He Chose Another Child, So I Took Ours Home

Elena is Ronan's mate. She lives in Silverpine Pack with their daughter Ivy. Ronan is the Alpha, and the whole pack praises his loyalty. He protects Mara, the widow of a warrior who died saving him, and Mara's son Noah. But every time Ronan keeps a promise to Mara, Ivy learns to stop waiting for him.

Ivy writes an assignment at the pack academy. Her father is dead, she writes. He did not die at the border. He died at Mara's house, because every time she called, he went to her and forgot how to come home. Ronan returns and asks Elena if she taught Ivy to write that. Elena answers that Ivy is seven, not blind. Then Ronan's communicator rings. Noah has shifted early after a nightmare and is trapped between forms. Ronan apologizes and leaves. It is Ivy's birthday. He had promised to teach her to shoot the training bow he gave her.

When Ronan takes Ivy's mare Hazel to calm Noah, Elena does not block the trailer. She calls the stable master and asks him to record the transfer properly, because Hazel is registered to Ivy and neither Ivy nor Elena agreed. Ronan cannot look her in the eyes. He says he is only lending the mare. Elena tells him there are other horses in the pack stable. Ronan says Caleb died for him and he cannot ignore his son.

Mara posts a photograph of Noah in Hazel's saddle, smiling for the first time since Caleb died. She thanks Ronan for keeping his promise to protect their family. Ronan likes the post. Elena closes the feed and returns to Ivy's transfer forms for Northern Crown Academy.

At the young guardian ceremony, Ivy's painted panel appears on the screen. The title says The Alpha Who Comes Home. Ronan is not there. The memorial committee gives the award to Noah Hale instead. Ivy has already made her choice. She told her mother she is going with her. Elena will take her home, reclaim her place as the Alpha King's daughter, and accept the appointment as Northern Crown's next chief healer.