Alpha Nolan scoffed, "My Winter Domain won’t crumble so easily. Your grandfather was once the fiercest shifter across all four domains. If Lothaire’s boy thinks he can take him down...he may very well go for it."
"Even the fiercest warrior will be at a disadvantage against an army. With the vanguard stuck here, the Winter Domain is outnumbered. He may not be able to withstand the Eclipse wolves for too long without an army of his own." Neveah said with a shake of her head.
"And I know Alessio too well. He is far stronger than Lothaire...crueler too. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants."
"It is safest to assu he already has a well thought out plan of action. I know because... I would too." Neveah murmured, the words bitter on her tongue.
"You are not a Lothaire, Neveah." Alpha Nolan corrected firmly. "So do not make that reference...ever."
She inhaled sharply, nodding her head in response. "I know. You’re right."
"I sent the letter to the Infernal castle with many difficulties, in hopes that sohow, their inability to translate wolven tongue might lead to them seeking Kaideon’s aide." Alpha Nolan explained. "It was a slim chance, but the only chance we had. And I’m glad I took the risk...it brought you here." He said aningfully.
"Can you find us a way back?" Alpha Nolan asked, his expression grim.
Neveah glanced over at Alpha Nolan, nodding once. "I will make the arrangents imdiately."
Alpha Nolan looked relieved for a mont, and then his expression changed. "You said two things..."
"What?" Neveah asked uncertainly.
"You said Alessio would only send us here for one of two reasons." He explained. "What is the other?"
’To remind ...of him. To let know... that he hasn’t forgotten his vow, and neither should I. To convey the ssage to , that he has my mother.’
Neveah smiled grimly, shaking her head slightly. "Nothing worth ntioning. If it is okay with you, I will disrupt the spell imdiately. We should not waste any more ti than we already have."
"The dragons? They are in the lower district, aren’t they?" Alpha Nolan asked warily.
"You are not our enemy." Neveah assured. "I will explain it clearly to my dragons, so they understand."
Alpha Nolan’s expression was complicated. "You grew up well... little one."
_______________
Xenon’s arm snuck around Neveah’s waist, pulling her into his side, and only then did Neveah realize she had been lost in thought, watching the portals send the shifters back to wolf territory.
It had taken just a few hours for the mages and dragon lords to settle into the new plan, and in that ti, Alpha Nolan and Neveah had talked.
Of everything, and nothing as well.
He was much like her, Neveah realized. He did not really know how to express his emotions, or to be vocal about them, but if one looked closely enough, it was undeniably reflected in their eyes.
That cold facade seed to be a trait of the winter wolves, at least Alpha Nolan had said it was.
Neveah wondered if her mother, Eira, had been such a woman too. A woman who hid her true feelings beneath a cold and emotionless appearance. A woman who felt more deeply, and loved more deeply than she would ever be able to let on.
"We were this close...to giving a kill order." Neveah murmured quietly. The thought of it still sent a chill of terror down her spine.
Even now, Alessio’s thods were too sinister to fathom, so much so that it terrified her.
And right in the back of her mind, the ssage he had sent her way lingered. Alpha Nolan did not understand it as well as Neveah did,
’It is us...in exchange for mother.’ Neveah thought to her wolf.
There was no response, none was required. Her wolf had felt it, just as she had. The hidden ssage Alpha Nolan had unknowingly passed.
"But we didn’t." Xenon replied. "That’s all you need to think about."
Neveah nodded slowly. She shook off her worriso thoughts when she spotted Alpha Nolan heading her way. More than half of his wolves had already crossed the portal, but he had lingered back to see them all go through before he would.
He stopped a short distance away, a ghost of a smile lingering on his lips. "I did not think we would first et in this manner. I had hoped to teach you our traditions...as your mother did ."
"You will." Neveah assured. "But you are needed elsewhere...at this ti."
Alpha Nolan nodded in agreent. "I will tell your grandfather all about you... and the family you have found here." He said, glancing over at Xenon.
"My warriors are eager to et you, but there will be a better ti for a formal introduction. This is your place, Neveah. Pale hair or not." He continued. "Your mother would be proud."
A knot ford in Neveah’s chest, and she blinked to clear her suddenly blurry vision.
"Thank you. Winter King Nolan." She whispered quietly, inclining her head to a small bow.
She felt a slight sting on her chest, and her hand moved to rest over her heart, brows furrowed in confusion.
"Veah? Are you alright?" Xenon asked in concern.
Alpha Nolan also seed to be in the sa peculiar situation. He hissed in pain, his hand shooting up to his chest. He frowned, pulling down his vest and both he and Neveah watched in surprise as the Creator’s mark etched itself on Alpha Nolan’s skin.
Neveah had heard, that it was only gifted to the heir of each generation. One heir, no one else. Since she had gotten the mark, and Alpha Nolan had never been ant to be Winter King but was made to rise to the title in Eira’s absence, it made sense that he never got the mark.
But now...
’You acknowledged him as Winter King. You lowered your head...it is equivalent to conceding our inheritance to him. He now...is the true Winter King, and the title will belong to his lineage, not ours. For all ti.’ Neveah’s wolf explained.
Neveah was the only one who needed the explanation. Alpha Nolan understood what had just happened.
"No...thank you, little one." Alpha Nolan adjusted, his tone hoarse.
"Everything is as it should be." Neveah replied, a rare smile lit up her face.
Alpha Nolan seed to have more to say but he decided against it.
"Kaideon... keep your father safe. If my sister lives, he has to be here, to receive her." Alpha Nolan said aningfully.
"I will spare no effort." Neveah vowed.
He closed the distance between them, reaching out, he patted Neveah’s head like he had the first ti. But this ti, Neveah laughed quietly, accepting the gesture of fondness for what it was.
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