"Sera?" Claudia called.
Sera turned instinctively. The movement earned her an immediate, low, disapproving snarl from Ravok, vibrating through the bars.
"Oh, calm down," Claudia said dryly, rolling her eyes at the massive wolf. "I'm not stealing her."
She stepped closer to Sera, lowering her voice. "I'll come get you soon. You cannot tell anyone about this. Including Eric—not yet. Okay? He is going to be furious with me."
Sera nodded gently. She understood, even if she didn't fully understand why. When Claudia walked away, her footsteps fading up the stairs, Sera turned back to Ravok.
"So, uh…" she began, suddenly very aware of how ridiculous she sounded talking to a legendary alpha wolf. She rubbed her palms against her thighs nervously. "I would like to see more of you. I mean—you, not just Eric. But Eric seems to believe that… that you will hurt me."
