WALKING DOWN THE ONCE familiar paths, Aalyan became aware of how changed he was himself. It was impossible not to, no one was making an effort not to stare. He couldn’t blame the children, who would have never seen a pregnant man in their lives, but it was hard to justify it from young adults like himself. Maybe they were looking at the precious stone, even without understanding its significance, it was beautiful enough to draw the eye.
He’d have probably been the one whispering and speculating if it had been anyone else in his place. As a visiting emissary from another pack, he mostly spoke to the elders and they, at least, did not bring up his condition unless it was relevant, such as when they asked him if he would be comfortable sleeping on a tree near the grotto where they held their
