Everything was dark. It might not be his eyes this time though. Even inside the strange-smelling room, he could smell the night. He could smell water too, not far in front of him, and food. When was the last time he'd eaten? He couldn't remember just like he couldn't remember his name or where he was from or any of the other things his mate had asked him.

His mate! He'd found her. That was the one thing of which he was certain - Aiyana was his mate. He took another long sniff. It was very faint, but her scent was still there along with a male she'd called his doctor and a couple of other two-legged beings. There were several furry, four-legged creatures he wouldn't mind chasing somewhere close, but not close enough for him to bother with.

Where was he? Why wasn't his mate by his side? The thought that had been struggling to form abruptly became a certainty - something was wrong, horribly wrong. It wasn't a scent, he decided as he sniffed the night air, but something that had happened. His hip and his head still hurt but he wasn't sure if that was related. It had something to do with his mate, maybe. Maybe she would know what was wrong, or maybe he needed to warn her. He sniffed again. She wasn't close but he could feel the tug of their bond. It was stronger than it had been before...before something. Ugh. He wanted, no needed, her here so he could keep her safe. Safe from what? He shook his head slowly. Why was everything so fuzzy? He threw back his head and called for his mate as long and loud as he could. The sound echoed around him. Somewhere nearby, a creature with a deeper tone answered his call, but his mate didn't. He called again. A couple of those lumbering four-legged beasts he liked the taste of - cows the term came to him - mooed back from outside the walls. There was a 'neigh' sound too. Still not his mate. He tried again. There was a crashing sound nearby, and a male smell - but not that of a wolf.

"What in blazes are you doing!"

'Duh' popped into his mind as he tried again.

"Stop that! You're going to wake up the whole block."

There was a faint ringing noise which made his ears twitch, then the male spoke again, "Doc, this is Matthew. Sorry to disturb you. That new wolf is howling like there are three moons in here. Do you want me to tranq him? Call Aiyana? It's the middle of the night. What's she going to do? You want me to put the phone up to the wolf's ear and let her talk to him? Really? I don't understand. The wolf thinks she's his mother? You're kidding. Okay, you're the boss. Yes, I'll call you back if it doesn't work."

More animals were responding to his call, but still no mate. She couldn't be that far away - not as strong as he could feel her. Maybe he needed to face a different direction. No, that didn't feel right - it felt closed off and his bond went the other way. He turned back toward the side that felt open and sent out another call.

"George or whatever your name is, what are you doing?"

He closed his mouth and sniffed. The male smell was stronger but it was definitely his mate's voice. She sounded odd though, and he couldn't smell her. He yipped trying to ask where she was.

"Why are you howling? What's wrong?"

Didn't she understand? He wanted her with him so he'd know she was safe. He howled again, but not as long or loud.

"You need to stop howling or they're going to tranq you. You don't want that do you? You'll feel bad in the morning."

Come to me, he tried to say, but it came out as "Raow-raow-row".

"What's wrong? Are you in pain?"

"I think he wants you to come here," the male voice said.

The wolf yipped in agreement.

"It's the middle of the night and I don't have a car."

"Doc says the wolf thinks you're his mother."

"That's ridiculous! He's a full-grown wolf!"

The wolf snorted in agreement.

"Look, he woke up every animal in the place howling for you. Get dressed and grab a pillow and a sleeping bag. I'll send one of my friends over to get you. You can sleep on one of the cots."

"You're just lucky it's Saturday night." His mate didn't sound very happy.

"I know," the male agreed. "Otherwise my friend might be in bed."

"Put me back up to the cage." Her voice got louder. "George. No more howling. I'm coming. If you howl again before I get there, I'm not going to...I won't rub your ears."

She sounded mad. Too bad, she needed to be with him, but he whimpered a little because he didn't like making her mad.

"Where do you live?" the male asked.

She said something about a dorm. What was a dorm? The information was there but he just..couldn't..reach it.

"All right, my friend is just off campus. He drives an old blue Ford Ranger. I'll tell him you'll meet him at the front door."

It was hard waiting and wherever he was, it was too small to pace in properly. After running into hard, unrelenting bars a couple of times and stepping on something that flipped water all over him, he finally just stopped and stood still. He could hear the male moving about somewhere close, so he yipped to ask what was taking so long.

"She's coming. Have a little patience. Geez, you've got water everywhere. I should let Aiyana clean it up since you're her pup."

The wolf growled at him.

"Joking, just joking."

There was a dinging sound. The wolf twisted his ears to hear better and sniffed the air. Another noise, louder, and her scent. In his excitement, he forgot her order and howled a welcome.

"George! Stop that. Has he been doing that the whole time?"

"No, just since you walked in the door."

She was close, so wonderfully close. He reached out with his paw and to his relief, felt her soft hands take his.

"You are one strange wolf. I'm going to get the cot, then I'll be right back, okay?"

He whined and lay down against the bars so that there was room next to him and patted the spot with his paw.

"You want me to sleep in the cage with you?"

He yipped a yes.

"Are you sure this is wild wolf?" the male said. "He acts like he can understand you."

"We aren't sure what he is. Maybe he escaped from a circus somewhere."

The wolf groaned to let her know what he thought of that idea.

"You've gotten your blanket all wet, silly. I suppose we can sleep on the floor. Let me get another blanket."

"You're going to sleep next to a strange wolf?" the male asked. "He's bigger than you. He could rip out your throat in one bite. Are you crazy?"

"Look at him. He thinks he's a pup. It will be fine."

"I don't know about this."

"I promise you, it will be fine. Watch."

He felt his mate's hand against his head and pressed up into it, loving the way she scratched between his ears. When she took her hand away, he whimpered sadly.

"Wow. That is...it's like you tamed him or something," the male said. "Are you a wolf-whisperer?"

"Ah, no." She sounded amused. He wagged his tail, happy she was happy.

The whatever it was around him creaked and he sensed space in front of him, but he'd learned his lesson earlier when he'd bruised his nose on something.

"The cage is completely open, George. You have about a three foot drop to the floor."

How she could tell when the room was completely dark, he wasn't sure, but he trusted her. He jumped down, then followed her smell and pressed his head against her chest.

"I think you are. You're a wolf-whisperer," the male said.

"Can you get us a blanket to spread on the floor."

"Sure."