Swiftcurrent Creek Me against my head

Arlette was keen on believing they should retrieve the Alpha—that it must have been a mistake for her to wander so far, or she had disappeared—

—he saw the way realization dawned upon her, and he dipped his head lightly in quiet acquiescence. “Ibis has been dead for…” He huffed, looking to the sky with a furrow in his brow. “I’ve lost track of time. Years. Too long… sometimes it feels like only yesterday.”

He had loved her deeply. She had loved him, too, according to Teya—but he had his suspicion otherwise.

“I don’t know if she was entirely honest with herself about her feelings, Arlette,” he offered. “And she’s old enough to come home on her own. The signs lead to her leaving on her own accord,” he murmured, lifting a paw to wipe at the side of his face, weary. “She’s got her own mind and wants, Arlette. I’m not going to force someone to be here, or with me, when they don’t want to.”