Rising Sun Valley Dear Fellow Traveller

His tale unfolded and an intentness would sweep over his face.

Sin. Her heart hitched at the brutality of such a word.

Cold lands bred cold wolves. There was little to laugh about in the dire North. But Louis’ mother had been right to leave her natal pack. No cub should be reared beneath the frame of sin. Still, it could not have been a choice made easy, to abandon all that she knew.

Her eyes found his, “She sounds strong.”

“My mother will stay in Lyotak. She is loyal to her sister, the alphess.” Tauris had never seen true, romantic love. But what was shared between Mother and her sister- that was love. Deep, unalloyed, built stronger upon the roiling foundation that would see frail loves fall apart.

There was a moment of quiet; then Tauris hummed her interest, “So. What’s out there that’s not at home?”