11. Harbinger

11

Harbinger

Roman

T he delicious scent of Mrs. Potter's famous hot cocoa wafted through the air, in the kitchen where everyone was gathered around.

He noticed that Rowan, Luca, and the Queen had already taken their leave, no doubt off to attend to the endless duties and responsibilities that came with ruling a kingdom. But the rest of them were still there, still basking in the afterglow of the miracle they had just witnessed.

Dominic and Christian were huddled together in a corner, their heads bent close as they whispered and giggled like a couple of lovestruck teenagers. Peter and James were helping Mrs. Potter distribute mugs of steaming cocoa, their eyes shining with a quiet, contented joy that made Roman's heart ache in the best possible way.

And then there was Chrissy, their little ray of sunshine, perched on a stool next to Merin and chattering away about all the exciting things she had planned for the future. Roman couldn't help but smile as he listened in, his heart swelling with pride and affection for the brave, resilient little girl who had been through so much, and yet still managed to find joy and wonder in the world around her.

"And then, when I start school next week, I'm going to make so many new friends!" Chrissy was saying, her eyes wide and her face split in a grin that could have powered a small city. "And I'm going to learn all sorts of new things, like how to read and write and do math and…"

She trailed off, her brow furrowing as she tried to remember all the subjects she would be tackling in her new academic career. Merin chuckled, reaching out to ruffle her hair affectionately.

"Slow down there, kiddo," he said, his voice warm with amusement. "You've got plenty of time to learn all that stuff. And besides, I have a feeling you're going to be the smartest kid in your class, no matter what."

Chrissy beamed up at him, her little chest puffing out with pride. "You really think so, Merin?"

"I know so, sweetheart. You're a smart cookie, and you've got a heart as big as the sky. Those other kids won't know what hit ‘em."

He turned just in time to see Benjamin and Adrian entering the kitchen, their faces flushed and their eyes shining with a quiet, contented joy that made Roman's heart skip a beat in his chest. They looked exhausted, but in the best possible way, like they had just run a marathon and crossed the finish line hand in hand.

"Well, well, well," Roman said, his voice low and teasing as he sauntered over to the new parents. "Look who finally decided to grace us with their presence. How's the little prince doing?"

Benjamin grinned, his arm tightening around Adrian's waist as he leaned into his mate's solid, comforting warmth. "He's perfect, Roman. Absolutely perfect. Sleeping like a little angel, without a care in the world."

Adrian pressed a soft kiss to Benjamin's temple. "I still can't believe it," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. "I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and find out it was all a dream, that this kind of happiness can't possibly be real."

"So, what's the little guy's name?" Dominic asked. "Come on, don't keep us in suspense! We've been dying to know ever since you two started this whole crazy journey!"

Christian rolled his eyes, elbowing his mate in the ribs with a fond, exasperated smile. "Down, boy. Give them a chance to breathe, would you? They just brought a whole new life into the world."

But Benjamin just laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he shook his head in amusement. "It's okay, Christian. We're more than happy to share the news with our family." He paused for a moment, his gaze drifting over to where Chrissy sat, her eyes wide and her little face alight with curiosity. "Actually, we were hoping to get Chrissy's approval on the name we've chosen. It's… well, it's kind of a big deal."

Chrissy's brow furrowed, her head tilting to the side like a curious puppy. "My approval? But why? It's your baby, not mine."

Adrian smiled, a soft, tender thing that made Roman's heart ache with the sheer depth of love and affection in his eyes. "Because, little one we've decided to name him Leo. After your father."

For a moment, there was silence. A silence so deep, so profound, that Roman could have sworn he heard the beating of every heart in the room, the soft, steady rhythm of life and love and the unbreakable bonds of family.

And then, with a soft, choked sob Chrissy launched herself off the stool and into Benjamin's arms, her little body shaking with the force of her emotions as she clung to him like a lifeline.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice muffled against Benjamin's chest. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Benjamin held her close, his own eyes shining with unshed tears as he rocked her gently back and forth.

Adrian knelt down beside them, his hand coming up to rest on Chrissy's back in a gesture of comfort and support. "Your father would be so proud of you, little one. Just like we are.

Benjamin cleared his throat, a mischievous glint in his eyes that set Roman's curiosity ablaze. "Actually, Chrissy we have one more surprise for you. Something that Adrian and I have been talking about for a while now, but we wanted to wait until the perfect moment to share it with you."

Chrissy's eyes widened, her little face alight with excitement and anticipation. "Another surprise? What is it, what is it?"

Adrian chuckled, reaching out to tweak her nose playfully. "Well, little one, how would you feel about becoming an official member of our family? About being Leo's big sister, not just in spirit, but in name and in law?"

For a moment, there was silence. A silence so profound, so heavy with the weight of Adrian's words, that Roman could have sworn he heard the collective intake of breath from every person in the room.

And then, with a squeal of pure, unadulterated joy… Chrissy launched herself into Adrian's arms, her little body shaking with the force of her excitement as she peppered his face with kisses.

"Yes!" she cried, her voice high and clear and filled with a happiness that seemed to radiate from every pore. "Yes, yes, yes! I want to be Leo's big sister, I want to be part of your family, I want it more than anything in the whole wide world!"

Mr. Prattle appeared in the doorway, his face grave and his eyes filled with a tension that made Roman's stomach twist into knots.

"I apologize for the interruption," the butler said, his voice low and serious. "But there is someone here to see you, Mr. Roman. A gentleman by the name of Rio, who claims to have urgent business with you."

Roman felt the blood drain from his face, his heart stuttering to a stop and then racing to catch up as a wave of dread crashed over him like a tidal wave. Rio. His old friend, his former packmate, the one person in all the world who still had ties to the life he had left behind.

He could feel Merin's gaze on him, could sense the worry and the confusion and the silent question in those green eyes that never failed to see straight through to his very soul. But he couldn't bring himself to meet that gaze, couldn't bear to see the dawning realization, the flicker of fear and uncertainty that he knew would be there.

Because if Rio was here… if he had tracked Roman down after all this time…

"I… I'll handle it," he said, his voice rough and strained as he forced himself to stand on legs that felt like they might give out at any moment. "Mr. Prattle, would you mind showing Rio to the living room? I'll be there in just a moment."

The butler nodded, his expression inscrutable as he turned and disappeared back down the hallway. Roman took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to calm the racing of his heart and the churning of his gut.

But before he could take more than a single step towards the door, Merin's hand shot out, his fingers wrapping around Roman's wrist in a grip that was gentle but unyielding.

"Roman," he said, his voice low and filled with a quiet, unwavering concern.

Roman swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry as a desert as he tried to find the words to explain, to make Merin understand the gravity of the situation without sending him into a full-blown panic.

"He's… he's an old friend. From my former pack. We used to be close, used to have each other's backs through thick and thin. But when I was exiled, when I was cast out…"

He trailed off, his throat tightening with the memories of that dark, painful time. The rejection, the betrayal, the sense of being utterly alone in a world that had turned its back on him.

"Rio was the only one who stood by me. The only one who tried to make the others see reason, to convince them that I was still the same person I had always been, regardless of my blood or my heritage. But in the end even he couldn't sway them. Couldn't make them change their minds or open their hearts."

Merin's grip tightened, his eyes flashing with a fierce, protective anger that made Roman's heart skip a beat in his chest. "So why is he here now? After all this time, after everything you've been through… what could he possibly want from you?"

Roman shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "I don't know, Mer. I honestly don't have a fucking clue. But whatever it is… it can't be good. Rio wouldn't have come all this way, wouldn't have tracked me down like this, if it wasn't important. If it wasn't something big, something that could change everything."

They made their way down the hallway and into the living room. And there, standing by the fireplace with a look of grim determination on his face was Rio.

The bear shifter looked like he'd been through hell and back, his clothes torn and his face bruised and battered.

"Roman," Rio said, his voice low and rough with emotion. "Thank the gods you're here. I… I didn't know where else to turn, who else to go to."

Roman felt his heart clench in his chest, his mind racing with a million different possibilities, a million different fears and doubts and unanswered questions. But before he could even begin to voice them, before he could demand answers or explanations… Rio spoke again, his words hitting Roman like a punch to the gut.

"The pack… it's been attacked. Torn apart by a force we couldn't even begin to comprehend. And the one who led the charge, the one who tore through our defenses like they were nothing…"

"This person, the one who attacked the pack… what did they look like? Can you describe them?" Roman asked.

Rio's face darkened, his eyes haunted by the memory of the attack. "He had dark hair, and he walked with a cane. But it wasn't just any cane, Roman. It was… it was like it was alive, like it had a power of its own."

Roman's blood ran cold, his heart stuttering to a stop and then racing to catch up as the pieces fell into place with a sickening, terrifying clarity. Riordan.

"My father," he said, his voice rough and raw with emotion. "Is he… is he safe? Did he make it out alive?"

Rio's face fell, his eyes filling with a sorrow and a grief that made Roman's heart ache. "I… I don't know, Roman. They took him, the ones who attacked us. Dragged him away."

Rio reached into his pocket, his hand trembling slightly as he withdrew a small, glinting object. A ring, simple and unadorned, but with a weight and a meaning that made Roman's heart stutter in his chest.

"He gave this to me, right before they took him. Told me to find you, to give it to you and tell you… tell you that he loves you. That he's always loved you, no matter what."

Roman felt his knees buckle. His father. His strong, brave, unfailingly loyal father… taken. Captured by Riordan, by the monster who had haunted his steps and his dreams for so long.

"I'm coming with you," he said, his voice rough and raw with emotion. "Back to the pack, back to… to whatever's left of it. I won't let my father suffer, and I won't let that bastard use him as a pawn in his twisted games."

Rio nodded. "I knew you would. Knew that… that even after everything, even after the way we treated you… you would still come. Still fight for us."

He turned to Merin then, his heart clenching at the fear and the uncertainty in those green eyes he loved so damn much. "Merin, love… I need you to stay here. Need you to watch over Chrissy, to keep her safe until I… until I come back."

But even as he said the words, even as he tried to put on a brave face, to be the strong, stoic protector that Merin needed him to be… he knew it was a losing battle. Knew that the seer, with his stubborn, unflinching courage and his heart so full of love and loyalty…

He would never, ever let Roman face this alone.

"No," Merin said, his voice low and fierce. "No fucking way, Roman. Where you go, I go. That's the deal, that's… that's how this works. How we work."

He reached out, cupping Roman's face in his hands and staring deep into his eyes with a look of such love, such devotion, that it stole the very breath from Roman's lungs.

"Okay," he whispered, his voice rough and raw with emotion. "Okay, Merin. You… you're right. We do this together. Always together. Come what may, come what might."