Chapter 85 - 085: Reunion

Anaria and Rylan left the council room together, walking quietly through the corridor toward the room where Kenai, Kai, and Ana were waiting.

The moment they entered, both men looked up.

Kenai had been sitting near the doorway while Kai stood beside the window. They had remained there after Anaria told them to leave the council room, waiting for her to return.

Neither of them expected her to come back with Rylan.

Kenai stood immediately "Rylan?"

Rylan stopped when he saw them.

For a moment, none of the three men said anything.

They had been separated for too long, and too much had happened since they last saw one another.

Then Kenai crossed the room and pulled Rylan into a tight embrace.

Rylan stiffened for a moment before returning it.

Kai joined them soon after, and the three men stood together in a quiet reunion that needed very few words.

Rylan finally stepped back and looked at them properly.

"I never thought you two would come all the way to Wolfrine looking for me."

Kenai gave him a look. "Did you really think we would just stay in Ravenfall after you disappeared?"

Kai shook his head. "Especially when Anaria decided she was going after you."

Rylan glanced toward Anaria.

She was standing a short distance away with Ana in her arms.

His eyes immediately softened when he saw the baby.

He walked over to them, and Anaria carefully moved Ana closer so he could see her properly.

Rylan looked down at their daughter for several seconds before gently touching her little hand.

"Ana," he murmured.

Ana moved slightly against Anaria’s chest.

Rylan smiled faintly.

Then his expression changed when he looked back at Anaria.

"You brought her all the way here?"

Anaria raised an eyebrow. "Of course."

"You just gave birth."

"I know."

Rylan turned toward Kenai. "And you let her?"

Kenai almost laughed.

"You should know Anaria better than that by now."

Rylan stared at him.

Kenai folded his arms. "She wouldn’t have stayed behind while you were missing. No matter what I said, she would have found a way to come."

Kai nodded. "We tried to be careful. But stopping her completely was never going to happen."

Rylan looked at Anaria again.

She gave him a small, innocent smile.

He sighed.

"I should have known."

Anaria smiled as she adjusted Ana in her arms.

For the first time since seeing Rylan alive, the room felt peaceful.

They were finally together again.

After everything they had gone through, that alone meant something.

Rylan eventually sat down, and the others settled around the room.

There was still one question he needed answered.

"How did you find me?"

Anaria looked at him.

"We started searching after you disappeared."

Rylan listened as she explained how they had left Ravenfall, followed the information they gathered, and travelled through another beastman’s settlement before finally reaching Wolfrine.

She told him about the strange corruption affecting the beastmen they encountered and how they had learned that the dark wolf responsible was not him.

Rylan’s expression became serious.

"And then you came here?"

"Yes," Anaria said. "We didn’t know who we could trust, so we had to be careful."

Rylan nodded slowly.

Then Anaria added, "We also had to deal with your brother."

Rylan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"What happened?"

Anaria exchanged a brief glance with Kenai and Kai.

"He returned from a settlement in a terrible state," she explained. "He had become completely berserk."

Rylan looked surprised.

"And you went near him?"

Anaria nodded. "I had to calm him."

Rylan stared at her.

"You did what?"

"I calmed him."

He looked at her in disbelief before rubbing his forehead.

"You really don’t know how to stay away from danger, do you?"

Anaria smiled slightly. "No."

Rylan could only sigh.

The room became quieter after Anaria finished explaining their journey.

Rylan looked down at his hands.

"I didn’t know you would come looking for me."

His voice was quieter now.

Anaria watched him carefully.

Rylan took a breath before continuing.

"I should have told you about Wolfrine from the beginning."

Nobody interrupted him.

"I was afraid," he admitted. "Not because I was ashamed of where I came from. I was afraid my brother would come looking for me."

Anaria remained silent.

"When I met you, I didn’t know what would happen if he discovered where I was. I had only just met you, and I didn’t want to bring my problems into your life. I didn’t want him to come after you because of me."

His eyes moved toward Kenai and Kai.

"And I didn’t want to put the two of you in that position either."

Rylan lowered his head.

"When we moved to Kenai’s clan, I thought I could forget everything. I thought I could leave Wolfrine behind and start a new life with all of you."

He gave a small, bitter smile.

"I didn’t know my people would come looking for me."

Nobody spoke for a moment.

They understood now why he had kept his past hidden.

Kenai didn’t ask anything else.

Kai didn’t either.

There was no reason to force Rylan to reopen wounds he had spent so long trying to close.

Anaria finally broke the silence.

"But you’re not going to keep running."

Rylan looked at her.

She held his gaze.

"You aren’t going to step aside and let your brother trample over you anymore."

Rylan was quiet.

Anaria continued, "We accepted the challenge."

Kenai nodded. "And we’ll stand behind you."

Kai agreed. "Whatever happens, you’re not facing it alone."

Rylan looked between the three of them.

"The challenge is already arranged," he said.

Anaria nodded.

"The cabinet set the day and time. You’ll have a few days before it happens."

Rylan leaned back slightly.

"I still don’t want the position."

"We know," Anaria replied.

"I don’t even know what I’ll do if I win."

"You don’t have to decide that now."

Rylan looked at her.

Anaria adjusted Ana in her arms before continuing.

"First, you deal with Zane. After that, we’ll figure out everything else together."

Kenai nodded.

"That makes sense."

Kai agreed.

Rylan remained silent for a moment before looking down at Ana again.

She was awake now, her tiny fingers moving against Anaria’s clothing.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

At least one thing was clear.

Whatever happened next, he wasn’t alone anymore.

Anaria reached for his hand.

Rylan let her take it.

The challenge was coming, and there was no way around it now.

But for the first time since he had disappeared, Rylan was sitting in the same room with his family again.

For now, that was enough.