And then he was gone.
Left alone in the warmth of the nursery, Raya gently laid Luca down in the cot. The little wolf pup gave only the smallest whimper before settling back into sleep, content in a way that made her chest ache with gratitude and guilt.
She fed him first, then bathed him slowly, enjoying the luxury of the warm water, of soft towels that didn’t scratch and sting. By the time she laid him back into the cot, the little goblin, as she so fondly called him, was already snoring gently, arms sprawled like a miniature king in his castle.
But as she stood, wondering how she would get a quick shower and change while still keeping an ear out for Luca, a soft knock came at the door. She froze for a second, brushing her hair behind her ears before walking toward it. When she opened
