Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Dreams and Bonds

Noah’s

I sat on the floor, my hand buried in the wolf’s dark fur. It was soft and warm, feeling like a heavy blanket I didn’t want to let go of. I couldn’t believe I was doing this—touching a massive wolf, Enzo’s wolf, Moses, and actually feeling… happy. I wasn’t scared anymore, not like before when I had run and hidden. I smiled slightly, my heart lighter than it had been since I was first brought here.

“You’re pretty,” I said, my voice soft, meeting those glowing red eyes. “Can you stay like this? Just for a little while longer?”

Moses lay down, his huge body settling heavily beside me, and I leaned against him, resting my head on his warm side. His warmth was steady and grounding. I closed my eyes, letting the feeling sink in deep. Was this real? Me, sitting here with a werewolf, feeling completely safe? It felt like a dream, but it was one I suddenly didn’t want to wake up from.

…

I was little, maybe five or six years old, running through a dark forest. My small legs were barely able to keep up. A lady held my hand, her grip tight and painful, her voice sharp with panic. “Run, Nickolas!” she shouted, pulling me along roughly. “Faster, don’t you dare stop running!”

I tripped, my knees scraping the dirt painfully, but she scooped me up instantly, her arms shaking as she continued running. Wolves howled behind us, their growls sounding much too close. She dropped me behind a pile of jagged rocks, her face pale, her eyes wide with terror. “Nickolas, stay right here,” she whispered, her voice breaking with fear. “Don’t come out, no matter what happens.”

I nodded, tears streaming down my face, as she ran off into the trees. Then I heard her scream, sharp and awful, and the wolves’ howls immediately drowned the sound out. I curled up tightly, shaking uncontrollably, until the memory faded into a blurry nothing.

…

I jolted awake, gasping, my body drenched in sweat. My heart was pounding like it would burst out of my chest. I was back in the dining room, the bright moonlight spilling through the window.

Enzo was there, human again, his face close to mine, his eyes wide with sharp worry. “Noah!” he said, his voice sharp with alarm. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

I didn’t think, I just threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly, my face pressed hard against his firm chest. “I had a really bad dream,” I said, my voice shaking uncontrollably. “It was so real, Enzo. I’m truly scared.”

He hugged me back instantly, his arms strong but gentle, his hand rubbing comforting circles on my back. “Hey, it’s okay now,” he said, his voice soft and soothing. “It was just a dream. You’re safe here now, Noah. I’m right here beside you.”

I pulled back slightly, my hands trembling. I noticed it was completely dark outside, the room quiet except for our heavy breathing. “How long was I asleep?” I asked, wiping the moisture from my eyes. “Was I really out all day long?”

“Yeah,” Enzo said, his hand still resting on my shoulder. “A few hours, maybe. Don’t worry about it at all. You definitely needed the rest you got.”

I looked at him, then suddenly realized he wasn’t wearing a shirt, just his pants. His bare skin caught the cool moonlight. “You’re human again,” I said, my voice quiet. “When did you change back from Moses?”

“When you first started crying,” he said, his eyes soft but serious. “Moses felt it, Noah. I felt it instantly. You were shaking hard in your sleep. It scared the hell out of both of us.”

“Crying?” I said, my face burning with embarrassment. “I was actually crying? For real?”

He nodded gently, his hand brushing my cheek lightly. “Yeah,” he said. “Do you want to talk about the dream? It might make you feel better to discuss it.”

I shook my head immediately, my throat tight. “No,” I said, but then I hesitated, the name from the dream stuck stubbornly in my mind. “Wait. Do you know anyone named Nickolas?”

Enzo’s eyes flickered, as if he was caught off guard by the question, but he quickly smiled, looking easy and calm. “Nickolas?” he said. “No, I’ve never heard that name before. Why? Who is that person?”

“Just… someone from the dream,” I said, looking down at the floor. “I don’t even remember the rest of it clearly. It was like… I was a kid again, running from something bad. A lady called me that name. It felt real, but now the whole thing is just fuzzy.”

Enzo tilted his head slightly, his eyes searching mine carefully. “A kid, huh?” he said. “That sounds like a very rough dream. Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it more? Sometimes dreams bring up old, forgotten things.”

I shook my head again. “No,” I said. “It’s nothing important. Just a weird, scary dream.” But it didn’t feel like nothing. That name, that lady’s voice—it clung to me, feeling like a memory I couldn’t quite manage to grab.

I stood up quickly, my legs shaky, wiping my sweaty hands on my pants. “I need to bathe,” I said, heading straight for the door. “I’m completely gross from sweating so much.”

Enzo grabbed my arm gently but playfully, a wide grin spreading across his face. “Can I come with you?” he asked, his voice teasing. “We could make it quick, you know. Save some water.”

I stopped instantly, my cheeks burning hot, and turned back to him. “Don’t be stupid like that,” I said, trying to sound serious but failing miserably. “I’m being serious, Enzo. No funny business in the bath.”

He laughed, a loud and warm sound, and followed me to the bathroom door. “I’m behaving myself,” he said, raising both his hands like he was completely innocent. “Scout’s honor, I promise.”

In the bathroom, I turned my back to the showerhead, letting the warm water hit my skin, as Enzo stood behind me, gently washing my back. His hands were gentle and extremely careful, and I felt that familiar pull again, warm and confusing, making my heart race rapidly. He leaned closer, our wet bodies brushing lightly, and whispered in my ear, “Has anyone ever told you that you’re truly pretty?”

I blushed deeply, my face heating up, and didn’t answer his question. My hands gripped the tiled wall for support, my breath coming out shaky. He turned me around, slow and gentle, his hands resting on either side of me, pinning me lightly against the cool tiles. “I mean that, Noah,” he said, his voice incredibly soft, his eyes locked directly on mine. “If someone told me I’d fall for a human mate, I would have punched them for lying. I never thought I’d feel this way about anyone.”

“Why?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper, my heart pounding hard. “You said you hated all humans. Why is it so different with just me?”

He smiled slightly, his face close to mine, his breath warm on my skin. “Because it’s you, Noah,” he said. “I don’t suddenly like all humans now. I just like the one standing right here in front of me.”

I stared at him, my chest feeling tight with emotion, and a small, genuine smile crept onto my face. For the first time, I wasn’t afraid of him. I just felt... him.