“Yes, you can!” Kiara gasped, and her free hand flew to her mouth. The conviction and the volume of her voice confused her, and at the same time excited her. She knew that everyone thought she was slow, but that wasn’t the case. She had thoughts and feelings just like everyone else. This was definitely one of her firmer beliefs. She knew, she really did, that Luke would not be happy about bringing a lone wolf home. No one would be happy, but that didn’t matter. He deserved to be treated like anyone else. He deserved to be able to get clothes and eat something and socialize with his own kind. There was no reason that he should be shunned because of something that is his choice. Of course, she felt all these things, but it was still surprising that she voiced it.

She tried to do this again, but instead of confident and brave, it came out very quiet. “You deserve…” She paused again freezing up at the thought of actually voicing these thoughts out loud. She wanted to say that he deserved equality and that she was willing to give that to him if he would just follow her. She wanted to say that she wanted to make sure he was actually clothed and fed before he left again. She wanted to tell him that she didn’t like the tingling feeling that was coming from her arm where he grabbed it. Instead, she only said. “Kiara… My name.”

Even if she could not voice any of those thoughts, the way she pulled away from him and the way she strutted up the street should have made them obvious. She was bringing home a stray and her pack better damned well be okay with it or she would… well she hadn’t gotten that far yet. She was too proud that her body language was actually saying something besides: “I’m a meek little wolf go ahead and command me.”