"That's really nice, that they go out on date nights." It's so sweet and domestic and human, and for a second all Alex can think about is the life she never got the option of having. She can almost picture leaving the pack, forgetting about Semak, and settling down in a place like this with a guy like Kyle, going out on date nights or staying in for movie nights, doing all the normal, boring things that humans did. But of course that's impossible, and almost as soon as the thought comes to her, it's gone.

"I think my usual Chinese take-out dinners count as feeding myself like a slacker." She takes the plate and starts piling food onto it. "Water's good. I like it with lemon, if you've got any."