Untamed
in a hushed tone.
A tree branch gave a quick cracking sound behind her.
She turned swiftly, her claws nearly emerging once more, but the voice that came to her was steady and relaxed.
“You survived.”
A man stepped out from the trees, tall and draped in dark fur. His scent was unusual, neither completely wolf nor fully human. His presence made her wolf uneasy, caught between growling and submitting.
“Who are you?” she asked, her voice barely a murmur.
“Someone who understands what it’s like to be hunted for a bloodline you didn’t choose.” He bent down low, his eyes giving a short flash of light like embers beneath his hood. “They call me Rael.”