Chapter Eight-Nine – Homecoming pt 2
Rowan nodded. “I meant it then. And I’ll mean it every day moving forward. Giselle is my heart. My mate. She belongs here, and so do both of you—if you’ll stay.”
Her mother answered without hesitation. “Yes. We’d be honored.”
But beside her, Giselle’s sister, still holding her hand, shifted nervously. Her grip tightened slightly, and her gaze dropped to the ground.
Giselle blinked and looked at her more closely. “Lina? You okay?” she asked, her voice quiet.
Lina gave a small nod, but it was uncertain. “I…” Lina bit her lip, eyes darting to Rowan and then to Giselle. “I’m honored, I swear. It’s just… I…”
Before Giselle could finish asking what was wrong, movement from the crowd nearby caught her attention. A tall, broad-shouldered warrior broke from the small group of visiting pack members that had traveled with Liam. His eyes, dark and full of longing, locked onto Lina.
He didn’t say a word, but the look between them said everything.
“Oh,” Giselle breathed, realization dawning like lightning across her skin.
Lina's eyes filled with tears, and she gave Giselle a sheepish, guilty smile. “I didn’t want to say anything yet… I wasn’t sure. But he’s—he’s my mate.”
The warrior finally reached them, standing a respectful distance away, as if afraid to come closer without permission. Giselle saw the restraint in him, the hope and fear bundled together in his expression.
Rowan stepped forward, his gaze flicking from the warrior to Lina and back. Then, to everyone’s surprise, he gave a small nod. “You’re from Liam’s pack?”
“Yes, Alpha,” the man said, his voice strong despite the tension. “I’m Niko.”
“Well, Niko,” Rowan said, his tone measured but fair, “you’ve found something precious in one of ours. Treat her well.”
Niko’s eyes warmed. “With everything I am.”
Lina exhaled a shaky breath, looking between her sister and her mate. “I didn’t know what to do. I don’t want to leave you again, Giselle. Not after everything…”
Giselle reached out and gently took her sister’s hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Lina's gaze was fixed on the tall warrior standing close by, his expression both patient and aching, as if the weight of her decision rested on his very breath.
“You know there isn’t a choice when it comes to your mate,” Giselle said softly, her voice threading with quiet understanding. “Not really. The bond doesn’t wait until everything is convenient or easy. It finds you, whether you’re ready or not. And when it does… you owe it to yourself to follow it.”
Lina blinked, tears already welling in her eyes.
“You deserve to be happy, Lina,” Giselle continued. “To have everything life can give you. Even if that happiness leads you to a pack farther away than we’d like.”
Rowan stepped in then, his tone calm but reassuring. “Our packs are connected—through my sister and her mates, through the alliance we’ve built. You’ll never be far. You’ll always have a home here, and you're welcome anytime.”
Lina turned toward Giselle, eyes brimming, and threw her arms around her in a fierce hug. “I love you, Gis,” she whispered, voice trembling. “You’ve always been the brave one.”
“So are you,” Giselle whispered back, holding her tightly. “So are you.”
When Lina finally pulled away, she didn’t hesitate. She crossed the remaining space to Niko and practically threw herself into his arms. The warrior caught her with a low grunt and wrapped her up like he’d never let her go again. Their embrace radiated something raw and powerful—and completely unshakable.
Their mother wiped at her eyes and gave a small, breathless laugh. “Well,” she said, looking between her two daughters, “I don’t know which of you I’m supposed to follow.”
“Stay with Giselle,” Lina answered immediately, looking over her shoulder with a teary smile. “You’ve always worried more about her. I’m in good hands. Promise.”
Rowan nodded solemnly beside Giselle, placing a steady hand at the small of her back. “She is,” he confirmed, his voice low and certain. “With us, she’ll always be safe.”
Giselle’s mother looked between the faces before her—her strong, stubborn daughters, the powerful males at their sides, and the growing circle of loyalty surrounding them.
With a gentle sigh and a nod, she smiled. “Then I guess I’m staying.”
And for the first time in what felt like years, Giselle’s heart felt whole.
Just as the last of the tension in Giselle’s chest began to ease, the sound of light footsteps approaching pulled her attention toward the path. Charlie strode toward them with a radiant smile on her face, flanked by her two mates—Luther on her right, calm and serious as ever, and Liam on her left, his softer features lit up with excitement.
“There you are!” Charlie beamed, her gaze flitting to Lina and their mother before landing on Giselle. “It’s really happening, isn’t it? Everyone’s back.”
Rowan stepped forward, ever the Alpha, and placed a hand on Charlie’s shoulder before turning to the group.
“For those who haven’t met yet,” he began, “this is my sister, Charlie. And these two”—he nodded to the men flanking her—“are her mates, Luther and Liam.”
Giselle watched as her mother gave a respectful nod to Luther and Charlie.
Lina’s eyebrows lifted. “Two mates?” she murmured, a little wide-eyed. “Lucky you.”
Charlie smirked and reached for each of their hands, not at all ashamed. “You have no idea.”
Introductions passed quickly, laughter mingling with warmth as the families began to blend. Giselle stayed close to Rowan’s side, his hand grazing the small of her back in small, protective touches.
Rowan took a moment to glance over them all—the newly returned, the ones who had fought for their future, and the mates standing proud beside their bonded wolves. His voice rang clear with quiet happiness.
“We’ve waited long enough,” he said. “Let’s head back to the packhouse. It’s time we celebrated what we’ve all managed to keep safe… and bring home.”
As the group began walking, Giselle found herself between her mother and sister, the air buzzing with the comforting murmur of voices around them. Rowan kept her within reach, their bond humming with peace and quiet joy.
They walked together as one pack. One family.
And for the first time in a long time, Giselle didn’t feel like she was walking toward something uncertain—she was walking into the home she’d always been meant to have.
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