Page 2

I’m in a room with no windows, only a metal door with a small opening. There is a bread roll lying on the ground, along with a bottle of water. My stomach rumbles, but I just stare at it, my pulse racing.

A low growl has me looking to my right, and my breath catches in my throat in horror.

I’m leaning against a wolf—a very large, very scary-looking wolf that seems ready to take a bite out of me.

A terrified scream leaves my mouth, and I scramble to the other side of the cage, covering my head with my arms.

I expect it to attack me, but when nothing happens, I cautiously lower my arms. That’s when I realize the wolf is shackled. There is a large, iron collar around its neck with a very short chain that limits its movements. I begin to relax and take a good look at it.

Its fur is silver but matted and dirty. There are wounds all over its body, and in certain places, chunks of fur have been ripped out. It looks like this wolf has been through hell. There’sa glazed expression in those amber eyes, almost as if it’s not all there.

This is a shifter, and judging from its size, it’s definitely male. Female shifters, according to my knowledge, which is limited, are slightly smaller in stature.

The wolf is no longer growling at me but watching me.

“H–Hi.” I wave slightly with my fingers. “I’m Dr. Maya Sorin, or just Maya. I would really appreciate it if you didn’t kill me or eat me. I have a very bad diet. I mostly eat junk food, so I know I will taste awful. And I’ll probably give you diabetes. So, you don’t want to eat me. Not even part of me, as a snack.”

The wolf just stares at me. I edge toward the dry bread and water bottle, but as soon as I move, his hackles rise and I freeze. Our eyes maintain contact, and slowly, I move my hand inch by inch to grab the supplies. The water bottle is sealed, so I’m pretty sure it has not been tampered with. I break the seal and take a sip. The wolf watches me as I drink, and my eyes take in his form. He’s been starved. It’s more than obvious. His ribs are showing.

I hold the bottle out to him. “Do you want some water?”

He doesn’t respond.

“Can you shift to your human form?” I ask slowly.

Again, no response, but his eyes are glued to the bottle in my hand. I look around, but there’s no bowl into which I can pour the water. The wolf doesn’t seem crazy, just on edge. I would be, too, if somebody suddenly decided to become my roommate and barged into my home. Prison cell, whatever.

I don’t know if I’m making the right decision in trying to help him. But then, everybody else in this place may well be an enemy. And the enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?

“Don’t bite me,” I tell him cautiously. “I’m just going to give you some water.”

I take the chunk of bread and dig out the center, making a hole big enough for his tongue to reach in. Letting out a long breath because I was really thirsty, I pour the rest of the water into the makeshift bowl, leaving just a sip or two in the bottle for myself.

Using my foot, I nudge the bread toward him. He doesn’t move. When I get too close, he snaps at me. I immediately jump back.

I know I don’t have much time because the bread will soak up all the liquid if I don’t move fast enough. When his eyes go to the roll again, I take a chance, quickly nudging it toward him and then moving away. He sniffs the water and immediately begins lapping it up thirstily.

Not only does he drink all the water, he also eats the bread, tearing at it and chewing desperately. My heart sinks. He must have been really hungry. Why are they starving him? Is he one of the kidnapped shifters?

Once he finishes his sparse meal, he lies down calmly. I watch his eyes flutter shut, and I swallow. He could easily bite my head off with one snap of his teeth. But what have they done to him? I’m only now noticing that there’s a particular stench coming from him. Clearly, he has not bathed in very long time.

Curling up in a corner, I keep an eye on him and finally let reality sink in.

Wolf shifters and humans don’t normally get involved with each other, but eight years ago, when I met Leanna, who was pregnant at the time, I let her share my apartment with me. We were both broke. I didn’t know she was a shifter until she gave birth to a young wolf pup right in front of me. How was I supposed to know that my life would descend into chaos starting from the day I opened my front door to her?

I sigh, missing Leanna and her son, Finn. They must be so worried about me.

And I hope Jerry is okay. The healer was a kind man. He was the one who advocated for me to be brought into the wolf world to help with the kidnapping investigation. I know how proud he was of his nephew, Cassian. To have his own flesh and blood try to kill him…

My chest aches. I hope Jerry survived Cassian’s attack. And I really hope somebody is looking for me.

My mother’s face swims into my mind, and I squeeze my eyes shut, forcing the tears back. She’ll be fine. I know she will be. Someone will look after her. But my optimism is unrealistic, and my heart cracks. She barely remembered me; how is she going to cope with someone new? How will she survive without me around to look after her?

I hear footsteps again. The wolf rouses, instantly on his feet, his teeth bared, fur standing up. I quickly wipe my eyes. The door of our cell opens, and a young man enters.

Cassian Vayne.

With his thick, clunky glasses; tousled, dark curls; and his sweet, unassuming appearance, he doesn’t look like some sort of evil mastermind. In fact, I thought he was totally my type till he stabbed Jerry in front of me and had a psychotic break in my laboratory.