Wolves of the Falling Stars Book 4: The Return

Chapter 31

Stormy Sky kept being nudged in his sleep. He let out a groan and buried himself deeper in his mother's fur. The journey to the Pack of the Falling Stars had been long and exhausting. Now, he wanted nothing more than to get some sleep in this strange place. However, the nudging continued.

"Stormy Sky, wake up," came the soft and gentle words of his mother. 

Stormy Sky lifted his head. It was still nighttime out, and the moon casted a glow over the entire forest. There was a silhouette near the entrance of the den. Though half-awake, Stormy Sky found himself moving toward the entrance with his mother. There was indeed a wolf at the entrance, a wolf whom Stormy Sky had only seen briefly during the day but barely got to say a word too.

In many ways, Stormy Sky thought he looked like his father as he observed the male wolf sitting outside the den. His eyes immediately fell to the lightning strike on Feather Wings' foot, the same mark that he had on his chest. The realization was starting to set in that this was real, that this was his father, and he was finally able to meet him.

"Sorry, I finally managed to slip away," Feather Wings said to Gentle Breeze. Suddenly, the attention was turned onto Stormy Sky. His father bent down and nuzzled his head against Stormy Sky. It frightened Stormy Sky at first, like it was a stranger's touch, but eventually, he settled into it.

"It's so great to finally meet you," Feather Wings said to his son. "We have the same mark, see?" he asked, turning to show his foot. "That's a very special mark for a very special wolf."

"You think so?" Stormy Sky asked.

Feather Wings nodded. Then, he looked up at Gentle Breeze.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I became mates with Shining River and fathered those pups and--"

"It doesn't matter. You did what you had to in order to keep this quiet. I wish your sacrifice hadn't been in vain, but I'm glad we're reunited," Gentle Breeze said. Stormy Sky turned his head, noticing how lovingly his parents stared into each others' eyes. He had heard so much from his mother about Feather Wings, and now he finally got to meet the wolf he had only known from his mother's memory.

"I already spoke to Shining River. We're no longer mates," Feather Wings said. "She made that clear before I could even break things off. So, will you be my mate again? I'll face the same consequences as you. You don't need to protect me anymore."

"Of course," Gentle Breeze said. 

"Come here," Feather Wings said to his son. Stormy Sky scooted forward and smiled as his mother and father gentle pressed their snouts against him. This used to be something that he only dreamed about, but not it was his reality. He had a family at last, and though it necessarily wasn't the circumstances he expected, he hoped they would stay together for a long time and would never be separated again.

"How long do you think they'll quarantine us like this?" Gentle Breeze asked.

"I can't say. Hopefully not for more than a couple days. I don't know if they'll send you back to the omega den or not, especially since Lily Petal is so unpredictable these days..."

"How is your sister?" Gentle Breeze asked.

As they spoke to each other, Stormy Sky felt his eyes drooping with tiredness. He began to slouch against his father, and though his parents quietly laughed at his tiredness, he grinned when he felt his father lick the top of his forehead. His father's scent was new, but it didn't unfamiliar unlike the rest of the pack. It felt nostalgic in a way.

"We should head back in and rest then," Gentle Breeze said. She nudged Stormy Sky awake with her paw. He lifted his head up and opened his eyes, finding his father staring down and smiling at him.