"It is."
"And bad for you, probably. Nutritionally. Raw meat's fine for wolves but in human form your digestive systems have to be at least partially—" I catch her expression. "Sorry. Do you have the scrap wood or not?"
"I'll find you something." She leans against the doorframe. "You're the healer. The one who's been treating wolves for years without knowing."
"I didn't know they were people."
"So I've heard. You just found injured wolves and decided to fix them."
"They were hurt. I could help." I crouch to check Nugget's feet—pink but healthy, nails need trimming soon, I should make a schedule—and my hands feel better with something to do. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Most humans would run."
"Most humans are stupid."
She laughs, real this time. "You're very strange. For a human."
"You mentioned."
"It bears repeating." She's quiet for a moment. Then: "The scars don't bother you? On the Alpha?"
I look up at her. "Why would they?"
She blinks.
"He's missing an eye." She's being careful with this. "Half an ear. Covered in old wounds. Most people—"
"Then most people aren't paying attention." I stand up. "He survived. That's not ugly. That's just what surviving looks like."
She stares at me.
"What?"
"Nothing." She shakes her head. "Someone will bring you food tonight. After that, you're on your own."
"Thank you. For showing me here."
"It's what the Alpha ordered."
"Still."
She pauses at the door, looking back. "You really cured the moonbright poison."
"For years."
"And you just do things. Fix things. Don't ask permission."
"Asking permission takes time. People are usually bleeding."
She nods once, jaw setting. "We'll see how long you last."
"That's ominous."
"It's honest." She holds my gaze for a second. "Good luck, Melori."
The door closes. The room gets smaller.
I stand in the middle of it and let out a breath.
