A Wolf's Kiss

Chapter : 8

They grow quiet at Cole's blatant lie. Arden is silent because he’s waiting for an answer but Cole debates whether to tell Arden the whole story or not. Arden is his best friend, and Cole tells him everything, but he might not believe the truth about Mark, and that would be embarrassing.

However, Cole thinks he needs an outlet, especially right now when the atmosphere with Mark has grown tense, and he’s soon to leave anyways. Cole settles on the bed, crossing his legs and leaving the laptop in front of him. He takes a deep breath before looking into Arden’s eyes through the screen.

“Okay. You might call me crazy.”

“Surprise me,” Arden says, amused.

"Remember when we had to do that paper about dire wolves in our second year? And I told you my grandfather lived in the woods, and he seriously believed werewolves exist? And that he would tell me all these stories about them and their packs?" Cole tries. Arden stares with a confused expression but he nods slowly. Cole sighs, getting prepared for what’s to come. “Okay. My new roommate isn’t from around here.” Arden nods. “He got in a fight, and he needed help, so I decided to help him and shelter him.” A dramatic pause and Cole plays with the hem of his jeans. “The thing is that he’s a werewolf,” Cole gulps after pronouncing the word.

“A what?” Arden's eyes go wide before he chuckles, but he stops laughing once he notices Cole’s serious expression.

Cole lifts his hand in a surrender motion, to show his honesty, perhaps. “I know it sounds crazy, but you have to believe me. I saw Mark shift into a wolf two weeks ago,” Cole starts. “His bones crack, and he twists, and his skin turns into fur-”

Arden looks at Cole as if he had grown two heads.

“Are you joking?” Arden scoffs.

“No! He fought with his pack alpha because he lives in a wolf pack! And he was wounded, and he broke in my clinic, and I decided to help him until he gets better-" Arden is looking at Cole in disbelief. “I swear I saw him turn into a wolf, the marks he has on his skin- those are wolves' claws too!”

That seems to do the trick because Arden saw Mark up close on the webcam, and he must have seen the scars. Arden gulps, and Cole continues talking.

“He behaves like a human sometimes, but he also has some wolf-like behavior-”

"Wait, Cole. Wait! You're trying to tell me you’re f*****g a werewolf?" Arden interrupts him. Cole’s mouth falls open at the question.

"No! Oh, God, No!" He blushes madly at the question, though, and it doesn’t go unnoticed by his best friend.

"But you want to." Arden wiggles his eyebrows.

Cole covers his face. He's been whispering, so Mark doesn't hear him, but the words he says next are almost unintelligible. "It’s nothing like that!” Cole lies. He takes a deep breath and speaks the essential truth. “I think I have a crush on him."

Arden doesn’t react until he coos loudly. "Cole! That's so cute. A crush!" After a long silence, Arden adds, “on a werewolf.”

Arden is taking this way too well, and Cole is suspicious. “Do you believe me?” “Are you drugged?” Arden asks.

“No.”

Arden looks at him for a long moment, and then he nods. “I believe you then. Why would you lie about something like that?” Arden scrunches his nose cutely. “Plus, fantasy stuff like that is something we all wish to be true, right?” Cole guesses so and Arden smiles. “I believe you have a crush on a man that turns into an animal even if it sounds crazy.” Cole laughs, relaxed, knowing Arden trusts him. “But what happened? You told him to stay with you and-”

"I don't know how it happened! It was like falling off the stairs. One moment I only wanted to help him, and I felt comfortable with him, then we were acting as friends and being nice to the other, and I thought he was cute and endearing, and then-” Cole stares into his best friends’ eyes. “He's so hot," Cole whines in the last part.

Arden laughs loudly at Cole's brief explanation. "How does a relationship between a werewolf and a human even work?" Arden wonders, and Cole hasn’t even asked himself the question because he was trying not to think about it.

"I think a relationship between our species doesn't work!" Cole is exasperated. "We're so different, and he- he acts like a wolf! He has good hearing; he’s sensitive to scents.” The word makes Cole remember the kitchen incident, and he leans closer to whisper. “He likes smelling me."

"He what?" Arden shrieks. “Wait! That’s what he was doing just now?”

"Dogs do that," Cole excuses Mark but Arden only raises an eyebrow. "He told me it was a way to show affection between pack members. He also told me his wolf was confusing me for a pack member because we've become very close."

Arden looks at Cole’s eyes for a second with an unreadable expression, just waiting, and then he smirks. "He wants to f**k you too," Arden decides.

"Ardie!" Cole feels like the blush on his cheeks won't ever go away. "Please, can we not talk about s*x with him? I'm pretty sure he can smell when I'm..." Cole feels shy admitting it but it’s Arden so he can say it to him. “I think he can smell when I’m horny.”

Arden bursts out laughing. "Ah, now that makes sense! That's why he said you smell good."

Cole covers his face in embarrassment. "Arden, stop it. It doesn't matter if he wants to or not. It doesn’t matter if I have a crush on him or if human-werewolf relationships work or not," Cole rambles as he tries to get it together. "He's getting healthy, and his wound has

healed, so he's going to leave in a couple of days and return to his pack, and this small experience with a werewolf will only become a fun anecdote I will tell my nephews."

Silence settles between them after the little rant, and Arden doesn’t need to hear much to realize.

"You sound sad."

Cole sighs. "Well, yes. I'm a little bummed about him leaving because he's been nice company for these past days. He has even stayed longer than we anticipated, it's been almost three weeks, and I've grown fond of him," Cole admits while playing with his fingers.

Arden hums. "And you have a crush on the werewolf." Cole nods. "And you want to sleep with him." Cole looks at the floor, but he nods.

“But as I said, it doesn’t matter; he has to return to his pack. That’s what he wants.”

Arden hums. "Well, Cole, if he has to return to his pack, you can have a special farewell." Cole looks up to find Arden's eyebrows wiggling. Again.

"Don't."

"What? You two are adults, right? If he has to return to his pack in the woods and leave you forever," Cole pouts. "You can do both of you a favor and at least enjoy your last moments together instead of bottling up your feelings."

Arden might have a point there and Cole knows it. "I hate that you're right.” Cole is seriously frustrated. "I don't dare do anything with him, but I mean- What's the worst thing that can happen? He rejects me, either way, he's going to leave. I won't have to go through the embarrassment that is constantly seeing someone that rejected you."

"Exactly," Arden agrees. "And if he says yes, you have a good time and then he leaves. If he says no, then he’ll leave either way and you won’t have to see him again.” Cole bites his lower lip, he doesn’t like the sound of that. “Just think about it, Cole.” Arden’s and Cole’s eyes meet through the screen. “Plus, I have a feeling he won't reject you," Arden says. "Just seeing the way you two interacted, he's probably waiting for you to make a move."

Cole doesn't answer, but he feels the same way.

After finishing the conversation, Cole walks outside to check Mark’s wound as he said he would. Mark is on the couch, finally dressed and with a book in hand. He puts it down when he sees Cole. He stands up and lifts his shirt to show Cole the scar. Cole sighs before taking a step closer.

Werewolves heal faster and it’s evident by the look of the wound. “I think two more days and I’ll take the stitches out. “Cole presses a finger to it and he smiles. “I think you’re good to go now, Mark.”

Mark stares at Cole for a second and he wants to say something but he keeps quiet, instead, he puts his shirt down and nods curtly. Cole doesn’t know what compels him to move his hand to Mark’s bicep and squeeze, in what could be considered a flirty manner. Mark follows Cole with his gaze until Cole reaches the kitchen and beams. “What do you want to eat?”

Mark just stares at him and Cole has to look away.

❦

Mark can’t stay in the same house as Cole anymore.

After some days, it’s evident to him what’s happening. Mark has been growing more familiar with human behavior, and even if it’s so different from wolf traditions, he thinks he understands.

Cole is interested in him. The way humans feel interested in other humans.

And Mark can’t judge him for it because Mark’s wolf is interested in Cole too. He’s interested in Cole in a different way from how humans feel attraction though. Mark wants to scent Cole and court him and bite him– and many other things Mark tries not to think about because he doesn’t want his wolf acting up around Cole. More than he already has. Whenever Cole is close to him, Mark just wants to nuzzle his neck, and he’s trying hard not to do it.

Deep down, Mark knows why he’s acting this way. He knows why his wolf is so intent on staying close to Cole. Even though his wound has healed, and he has to return to his pack.

But it doesn’t make sense.

Cole is human. But he’s a human that smells like a shifter, and that drives Mark’s wolf crazy. A human shouldn’t drive Mark’s wolf crazy, but he does.

For Mark, it’s become clear what he needs to do. He has to return to the pack. He has to talk to his alpha and prepare for courting if his wolf has chosen Cole over anyone. He needs to know if his pack would accept him courting someone that isn’t from their pack and he needs to see if his alpha will believe Mark’s beliefs regarding Cole. Mark hopes they believe him.

However, before saying anything to Cole about this situation, Mark needs to have his pack’s approval.

Mark is already healed, he has received his punishment like he should -away from his pack and healing on his own- and now he needs to tell Cole he will leave.

But it’s hard because Cole smells sour whenever he mentions Mark’s inevitable departure, and Mark doesn’t want him to be sad.

Mark finds Cole in the clinic; he’s playing with a dog before giving them a vaccine and trying for the dog to relax. He’s very good with puppies, and Cole’s voice and scent seem to comfort them. Mark can sympathize with that because Cole has the same effect on him. Mark sees Cole scratching the dog’s head and whispering sweet nothings to him. And before he can do anything about it, Mark can’t help the grumble in his chest. The puppy Cole is treating barks- suddenly distressed by Mark’s presence. Cole turns around and smiles when he sees Mark, though.

“Oh, it’s you! A big bad wolf is scaring my pups.” Mark gulps at Cole’s words and takes a step closer. “What are you doing here, Mark? Aside from growling at my patients.”

They’ve been ignoring each other the last few days, and Mark thinks it’s for the best because seeing Cole right now is already making Mark act up with the need to scent him. “Came to see if you need help with anything,” Mark lies.

“Mmh, I’m good,” Cole assures him. “Do you want to stay and watch?” “Yes.”

Mark doesn’t pay much attention to the dog, far more interested in studying Cole’s features and Cole’s rosy cheeks and his smile when the dog wags its tail after Cole scratches his head. Cole catches Mark staring a couple of times, and Mark finds it fascinating how Cole blushes to the tip of his ears.

Mark can’t bring himself to say goodbye to Cole.