Aimes shifted, I climbed onto his back, and we were off toward the city lights in the distance.

I hadn't felt this giddy and hopeful in a long time. I knew it wouldn't last, but still. It was a major improvement to my usual doom, gloom, and worry that I'd felt for over a month.

I kept hold of Annecy's phone, checking and rechecking for a signal, and when we had one bar, my heart surged.

"We got one bar," I said into Aimes's velvety-soft wolfy ear.

An exhausted ...