My head rested on my arm, which was bent at an angle and stiff. I slowly stretched it out and smiled as I pressed my face into something soft. I heard a low yawn and opened my eyes—only to realize I was snuggled flush up against Arii, her warmth seeping into me. I twisted, sitting bolt upright as my face burned. She grinned lazily up at me, stretched out like a goddess. “Hey.” Her voice was husky from sleep. I looked around. We were alone in the middle of a small cave with a stone floor. No wonder my back was stiff. Afternoon sunlight beamed just outside the mouth of the cave, warming the ground, and a cool breeze flitted in. “Where are we?” The night was a blur, but as I rubbed my hands over my arms, I could feel the wolf sleeping beneath my skin. It felt different, but somehow? It didn’t feel as foreign as I’d expected it to be. Like he’d always been slumbering there, waiting to wake up. She sat up, arching her back like a cat, showing off a little more cleavage than I was comfortable with.
