Filed to story: Sorry Alpha I Am Wolfless Novel
The praise was being poured onto Riviana and I could tell that she was embarrassed by it, but it wasn’t about to stop anytime soon. Ash continued talking about how proud he was of Riviana and then the next speaker, Valerian, did the same thing. Gloriana had a turn of telling Riviana that she was happy to have met her and to be able to call her family.
“Riviana, my dear sweet Riviana, thank you for saving me. Thank you for saving my people. Thank you for everything. I will never be able to thank you enough.”
“I am glad that you are thankful, Aunt Glory, but you didn’t need to do this.” There was an embarrassed smile on Riviana’s face.
“I didn’t, Riviana. This was all put together by the people of the city. They wanted to thank you and all of your people that helped us out. Your mate, your guards, your knights, everyone. All of you have done so much for us and you didn’t even have to.”
“I wouldn’t have had it any other way.” I smiled and answered for my mate.
The praise was all true, and I was proud of my Little Bunny for all that she had done. She deserved everything that they were saying to her and more.
After we sat down and was eating the food that had been prepared for all of us, there were a couple of visitors that came up to see us.
“Queen Riviana.”
“Riviana.” Sterling and Alloy were smiling and looking to be in better spirits than when we had seen them the day before. Honestly, yesterday lasted so long that it felt like we knew them for a lot longer than just a day.
“You two are looking well.” Riviana smiled and rose to hug them. She was apparently harboring some sort of protector’s instinct for them now since she had saved their lives.
“We are doing much better, honestly.” Alloy grinned, no trace of his attitude from yesterday in his voice or face.
“Glory has convinced us to move back to the city. I think it is time for us to be around more people. I think it was you that made it possible for us.” Sterling added as he held Alloy’s hand.
“How is that even possible?” Riviana asked, still confused.
“You showed everyone that we are innocent. Not just of the recent crimes but in general. Most people feared us because of the magic we have, but now that we can tell them the Mother Goddess blessed us with marks of innocence, they no longer fear us. It’s all thanks to you.” The two of them hugged her again, happiness and eagerness warring on their faces.
“I am happy for you two.” I smiled and stood to shake their hands. “The next time we come back to the city, we hope to spend some time with you as well.”
“Thank you, King Joaquin. We can’t thank you enough either.”
After a little more talking, and a lot more eating, it was time for the banquet to end.. Now we were free to say our goodbyes to Gloriana and Valerian so that we could take our children back home.
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Riviana
****
The moment that we drove through the gates back at our castle, back at our home, I felt an immense wave of relief wash over me. There was no more threat. There was no more danger. All we needed to do was live our lives and be happy together. That was the most perfect part of it all. We got to just be us.
We have been so busy lately. Things had been so hectic, that I was looking forward to a few days of just resting and relaxing at home with my family. And the moment we pulled up to the castle doors I saw that family waiting for us. Mom, Dad, Grandfather, Noah, Nikki, Elias, even Carter, Emmalee, and CJ were all there to greet us. But so were our friends: Juniper, Paul and their twins, Dietrich was there to see his husband with their four babies, Rawlynne and her daughter was there for David, Falena and her son for Shane, Heather and the five kids for Vincent, everyone was here to see the ones that they loved.
“Oh my Goddess. I am so happy you’re home.” Mom squealed and ran to me when I got out of the car with Rika. Come here and give me a hug.” She didn’t hug me though, she took Rika and when Joaquin got out of the car with Reagan, Dad took him in a similar fashion.
“We missed you so much.” Dad said as he squeezed his grandson.
“I can see that.” I laughed at them as they continued their hugging.
The moment that the others were getting out of the vehicles there was a squeal of delight from so many of the others.
“Daddy!” That one word was repeated several times. Shawn’s four babies were in the lead as all the kids started running toward the men who had been away from them for so long.
I knew that I had kept them away from their families for a long time. That was horrible of me. I was such a bad friend. But it was not like I had much of a choice in the matter. The case had to be solved.
Still, seeing all these children cling to their fathers as they hugged them tight, their mates standing close by as well, waiting for their turn for hugs, it melted my heart.
“I am sorry. All of you.” I wanted to cry as I watched them.
“What for?” Dietrich looked at me as he tried to comprehend what it was that I was apologizing for.
“I kept all my men away from their families for so long. That was a terrible thing to do. I am so sorry.”
“Riviana? We had work to do.” Vincent just looked at me like that was obvious.
“I know but look how sad the children are. They missed all of you so much.”
As I said that I watched as Shawn’s four babies clung to him and refused to let go. When he finally managed to stand, it was with Levi clinging to his back, Luka hanging from his neck with his arms wrapped around him tightly, and Alexandria and Alyssa in his arms. He could manage the weight of them all just fine, it was the space to carry them all as they held fast to him that he was struggling with.
“This was the life that we all signed up for. We knew this was the way that things were going to be, and we were all prepared for that.” Shane was the one that spoke up this time.
“Yeah, we’re not upset about this at all, Riviana. This was how we knew it would be.” Falena agreed with her mate about it as well.
“You guys are the best guards and friends that I could ever have.”
