I’m not even sure what hurts, but I start checking her for injuries. “What hurts? What happened? Did you bump a branch? Do you have a splinter? What happened while you were outside? Please tell me, baby.”

There isn’t anyone outside, so I know she didn’t get attacked.

Finally, she looks up at me and pats at her chest. “I don’t understand much, but being away from you makes me miserable. My wolf can’t stand it, and neither can I. Why does it hurt so much?”

That simple ...