Silver woke up twice.
The first time, she opened her eyes and saw the familiar stone ceiling of the Alpha quarters. The second time, she realized she did not feel like she was inside her body.
She lay still, staring upward, watching the shadows of torchlight ripple across the carved beams. The room smelled the same, cedar, ash, faint iron from the weapons hung on the walls, everything looked right.
She felt nothing.
No fear, warmth or sense of time passing. Her heart beat, but it felt like a sound she was hearing from far away.
Someone was holding her hand, and she turned her head slowly.
Arthur sat beside her bed, unmoving, his forearms braced on his knees, his head bowed. His fingers were wrapped around hers like he was afraid she might dissolve if he let go.
She studied him with
