Ruby’s POV
By the time we’re through the border, the whole territory feels like it's holding its breath.
Eyes track us from doorways, from training rings, from the shadow of the main house. No one smiles. The looks I get aren’t shock or welcome. They’re neat, quick assessments. Numbers on a ledger.
We stop near the open ground Tyler chose for our camp. Duke lowers so he can slide off. He lands harder than he means to. I feel the flare of pain through the bond before he locks it down.
I want to go to him. I don’t.
Lily’s already there, moving like it’s a casual check of his bandages while she quietly positions herself between him and the main house. Duke starts barking low orders, and our people move. Shelters. Perimeter. Healers. Nails in the ground.
A wolf in Richard’s colors heads
