Page 47 of Pack Captive

I reached for the handle, intending to leave before my thoughts about what was under that gown became even filthier.

Ayla gave me an unreadable look, then blew out the candelabra and climbed into bed, pulling a heavy fur over herself.

She curled into a tight ball under it.

With only the moonlight to illuminate her, she looked so sad and lonely curled up by herself. Like a tiny iceberg floating in the massive sea of the bed.

No family, no other wolves around.

I hesitated, then let go of the handle.

Ayla didn't stir as I peeled off my shirt. It was already too warm in here, and it had nothing to do with the sight of her smooth legs.

I laid down on the far side of the bed, stealing a pillow and folding my arms behind it.

I stared up at the ceiling, wondering if I'd lost my mind. I didn't even sleep in the same beds as the random females I sometimes hooked up with, always preferring to leave for the solitude of my own quarters.

Several soft scuffles reached my ears, and Ayla scooted towards me inch by inch.

She stopped when the tips of her fur blanket were a hands-breadth away from my body. I heard a deep sigh, then silence.

Her breathing gave way to the quiet evenness of sleep.

That same unfamiliar pang hit me in the chest. I'd once felt how she felt.

Utterly alone in the world and cast adrift.

I curled on my side, conforming to the shape of her under the fur, wrapped an arm around her, and closed my eyes.

14

Merikh

For the first time,in what felt like years, there was someone new.

I laid on the small cot the Azurans had provided me, my arms folded behind my head, staring up at the cool blue runes swirling on the ceiling of the prison with something like wonder.

As far as I was concerned, wonder was an emotion reserved solely for children and the mentally decrepit, but it was really the only way to describe what I was feeling.

Feeling. That in itself was a small fucking miracle.

The lunar runes didn't burn my eyes as I watched them move. I turned my head and watched one crawl down the wall before sinking into the stone.

"Look at this, Tiny," I called. "Check it out. I can look at them now."

I let out a hoarse laugh. It'd been a long time since I laughed with any real feeling.

Tiny said nothing.

He was nothing but a construct built out of lunar power and the lake water, much like Fenris created his spies out of ash and blood. He was also not tiny in the slightest and didn't respond to much of anything.

The transparent, glowing wolf sat in the corner of the room, only a few paces away from where the new Caller had stood. She hadn't seen it.

I wondered why that was.

The only time Tiny ever moved or made noise was when I made an active attempt to get through the bars of my cell.

Basically, he was the worst social companion ever.

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