Stone Circle fortunate son

Alya thanked Valette, grateful for the succor and even more for the warm, homey feeling she felt for the territory and for the woman before her. And even for the smaller wolf who was so eager to see her mate.

"I'll try to come again before the spring. With Nikai," she said to them both with a wag of her tail, thinking that, by spring, she might be a bit too busy with... other things. "But Moonspear would be happy to host you at any time. You're family."

It felt so strange to say that to someone other than her blood. It didn't even occur to her, this time, that Valette was not blood to Nikai, either. Later on, however, she would muse on the strength of the bonds of love.