Chapter 712

It takes every single bit of willpower that I have to not shout "Dad!" and go running into his arms.

Instead, I act like a good little Cadet and snap myself into a salute, just as Luca and Tony and every other cadet in our truck are doing. Except I'm grinning like an idiot, and most of them look terrified.

My dad laughs, striding over to us and calling to the Cadets to be at ease, to go about fulfilling their orders. Hesitating, I think a little star-struck, the rest of my classmates do as they're told as dad draws near.

"Hello, Clark," dad says, beaming down at me, laughing a little at my false name. He tucks his hands behind his back, which to everyone else probably just looks like formality but which I know is him resisting the urge to grab me up in a hug. "It's nice to see my favorite nephew again."

"Hello, sir,” I say, beaming up at him, my eyes sparkling. "You remember Tony - Anton - and Luca, of course." I nod to both of them, remembering my manners. Tony says a polite and cheerful hello, holding out a hand and shaking dad's before my father turns to Luca, who looks much paler and more quiet than usual.

"It's good to see you again, sir,” Luca says, likewise shaking dad's hand.

Dad smirks a bit, knowing precisely where Luca's fear is coming from and looking like he thinks it's well justified. I just roll my eyes, sick of Alpha politics.

"I didn't know you were going to be here," I say eagerly, stepping forward and drawing my dad's attention back to me. "Are you directing the battle? Did you plan -"

"Dad!" Rafe says, coming forward and wrapping our father in the hug that I wanted to give him. Dad greets Rafe like a grizzly welcoming his cub back to the den, wrapping him in a big growling hug, and Jesse gets the same treatment next. I scowl with jealousy. Jackson is last, and I watch carefully, noting the warmth with which Jackson is received - warmth that Luca's greeting distinctly lacked.

I scowl, suspicions confirmed about who my parents' favorite is. Luca sighs at my side and I lean into him, just subtly, letting him know it's not true of me as well.noveldrama

Greetings finished, dad turns and beckons for us all to come with him to the command tent. Trotting double-time to keep up with my father's long stride, I look wide-eyed around the camp, which is very high-tech but also looks like it can be broken down and moved elsewhere in an instant. Which is kind of the point, I guess.

Dad talks quickly to Rafe and

Jackson as we walk, though I don't miss that my father - consciously or unconsciously - keeps me directly on his left at all times, in pride of place. My wolf trots happily in my soul, preening, her ears perked and her tail held high, quite pleased to have our spot as dad's most treasured child reconfirmed.

When we reach a very large tent, dad gestures the rest of the boys forward. "We've been waiting for you, trouble," he says, his voice low and resonant and familiar in a way that makes my poor worried heart instantly warm. When all the boys enter, he slips an arm around my shoulders and leads me inside. "Your mother and the Captain have been telling me about what you can do. I can't wait to see it for myself."

I grin with delight, very pleased and excited, but before I can even open my mouth to tell him about it I'm swept up in a pair of strong arms. "Peanut!" my uncle shouts, and I burst out laughing both in surprise and at the use of an old, much-retired nickname. "It's so good to see you - we miss you!"

“Roger!” I gasp, pulling back a little even as he still holds me up in his arms, glancing anxiously around the tent. "Aren't we supposed to be...... incognito?"

"Nah, not here," he says, allowing me

to slip to the floor and giving me a wink. "The tent is a steel trap. A zone of secrecy No people or information gets in or out of these imprable canvas walls without my permission." He sighs happily, hands on his hips, and turns to survey my little group of boys. When his eyes land on Tony, he frowns. "Who the hell is that?"

I burst out laughing even as my dad finally pulls me into his own hug, nearly crushing me with his arms as well as his love and murmuring how glad he is to see me as Rafe too laughs and introduces Tony.

“Oh, the water breathing one!" Roger says with enthusiasm, stepping forward to shake his hand.