Page 78 of Pack Captive

Because this shackle gives the wrong impression. I trust you, Ayla. This was never to keep you hostage, but to keep you safe.

She let out a soft bark.What bullshit.

I know.My ears went flat. I was genuinely sorry for my part in it, and the way I'd treated her.You would've come with us as long as we had your people. But we needed a way to track you...just in case.

This has something to do with the shadow wolves, she guessed.They've been behaving oddly.

I hesitated, even though the words were on my lips.

If I told her...what was the worst that could happen? She would be in the know, as she rightfully should be.

But Ryden had given that order for a reason.

Because we hadseenthe worst happen.

And if it wasn't for the fact that I didn't smell Tyra around here, I would've said the handiwork in the clearing was hers.

I trusted that Ayla was pure of intention, and that was why touching Merikh didn't hurt her.

But if she ever did decide to turn down a darker path...Merikh would happily speed her along.

It was better if she didn't know that path was available at all. Her origins, her ignorance from being trapped in that valley her whole life, might be her saving grace.

But I felt wrong, not telling her about the Void Callers.

The shadow wolves behave oddly on occasion,I told her briskly, swallowing the original words I'd been about to say.It's nothing new. But we can't risk any more of our Callers being kidnapped and killed. If you wore the bracelet, we'd be able to find you much faster, but it's not worth having half the city wondering if you're on Merikh's side. Now it just gives the impression that we don’t trust you, that we’re keeping you caged like him.

Ayla shook her head, the shiver going all the way down her shoulders to her tail.I can't believe they'd think that just because I was a prisoner.

She sounded bitter, and rightfully so.

In times of fear, not everyone thinks with common sense. They want someone to blame because they're afraid.I stepped closer, my shoulder brushing hers.Now shift. Just long enough for me to take this off.

Ryden will be furious, she said, looking up at me. A moment later she barked again.I'm being ridiculous. Please take it off.

She shifted, returning to her smaller human form. She was wearing nothing but a thin temple dress, her dark hair loose around her shoulders.

I was glad I was in wolf form and staying this way. If I'd had human hands, I wouldn't have been able to resist touching her this time, letting my fingers roam under the thin clothes that taunted me even in my dreams.

She stretched out her leg, showing the heavy gold bangle, and I put my paw on it.

The magic within was keyed to both Ryden and myself, and it was the work of moments to let the locking curse trip.

The bracelet clicked, and Ayla wasted no time. She tugged it off, rubbing her ankle where the skin was a little red.

"I hated that fucking thing," she muttered.

Then she reached out, shocking me into stillness. I held myself like a statue while she wrapped her arms around me, burying her face in my fur.

She smelled delicious, and it was all I could do to stay in wolf form while she squeezed me tightly.

I wanted to shift and push her down into the grass, bury myself inside her and tell her that she would be mine, not Ryden’s.

When Ayla released me, her face was pink.

She shifted back a moment later, her tail wagging slightly.Thank you, Calian. That was all I ever asked for.

So you're not going to run off on us now?I teased, trying to hide my feelings as I picked up the bracelet in my mouth.

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