I'm sorry for the delay, I've been working on another story which will be up soon. Follow me for updates :).
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The next days go by peacefully. The monster I have to share a room with is calmer. We fall into a routine : waking up, eating, reading and doing it until the sun goes down. He never sleeps on the bed, only lays quietly as my side when I read, gets on the floor when my eyes drop. We haven't fought again yet, he hasn't touched me again yet. Not in that way at least.
He still hasn't gotten any news from Detroit yet, at least pretends so. We don't communicate much, though his eyes never leave me. Anytime I look at him, his eyes move to something else. Sometimes it's just that, sometimes he blushes and several times he maintains the stare until I drop my eyes.
I find it easier now to deal with him. I've figured out when to argue and when to bend, figured out that I can refuse anything but that taunting is a no go. So the days are peaceful. Lise and the alpha- alpha to be, come by every few days, they never get inside though. I sleep well and eat well, I've started to loose the apparent muscle.
I have the itch to run few times a day, instead of becoming a slug. I've started to go through the library, even with my growing yet minimal knowledge of their writings. All the books he has are about war, wolf history and war. He never leaves, reads papers and remains at his desk when I'm in the room. The weather has started to spill into winter, strong winds and soft snow covering the trees.
I always wear sweaters upon sweaters, he doesn't seem to mind when I rummage through his closet. I jump when a knock echoes into the study. Raising my eyes to the desk, Milo scrunches his nose and lets out a sigh. He disregards the papers in his hand, moves to answer the knock. I snuggle into the cover and push my back further into the sofa.
It's probably the couple of wolves again. He moves to the bedroom without a sound, doesn't even glance my way. It's unusual. I shrug as he disappears, focus back on my book. He's back after a few minutes and I eye him suspiciously when he crouches at my side, light scowl on his face. He types on his phone, other arm sneaking over the couch's rest, behind my head.
« Lise offer tea. » I eye him confused, so she brought a peace offering. Very wolf like. The question is, is it for him or for me?
« Sure. » I close my book and put my feet on the ground. His hand pushes me back and I almost topple over.
« What ? » I frown at his hand, push his chest back when he leans over my knees, head and shoulders on my lap.
He types again, side of his head on my thighs. He's frowning but it looks more like unease than anger. More like fear.
« You only. I go » he pushes his head to rest against my stomach, eyes pleading. Does he want me to refuse ?
I don't think I want to stay alone with a wolf that isn't Milo, that doesn't me give a guarantee that they won't kill me. Refusing means pleasing him. Accepting means annoying him. It's a chance I need to take, she's a pregnant wolf, won't risk hating her baby.
« Okay. » I whisper, bitting the fear down. He gives a soft growl, it's not soothing. He's definitely annoyed. I need to take this opportunity, maybe- just maybe she can help me, at least give me information.
He nuzzled my lap a few more minutes, sits back on his heals and pushes the cover higher on my shoulders. He's pouting as he takes my index in his fingers, caresses and pulls the digit. I wait until he's done, understand I need to let him have something.
He leaves with one last look over his shoulder, jaw clutched tight. It only takes a second for Lise to come into the study, tray in hand. Her soft smile is permanently stuck on, eyes shining. She eyes the door and I hear it close. She sighs and shakes her head.
« Sorry it took so long to convince Milo. » she breathes with a scrunched up nose, it doesn't take away her beauty. I return her smile and make room for her on the sofa.
She mimics my position to push her back into the corner of the rest. It takes her a while to get comfortable, she puts the tray in between us and pats to fabric, crosses her legs under her growing belly. She offers me a cup of tea with gentle and thin fingers, I try to remember they could snap my neck in a second.
« Dominants are so stubborn. » She sighs, blowing the smoke rising from her own cup. Her other hand is on her stomach, caressing the fabric over the bump. My brows furrow.
« Dominants? » I repeat back, Milo never mentions much about wolves, avoids the subject most of the time. I hear her inhale, watch the flares of her nose as her eyes widen.
« He hasn't explained anything to you, has he? » she has a mix of an incredulous look and frustration on her features. She as sighs dramatically when I shake my head no. I take a sip of the hot tea, ignore the burn on my lips, wait for her to continue. She looks like she'll spill secrets on her own.
« Some wolves are dominants, mostly alphas. They've got it engraved in them to protect at any cost. I swear when I met Leo he was insufferable. Wouldn't let me leave the room, would never let me walk around by myself and I was raised here, you know? I had to bargain and threaten to get whatever freedom I have today! » I let her rant, using her hands to gesture so harshly I fear her cup might spill.
I can't help but nod at her sentences, feel like I may have found someone who knows what I have to go through even if she's a wolf. She stills for a moment, eyes my full cup and fading bruise. Her eyes shine and she soothes her bump once more.
"You're unhappy, aren't you?" She whispers like sin, like her heart might just break. Mine shatters at her words.
But I'm not sure if we can be heard, if she'll spill my feelings and secrets. So I settle for a smile instead. I try to. But I don't feel my eyes creasing. I swallow the lump in my throat with the warm tea. She looks down too, shoulders forward and we don't talk again that day.
The days go by peacefully. Lise comes everyday, stays for an hour or so. So we talk, even I talk. She talk about books, talk about Detroit. She tells me about her pregnancy, about Leo. It's loud when she's here but it's the part of the day I'm looking for the most. Milo has also gotten softer, doesn't growl as much doesn't glare as much.
The snow has gotten thicker but the wind has settled, I'm been here for a month now. I've lost my muscle, flat stomach and thinner arms. We follow our routine without ever crossing it. That's how we don't argue, why we don't fight. Milo gets more touchy as the days go by, touches my arms, the soft part of my wrist. He stills doesn't sleep me with though. Doesn't even pleads for it. So I take advantage of it.
Lise avoids the subject of Milo, talks about other wolves, talks about dominants and the alpha. Leo, the alpha-to-be, doesn't show up and I don't know what they do with Milo when they leave. Her stomach has gotten bigger. I miss home. She brings cupcakes and other pastries for tea time. We don't talk about happiness anymore. She tells me about her baby, a boy on the way that'll probably inherit the red hair, hooks a finger around a blond strand of hair as she does.
I've lost count of the days, Milo always works from his office, won't tell my anything about him. So I stop asking. I don't mention the dark veins and patches of skin. I don't feel my neck burn anymore, like maybe my body has gotten used to it. Milo doesn't have slippers so I wear shoes inside when the wooden planks get to cold. With two pairs of socks. We don't hear from Detroit.
Lise might be my only friend here. Even if she does it out of pity.
I've overslept today, kick Milo in the head when I lurch from the bed at the sound of a knock. I give him an apologetic look when he glares at me, hand caressing the back of his head. He yawns as he goes towards the door, stretches his arms high above his head, shirt raising. I ignore his stomach, ignore his arms and stretch my legs under the cover. I bite down my own yawn threatening to come out.
The door closes behind him and I get up to get dressed. I've grown tired of the plaid, put on a shirt and two sweaters instead. Lise comes as I sit on the floor, putting on socks and Milo's shoes. They fit better like this anyway.
"Hey Lise." I can't stop the yawn that leaves my mouth this time, but I'm sure she heard me perfectly. I tear my gaze from the laces when she doesn't answer, fingers still working on the shoes.
My eyes widen at her face. Her back is straight against the wall, bump tearing her from. Her gaze is focused but her lip trembles. She looks down and I think of unhappiness and warm tea. I think of the past few weeks, of the past month. I think of socks and pancakes when she doesn't utter a word. My chest crumbles on itself at the silence, at the hope. I think of smoke, can picture the candles. So I don't speak either. I double knot my shoes instead. Wait for the confirmation.
We wait a bit longer, my gaze on her and hers on the ground. And she raises her head to the window by the bed. Doesn't glance my way when a struggled sound leaves my throat. She inhales and my breath catches. Frowns like she debates, like she might just consider it. My blood is already pumping, adrenaline kicking too soon. I struggle to swallow saliva, struggle to unlock my jaw. Short breaths leave my nose and the room doesn't feel as cold. The snow doesn't seem as thick.
Tears leave her eyes, slow and thick. She still looks beautiful. It's here, the confirmation. My heart hurt. Not for me but for her this time. Because this wasn't planned, this was never the plan. She was becoming my friend, someone I could trust. My eyes water because it feels a lot like I'm betraying her. Crushing our friendship in pieces. I raise my hand to wipe my mouth, keep it there to avoid any cry from coming out. Wavering cup and pastries. That's what she gave me.
I wonder if I was the same to her during our short time together. I think of the dimples on her face when she smiles, of her loud but truthful laughs and shining eyes. She wipes her tears away. She takes a full breath and turns her ear to the door. When she turns back, she doesn't look at me, only stares straight to the window by the bed. I rise and put on one last sweater.
She nods and whispers.
"Go."
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As usual, let me know if you find any mistake.