KATHERINE

"Done." Clap, clap, clap.

I dusted off my hands, admiring my work. It wasn’t spotless, but it was livable and decent enough.

I glanced toward the hallway, where my good boy waited like a student before his teacher.

"Come, bring the girl, love," I called, watching as he rose onto his powerful hind legs, carefully carrying the child.

Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, his words from the bridge echoed in my mind.

As I watched him step through the narrow doorway with slight difficulty, I moved to help, my hands brushing gently against his strong forearms.

Elliot had said this creature loved me, just like he did… Were they separate beings? Or the same? And he loved me? Just like that? So suddenly?

Love, to me, was a serious word. Our eyes met—his wolfish, penetrating ones—and for some ridiculous reason, I felt nervous.

My heart skipped a beat.

"Ahem." I coughed, feigning composure. "Let’s lay her on the bed. I found some clean sheets in the closet. Did you come here often?"