Ian waited for Katherine's car in the yard and waited for the woman to get out. They were both uncomfortable about the impending confrontation, so they barely said hello to each other.

Inside the house, Sammy's labor kept Lía busy, completely absorbed in her every moan of pain.

Kathy bade him good morning with acrimony, and he returned the greeting in kind, but it was obvious that politeness would go no further than that.

—Where's Lia? —she asked, scanning with her eyes the unusual quiet of the house, which was usually interrupted by the howling of wolves when there was a visitor.

—She's inside, in the living room, with Sammy. My she-wolf is about to have her puppies.

The woman let out a gesture of discomfort that did not go unnoticed by the Italian. The whole situation was awkward, but he was sure she wouldn't keep silent for long. She was not the kind of person who delayed her conflicts.

—Listen, Ian... I'm s