Walking through Kingsfall again, Aleksei was actually feeling pretty excited. He originally wanted to come for the single purpose of seeing his youngest siblings, but the more he thought about it on the journey here, the more he realised he wanted to see Lachesis, ask him how he was. The pale medic had been an uncle to Aleksei, and the agouti Baranski knew he had to apologise for the way he left, explain to Lachesis just why he’d done what he did.

Coming to a halt at the borders, he lingered for a moment. What would the reaction be? Would Mathéo and Risaela be excited to see him? Would they want to? Aleksei licked his lips—what if they denied him his request to see Kisla’s youngest? His brows knitted as he shook his head. Throwing caution to the wind, Aleksei made up his mind without wasting another moment. It was now or never.

Tilting his head back, Aleksei called for the River wolves. His message was clear: he was here to discuss a joint pack hunt with Wild Rye Fields, and to see his young siblings—to keep his promise. Whether or not they would hear him out and greet him was up to them.

Of course she would be the first to arrive.

Aleksei closed his eyes for a brief moment (to collect himself) and inhaled deeply. Were he a human, he would have pinched the bridge of his nose. He heard Inna coming before he saw her, and when she finally emerged from the darkness, she was all hackles. Her voice was a growl, a warning, telling him to leave. He kept his gaze firmly levelled on her own and remained where he stood.

Aleksei Baranski was no coward.

“I remember calling for the leader of Hearthwood River,” he quipped. He’d have to keep his temper in check. The last thing he wanted to do was fly into a rage because Inna showed up looking like a featherduster that’d fallen off its stick. That wouldn’t exactly help Drestig, would it? “My business is with Lachesis—you can threaten me all you like, Inna. I’m not leaving.” To reinforce his point, Aleksei seated himself. His gaze remained fixed on her, unwilling to give her the chance to catch him by surprise. If she was really all that ruffled by his arrival, she might try to lunge at him, sink teeth into flesh. Somewhere, deep down, part of him scoffed. Let her try.

A discreet smugness flooded Aleksei as Lachesis snapped at Inna for her behaviour, though his outward demeanour remained collected and civil. Frankly, it served her right—who did she think she was? Did she think that her word was law in these parts? Aleksei watched Inna with the slightest hint of a frown. Even now, she had the gall to stand her ground and even shoot her superior—her leader—a disdainful glare.

She really did think she could shit gold, didn’t she?

Dragging his gaze from her face, Aleksei nodded at Lachesis, offering a smile and lowering his posture, submissive in the presence of Hearthwood’s alpha male. “It’s good to see you too, uncle. I’ve come with a proposition from Drestig. Two of my pack mates have left the tundra, which leaves Wild Rye Fields in a bit of a predicament numbers wise. My leaders requested I ask if perhaps you’d be willing to band together with us for a hunt during the coming full moon?” If Lachesis agreed, the potential prey pool would be enormous! It was an exciting prospect, one Aleksei personally hoped the ghostly male would agree to.

“I also wanted to check up on you … how have things been? How …” he frowned, licked his lips nervously, “how are Mathéo and Risaela holding up?”

Aleksei was relieved. There was no aggression from Lachesis, no visible signs of anger or threat. He also agreed to the hunt invitation, which caused the agouti Baranski’s tail to wag for a moment. Winter would not be so harsh alone, and it was a joy to know that Wild Rye Field and Hearthwood River’s alliance would stand strong, despite someone’s obvious hatred. Perhaps Aleksei and Inna were not so different—both were definitely quick to anger. It seemed neither had missed the temperamental Baranski gene. “I’ll let Drestig and Jessie know as soon as I get back.”

Of course, where the conversation had been pleasant, it quickly changed its tune.

With a sad smile, Aleksei nodded. He understood exactly what Lachesis meant. Adjusting to life without Kisla would be hard, just like it most likely had been for the pale medic to adjust to life without Maksim and Naia. Still, the tragedy had not stopped Lachesis from seeing the positives, nor had it prevented him from finding his laughter. Risaela missing the Field was … actually rather heart-warming. “She is welcome to visit any time,” he chuckled. “I’m sure the pups would be glad to see her.” Drestig and Jessie’s litter could be a handful, after all. “Mathéo, too. Personally, I’d love to be able to spend some more time with the both of them.” Perhaps that was pushing it too soon, but he wouldn’t ever know if he never asked.

Chartreuse eyes shifted to Inna, and Aleksei pursed his lips for a moment, brows knitted thoughtfully. Then, he spoke. “How is your and Lorcán’s kid?”