Chapter 29

The dream woke Naya up, jerking her upright on the old mattress and heavy quilts and blankets which made her bed. I was wide-eyed and aware of an ache in my chest. It took me a moment to realize I was holding my breath and I had to fight to let it out, wheezing as I drew fresh, cool air into my lungs. I coughed and closed my eyes and beside me I could feel the Alpha prince stirring sleepily, lifting his great head and sniffing the air.

Behold it was Stormie, I felt his tongue on me. How did you get in here? She asked Stormie. Licking at my hip, telling me to go back to sleep. He could sense my fear, but find no cause for it, and this was not the first time I'd had a bad dream. I sat there, pulling my knees to my breasts and hugging myself in the dark with all of my senses awakened. I could hear the spring night outside my room. The breeze through the farmyard and the trees beyond. The scratching of tiny feet in the rafters above us; a mouse repairing its nest. The sound of the other