Jana saw Rhydian long before he saw her. Using Eolas she could see that he was less than a mile away and was overwhelmed by excitement. She couldn't stand still, and began to pace backwards and forwards. Would he remember her? What would he be like? He had certainly changed a lot since they had last been together. She hoped he would be happy to see her.

"What's wrong with the cub?" Aran asked Meinir, "She's got that funny look on her face again."

Meinir laughed, "I think we know why."

"You mean," Aran began, startled, "You mean he is actually going to live with the pack?"

"No he's going to live with a tree," Meinir said sarcastically, shaking her head, "Honestly Aran I worry about you sometimes."

"Can you shut up?" Jana said, "He's almost here."

"Dread hour is nigh," Meinir replied.

"I wonder if he did get your love letters," Aran said, "Then again if he did, I doubt he'd be so eager to come back."

Jana grimaced. The love letters hadn't been one of her smarter ideas.

Roughly a year before she had run away to a human town and stolen some paper and tried to write a letter to Rhydian. Of course she knew she couldn't write properly, but she thought that it was still understandable. She had put Jane's address on the envelope (or what she could remember of Jane's address) and hoped that the letter would reach him- the woman had said that she would take Rhydian back. Her father had been livid when he found out what she'd done and had punished her severely for endangering the pack's values- but Jana felt it had been worth it.

Now she doubted that Rhydian had received the letters, and she was sort of glad. Some of the content had been a bit too romantic.

Jana watched as Rhydian, Bryn and Ceri approached. It was only Meinir's arm on hers that stopped her from darting towards them and throwing her arms around Rhydian. Gods, how she had missed him!

"Calm down," Meinir said to her, "You don't know if he remembers you. He's lived in the human world for so long, it's going to take him some time to adjust to our ways."

"I wonder if he likes hunting," Aran said.

"Is hunting all you ever think about?" Meinir asked.

"Yeah, pretty much," Aran admitted.

Alric appeared next to Jana.

"I'm sure you've been waiting for this day for years," he said to his daughter, "But try not to be disappointed when he doesn't live up to your expectations."

Jana grimaced- was she the only one who believed in Rhydian?

"Alric," Ceri and Bryn said in unison, kneeling before their alpha. Rhydian copied them moments later.

"Welcome back," Alric greeted them, "I'm glad you've finally seen the light, Rhydian. This is where you belong."

"Rhydian is glad to be home," Bryn said loudly, "However he has had a few issues dealing with one of the conditions of his return."

Alric nodded in understanding, as Rhydian looked at his brother in confusion before realising what the cub was on about.

"When you're older you'll understand these matters more thoroughly," Alric said to Bryn, "For the time being a decision doesn't need to be made. We must allow Rhydian to adjust to our way of life before we discuss the situation in more detail."

Bryn nodded, eagerly trying to impress his alpha.

"We brought you an offering," Rhydian began, "I didn't want to offend you."

Alric looked hungrily at the meat, "We shall have a feast tonight to welcome Rhydian home."

Jana smiled happily as the group disbanded, going about their everyday work. She didn't mind that Rhydian had refused to marry her, she knew they would be together for many years now- she didn't mind waiting for him to be ready.

She saw recognition spread across his face as she approached him.

"Jana," he said grinning, before hugging her.

"You remember me?" Jana said, delighted at the idea of being in his arms.

"I always remembered you," Rhydian said.

Jana felt her heart flutter, he had remembered her for all of those years.

"Thank you for bringing Rhydian home," Jana said to Ceri, as she hugged her.

"It's the least I could do," her aunt replied.

Jana turned to Rhydian, "Do you mind if we go somewhere private?"

Bryn's eyebrows shot up, earning an elbow in the side from Rhydian. Ceri tried to not laugh.

"Bryn!" Jana yelled, "Could you not?"

Rhydian laughed, "Yeah, sure."

"We'll be back in time for the feast," Jana promised Ceri.

"Make sure you are," Ceri replied, "I know what you're like."

Rhydian and Jana began to walk off but she was sure that Bryn had made a comment about Alric not caring too much if Rhydian and Jana were late if they were spending time together.

"That was a bit awkward," Jana admitted, "I'm sorry. I know everything's new to you- you probably didn't need that conversation on your first day here."

"Has Bryn always been that irritating?" Rhydian asked.

"He's gotten worse with age," Jana replied, "I should warn you he's unlikely to be the only one going on about… you know. I'm sorry about all of this."

"It's not your fault, Jana," Rhydian said, "I get it, it's a big deal. You're the alpha's daughter. That's like being a princess. You probably have tons of rules to follow and traditions you have to obey. I understand."

Jana smiled, "I want you to be happy here."

"I will be," Rhydian insisted.

"What's a princess?" Jana asked, screwing up her face adorably.

Rhydian laughed, "It's a human version of an alpha's daughter. You know you used to call yourself a princess when we were kids. You used to be so insistent that everyone treated you like a princess."

"Well I am an alpha's daughter, so why shouldn't they treat me like a princess?" Jana asked in confusion.

"When you lived in the human world everyone thought you were an abandoned kid," Rhydian admitted, "Not an alpha's daughter."

"What's the human world like now?" Jana asked, "I've only been to the human world a few times, my Dad always punishes me for it."

"Why does he hate the human world so much?" Rhydian asked, "I know your kind don't like humans that much. But what is about the human world that he dislikes?"

"It's our kind, you're like me," Jana insisted, "You were born wild, Rhydian. I don't mind humans all that much, but I'd rather live in the wilderness than the human world. I guess my father thinks it's dangerous there; I did get hurt a lot whilst I was there. Do you remember?"

"Vaguely," Rhydian admitted, "It was a long time ago. It's strange- you used to love the human world so much. I remember how much you wanted to learn to read and write- even though you were really too young to at the time."

"Could you teach me?" Jana asked excitedly, "In secret of course, Aran and Meinir would tell my father if they thought I was learning human writing. I could steal some paper when my Dad's out hunting."

"I was going to teach you," Rhydian said, "That part of the offering I was going to give to you. For refusing to marry you."

Jana felt her heart sink; she hadn't expected him to outright refuse to marry her. It stung, and felt tears well in her eyes but she quickly blinked them away.

"Thank you," Jana said, trying to keep her voice even. They had reached the door to her tent and she stood outside awkwardly, before walking in, Rhydian following her.

"Wow," Rhydian said, "This is nice."

"It's nothing really," Jana said, glancing around at the few decorations that she had- it wouldn't compare to human houses.

"Jana, are you ok?" Rhydian asked, cautiously, he had never thought that his refusal might have upset her. He thought she'd have been glad to not be forced to marry someone she barely knew.

Jana nodded, "I'm fine. Could we not talk about, you know."

"Sure," Rhydian sitting next to Jana, "Do you want me to start teaching you how to read?"

Jana nodded eagerly as Rhydian pulled a book out his bag- Northern Lights by Philip Pullman. Jana looked daunted by the size of the book.

"It's ok," Rhydian said, "I'll teach you."

"Thank you," Jana replied, "I'm glad you're home."

"Me too," Rhydian agreed.