The Black Wolf
Slowly but surely, Ruby started to feel sleepy. But just as her subconscious was starting to fall asleep, she heard the sound of her bedroom window opening.
Braaakkk...
A strong wind came in through the open window, making her wake up, who was almost asleep.
"Oh no-" she hurriedly got out of bed and closed the window before the wind blew away everything in the room.
Wolf howl...
"What sound is that?" She thought. She was sure that only then did she hear a wolf howl that sounded very close as if it was only 200 meters from where she was.
Ruby tried to reach her window which kept opening due to the strong wind. She shuddered when the wolf's howl sounded again.
Near the lake which was located 50 meters from her backyard, Ruby saw a large dog that was more similar to a forest wolf. The wolf was standing next to a tree with the fur on its body moving in the wind.
"Black Wolf?" She muttered. The wolf looked at her with its golden eyes that burned sharply like flames.
Ruby trembled, she didn't know why the black wolf was looking at her. Realizing that she was being stalked as prey, Ruby tried to reach the window which kept opening and immediately closed it. But when she did, she realized that the black wolf had disappeared.
Her hands were shaking, her eyes tried to look around the lake to make sure that the wolf had really left, not come closer.
After confirming that the wolf was no longer around the house, Ruby sat down with her body shaking. She didn't know why she could be so afraid just because she saw a wolf which she often saw in the forest when she still lived in this city. In fact, this view should be a common sight for people who live not far from the forest environment.
***
Ruby looked at Damian who was asleep on the sofa shirtless. After seeing the appearance of the wolf, she felt even more afraid and increasingly unable to sleep.
"D-Damian-" in a low voice, she tried to call Damian.
"Hmm? Haven't you slept yet?" Damian asked as he opened his still sleepy eyes.
Ruby stared at him like a scared puppy in a storm. After the strong wind, there was heavy rain and lightning that struck, making the atmosphere of horror in this house even more pronounced.
Ruby covered her body with a blanket that she brought from her room, while she only wore a nightgown that was too revealing.
"Damian, I really can't sleep!"
"Why? Are you still afraid? It's best not to remember it too much, it will only make you more afraid and-"
"That's not it! Actually, I saw a black wolf near the lake." She said. Hearing her confession, Damian's facial expression immediately changed.
"Black wolf?"
"Yeah, it's really big and it keeps looking at me!"
"He came into your room?"
"No! My bedroom window was open due to a strong gust of wind and when I tried to close it again, I felt someone watching me from a distance and when I checked, I saw a large wolf with black fur standing near a tree and staring at me sharply. I was so scared."
“Black wolf? That's quite rare, you've only seen one?”
"I don't know, but it seems like only one. It's really scary, it seems like it thinks that I'm prey and wants to pounce on me."
"You've closed all the windows and doors, right?"
"Yeah, I've closed everything."
"Good, then go to sleep now!"
"But I'm afraid!"
"You don't need to be afraid, I'll be here!" He said softly. Ruby felt awkward because Damian was too kind to her as if she wasn't used to receiving kindness like this.
"Want to sleep in my bedroom? It's cold here, I only have one blanket."
Damian got up from the sofa and stood in front of Ruby who continued to look down. He touched Ruby's face and asked Ruby to look into his eyes.
"Are you sure you want to sleep with me?"
"I-I just-"
"Or do you actually want to reminisce about what we did before?"
Damian looked at her with a gentle, but cold gaze. Ruby was nervous, she didn't know what Damian really thought about her. But just like Aiden, Damian clearly showed sexual interest in her.
What happened to them was a long time ago, 10 years ago and they should be able to forget about it considering that now they have grown up and have met more people of the opposite sex.
Damian came closer and hugged her tightly. Ruby felt the warmth from Damian's embrace. Without realizing it, her hands hugged Damian's back, who was much taller than her.
"I miss you, Ruby. I miss you so much. Can we be like before?" He whispered. Ruby didn't answer, not because she didn't want to. But because she didn't know what to say. She still clearly remembers Damian's kindness and how Damian often helped her when she was bullied by her friends at school.
***