FAYE
The sun was still high, and the yard behind the house stretched quiet and empty, except for Roman. He sat on the low stone wall, his gaze fixed somewhere beyond the trees, as if trying to see through them into a world he didn’t yet understand. I spotted him immediately, tucked away in his own shadow of thought.
“Roman,” I called softly as I walked closer, “I’ve been looking for you.”
He stirred, straightening slowly. His hand brushed over his clothes, shaking off some invisible dust of thought, and he stood fully.
“Something you need me to do?” His voice was careful, polite, even cautious.
I shook my head. “Not exactly. Today’s the general training day for the pack. You should come to the training ground.”
He shook his head firmly. “I… I’d rather not.”
I stopped in front of him
