Page 6 of Cherished By Her Guardian

“I’ll text you when I’m done, but it will probably be too late for me to join you.”

“Why would it be too late?” Sebastian asked.

“Because I’ve got first shift tomorrow, which means being out and about at dawn. Hard pass on staying up late.”

“Ha, sucker, don’t volunteer for first shift, and you can stay up late,” Sebastian said.

Declan rolled his eyes. “Have fun.”

“Did you ask for someone to escort you through the Entrance?” Chase asked.

“Yeah, Alder and Royce are going with me to open the portal and be my backup in case I need it.”

The rule in Northernmost now was that no one went anywhere alone. In the past, an elf would have opened a portal for him to go home to Howling Creek and let him walk through on his own. But since Frost’s attacks had been directed at the Entrance recently, anyone going through now needed an escort who also checked out where the portal opened and looked for trouble.

“Cool. See you later,” Chase said.

Sebastian walked out with Declan. “If you change your mind about getting drinks, holler.”

“Will do, but I won’t.”

They parted ways, Declan walking through the corridors to take him out to the Entrance, where Alder and Royce were waiting. A bitter wind blew, swirling the snow around them.

“If you could call for an escort before midnight, that would be awesome,” Royce said as he opened the main portal.

“Midnight? Why?” Declan asked.

“It’s the night before solstice,” Alder said. “Jack Frost hits the world with winter at midnight, and it sucks to be outside then.”

“Oh yeah, sure,” Sebastian said. “I’ll only be a few hours anyway. I’ll definitely be back before midnight.”

Royce walked through the Entrance and returned a few minutes later. “All clear, let’s go.”

The small group passed through, finding themselves in Howling Creek, in the woods within the pack’s territory.

“I’ll reach out when I’m ready to come back,” Declan said.

“I heard there might be chicken and dumplings?” Royce asked, rocking back on his heels.

“I can guarantee there won’t be leftovers,” Declan said with a laugh.

“Well, next time, invite us along,” Alder said.

The two males stepped back through the portal and waved as it closed. He shook his head and pulled off his stocking hat and gloves. It was cold in Howling Creek, but not even close to how cold it was in Northernmost.

He trudged through the woods to his parents’ home, knocking twice on the front door before swinging it open.

“It’s me.”

“We’re in the kitchen, honey,” his mom said.

The whole house smelled amazing. Chicken, bread, warm spices, and the hint of wood burning in the fireplace.

He greeted his dad with a smile and accepted his mom’s hug, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

His dad, Barron, was high ranked in the pack, and had been a Guardian in his youth before he mated Declan’s mom, Denise.

“Smells amazing, Mom,” he said.

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