And smile in return he did. In fact, he laughed quietly, and returned the silly grin himself, toothy and wide.

After the moment’s laughter faded, Risaela sucker punched Aleksei with a question he wasn’t entirely sure how to respond to. Was he happy? He hummed, thoughtfully, as he scrabbled to sort through his thoughts and feelings. He had a lot of conflicting emotions, and some of them were a little more tricky to identify, but happiness …

“I think so,” he said finally, brows knitting together in thought. “I’m happy I got to meet you. And I’m happy with how things are in the fields.” That was true. There wasn’t as much stress and pain here as there was back in Kingsfall. It was open, and there was constant sunlight that warmed him to his bones. The breeze was cool, and the grasses a constant white noise that soothed him at night. Yeah. Things were pretty good here.

“But, I’m sad, too. I’m sad I won’t get to see you grow up, and I’m sad that things got so bad at home.” He had been pushed away by them, without them even realising what they were doing (or maybe they did—how could he possibly know for sure?) and no doubt he was the one being blamed. He forced up a weak smile. “Regardless, I’ll come visit you. No matter what, okay? I promise.” And that was a promise he would keep. Inna hadn’t been worth the promise he had made, not when she acted so carelessly and high and mighty. She’d proven herself to be a particular kind of wolf, and, family or not, Aleksei wanted nothing to do with her, or her lies, or her children.

She had made her bed with her eldest brother. Now she could lay in it.