Chapter 17 - A Howl in the Heart
Lick, lick... woof. Lick, lick... woof.
Tave flinched, startled awake.
Sunlight slammed into his eyes like a slap, and he immediately winced, shutting them again with a groan.
That sound. That wet, persistent noise.
Something was licking his face. Woofing softly.
He blinked against the light, still half-lost in a fog of exhaustion, but the weight of sleep slowly lifted.
He felt sore all over, but... better. A lot better.
Dragging himself upright, he finally sat up, and realized the sun was already high in the sky. Midday? Damn. He must've passed out right after the Bloodline Override ritual last night.
Good thing he'd managed to leap back over the railing just before he lost consciousness.
Had he collapsed inside the forest, he probably would've become some monster's midnight snack.
The small wolf pup sat nearby, tail flicking, head tilted, staring at him with big round eyes and letting out another soft, "Woof."