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“Not what I expected,” I said idly, taking in the stick straight white blonde hair that draped down, covering most of her face as she leaned intently over my damaged leg. She didn’t so much as twitch at my statement and my eyes narrowed. She laid her palms gently on either side of my leg and a warm sensation began to pulse through my leg. “What are you doing?” I asked sharply, and again didn’t receive a response.

Abruptly, I sat up, knocking her away from my injured leg and she fell back, her eyes wide with shock as she stared up at me. This time I took in a matched pair of ice blue eyes, so light blue they might be considered colorless, framed by equally pale eyelashes. In fact, she was so white she could be the poster girl for this Ghost Pack.

Terror filled her eyes and I felt my chest clench in response. There was something intrinsically innocent about her and I couldn’t help but feel protective over her even as I was the one who caused her fear. “I’m not going to hurt you,” I promised, but her frightened expression didn’t fade. She scrambled backwards in a wild panic and I held my hands out, trying to appear nonthreatening. “I appreciate your help,” I nodded to my leg and she hesitated for a brief second. “You’re deaf,” I guessed, unsurprised when I still didn’t get a reaction.

You’re deaf, I tried again and this time those eerie eyes shot to mine. I’m right? She nodded warily, no longer trying to escape me as her gaze darted back to my leg. You want to fix it? My leg, I questioned mentally, wondering where exactly I’d found myself as I telepathically communicated with a non-Pack member. She nodded again, scooting a little closer as she eyed me carefully to see if I was going to pounce. You think you can fix it?

Her chin tilted up as she replied, I know I can. Her eyes admonished me. If you don’t interrupt me again. I lifted my hands in the universal gesture of backing away and she reached for my leg again. I fought the need to move as my leg spasmed, knowing she was on the edge of scampering away again. Her fingers trembled as she lightly pressed them against my leg and once again heat curled through my leg.

I stared as the scar that had formed slowly faded until there was no trace of it left and grunted when my bone snapped back into place, fixing the improperly healed break. What is this? I asked, awed by her ability.

Healing, she responded simply, shrugging lightly as if it was completely normal. Her forehead wrinkled. How did you know I was deaf?

It was my turn to shrug. You didn’t respond when I spoke. One side of my mouth curled up as I added, And your coloring. If you were a dog, I would have figured it out sooner.

How are you talking to me? She questioned, squinting at me suspiciously.

I could ask you the same, I retorted, flexing my foot experimentally and causing her to scuttle across the room. You started it.

She shook her head, pale strands of hair glittering under the florescent light above. I’ve always been able to project my voice. My eyebrows raised at her description of her ability. But you’re the first one outside my tribe who has ever answered.

Is that why you think I’m the one? I questioned, shelving away the fact that she referred to her Pack as a tribe, as her eyes widened.

You were listening to us, she accused, crossing her arms as she attempted to glare at me. It fell short since I’d already been witness to her sister’s glare and it far outstripped this little pup.

Kind of hard not to since you were having the conversation in my head, I retorted and her expression turned uncertain. Honestly, nothing has been close to normal since I crossed onto your Pack’s land, I added, rubbing the back of my neck. Who hit me and where am I? My gaze swept the room, noting the bars on the door and ceiling were reinforced steel, purposely designed to keep someone or something with greater than average strength contained.

She darted for the door, suddenly skittish, but I choose to remain still. Not escaping while I had the chance was a risk, but I suddenly found myself reluctant to leave. There was something here…

Who was I kidding?

She had captured my attention and for the first time in a very long time I had zero desire to move on. Letting her little sister slide out the door unscathed, I settled back against the cold stone wall, content to wait until she came back for me, not a single doubt in my mind that she would.