Chapter 5: Wishful thinking

Silvaus stares back at me with utter surprise. "You mean to tell me that you're having him as a roommate. Are you sure about this?" His eyebrow raises and I hold one arm with the other.

      "I didn't want to be mean. He doesn't look like a threat at all and he isn't exactly vicious so...yeah"

      The older wolf shakes his head in disbelief, "If there's one thing I know about you it's that you won't give up helping anyone. One of those people is me...I can't say much now." He says awkwardly turning his face away from me. I roll my eyes and turn around. I take off knowing I can do this.

      Julian perks up and rushes to me, "What did he say?" he asks with his eyes widen in fear.

I give the dhampir a reassuring smile, "Silvaus is rather concerned but I think he's fine with it."

Julian sighs and wipes his forehead with the back of his head. "Close call if I ever saw one" he chuckles nervously. I silently laugh back and turn my head from him. My head was beginning to whirl. Was this really a great idea? I had just met this guy and the old furball was probably right. I shake my head and glance at him.

Julian was now sitting near the river stream, watching the flowing water. He seemed rather invested in what was front of him. I knew he definitely was not from this era of time. Possibly the 1800 century but still, I felt bad. Bad enough to leave him if I was like the others. Why did they truly hate him? He had a human side but I guess that just makes it a better excuse for their bigotry. Being a hybrid is probably something totally sinful to them.

      I sigh and walk over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Julian, it's fine. Don't worry about it. Stress can give you a headache and I don't think neither of us need that right now, okay?" I half heartfully joke. He looks up and grins, "Thank you. No, I mean it. No one's ever been this nice to me since I woke up in this new world" he pauses for a few seconds then continues "do you mind if I call you Phira for short?"

I smile and nod, "Yeah that sounds nice. I'll call you Jul if you don't mind."

Julian frowns for a moment then laughs "It sounds like a pet name not that I care."

      I mischievously grin back, "You are my pet, You have to do everything I tell you to. If not, no treats, no sleeping in the house, and no friends to call." I playfully punch his arm and he blushes, scratching the back of his head.

      An unwelcoming howl startles us and we both look up. An unhappy werewolf stands across from us. I brace myself and Julian quickly steps back, hiding behind me.

      "Didn't you know you don't play with our enemies? Silvaus was wrong for taking you in. He's always been too soft on everyone." He growls while eyeing Julian.

      My bones crack and shift into place. Black fur sprouts out from the underneath my armor and I stand there puffing my chest out. My now amber eyes are fueled with fury. I was smaller but that never bother me. Not one of these idiots!

      We lock eyes and I leap towards him, gripping his left arm. The other werewolf bares his fangs and goes in for the kill. I quickly move to the side and sink my teeth in the back of his throat. He yelps and throws me off. I circle around him and glare, putting my claws out in front of me. He lunges towards me and I quickly

I stand there heaving and then a sudden rush of anger takes over. I run towards him and tackle him to the ground. We roll down and small hill. The brown werewolf flies off and tumbles to the ground. I'm still on the ground as he then proceeds to quickly launch himself at me. I raise my arms and legs and push him off as he lands.

The werewolf slams into a tree and lays there unconscious.

I turn my head to see Julian standing there in shock. He quickly runs down the hill and throws himself at me. We both land to the ground in a thud.

***

      Before I knew it, we were both on top of each other. I didn't expect myself to be so forward yet it wasn't like that at all. This wasn't like me at all. I have never been so worried about someone in my whole life.

I raise my upper body up and stare back at Ophira in embarrassment. Her long curly hair was splayed out and she was completely dumbfounded. "I'm so sorry...forgive me. I was so worried back there. I just had to see if you were hurt or something. I should probably get off now" I turn my head and clear my throat in embarrassment.

She looks up at me and her face flushes. "I kind of don't mind it but, yeah you should get off. I don't want assumptions to happen."

      I nod and push myself off her quickly. I scan the area and take a deep breath. Good no one was around to see this. I really need to not do things like this!

      I hold my hand out and she raises an eyebrow at first. I was basically shaking now and I didn't want here to know that I was having a cold sweat. Ophira takes my hand and we stare at each other a little too long. Her eyes were so soft yet fierce. I hadn't seen something like that in years. I felt protected but I knew that there has to be a way for me to protect her. There was no way on this earth that I was going to let that happen again.

***

      I wake up in reality again and pull myself up from the ground, grabbing his hand. He looked at me a certain way and that was something I couldn't forget.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to act that way...I didn't expect that at all or anything that happened today" I replied in a quiet tone, looking away for a moment. I felt off and it was a new feeling mixed in but what?

Julian shakes his head, "No, I started it...kind of. It's the least I could do." He replies back with a weary smile. I hesitate again but not for too long as he lifts his arm to his side and points an elbow towards me, "Shall we?" he asks. I nod and wrap my arm around his.