand over his heart. "That is hurtful, Piper. That is deeply hurtful."

Piper grinned. "I know. That is why I said it."

I laughed, and I felt the warmth spreading through my chest. “i cannot settle for who cracks me up more, between the both of you.” I said.

Jax smiled immediately and raised his hand. “That will be me, Luna.” he said.

Piper scoffed. “In your dreams, Jax.” She countered.

I laughed out loud, and I felt a little relief in my heart.

Kaelen reached the shore, and I watched him guide the horses onto the grass. He dismounted, and he walked to me.

"Ready to continue?" he asked.

I nodded. "Ready."

He looked at my mother, and I saw the kindness in his eyes. "How are you feeling, ma?"

My mother looked at him, and I saw the gratitude in her tired eyes. "I am feeling stronger, Alpha. Thank you for asking."

Kaelen smiled. "You are part of this pack now. You do not have to call me Alpha. Kaelen is fine."

My mother nodded, and I saw the tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Kaelen."

I helped my mother back into the carriage, and I climbed in beside her. Kaelen mounted his horse, and I saw him look back at me.

"We are going home," he said.

I smiled. "Yes. We are going home."

The carriage lurched forward, and we continued our journey through the forest.

The days passed quickly, and I watched my mother change.

It was slow at first, and barely noticeable. But as we traveled further from the Ashen Lands, I saw the color returning to her cheeks. I saw the light coming back to her eyes. I saw her sitting up straighter, walking farther, and eating more.

I felt my chest warm, because she was healing.

"Mother," I said one morning, and my voice was soft. "You look stronger today."

She looked at me, and I saw the smile on her face. "I feel stronger, Talia. I feel like I am waking up."

I reached for her hand, and I squeezed it. "You are waking up, Mother. You are coming back to life."

She nodded, and I saw the tears in her eyes. "I never thought I would feel this way again. I never thought I would feel hope."

I squeezed her hand. "You will feel it every day from now on, Mother. I promise."

My mother smiled, and she squeezed my hand back.

We traveled through the forest, and my mother talked.

She told me about her childhood, about the village of Luminara, and about the gardens where she used to play. She told me about her mother, and her grandmother, and the Silvertongue women who had come before her.

I could see the memories playing across her face like a moving painting. Her eyes grew distant, and her voice took on a dreamy quality that made me feel like I was right there with her.

"I remember running through the gardens with my mother," she said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. "She would chase me through the flowers, and I would laugh so hard that my sides would ache. And my grandmother would sit on the porch and watch us, and she would say, ’That girl is going to be trouble.’"

I smiled, and I could picture it. "What did your grandmother look like?"