Chapter 5

The walk to Nelson’s apartment was short, for he lived near the office, just as Gilbert did. It was cold, the middle of the night, and Gilbert pulled his jacket around himself as he followed the alpha down the quiet streets. Finally, they reached an austere building, and Gilbert felt nervous as he stepped into the cage elevator – he’d never been in one of those contraptions before. He held tightly onto the railing as the elevator creaked toward the third floor where Nelson resided. Nelson’s apartment was tidy and tastefully decorated, and Gilbert wondered if he would ever be director of a firm and have a nice place of his own.

Nelson showed him into the study, where two wingbacked chairs were in front of a large, beautifully tiled fireplace.

“Sit down,” he said as he set about stoking a fire to keep them warm.

Gilbert wasn’t sure which seat to take and waited for Nelson to gesture to a chair. After the fire was going, Nelson stood up, went over to the cabinet to th