Chapter 54: A Bond Unbroken.

Chloe had always been different. In the human world, she never seemed to fit in. But here, deep in the forest, somehow, she was beginning to feel more at home than she ever had in her life. She was one of them now, the wolves; they had the liberty to run wild in these woods with no restrictions placed on them. This morning, her eyes opened to her bedding of pack bodies, their warmth drawing solace from the cold of night. The first filtered through the canopy with sunrise, and Chloe, with deep breaths and the gentle gaze of the alpha female, Nyla, opened her eyes. "Good morning, sister," Nyla's eyes replied, though her lips remained silent. Chloe nuzzled her lupine friend affectionately. "I had the most wonderful dream," she said, almost sorrowfully. "We were running together, our paws scarcely touching the earth as the wind whirled through our fur." Nyla laughed in her throat—a sound not unlike the soft whuff of her breath at the thought of dreams and reality living in two separate