By the time they reached the pack grounds, dawn was less than an hour away.
The woman allowed herself to be brought to the infirmary, where a healer tended to her shoulder wound with professional efficiency. She answered no questions, offered no information beyond what was necessary, and made it clear through her entire demeanor that she was enduring rather than accepting.
Ash brought her food. She ate it.
He brought her clean clothes. She changed into them.
He brought her to a guest room. She sat on the bed and looked at him with her bright amber eyes and said, "What's your name? Your real name, not the pack stuff."
"Ash," he said. "And Roman. Roman is my wolf."
She nodded slowly.
"I'm Kira," she said finally. "And before you ask—no, I don't know what I am. Human mother, something
