While Adele's quiet music filled my ears, I lay with my eyes closed and tried to process the eventful morning somehow.
Again and again Guiselle's desperate expression penetrated my mind, while Viola's intense gaze would not let me go.
Plus this unknown wolf I still didn't know who he was or what his intentions were. While he seemed hostile to me, there was curiosity in the depths of his iris brown eyes. If he had meant something bad for me, that would have been his best chance, but he did nothing ...
Lost in thought, I turned to the side and glanced at my small closet, which was the only piece of furniture in my room apart from my bed. Yes, it was small, but we couldn't afford more, but that didn't really bother me.
I closed my eyes again, let my thoughts wander and then almost shuddered to death when something suddenly touched my ankle.
Gasping for breath, my eyes widened to see my brother raising his hands in apology. With a racing heart, I pulled off my headphones and still stared at him in shock.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," he said, dropping onto the bed next to me to slip his arm under my head. I gradually calmed down and then snuggled into his chest, eager for closeness. He smelled very strongly of oil and gasoline, which made me take a deep breath. I loved that smell because it belonged with him and it brought me the usual familiarity that I just needed after that day.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him quietly and he stretched to push the curtain aside with one hand. Only then did I realize that it was already pitch dark outside.
How long had I been lying here?
"It's 11pm already," he grinned and put his arm back at his side before yawning and closing his eyes. He looked so exhausted and stupid me, I hadn't even made him anything to eat. The bad conscience penetrated deep into my consciousness and when I then wanted to ask him what he would like to eat, I could already hear his soft snoring and it became clear to me that he would certainly not eat anything today.
My eyes fell on his red work trousers, which were past their best days full of paint residues and I wanted to wake him up to ask him to change his clothes, but it was so warm and comfortable in his arms that I was only careful snapped my white blanket, draped it over us and then snuggled against his chest, also closing my eyes to fall asleep in the comfort of his scent.
He would always protect me...
The next morning came much too quickly. Tired and exhausted, I opened my heavy eyelids and immediately realized that Devin had already gotten up. My brown wooden door was ajar and the pleasant smell of coffee permeated the entire house and put a satisfied smile on my face.
After a long, thorough stretching of my body, I got up and looked out the window first to see that yesterday's sun was all gone. It was raining cats and dogs and the sky looked so dark that a thunderstorm would surely follow soon.
"Good Morning."
I turned to the door, saw my brother yawning and then I had to yawn too. A short smile on his part, an eye rub on my part and then I finally got up to follow him into the kitchen.
My coffee was already there on my seat at the wooden table and, greedy for caffeine, I simply poured it down to collect an irritated look from my brother, who had sat across from me.
"Did you sleep badly?" he asked curiously, then quickly turned back to his phone.
"Yeah, sort of," I admitted, reminding myself I'd only dreamed crazy stuff. No wonder, given my recent experiences. "I'm taking a shower."
He just nodded but didn't look up from his phone and I padded into my room to get some fresh clothes. Black leggings, my brother's gray hoodie and dark underwear. I put all of that neatly in my arms and then disappeared into the tiny bathroom across the way, where it was easy to get claustrophobic.
After showering, I stood in front of the mirror with a towel wrapped around my body and looked at my dark circles under my eyes. Oh yes, you could literally see that I had often woken up at night, which I then quickly tried to cover up with a little make-up, which I managed quite well.
Somewhat satisfied with my face, I wanted to quickly blow-dry my hair, but because of the rain I didn't do it and just got dressed hastily, because Devin knocked on the door for the second time, which made me roll my eyes again.
"You shouldn't do that," he laughed in front of the door and I had to giggle softly. He just knew me too well.
"I can't, annoying as you are," I called back, then stuffed my old stuff into the little blue laundry basket by the sink.
Back in my room, I was about to take my backpack when I remembered the denim jacket, which I dug out and simply threw in the corner of my room. I would wash them right after school because Devin hated being late, so I quickly threw on the backpack and hurried to the front door, still putting on my red rubber boots.
"Finally done?" Devin grinned and pulled on his dark blue raincoat before leaving the house ahead of me.
Immediately the smell of rain hit my ears and I almost sprinted to the car because although I was a wolf I hated the feeling of wet clothes on my body.
"I'm free tonight," Devin struck up a conversation once we got in and both buckled in, then looked over at me with a smile. "Would you like to go to the sports field?"
"I'd love to, but in this weather?" I replied looking out the window and he just started the car with a shrug.
"You're not made of sugar, are you?" he laughed, taking my hand to kiss it gently. "It tastes rather salty."
He looked at me in amusement and I had to grin in amusement at his stupid way.
"Idiot," I mumbled and he drove off to my school in a good mood, while I had this queasy feeling in my stomach that our good mood wasn't going to last long.
If only I had listened to my gut feeling...