For a long moment, Matthias just stared at the wolf. Something clouded his dark eyes, making them seem unreadable for an instant. There was too much warring in his mind to let it show. Enough of it already had.

Time stretched on until it seemed as if Matthias might say nothing more at all. He even moved as if he might turn away to return to their stroll, then stopped. Not once, but twice.

“Do you want me to stop?”