Liliam
I woke up in the dark, my senses slowly coming back to me. The first thing I noticed was that I was alone. "Zeff?" I called out, my voice trembling slightly. There was no answer, only the sound of the forest animals outside, their nocturnal activities filling the silence of the cottage.
I sat up, rubbing my eyes, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The fire in the small hearth had died down, leaving only faint embers glowing in the darkness. Panic began to creep into my chest as I realized how late it must be. The window showed nothing but inky blackness, the kind that seemed to swallow any light. I heard a distant howl from somewhere deep in the forest. My breath caught in my throat, and I shook the covers off, scrambling to find my clothes.
"Zeff?" I called out again, more urgently this time, but the only response was the wind rustling through the trees outside and the distant howls of wolves echoing through the forest. A chill ran down my spine. I needed to get out of here, to find him.
I spotted a shirt tucked near the night table—a dark flannel. It must have been Zeff's. Grateful for anything dry, I pulled it over my head. The fabric hung loosely around me, the sleeves far too long, but it was warm and smelled faintly of him—a mix of the woods and something uniquely Zeff. I slipped on my underwear, which had mostly dried, and looked around for anything I could use to protect myself.
Outside, another howl pierced the night, closer this time. I jumped, my heart racing. I needed to get out of here, to find Zeff. My eyes fell on a thick log near the fireplace. It wasn't much, but it was something. I picked it up, gripping it tightly like a makeshift club.
I made my way to the door, peering outside into the pitch-black night. The forest was alive with sounds—twigs snapping, leaves rustling, and the occasional growl that sent a fresh wave of fear through me. I could feel my hands shaking, the weight of the log heavy in my grip.
"Come on, Liliam," I muttered to myself, trying to steady my breathing. "You can do this. Just find Zeff."
I stepped out of the cottage, the cool night air hitting my face. It was eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant howls that seemed to come from all directions. My heart pounded in my chest, every instinct screaming at me to go back inside, but I forced myself forward. I had to find him. I had to make sure he was okay.
The howls grew louder, closer, and I raised the log, ready to swing at whatever might come out of the shadows. My mind was racing, a hundred thoughts at once. What if something happened to him? What if he was in trouble?
Just then, a rustling noise came from the bushes to my left. I spun around, the log raised, my heart hammering in my chest. "Who's there?" I demanded, trying to sound braver than I felt.
A figure emerged from the darkness, and I screamed, swinging the log with all my might. The figure dodged, moving with a speed that was almost inhuman.
"Liz, it's me!" Zeff's voice shouted, his hands up in a defensive gesture. He was stading with just jeans on bare chest and barefoot.
I stopped mid-swing, my heart still racing, and lowered the log. "Zeff?" I whispered, tears of relief welling up in my eyes. "Where have you been?"
He moved closer, his expression softening. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I had to check something out in the forest."
I dropped the log, letting it fall to the ground with a dull thud. "I thought… I thought something happened to you," I confessed, my voice shaky.
He reached out, his hands resting on my shoulders, grounding me. "I'm here, Liliam. I'm fine. I promise." His touch was warm and reassuring, and I could feel the tension slowly leaving my body.
"I heard the wolves," I said, my voice still trembling. "And the growls… I thought…"
His eyes flicked down to the oversized flannel I was wearing. "I have to say, Liz," he teased, "I do like how the flannel looks on you."
I couldn't help but let out a laugh, the tension from earlier easing just a bit. "Very funny," I said, rolling my eyes as I playfully shoved him in the chest.
He chuckled, catching my hand and holding it gently. "I'm serious," he replied, his voice a bit softer. "It suits you. You look... cozy."
I felt a warmth spread through my cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and something else—something that made my heart flutter just a little. I glanced away, still smiling despite myself. "You're impossible, you know that?"
Zeff just grinned, his expression lighter now. "Yeah, but I made you laugh, didn't I?"
I nodded, my smile lingering. "Yeah, you did."
*****
Zeff
The forest was quiet except for the soft crunch of leaves beneath our feet. As we walked back to the cottage, I was lost in thought, my mind drifting to Liliam. Her presence beside me was a comforting warmth in the cool evening air. I stole a glance at her, admiring the way the fading light played across her features, casting shadows that danced across her skin.
Suddenly, a distant howl broke the silence, followed by a series of whimpers. I tensed immediately, my senses going on high alert. I instinctively stepped in front of Liliam, shielding her from whatever was out there.
"What is that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Stay close," I told her, my voice firm but calm. I could feel her heartbeat quicken, her anxiety palpable. I gestured for her to follow, keeping my body between her and the source of the sound.
As we moved deeper into the forest, the sounds grew clearer—soft whimpers, the kind that pulled at something deep within me. My wolf instincts kicked in, and I could sense Gaius stirring inside me, alert and ready.
We pushed through a dense thicket, and then I saw it—a small clearing. My heart clenched at the sight. Lying there on the forest floor was a large wolf, its body still, lifeless. Beside it, a tiny pup huddled close, its fur a soft gray, its eyes wide with fear and confusion.
The pup was whimpering softly, nudging the side of the dead wolf with its nose, as if trying to wake it up. My chest tightened at the sight. I knew this scene all too well—the loss, the confusion, the desperate need for comfort.
"Poor thing," Liliam whispered beside me, her voice thick with emotion.
I could feel Gaius pushing to the surface, his instincts guiding my actions. I knelt down slowly, making myself smaller, less threatening. "Easy there, little one," I murmured softly, my voice a low, soothing rumble. "We're not here to hurt you."
The pup's eyes flicked to me, ears pinned back in fear. It let out a small growl, more of a whimper than a real threat. I remained still, projecting calm and safety. Slowly, the pup seemed to relax, its body lowering in a submissive gesture. It was recognizing me as the dominant presence, a good sign.
"He's scared," I said quietly, glancing back at Liliam. "But he's willing to trust us."
Liliam's eyes softened, and she took a step forward, her movements careful and deliberate. "What happened to it?" she asked, her voice full of concern.
"I don't know," I replied, my gaze still on the pup. "But it's alone now… and it needs help."
Liliam moved closer, her compassion evident in every step. I watched as she knelt beside me, reaching out slowly. "Hey there," she murmured softly, her voice gentle. "It's okay… we're here to help."
The pup hesitated, its tiny body still trembling, but then it took a tentative step toward her, its nose twitching as it sniffed the air. She extended her hand, letting it catch her scent. After a moment, it nudged her hand with its nose, a soft whimper escaping its lips.
I felt a warmth spread through me at the sight—Liliam had a natural way with wolves. "You have a way with wolves, you know that?" I said quietly, unable to keep the admiration out of my voice.
She looked up at me, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "I don't know about that… I just feel bad for it."
I nodded, my gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. There was something about seeing her like this—caring, gentle—that made my chest tighten in a way I didn't quite understand. "What do you want to do?" I asked softly.
She glanced down at the small, trembling creature in her arms. "I want to help it," she said firmly. "I can't just leave it here, not like this."
I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Then you should take care of it," I said. "It seems to trust you already."
She looked up at me, surprised. "Really?"
I chuckled softly. "Yeah. Besides, I think it might do you some good… having something to take care of."
She glanced down at the pup, a look of determination crossing her face. "Okay," she agreed, her voice steady. "I'll take care of him."
I couldn't help but grin, a lightness filling me. "Our son, then?" I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
She laughed softly, shaking her head. "Yeah… our little wolf pup."
I watched as the pup snuggled closer to her, feeling a strange sense of peace wash over me. She was so gentle with it, so caring, and for a brief moment, I felt a pang of jealousy. I pushed the thought away, focusing on the here and now.
"Just take good care of him," I said softly, watching as she held the pup close. "He's lucky to have you."
And as we stood there in the clearing, the soft sounds of the forest around us, I couldn't help but feel that maybe, just maybe, I was the lucky one.
Liliam grinned, her eyes sparkling with a mix of amusement and affection. "He takes after his dad," she teased, nudging me playfully with her elbow.
I laughed, feeling a sense of joy and contentment that I hadn't felt in a long time. "Let's give him a name then. Any ideas?"
She thought for a moment, her fingers gently stroking the pup's fur. "How about Shadow? He's dark and mysterious, but also gentle and loving."
I nodded, liking the sound of it. "Shadow it is. Welcome , little guy."
Shadow looked up at us with wide, trusting eyes, his small tail wagging slightly. I reached out and ruffled his fur, feeling a deep sense of connection and protectiveness. "We're going to take good care of you, Shadow."
Eventually, I sighed. "We should probably dress and head back."
She nodded, rising to her feet and following my lead. The small pup nestled snugly in her arms. "Should I feed him dog food?"
I chuckled. "He's more of a raw protein guy, Liliam."
"There are high-protein dog foods," she said, almost in a correcting manner.
I laughed. "He'll eat mostly what you offer him," I said as Shadow made eye contact with me.
"Oh, Owen is going to kill me," Liliam groaned.
"Just tell him you'll be taking care of him for a while; a coworker asked for it," I suggested.
Liliam looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded. "I guess that could work. Owen's been so unpredictable lately. I'm not sure how he'll react."
We made it back to the cottage. Liliam placed the pup on the bed as she gathered her clothes. She looked up and blushed. "Can I dress?"
The question made me cough, understanding she was asking for privacy. I nodded, stepping outside the door to give her some space. As I waited, I found myself feeling strangely jealous of Shadow, who was there watching what I couldn't. The thought made me chuckle to myself.
After a few minutes, she stepped out, fully dressed but still wearing my flannel. Shadow was back in her arms, nestled comfortably against her. I grinned, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction knowing she was wearing something of mine, something that smelled like me. It was a silly thought, but it made me feel connected to her in a way.
"Can you put something on, please?" she asked, her cheeks reddening as she realized I was still shirtless. "It's distracting."
I chuckled, holding up my hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Let me grab my shirt." I pulled on my shirt,."Better?"
She nodded, still looking slightly embarrassed. "Better."
As we prepared to leave, I glanced back at the small clearing, at the pup now nestled comfortably in Liliam's arms. Shadow seemed to sense the change in atmosphere, his ears perking up as if he understood we were about to move.
"Ready?" I asked, watching her carefully.
Liliam nodded, her grip tightening on Shadow. "Yeah, let's go."
As we emerged from the forest, the evening air grew cooler, and the first stars began to twinkle in the sky. Liliam looked up, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the moonlight. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
I looked at her, feeling a surge of affection. "Yes, it is."
We continued walking, the silence between us comfortable and filled with unspoken understanding. When we reached the edge of town, I turned to her. "I'll take you home, make sure you and Shadow get settled in."
"Thanks, Zeff," she said softly.
When we finally reached her house, I paused at the door. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
Liliam's eyes warm with gratitude. "Okay. And Zeff?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm really glad you're here."
I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through me. "Me too, Liliam. Me too."
I reached out to the pup, looking him into his eyes. "You take care of your luna, Shadow."
With a final glance at the pup nestled in her arms, I turned and walked away. the night air cool against my skin. The connection between us felt stronger than ever, and as I walked back through the quiet streets. The thought filled me with determination, and a small smile tugged at my lips.