Dawnlark Plains then they called me, too

He raised his eyebrows at Day's statement, looking for clues in his brother's eye. Had she made a pass at her alpha, too? If so, he felt a little bad for the girl--it couldn't be easy, living with Cat's belly swelling with each and every day, a stark reminder of where Grayday's affections truly lie. But then, that was the way things went, some times--no, most times.

Shale shook his head ruefully at Grayday's--admittedly--sage advice. "Of course, it would be nice to see Pema join our family. But Day. . ." Here he trailed off, the darkness rising to cloud his gaze once more. It had been gone for so long, but now it was back, as Lucy's ghost rose in the air between them. "I had a wife. I had children. They all died within two moons of each other."

He screwed his eyes shut, as if it would make it any less painful to speak. It didn't, of course, but he went on doggedly. "If that is my fate--if losing them was some sort of, I don't know, fucking punishment for something I did. . .then I don't want to bring that upon Pema." Shale sighed, realizing how ridiculous he sounded. "Even if it's not of the divine, I'm a broken man. I don't know if I can be fixed by anyone. And no one deserves damaged goods. Least of all her."