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Ezra’s scent sours as he scowls down at me. “Please, Aya. Don’t start that shit.”

I snort and grin wickedly at him. It doesn’t last. I walk up to the territory line, stop short, and pace away from it. I do it again and keep doing it until I’m wearing a groove in the dirt. My wolf whines and pushes toward the pines. Every time I get close, she shrinks back. Make up your damn mind. I never put so much as a toe over.

“Baby,” Ezra calls from behind me, “what are you waiting for? Go on.”

I chew my lip and glance back at him over my shoulder. “I’m not House of Zorah anymore. I’m Ash Clan. I don’t know if I can go through.”

The sour edge drops out of his scent at that. It isn’t long before Jacob comes into view way off down the road, headed our way. I stiffen up. My wolf wants to bolt. I’m about ready to make a run for it myself. Oh shit.

Ezra straightens beside me and clasps his hands behind his back. He plants his feet and holds his ground against another alpha. I turn and growl low, but he doesn’t budge.

Jacob takes his time getting to us. When he does, he stops and sizes me up good. “Niece, what are you doing at the territory line?”

My stomach flips. I go to bow my head, but Jacob growls. I snap it back up. Over his shoulder, I spot Kane and Gabriel coming down the road.

“Don’t bow to me, niece,” Jacob scolds. He hooks a thumb back toward the pines. “Most of the pack is off the territory handling daily business. It’s quiet today.”

I wring my hands. “I came to see you.”

Kane and Gabriel reach us and flank Jacob. I drink in their warm, bright scents. My uncles are actually glad to see me. After I stormed out on this pack, I wasn’t sure they ever would be.

They move aside to leave an opening between them while Jacob steps back. “You are family, Aya,” he says. “You do not need permission to cross the territory line.”

When I turn back to Ezra, he gives me an encouraging nod. With a nervous sigh, I step across the territory line and walk up to Jacob.

Jacob bows his head to me. Beside him, Kane and Gabriel do the same.

“Luna,” they greet me together.

I gape up at them like they’ve lost their minds. Don’t call me that. I’m not your luna. I’m not even a luna yet. I almost say it out loud but bow back to them instead. This time Jacob doesn’t growl. It feels a lot like saying yes.

My uncles can’t stand still anymore. Kane gets there first and swings me clean off my feet in a big hug. I squeal when he smacks a loud kiss on my cheek. Gabriel wastes no time stealing me out of Kane’s arms to squeeze the air out of my lungs and plant one of his own. They smell like home, and under that is how bad they’ve missed me.

When Gabriel sets me down, I back up and blink hard against the sting in my eyes. I am not about to cry out here in front of everyone.

“I’ve missed you too, uncles,” I croak.

Jacob moves in front of Kane and Gabriel with his scent rolling out over theirs. I can smell what he’s up to. He’s guarding my uncles from the sadness of this visit.

I stand tall and lean around him. “See you for Sunday dinner?”

They bow their heads, and Kane murmurs under his breath, “I’m making beef ribs.”

I sob a little and slap a hand over my mouth. So much for not crying. Jacob turns back to me. “Walk with me, niece.”

He glances past me to Ezra, who hasn’t moved from his spot behind the territory line. Ezra nods his permission for Jacob to take me away. Of course, no one asks what I think about it.

“Stay here,” Jacob tells Kane and Gabriel. He lays his hand on the small of my back as we start down the long road together. Pine needles crunch under our feet.

“What troubles you, little luna?” he asks. I peek up, and he’s smiling down at me.

“I’m not luna yet.” I fall quiet for a while before I meet his eyes again. “That’s why I’m here.”

Jacob waits while I kick a pinecone into the ditch. Better get this out before I lose my nerve.

“When my mom left the pack, it was so hard,” I admit. “We moved out to the community lands, and I felt like I lost a piece of myself. I was a pup, and I didn’t understand any of it.” I stare at my feet. “Now that I’m older, I get why she had to go. I do.”

Jacob listens and keeps walking with his hand warm on my back. My steps drag. “And then at the vow renewal, I was so angry when my father dropped a knee to you.” I sniff and wipe my nose on my wrist. “He just gave it all up.”