The Wolf Within

Coffee and Tea

** Dakota’s POV **

I woke up to the sun peeking through the windows. I yawned as Silvy cuddled closer to me, she didn’t seem ready to get up yet. I couldn’t disagree, the sheets and fur blanket felt so soft against my bare skin, I didn’t want to leave the bed either. However, my stomach made it’s needs known with an echoing growl and I realized just how hungry I was. 

I sat up, paused to stretch my sore back and got out of the cozy bed. I couldn’t believe how perfect the room was, with all the light now shining in. I felt like I was in some fairytale. I hoped to put some music on as I got ready for the day so I went over to the panel in the nightstand. As I searched for a prompt for music, I found one titled portrait. 

I looked up at the portrait of the lunar goddess woman with the wolf howling beneath it, and pressed the button. Just then a series of pictures of a young girl with her family began to play across the screen. Each family picture was followed by a picture of at least one or more wolves. It seemed like the images all contained the same person who, as the pictures went on, looked more and more like...Lia?!

It was then that it hit me: This was Lia’s room. That only made sense considering her family was the one that came from old money and had built this place. So, of course, Lia would have this room: or, at least someone in her family would. 

AB: Oh no. We need to leave. What if this is her PARENTS room? Could you imagine what they would think if they walked in and found us NAKED, just standing here? 

HB: AB, it’ll be fine. We just have to get some clothes on and get out of here. Besides, we need food. We’ll be gone before whoever owns this room gets here. 

UB: Oh really?

HB: Really. 

UB: Then who is that sleeping in the chaise lounge? 

AB, HB: Huh? 

Just then, I noticed someone sleeping in the chaise lounge, and neither was there before I fell asleep. I was absolutely sure of that. Nervous and needing to see who it was, I walked as quietly as I could to get a better view of who it was that was sleeping. 

It was definitely Lia. Her soft hair all tussled with sleep, her shirt slightly riding up from the waste of her pants, showing a bit of her toned stomach. She obviously hadn’t bothered to change into pajamas before going to sleep. 

UB: OK, time to wake her up. Just straddle her lap and say ‘Good morning’. She’ll love it. Trust. Me. 

AB: Oh sure, let’s just straddle a stranger! That makes sense! 

HB: We are not doing that UB. 

WB: Why not? That’s our mate.

HB: Alright, that’s enough, explain yourself WB! Who are you!?

WB: I’ll give you a hint. We, HB, are like Lia. 

HB: Like Lia? What do you mean, like we are are both queer? I thought that was already established by UB. 

AB: I knew it. Whatever is happening is Lia’s fault! See UB? You should never have started with her. CB SOUND THE ALARM!

CB: INTRUDER ALERT!!

WB: HB, look at Lia. She has a pretty wrapped up injury doesn’t she? I wonder what that could be from. 

With a closer look at Lia I noticed that her left arm was in a sling and bandaged up pretty tight. It was the same side the wolf had gotten shot on last night. 

WB: Think about it. All the werewolf books in this room... The wolves in the family portrait pictures... The time she brought up the werewolf legend... The fact that her hair looks exactly like the wolf’s fur… Now she has the exact injury the wolf had last night? Not to mention I’M f*****g HERE! Starting to see the big picture now?

I stopped dead in my tracks trying to process this possibility. All my life I’ve been told that things like werewolves just don’t exist. Could it… Am I…

AB: f*****g CRAZY?

CB: I knew it! All the mystical creatures are REAL!

HB: Hold on, we need to calm down… first things first, let’s get our clothes and get out of here!

I immediately ran to my bag and grabbed the jeans, t-shirt, red flannel and undergarments I had packed the night before. I put them on as quickly as I could. I had gotten my underwear and pants on and was working on my bra when I realized I still had to pick up Silvy but she had left the bed and was now back up on the walkway upstairs.

I finished the bra and as I walked toward the stairs, I was ambitiously attempting to put on my sock while walking and I fell over onto the bed. However, my foot had hit the nightstand causing the lamp to fall over and crash to the ground. I froze as Lia shot up from the chaise lounge and looked around, alarmed at the noise. She too froze in position when she saw me, shirtless and lying on her bed, frozen with shock, confusion, and fear written all over my face. 

My face and ears began to burn.

HB: WHERE’S OUR SHIRT? GRAB YOUR SHIRT WOMAN!

AB: AH!! OH MY GOD!! We need to leave. We need to leave. We need to LEAVE! RUN WOMAN! RUN!

UB: STAY WOMAN STAY! 

I jumped up as fast as I could and grabbed my shirt as Lia looked away, hiding her blush which grew brighter and brighter across her cheeks.

“I’m so sorry,” I caught myself saying. “Al had me stay the night in here. I had no idea this was your room. Don’t worry, I’m on my way out now.” I said quickly as I finished putting on my clothes.

“No, don’t be. It’s all good.” Lia said, her voice filled with nervous hesitation. “I’m going to go grab some coffee,” she said as she grabbed a change of shirt and made for the door. She paused at the elevator as the doors opened, facing away from me, “would you like a cup? I could bring one up for you…”

UB: YES! SHE JUST ASKED US OUT! SAY YES!

AB: NO! WE DON’T WANT YOUR COOLAID! RIGHT CB?

CB: Are you kidding?! For once we can get answers! OF COURSE WE WANT YOUR COOLAID! SAY YES!

HB: We need to figure out what’s happening first! No! 

WB: How can I say it more plainly, SHE HAS THE ANSWERS. ASK HER!

“It can be tea too.” Lia continued, breaking the awkward silence as I sat there, listening to myself go crazy. “I can also leave you alone if you prefer--”

AB, HB: YES!

CB, UB, WB: NO! 

“No!” I said quickly. “No, please, I’d love some tea.” I replied, my voice came out as quiet as a mouse. 

“Sure!” Lia said, her voice held a tone of delight now. “We have all kinds; Green tea, Earl Grey, Iced Tea…”

I hesitated for a moment, in truth I didn’t care about the tea, I wanted answers. I just wasn’t sure how to stave off a meltdown until someone sane could tell me I was just thinking crazy. Regardless, I said the first one that came to mind. “Earl Grey tea would be great.” 

“Excellent, I’ll be right back with it.” She said, and she went into the elevator, still facing away from me and reached behind her to press the button to take her down stairs. As soon as the doors closed I immediately went up the stairs and sat on the walkway next to Silvy. There, I had the perfect perch to see when the Elevator doors would open so I knew when someone would come in.

I turned to Silvy, who seemed to understand my mental chaos and crawled into my lap, purring to comfort me and rubbing her face underneath my chin. As I sat there for several minutes, my brain just completely shut down.

“Silvy, I don’t know what to do.” I said, I wish Lia was here so I could just get some answers already. 

I’m on my way Dakota, don’t worry. I just finished grabbing our drinks. 

I froze, for the second time that morning. My back stiff and straight as I realized Lia had just heard and responded to my thoughts. 

AB: Ummmmmmm guys… ?

CB: Ooooh, that’s new. 

HB: WB, you got an explanation for this?

WB: Well-- 

But before I could get any explanation, the elevator doors opened and Lia stepped back into the room.