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    CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED & THIRTY EIGHT


    Talia’s POV


    A weekter, Nn and I were up before dawn.


    The pack house had been in preparation mode for days. Extra food stores had been brought in, and guest houses had been cleaned. Warriors had been briefed on their roles during the visit; the wall tour route had been confirmed with Walden. All that


    was left was to wait.


    We did not wait long.


    De came to find us while we were still finishing breakfast. She was dressed in a very professional suit. De bowed to us and Nn said, “Why so professional? Sit down and have breakfast with us.”


    “The first convoys have reached our border,” De said and sat down. “Walden is already at the scene. He has taken the early arrivals directly to the wall.”


    “Solon and Leslie?” I asked.


    “Still on the way,” she said with a smile. “Their convoy is close. Moonbrook is with them.”


    Nn set down his cup and I was already standing. “Guess it is time to get started.”


    We made our way to the wall and found the visiting leaders gathered at the entrance, moving slowly along the base of it with their heads tilted back. I watched their faces as they took it in. Some of them had sent polite but nomittal responses to the invitation, responses that told me very little about whether they actually believed the threat was real or the wall was necessary. It was clear now that they underestimated the threat as well as the wall.


    “This isrger than I imagined,” one of the Alphas said.


    Another Alpha gestured toward the eastern section. “The reinforcements alone are extensive,” he said. “How long did this take?


    “Just under a month,” I responded.


    “A month?” Another Alpha eximed. He looked at Nn and he nodded.


    No one spoke after that and I let the quiet satisfaction of being right settle over me.


    Henry’s voice came through the mind link while the visiting leaders were still touring. ‘Luna Talia, I have arrived.’


    ‘I am d that you could make it. How is Shadoww doing?’


    ‘All is well in Shadoww. There are no incidents to report,’ Henry responded.


    ‘Thank you, Henry,’ I replied.


    Nn, De, and I moved to the outer entrance to wait for the remaining convoys. The morning was cold and clear, and the sounds of the visiting leaders talking among themselves carried from further along the wall. De stood with her arms folded against the cold and said nothing, which meant she was in Beta mode.


    Two convoys appeared on the road at nearly the same time. I recognized the Silverfang banners first and was surprised that I telt giddy at knowing my brother had arrived fast.


    Nn and I walked out to meet them.


    Solon stepped out of the car before it had fully stopped and crossed the distance between us in a few strides. I met him halfway and threw myself into his arms for a hug, feeling my wolf wag her tail in excitement too.


    “I have missed you, brother,” I said.


    “And I’ve missed you too,” he said. He pulled back and looked at me. “You look well, Talia. You look like yourself.”


    Before I could reply, a familiar hiss reached my ears. I smiled and turned toward the sound.


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    “Goddess, Solon, you couldn’t wait until the car stopped or are you trying to hurt yourself so I can take care of you,” Leslie scolded as she got out of the car. She looked me over and her expression softened.


    “You look like a pack Luna, Talia,” Leslie finally said. “A real one.” She nced past me to where De was standing. “I see De hasn’t driven you crazy yet.”


    De stepped forward with a wide smile. “Oh, it is nice seeing you too, Leslie.”


    Leslieughed and then pulled De into a hug.


    “How’s Father doing?” I asked.


    “He is well,” Solon replied. “Busy, as always, and showing no signs of slowing down. But he misses you.”


    “You know he could reach out sometimes,” I said.


    “Yes, but he wanted to give you space to grow into your role. You know how he is.”


    I smiled at that. It was exactly the kind of thing our father would do.


    ‘We should reach out to himter today,’ my wolf suggested.


    ‘I will. There is so much to tell him,’ I agreed.


    “Wee! Solon and Leslie. Thank you foring,” Nn formally greeted them. Nn then extended his hand to shake


    Solon.


    Solon stared at Nn’s hand for a moment. I started to get ready to mediate an argument when Solon brushed Nn’s hand away. He ced his hand on Nn’s shoulder instead.


    “You can’t be serious, Nn,” Solon said. “We’re a family. Act like it.”


    Before Nn could respond, Solon pulled him into a tight hug. Nn’s shocked expression caused De and Leslie to burst outughing and I couldn’t help but giggle.


    “Are you guys having fun without me?” Colin asked as he exited his car. I moved toward him on instinct with my arms already


    open.


    Nn coughed.


    I stopped and extended my hand instead. Colin took it and shook it with a firm grip, but his eyes had already moved to Nn. He had a mischievous smirk on his face.


    “Stingy,” Colin teased.


    “Wee to Bloodmoon,” Nn said evenly, ignoring thement.


    “What? I don’t get a hug?” Colin asked.


    “No,” Nn said firmly, but from the twitch at the side of his mouth I knew he was trying to hold back a smile. I thought I would never see the day where Nn would not want to maul Colin.


    “Aw, don’t be a wet sandwich, Nn,” Colin fake pouted. 1


    Nn cleared his throat and said, “Let’s go and start the tour.”


    Colin grinned and fell into step beside us as Nn turned and led the group toward the wall.


    TAKTY NINI


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