Chapter Six
841 Words
Dmitri lay on the couch, arms folded behind his head, eyes tracing the ceiling beams overhead. His body begged for sleep after everything, but his mind was elsewhere—caught in a restless loop he couldn’t escape.
He pictured her beneath him—silky hair spilling over the cushions, pale skin glowing in firelight, her lithe form writhing with pleasure under his touch. The curve of her neck, the way she gasped softly, the subtle arch of her back—all seared into his imagination.
The wolf snarled deep inside, displeased.
She’s a witch. Dangerous.
Dmitri rubbed his face, trying to shove the thought away. “You’d think near-death would make a man too tired to fantasize.”
A faint, sweet scent—lavender, delicate and calming—drifted through the room.
A silhouette appeared at the staircase’s edge.
Sabrina.
She stepped softly down the stairs, wrapped in a long cardigan draped over a shimmering pale slip. Her silvery hair tumbled loosely over her shoulders, catching the flicker of firelight.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she said quietly, voice soft as a whisper. “Figured you might be the same.”
Dmitri shifted on the couch, adjusting the blanket around his waist. The couch creaked under the movement.
“Yeah. Sleep isn’t cooperating.”
She smiled gently and settled at the far end, legs tucked beneath her, the cardigan folding around her like a second skin.
“Hope you don’t mind,” she said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Didn’t want to stay upstairs tossing and turning.”
He shook his head. “No, it’s… nice. You being here.”
Careless. Dangerous. You’re letting her in.
He silenced the warning deep in his chest.
“Can I ask you something?” Sabrina’s voice was soft, but held a curious edge.
Dmitri nodded. “Sure.”
“Why were you really out there? Alone. Wounded. Running from a pack, you said — but that can’t be the whole story.”
He stared into the flickering flames of the dying fire, collecting his thoughts. “I lost my pack,” he said quietly. “They were slaughtered in a territorial clash. Rival wolves who don’t care about the old laws. I was the only one left.”
Her eyes softened with sympathy, but she said nothing, giving him space to continue.
“I’ve been drifting ever since. No one wants a stray. They think I bring bad luck. Maybe they’re right.”
A pause.
“I left my coven too,” she said at last, her voice low. “Not because of war, but because I don’t agree with their ways. The Council’s rules aren’t always about protection. Sometimes they’re about control. Helping you… it could get my magic bound. I could lose everything.”
She laughed quietly, a sound that warmed him despite himself.
“But when I saw you… I knew I wouldn’t turn you away.”
His heart thudded.
“Why?”
She smiled softly. “Maybe I’m tired of the old rules. Maybe I just trusted you.”
The wolf growled deep inside.
She’s weaving a spell. You’re falling into it.
“I didn’t hurt you,” Dmitri said, voice low. “I didn’t even try.”
“I noticed.”
They sat quietly, the silence between them feeling easy — like they didn’t have to fill the space with words.
Sabrina leaned back, her silver hair falling around her shoulders. Her fingers traced the same little sigil she’d used to brew the tea earlier, like second nature. The mugs carefully floated toward them, one landing on the hearth next to Dmitri and hers into her hands.
“So, Dmitri,” she said softly, “what really brought a naked werewolf to my doorstep in the middle of the night?”
He caught the faint shimmer of her magic, and for some reason, it calmed him.
He smirked, meeting her eyes. “Like I said, I was running — probably from some rival pack. Finding your place felt like a lucky break. Figured I could crash here for a bit.”
Her expression turned serious. “Are you still in trouble? Should I be worried about having a lone werewolf in my house?”
He looked straight at her, voice low but honest. “Look, I’m not here to cause problems. I’ve lost a lot, but I’m just trying to get through this mess.”
She nodded, clearly understanding.
“Well,” she said with a small smile, “you’re welcome to stay as long as you need. And if you want, we can figure out how to deal with that pack.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You’d actually help me?”
Sabrina grinned, confident and real. “Yeah. Different sides, sure. But we both know what loss feels like. Maybe it’s time to stop fighting and start working together.”
They clinked their mugs softly, the firelight flickering around them, and something unexpected started to grow between the werewolf and the witch.
- Writer
