The evening was soft and warm, a breeze slipping through the open window and stirring the edges of Eli notebook. He sat the small kitchen table, lazily turning a pencil between his fingers, the faint aroma of baked bread still lingering in the air.
In the corner, the wolf lay curled up on an old blanket, its golden eyes half-closed, watching.
Eli sighed, stretching his arm above the head, and looked over at the creature. ''You know......it's funny,'' he said softly, a small smile curling his lips. ''I never thought I'd end up sharing my home with a wolf. But here you are,'' oh god my aged people fall in love someone am taking care wolf.
The wolf's ears flicked, the tip of its tail twitching ever so slightly.
''I used to think......maybe life would get easier once I had the bakery,'' Eli continued, speaking into the quiet, his voice carrying a faint loneliness. ''But even with the customers, the laughter, the smell of sugar and coffee in the air......it still feels like something's missing.''
''I miss him.''
The wolf's gaze sharpened, the words landing like a stone in its chest.
''That man....'' Eli's cheeks flushed a soft pink. ''Tall, dark hair, the kind of smile that makes you feal safe. He hasn't been by in days.''
The wolf's head lifted slightly, its ears pricking forward. A quiet ache bloomed in its chest.
Eli voice faltered, and he shook his head, embarrassed. ''God, listen to me. Talking to wolf like it's a person.'' wolf eyes blinked.
A quiet tension settled in the room. Then, slowly, the wolf shifted--painfully, carefully- and limped closer.
Eli froze, his breath catching in his throat as the large, golden-eyed creature came to stop just front of him. The wolf sat down, lowering its head to rest lightly against Eli knee.
His hand trembled as he hovered it over the creature's thick fur. He hesitated, then, with a soft breath, let his fingers sink into the warmth. For a moment -----just a fleeting, impossible moment -----something shimmered beneath his touch. A quiet pulse, like a heartbeat shared between them. A faint, almost imperceptible glow, soft as moonlight, sparked in the air and was gone.
Eli's breath hitched.
His gaze darted too the wolf's face, but the creature only blinked slowly, golden eyes watching him with a depth that made his heart skip a beat.
''What are you......?'' he whispered, barely audible.
No answer came.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The night, after Eli drifted off on the couch, blanket tangled around him, a quiet shift stirred in the room. The wolf stirred, fur rippling, and slowly----almost painfully-----the shape began to change.
Fur faded into skin. A lean figure unfolds from the shadows, dark hair falling into golden eyes. Caleb. He stood there, barefoot on the wooden floor, watching Eli as he slept-----his breathing slow and even, the faintest furrow in his brow. ---------Its Caleb handsome stranger-------- Caleb is wolf.
Caleb's heart clenched. He lifted a hand, hesitating inches from Eli's cheek. His fingers trembled, aching to brush away the stary curl that had fallen across Eli's forehead. Caleb eyes full of hunger.
But he couldn't.
With a quiet, shuddering breath, Caleb stepped back. The shift took him again--------fur rippling over skin, limbs folding in--------and the wolf curled up silently in the corner, eyes fixed on Eli peaceful face.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning came softly.
Eli stirred, yawning and rubbing his eyes. He glanced toward the corner and found the wolf watching him, gaze calm and steady.
A strange shiver danced across Eli's skin, but he shook it off, smiling faintly.
''Guess it was just a weird dream.'' he murmured, stretching as he stood.
The wolf remained still, the secret locked in his golden gaze.
And the day moved on, their bond quietly growing-----an unspoken connection, a secret neither full understood yet......