Luna. Chapter 202

（Lyra's POV）

The Iron Claw Pack territory border looked exactly the same as I remembered. Tall stone markers carved with wolf symbols. Ancient trees forming a natural barrier. The feeling of crossing into something larger and more significant than ordinary human space.

But this time, I wasn't being dragged across in disgrace. This time, I was invited.

Kael pulled the car to a stop in front of the main gate. Magnus parked behind us.

"This is it," Kael said quietly.

I could see pack members gathering near the gatehouse. A small crowd of maybe twenty people. Some faces I recognized from my childhood. Others were strangers.

"Are they here to welcome us or chase us away?" I asked.

"Welcome us. I hope."

Asher pressed his face to the window. "There are so many people!"

"They're all here to meet you, buddy," Kael told him.

"Really? Just me?"

"All of us. But you're pretty special."

The car door beside me opened, and a familiar voice said, "Well, are you planning to sit in there all day?"

I turned to see an older woman with silver-streaked hair and kind eyes. Kael's mother, Sarah.

"Hi, Sarah," I said softly.

"Hello, sweetheart. Welcome home."

Home. The word made my throat tight.

Sarah helped me out of the car while Kael got Nova from her car seat. Asher bounded out on his own, immediately drawn to all the new faces.

"My goodness," Sarah breathed, seeing Nova for the first time. "She's beautiful."

"Would you like to hold her?" I offered.

Sarah's face lit up. "I'd love to."

I placed Nova in her grandmother's arms. Nova studied Sarah's face seriously, then smiled. One of her big, gummy grins that could melt anyone's heart.

"Oh," Sarah whispered. "Oh, she's perfect."

An older man approached us. Tall, broad-shouldered, with Kael's eyes. Thomas, the current Alpha and Kael's father.

"Son," he said, embracing Kael warmly. "It's good to have you home."

"It's good to be home, Dad."

Thomas turned to me, and I held my breath. This was the moment. The test.

"Lyra," he said formally. "On behalf of Iron Claw Pack, I welcome you back to our territory. Your exile is hereby lifted."

The words hit me like a physical blow. After all these years, it was official. I was no longer banned from this place.

"Thank you," I managed to say.

"The pack council has voted to formally recognize you as Kael's mate and the mother of his children. You have all the rights and protections that come with that status."

I felt tears prick my eyes. "I... thank you."

"No thanks necessary. You're family now. You always should have been."

The crowd around us had grown. Pack members I remembered from childhood were smiling and waving. Younger faces looked curious and excited.

Magnus appeared at my elbow. "See? I told you they'd welcome you."

"Where's Asher?" I asked, suddenly panicked that I'd lost track of him.

"Right here, Mama!" He came running back from a group of children who'd been showing him something. "They have a playground! And a pond! And someone said there are horses!"

"That's wonderful, baby."

A woman about my age stepped forward. "I'm Lisa, the pack's child development specialist. Would you like me to show Asher around while the adults handle the formal stuff?"

"Oh, that would be great. If you don't mind."

"Not at all. We have several children his age. I think he'll fit right in."

Lisa led Asher toward a group of kids who were already treating him like an old friend. My son's easy social nature was going to serve him well here.

Thomas cleared his throat. "There's a ceremony we need to perform. To officially welcome Lyra back into the pack."

"What kind of ceremony?" I asked nervously.

"Nothing complicated. Just a formal recognition ritual. It'll only take a few minutes."

The crowd formed a loose circle around us. Thomas stood in the center, his voice carrying clearly in the crisp winter air.

"Pack members," he announced. "Today we welcome home one of our own. Lyra Morrison, daughter of Robert and Helen Morrison, returns to us after years of separation."

My parents' names. I hadn't heard them spoken aloud in so long.

"She comes to us not as the confused young woman who left, but as the mate of my son Kael, mother to my grandchildren, and a valued member of our community."

Thomas looked directly at me. "Lyra, do you accept the protection and responsibilities that come with pack membership?"

"I do."

"Do you promise to uphold our laws and traditions, to contribute to our community's wellbeing, and to defend your pack brothers and sisters?"

"I promise."

"Then by the authority granted to me as Alpha of Iron Claw Pack, I declare you fully restored to membership. Welcome home, daughter."

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Pack members surged forward to congratulate us, to meet Nova, to welcome us properly.

It was overwhelming and wonderful and terrifying all at once.

"How do you feel?" Kael asked, appearing at my side.

"Like I might cry. Or throw up. Or both."

He laughed. "That sounds about right."

Sarah appeared with Nova, who was completely charmed by all the attention. "She's been an angel. Everyone wants to hold her."

"She loves being the center of attention," I said. "Wonder where she gets that from."

"Definitely not from me," Kael said innocently.

Magnus clapped Kael on the shoulder. "Your father wants to talk to you about the Alpha transition. Privately."

"Already?"

"No time like the present. Besides, the sooner it's official, the sooner everyone knows where they stand."

I felt a flutter of anxiety. "Go. I'll be fine here."

"You sure?"

I looked around at the friendly faces, at Asher playing happily with new friends, at Nova contentedly being passed from one pack member to another.

"I'm sure."

Kael kissed my forehead and followed his father toward the main lodge. I watched them go, wondering what they would discuss. When they would decide. How quickly our lives were about to change again.

"Nervous?" Sarah asked, appearing at my side.

"Terrified."

"That's normal. Being an Alpha's mate is a big responsibility."

"I'm not sure I'm ready for it."

Sarah smiled. "No one ever is. But you'll grow into it. Just like Kael will grow into being Alpha."

I hoped she was right.

Around us, the welcome celebration continued. Pack members introduced themselves, shared stories about Kael as a child, cooed over Nova's developing abilities.

For the first time in years, I felt like I truly belonged somewhere.

Like I was home.

"That's normal. Being an Alpha's mate is a big responsibility."

"I'm not sure I'm ready for it."

Sarah smiled. "No one ever is. But you'll grow into it. Just like Kael will grow into being Alpha."

I hoped she was right.

Around us, the welcome celebration continued. Pack members introduced themselves, shared stories about Kael as a child, cooed over Nova's developing abilities.

For the first time in years, I felt like I truly belonged somewhere.

Like I was home.