She paced along the borders. The sun hung low in the sky, though it was early yet—with autumn, the days grew shorter and the nights longer. She had felt that more than ever the past few weeks, determined to make her way home.

Home was with Kisetra. Home was with Deacon. And while the fields did not feel like home, she owed her loyalty to Jessie, Laike and Adelayde. Her travel had meant to be quick, and this time she had taken the care to discuss it with the others before she left to Everfrost Ridge, eager to tell the wolves who had welcomed her so graciously before what had happened at her birth pack, had wanted to inform her best friends. They had not taken her presence so graciously this time, and the she-wolf bore the mark to prove so, a gaping ridge of puckered skin along her nape and shoulder, where pale honey and white fur would no longer grow.

It was healed, but she was still stiff.

Her tongue slipped over her lips, her green eyes alight as they sought any familiar form—particularly that of her daughter. Weeks had far passed, and her trip had extended far past any time she had been comfortable with. Kisetra... she would have grown so much.

It took all she had not to bound her way over the borders and find her way to her daughter and the man who had sired her. Just breathe, she murmured quietly to herself, forcing her form to flatten to the ground in assumed submission. They would find her. The wolves of the field were a vigorous bunch.

The breath from her lungs wooshed out long before Risaela tackled her—the screech of her name drew the she-wolf’s muzzle up sharply, and surprise lingered in her peridot gaze before amusement. It felt so good to see her sister once more, to see another who cared for her bound without any inhibitions that she held her breath for a moment, and then her younger sibling was on her in a wolfish tackle.


Her jaws playfully made to grab the girl’s ear, eager to give them a gentle tug before she nudged at the girl’s pale cheek. Ris, she sighed, her nose grazing along the girl’s fur, relieved at the familiarity of it all. God, I’ve missed you. I’m so happy you’re here.


She closed her eyes, releasing a gentle sigh. Her sister had wayward paws, trying to find her place in the world… especially after the death of their mother. With a stab of guilt, she hoped it hadn’t been a trait learned from Lekalta herself.


Opening her eyes, her guilt amassed higher. Deacon was there—a shadow against the fields of gold, and the look he directed to her was not one she had ever saw before. She rolled back upward, then, her eyes flitting along the strength of his jaw line, not truly daring to make eye contact. TDB, she greeted, wincing as her voice came out with more hesitance than the usually confident girl was used to.


Nosing at Risaela, she gave her a small smile, trying to ignore the flutter in her chest. Love you, babe, she spoke, her words lower as she went to place a kiss to the girls brow. And we’ll catch up ASAP. But mind if I have a minute alone with Deacon?


The two had always tread on a relationship they had never dared to label. With the way he looked at her now, she felt the sinking dread that her foolish trip had removed anything between the two of them.

She had never thought to consider that her absence would hurt Deacon—not at the time she had left for such a simple task. Had she known it would have stretched in to the time it had, she never would have considered it. And had she known that she had such a power over the stoical wolf’s emotions that stood before her, it never would have crossed her mind. He did not keep the disappointment from his tone, nor did he attempt to hide his sadness.


It left her in an uncomfortable place emotionally, to have her own feelings questioned. The swarthy male had been a friend when she had needed one the most—a travel companion, and another who sought what she also wanted the most: a place to call home. And yet once more, she had messed that up, and when she seen the hurt placed along his features, she could feel a tremble follow her spine, leaving her numb. There was no doubt within her that she had feelings for him, but somehow, she had only realized this during her absence.


His words, though, they confused her, and she blinked at him, giving her slender muzzle a shake. No, she began, feeling her brows knit together in a gentle frown. I didn’t want to assume any role of importance, by pulling anyone from what they were doing. I knew I would be found when one of the patrols came around, she offered, her voice low.


And more importantly… And I was scared. She finalized those words, her gaze studying him, wishing to close more of the distance between them, but giving him space, instead.


Jessie loped forward then, her stern eyes cast upon the diminutive Baranski, and she felt her ears splay back, not from just reverence of the wolves before her, but of the question the dark man asked of her. He didn’t ask her if she was okay—or why it had taken longer. Instead, the words held accusation in them, and she felt herself stiffen with it. Of course not. She spoke louder now that the Tainn woman was there, her posture remaining low in reaction to her presence. If I had known what… She cut herself off, steeling herself, clenching her jaw before snapping her eyes to study him, knowing it was Jessie’s favour she required for entrance to the pack, but needing him to know that she never would have taken this long.


She deflated then, though, at the cold look cast upon her. Nothing was worth the time I could have had with my daughter.