Madison pointed a chubby finger at the stranger’s bone-carved mask. When the Alpha remained as still as a winter stone, she took the initiative, her small, blunt claws catching the jagged edge of the relic. She was determined to see the face of the wolf who smelled like home.

Avery lunged forward, her scent spiking with maternal authority as she pried Madison’s hands away. "Madison! I told you—if you cannot control your wolf’s curiosity, you will stay in the den next time. We do not touch a High Alpha’s armor."

"Mommy, sorry," Madison whimpered, tucking her tail and burying her face in Avery’s silks as if her heart had been...