Torn Between Destinies-Chapter 22 - Twenty Two

I didn’t breathe until the swirling light of the portal faded and the ground of Thornridge pressed firm beneath my boots again.

We made it.

Behind me, Kiani clung tightly to Aira, her little arms wrapped around her mother’s waist. Aira was shaking, whether from fear or exhaustion I couldn’t tell. The wind here was different—cooler, cleaner. It smelled of pine and distant smoke. And it was home.

"We’re safe now," I whispered.

I turned to look at Aira. Her eyes were wide, scanning the forest like it was a dream. She hadn’t been here in years—not since the night she left us.

"This is Thornridge?" Kiani asked quietly.

"Yes," I said. "Our home."

She tilted her head, listening to the birdsong in the trees. "It’s quiet."

"Too quiet," Aira murmured.

The portal hadn’t taken us to the village center. It never did. We were near the far border of the territory, not far from the southern patrol path. If we were lucky, the guards would spot us soon. If we weren’t, we’d have to walk.

"I can’t believe we’re back," I said, mostly to myself.

Aira crouched beside Kiani. "Stay close to me. Don’t run."

"Okay, Mama."

I moved ahead to lead them. My heart pounded. Part of me was grateful. The other part—the bigger part—was already bracing for what would come next. freeweɓnovel.cøm

Nefang.

He’d be furious.

The pack wasn’t just protective of its rules—it lived by them. What I had done, crossing worlds without permission, bringing humans into our realm without approval, could be considered treason.

But what choice did I have?

After almost an hour of walking through thick trees, I spotted the first figure on the patrol route.

It was Beta Jorren.

He stood still as a statue at the sight of us. His eyes went straight to me, then to the woman and child beside me. He stepped forward, slowly.

"Luciana?" His voice was full of disbelief. "Is that...?"

"Yes," I said. "It’s my mother. Aira. And this is Kiani, her daughter."

Jorren blinked, mouth parting.

"You need to take us to my father," I said firmly.

He hesitated for a second, then nodded.

"Come. Quickly."

The walk back to the heart of Thornridge was long and tense. I could feel the weight of Aira’s steps behind me. She was trying not to show how overwhelmed she was, but I knew. I felt it too. This place had once been her prison—and now, it might become her home again.

We reached the village just before sunset.

People turned when they saw us. Eyes widened. Some whispered. Some stared openly. Aira lowered her head. Kiani pressed into her mother’s side.

I didn’t slow down.

Nefang’s home came into view, the biggest building at the center of Thornridge. Guards stood at the doors. They stiffened when they saw me.

One of them stepped forward. "She’s back. With humans."

"Let us in," I said.

They opened the door without a word.

Inside, the fire was lit, and the warmth wrapped around me instantly. Nefang stood near the fireplace, deep in conversation with the council. His back was to us.

I stepped forward.

"Father."

He turned and froze.

His eyes locked on mine. Relief crossed his face first. "Luciana..." he breathed. Then his gaze moved to Aira and Kiani.

The change was instant.

His whole body stilled. His voice dropped to a whisper.

"Aira?"

She took a slow step forward. "It’s me, Nefang."

For a long, long moment, he didn’t move. Then he stepped forward, almost in disbelief, like she might vanish again.

"You’re alive."

"Yes," she said softly.

His voice cracked. "All these years..."

She nodded, holding Kiani tighter.

"I thought you were dead," he whispered. "I searched. I tore through the edges of the world looking for you."

"I know," she said. "And I’m sorry."

He turned sharply to me. "You went to the human world. Without permission. Without protection. Do you understand what you’ve done?"

"Yes," I said, standing tall. "I went because she needed me. They needed me."

"You risked your life," he said, voice rising. "You risked ours! If someone had followed you, if the humans had seen..."

"They did," I said. "I fought them off. I did what I had to do."

He stared at me, anger flaring in his eyes.

"You disobeyed every law we hold sacred, Luciana."

I stepped closer to him. "Would you rather I had stayed here while they suffered? While John beat them? While Kiani cried herself to sleep every night?"

At the mention of Kiani’s name, his eyes dropped to the little girl. She looked up at him, curious and frightened.

"She’s mine?" he asked quietly.

Aira nodded.

He knelt slowly, eye to eye with the child. "Hello, little one."

Kiani said nothing, but she didn’t run.

"She’s strong," Aira said. "Like you."

Nefang looked up at her. "Why didn’t you come back? Why disappear?"

"Because I couldn’t be what you wanted me to be," she whispered. "I couldn’t become like you."

"You were never supposed to change," he said. "Only to understand. To belong."

"I was scared," Aira admitted. "You wanted to perform rituals. You wanted me to shift—to be one of you. But I’m not. I’m human."

He stood slowly. "Then why come back?"

She looked at Luciana. "Because our daughter reminded me that family is more than blood. It’s what I saw her fighting for. Then I believe her, shifting would be our protector."

Father looked at me, satisfaction in his eyes. Maybe because for letting Aira see us as protectors and not dangerous as she might have thought of us in the past.

"You have talked well, Kiana," Father said.

I reached for Kiani’s hand. "We’re here now. All of us. What happens next is up to you."

Nefang turned away, breathing hard.

"I need time," he said finally. "This changes everything."

"I know," I replied.

"But you and the others—Aira, Kiani—you’ll be watched. The council will have questions."

"We’ll answer them."

He nodded, but his voice was cold. "You broke my trust, Luciana."

"And I’d do it again," I said. "Because they’re worth it."

He looked at me, something unreadable in his eyes.

"Rest tonight," he said. "We talk tomorrow."

Then he left the room.

Aira sat down slowly on the bench near the fire. Kiani climbed into her lap.

"I forgot how cold it could be here," Aira murmured.

"It’s not always like this," I said. "It gets warmer. Brighter."

She gave me a tired smile.

Kiani looked around. "Will we stay here?"

I knelt beside her. "For now, yes. We’re safe."

Safe—but not yet home.

Not yet.