Hungry wolf shaped man with a pack long-dead-gone puts the collar on with both hands shaking, tames himself and teaches his anger a new way to growl. Makes his hunger a weapon in a new way. Lives in the corners, dangerous with his back to two walls. Sharpens his knife. Runs his hands over the collar of his jacket like some sort of prayer, like faith is his leash, like he loves someone enough to be theirs down to the marrow.
Man with sunburn smile lets the cuffs on his wrists glitter just enough to hide the shine of the key in his palm. Burns himself up from the inside out white-hot with pretty lies. Red-gold counterfeit honesty. Dresses up in what passes for fashion and cuffs the shirtsleeves. Ties the key around the wolf’s neck. Loves the wolf more than he loves his freedom. Loves the wolf so much his palm is scarred shiny from bite marks.