Liliam
The forest was quiet, the air crisp and fresh. As I walked, I let my fingers brush against the leaves of the low-hanging branches, feeling the soft, cool texture. This place had become a sanctuary for me, a place where I could escape from the chaos of my thoughts and the confusion that seemed to surround me lately.
I found myself drawn to the peaceful spots Zeff had shown me—the secluded glades, the hidden trails that wound through the trees, and especially the small, serene waterfall where we had once spent time together. The memory of his laugh, his smile, his gentle teasing, all filled my mind as I wandered deeper into the woods. I could almost feel his presence beside me, guiding me along the path.
But as I continued, a strange feeling crept over me—a sense of being watched. I paused, looking around. The forest was still, but there was something off, something I couldn't quite place. I shook off the feeling and kept walking, but the sense of unease only grew stronger.
I stopped again, this time listening carefully. The soft rustle of leaves, the distant chirping of birds… and something else. Footsteps, faint but distinct, moving through the underbrush behind me. My heart started to pound in my chest. Was someone following me?
I quickened my pace, trying to stay calm. The footsteps quickened too, matching my speed. I veered off the path, moving deeper into the woods, hoping to lose whoever—or whatever—was behind me. But as I rounded a bend, I caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of my eye.
A flash of black fur, low to the ground, moving swiftly between the trees. My breath hitched. A wolf, its eyes fixed on me with a predatory stare.
I stumbled backward, my heart racing. As I turned to run, I saw another figure in the shadows—a second wolf, this one with a brown coat, lurking just a few yards away. Its eyes, too, were locked onto me, its body tense and ready to pounce.
Panic surged through me. I was caught between them, two predators stalking their prey. I glanced between the black wolf and the brown one, realizing with a jolt that they were unaware of each other's presence. Both wolves were fixated on me, their eyes glinting with hunger or perhaps curiosity—I couldn't tell which.
I tried to keep calm, slowly backing away, but I knew I couldn't outrun them. My mind raced, thinking how to handle encounters like this. But nothing could prepare me for the real thing, for the fear that gripped me so tightly I could barely breathe.
The black wolf moved first, stepping out from the shadows, its gaze never leaving mine. The brown wolf mirrored its movement from the opposite direction, closing the gap between us. My heart pounded in my chest, and I knew I had to do something—anything—to break the standoff.
"Stay back," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Please…"
The black wolf's ears perked up, as if it recognized my voice. It hesitated, its eyes flicking away for just a moment, breaking its concentration. The brown wolf seized the opportunity, lunging forward with a low growl.
I gasped, stumbling backward. But before the brown wolf could reach me, the black wolf snarled and lunged toward it, intercepting its path. The two wolves clashed, a whirlwind of fur and teeth, each trying to assert dominance.
I took the opportunity to scramble away, my heart in my throat. I ducked behind a thick tree trunk, peering out to watch the struggle. The wolves circled each other, growling and snapping, their eyes locked in a fierce battle for control.
I felt a surge of fear and awe watching them. The black wolf was fierce and powerful, its movements calculated and precise. The brown wolf was equally strong, its body tense with aggression. I could see the muscles rippling under their fur, the sheer power in their movements.
I knew I couldn't stay here. I needed to get out of the forest and back to safety. But as I watched the wolves, I realized I couldn't just leave. I had to do something. I couldn't just run away.
Gathering my courage, I took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the tree. "Stop!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the forest.
The wolves froze, their heads snapping toward me. For a moment, there was a tense silence. Then, slowly, the black wolf stepped back, its gaze softening. I felt a wave of relief wash over me.
The brown wolf, however, wasn't backing down. It snarled, its body crouched low, ready to attack. I took a step back, my heart racing, unsure of what to do.
But before I could react, the black wolf lunged forward again, positioning itself between me and the brown wolf, its teeth bared in a fierce, protective growl. The brown wolf hesitated, its aggressive stance faltering, and then slowly began to back away, its eyes still fixed on me.
I held my breath, my heart pounding in my chest as I watched the two wolves come to an unspoken agreement. The tension in the air was palpable, a fragile peace hanging by a thread. The brown wolf finally turned, its gaze lingering on me for a moment longer before it disappeared into the shadows of the forest.
A shaky sigh of relief escaped my lips, and I realized I had been holding my breath. The immediate danger seemed to have passed, but my body was still tense with fear and adrenaline.
The black wolf turned back to me, its intense gaze meeting mine. There was something hauntingly familiar in those eyes, something that reached deep into my soul and made my heart skip a beat. The way it looked at me, almost with recognition and concern, stirred something within me.
"Zeff?" I whispered, my voice barely more than a breath. The wolf's ears twitched, and it seemed to nod, just slightly, as if confirming my thoughts.
A rush of emotion overwhelmed me—fear, relief, and a strange, inexplicable connection. I reached out hesitantly, my hand trembling as I extended it toward the wolf. The fur was warm and soft under my fingertips, and I felt a sense of calm begin to spread through me, grounding me in a way I couldn't explain.
For a few precious moments, we stood there in the stillness of the forest, our eyes locked, a silent understanding passing between us. The wolf's presence was both comforting and electrifying, a blend of wild power and familiar reassurance.
But then, suddenly, the world around me began to blur. The forest faded, the sounds of the trees and the rustling leaves growing distant and faint. I felt a strange pull, a sensation of being drawn away from this moment, from this place.
"No," I whispered, trying to hold on, trying to stay in this moment with the wolf. But it was no use. My vision darkened, and I felt myself slipping away, the connection breaking.
I gasped, my eyes flying open as I jolted awake. I was in my bed, the familiar surroundings of my room coming into focus. My heart was racing, my body covered in a thin sheen of sweat. I looked around, disoriented, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
"Good morning," Owen greeted me softly.
I blinked, still groggy, and looked beside the bed to see Owen smiling at me. "I made breakfast. Come on, let's eat together."
Blinking in confusion, I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "You made breakfast?"
Owen chuckled, nodding. "Yeah, thought it might be nice for a change. Come on, it's getting cold."
Still half-asleep and thoroughly bewildered, I followed him out of the bedroom and down the hall to the kitchen. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and cooked food wafted through the air, making my stomach rumble.
As we entered the kitchen, I saw the table set with a spread of scrambled eggs, toast, bacon, and even a small bowl of fruit. A steaming mug of coffee sat at my place. I stared at the scene in disbelief. Owen rarely ever cooked, and certainly not like this.
"This looks amazing," I said, trying to keep the surprise out of my voice. "What's the occasion?"
Owen shrugged, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "No occasion. Just thought it'd be nice to do something different. You've been under a lot of stress lately."
We sat down, and I took a sip of the coffee, savoring the warmth and flavor. "Thank you, Owen. This is really thoughtful."
He nodded, looking almost shy. "I figured it was the least I could do. I know things have been tense between us, and I wanted to make an effort."
I studied him for a moment, trying to understand this sudden change. There was something in his eyes, a mixture of guilt and determination, that made me wonder what had prompted this. But for now, I decided to accept the gesture at face value and enjoy the breakfast.
As we ate, the conversation was light and casual, focusing on mundane topics like work and plans for the weekend. It felt strangely normal, like a glimpse into what our relationship used to be before things became complicated.
Shadow, my little wolf pup, sat by my feet, his eyes keenly watching Owen. Every so often, a low growl rumbled in his throat, almost too quiet to hear, but I could feel the vibration through the floorboards. Owen, seemingly oblivious, continued talking about his plans at work. Shadow's behavior didn't go unnoticed by me; I nudged him gently with my foot, trying to calm him down. He wasn't fond of Owen—never had been, really.
After we finished eating, Owen cleared the dishes, still maintaining that soft, almost vulnerable demeanor. I couldn't help but feel a pang of unease, wondering what had brought about this change.
"Thank you again for breakfast," I said, standing up and stretching. "It was really nice."
Owen smiled, a genuine warmth in his expression. "I'm glad you liked it. I... I want to try to make things better between us, Liliam. I know I haven't been the easiest person to live with."
I looked at him, searching for the right words. "I appreciate that, Owen. I really do."
Shadow growled again, a bit louder this time, causing Owen to glance down. "Why is it still growling at me?" Owen asked, his voice tinged with annoyance.
I glanced down at Shadow, who was baring his tiny teeth, his eyes fixed on Owen. "He's just... protective," I said softly, bending down to pick him up. "He's not used to you yet."
Owen rolled his eyes. "Well, he better get used to it."
I tried to hide my irritation, focusing on soothing Shadow instead. "I'll work on it," I said, offering a small smile.
He nodded, still eyeing Shadow warily. "Good."
As I headed back to the bedroom to get ready for the day, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Owen's sudden effort was a stark contrast to his behavior over the past few weeks. And Shadow's reaction... it wasn't like him to growl like that, especially not at someone I was close to. But for now, I decided to give Owen the benefit of the doubt and see where this new attitude would lead us.
As I dressed, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My mind wandered back to Zeff and the moments we'd shared. It wasn't fair to compare, but I couldn't help it. With Zeff, everything felt natural and effortless, while with Owen, it seemed like we were both trying too hard. I sighed, stroking Shadow's fur absentmindedly, wondering how much longer I could keep this balancing act going.