11
The Alpha sat at the fire at the mouth of the cave, half in and half out of shadow. He looked up as if’d I’d only stepped away for a moment. My whole body ached from my long pilgrimage, but I welcomed the pain.
“I want a house,” I said. “My own dwelling with doors I can shut. Any who wish to enter must knock and I will choose when I will let them in.”
“I suppose we can do all that.” Ragnvald said.
“Thank you.” A slight breeze ruffled his hair and mine, as if the forest sighed.
When I glanced back, Maddox stood there as a man. The magic of the Change left a leather loincloth around his waist, and a pelt across his shoulders. He looked gaunt and hungry, and I felt guilty because I had done this to him.
“He may not be able to speak for a while, but the pack bonds are restored,”
