Chapter 16: Pray

Even at midnight, Drake could hear voices from outside the room he and Rori shared. From the voices, he could hear the prominent sound of Mark's yell to order. Trembling, he stood up from the bed and found himself staring outside the window. Proud like a belly-filled peacock, Mark called his pack to a halt as he moved closer to the door.

Drake moved away from the window to the center of the room, turning slowly in place, feeling cold and small in the solemn space. He woke Rori up with a tap as he tried to inform her about what was going on outside with whispers. In the silence, she could feel the fear on his eyes as he took her loving hand on his shoulder, and the gravity of the moment struck both of them. Without a word, she dragged him to his feet and helped him towards the door. She opened it.

Once they were outside in the dark, the members of Mark's pack withdrew while Mark looked at her straight in the eye.

"She finally came outside from her hiding place in the d