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My shoulder pulls with each stride, and I breathe through my mouth. I used to run this without noticing, but now I’m gasping and the field’s still too far.

Someone moves beyond the brush.

White hair, bent above a basket.

Mel.

I get one more step before I see the rest of them. Keer’s beside her, Birdie on his hip, and the boys sit on a spread cloth at Mel’s feet. They’re on the short grass outside the flowers, close enough for her to reach down and catch Colm’s hand.

She straightens up, and she’s bigger than when I left. Look at her. Eskan lifts both arms toward Keer.

I reach for my brother the old way, through the bond, shoving everything I’ve got at him.

He stays turned toward his son, and nothing comes back.

Keer, turn around.

I drag in a breath to call.

“K—”

An arm catches me around the waist and pulls me backward. A hand clamps over my mouth, and I can feel Rauk holding the claws off my cheek.

Get off me.

He drags me behind the thick brush beside the path, and my back hits his chest as a branch snaps beneath his foot.

Keer’s head turns first.

“Mel. Behind me. Take the pups.”

It’s low, and I still hear every word. He passes Birdie back without looking away from the trees.

I drive my good elbow back into Rauk and reach for his wrist.

Keer takes a step toward us, putting himself between the brush and his family. He lifts his head, and I know he’s trying to smell us.

Fuck. If I shout, he’ll see Rauk holding me.

He’ll come straight at him.

Rauk’s forearm is solid across my stomach, the fur rough beneath my fingers, and I saw those hands kill three wolves yesterday. Even tired, he’d kill Keer.

I push his hand off my mouth, and it drops immediately. Keer’s still looking toward the branch that snapped.

My brother’s right there. I can see the gray beside his torn ear.

I keep my mouth shut.

Sorry, Keer.

Rauk shifts behind me, turning his face away from the flowers, and his chest rumbles against my back while he breathes through his mouth.

Don’t you dare.

Beyond the brush, Keer reaches back for Mel without looking away from us.

I turn my head just enough to speak against Rauk’s shoulder.