The day was so bright, with cloudless sky and the wind that caressed their skin.
They were ready to go to the other realm and all the lycan warriors would wait for Torak's signal to move as well, because they would need as many people as they could find.
Kace also had made a contact with a few people, the people that he knew, which surprisingly there were many of them. They would also wait for his signal to come along and helped the preparation for the upcoming war.
However, those were things that would happen in the future, for now, Hope just wanted to enjoy the warm sunlight on her face.
The Raven village was very nice. She had never seen there were many shifters in one place, especially the one that stayed in one place like this. They called this a pack and the biggest building where they stayed last night was a pack house.
It was very interesting to know that this big community led by Torak as their Alpha. Of course Hope knew all of that, but knowing and seeing with her own eyes were two different things.
This morning, they were having a breakfast together in a big room like a hall in one big table with many chairs. It felt like she was having a big family.
This village, the pack house and having breakfast together were a few things that Hope just discovered and looked very amazing, yet, even though Kace was not part of a pack or an Alpha, and Hope knew he wouldn't be one, since he hated it the hierarchy, Hope would choose to go back to their house in the mystic river village, together with Serefina and Lana.
Moreover, Kace was too adventurous to stay in one place. He promised her that he would bring her to many places when all of this over and Hope looked forward to it.
"Hope! Come here, we will go soon!" Raine waved her hand at Hope from the front yard and Hope grinned while stepped down the stairs that were on the porch.
On the other hand, Kace was standing not too far from the new mate, Raphael and Lana, who were kissing each other whenever they got the chance.
"Your PDA is awful," Kace stared at them sullenly. He would love to do that with Hope too, but the girl would definitely kick him if he kissed her in front of many people like this. Almost all the people in the pack were there to see them off. His girl was just too shy, though it was a normal act for shifters to show their affection in the public.
"I can kiss his lips if you want to see," Lana said, she just gave Raphael a peck on his check when the Beta helped her to carry a bag for their journey ahead.
Kace groaned. "No, thanks."
At that time, Torak called Raphael, but the Beta didn't forget to give the younger Donovan a warning glare before he left Lana with him.
"Oh, please, I will not eat her," Kace grunted again.
"You know how possessive a male shifter." Especially the one who just found their mate. Lana didn't say the last sentence, because it was a common knowledge for their kind. She crouched down and checked the bag and made sure there was nothing she forgot.
"Nice hickey." Kace grinned when he looked down and spotted Lana's mark. Her short hair and her position now didn't help her to hide it.
"This is not hickey!" Lana hissed, she stood up and tried to kick Kace's leg, but he dodged it swiftly and laughed. "Uhm, Kace…"
"Huh?" Kace's laugh died down when he looked how awkward Lana about whatever the things that she wanted to say. "What?"
"I am sorry about what I did in the past…" she started, but Kace waved his hands frantically.
"No, no, no. Don't talk about that, it's so awkward. Let bygones be bygones," Kace said. He knew what Lana wanted to say, but he was not in the mood for Lana's apology.
"Thank you," Lana said softly. She was about to hug Kace, but he dodged her again.
"No hug. Your boyfriend will attack me again." Kace frowned, but his eyes showed how happy he was for her. "Are you happy now?"
��Very," Lana grinned.
"Good." Kace stretched out his head and tousled Lana's head, like what he always did when she was little.
==============
Serefina finally arrived at the castle. The south castle.
Her feet became heavier with every step that she took, and the enormous building in front of her, with gigantic gates, intimidated the witch.
However, she carried herself just fine for all the people to see. She would never show weaknesses. Not now. She had been strong for centuries and this was not the time for breakdown.
Though, Serefina couldn't hide her trembling hands.
The thought of seeing Jedrek again and knowing he was on the other side of the gate, scared her.
But, she was not the only person who felt like that…
Lilac walked toward the gates, with knowledge that Serefina had entered the city and was approaching toward the castle.
She didn't know what to feel or what to say to the witch or how the witch would look at her, after all, Lilac had heard about how in love both Serefina and Jedrek in the past...
Beside her, Jedrek didn't show any emotion. His face looked solemn, but only he knew what kind of turmoil that he felt now.
"Open the gates," Jedrek said to the guards, he grabbed Lilac's hand and smiled at her. The kind of smile that didn't reach his blue eyes.
Lilac reciprocated his smile, but she tried to wriggle her hand from his, yet Jedrek didn't let her to do it. He held her hand firmly.
And when the gates finally opened, they could see the red hair witch, standing there with her lime green eyes stared at them.
Serefina…