Chapter 46
Chapter Forty-Six
Along time later, minutes or hours, Raven shuffled back to the crevice. She crawled beneath the ledge and collapsed on the rocky ground, exhausted, weary to the core. Completely emptied out.
In the cold darkness, Shadow stood over her and nuzzled her neck. His breath was warm against her cheeks. The musky scent of his damp fur filled her nostrils.
She held out her hand and ran her fingers through the thick guard hairs of his ruff. With a sad snort, he flopped down beside her, his flank pressed against her side.
“It’s you and me, now,” she said.
He gave a mournful whine as if in response. The faintest hint of starlight limned everything in a pale glow. The wolf’s eyes glimmered in the darkness. Awake and alert, keeping watch over what remained of his pack.
“I can’t do this alone, okay? I need you. We need each other.”
Raven curled into Shadow. She nestled her cheek against his fur and breathed in the precious, comforting scent of wolf—of earth and grass and wind, of things wild and primal, of fierce love and pack and family.