Chapter 36

Alaria

The morning air was sharp as I stepped into the courtyard with Anastasia’s little hand tucked in mine.

She was unusually quiet, her wide eyes darting between the wolves that milled about, most of whom lowered their heads when they saw me coming.

“Are you okay, baby?” I asked softly, glancing down at her. “You're very quiet today and that's not a settling as I wanted to be. Do you want to tell me what's bothering you?”

She nodded quickly, but her fingers tightened around mine. Though I could hear it in her heartbeat, her breath, and the way that she looked around as if sensing danger, that there was something that was on her mind.

“They keep looking at you, Mama,” she whispered. “Everyone just keeps looking like they want to do something or like they want to say something.”

I smiled faintly and brushed a stray curl from her cheek.

“They’re just… not sure what to make of us yet,” I murmured back. “That’s all. But w