Episode 4

I reach over to turn on the lamp, and when I turn my attention back to where he was, he's gone...

I rub my eyes and look at the clock...

It was 3 in the morning...

Great...

Now I've completely lost it...

I turn off the lamp and lie down again, turning my back to the window.

But as much as I knew he wasn't there, the feeling of being watched continued, and it was as if I could feel his eyes burning into my back...

The next morning, I get up, grab my things, and go hunting...

After driving for a while, I stop, cover the four-wheeler, grab my bow, and hide...waiting for the slightest sign of any prey, even coming to the bait I left...

I wait...I wait...I freeze and wait...

My mind wanders to that village...I wonder if they had meat stored?...

As soon as I spot a hare, I position myself, and a short time later, I'm skinning it in my kitchen...

It would last for at least 3 days...

After cooking and eating dinner, I light the fireplace and lie down in front of it, reading the book I knew by heart...

It must have been the hundredth time I had read it...

And I only realize I fell asleep when I wake up to some noise outside...

My senses sharpen instantly, and I get up and go to the window to peek out...

It was dark, but those blue eyes were there, staring at my bedroom window...

Without wasting any time, I throw open the door and storm out like a hurricane, startling him a little.

"What do you want?" I say, looking at him, but he just stares back at me. "Oh, you only speak when you're human?"

He nods slowly at me as if to confirm.

"Heavens..." I pace back and forth, trying to figure out what to do...

"I'm going to put some clothes in the garage. You're going in there as a wolf, and you're not coming out until you're human and dressed, because I don't want to see your birthday suit, you understand?" I say firmly.

I go back inside, grab some of my father's clothes, and put them back in the garage. He stays outside the whole time.

I open the door for him and point, showing him to go in.

He walks past me and enters.

"I'll be inside," I say and close the door. "Now then...am I really going to have to adopt this animal?" I mutter as I walk into the house.

A while later, I hear the door open and he enters.

I was in the living room, in front of the fireplace.

He comes in, and even though his posture was more imposing and confident today, I saw hesitation in his eyes.

As if he didn't want to say what he was about to say at all.

"Why are you coming to my house in the middle of the night and staring at me like a creep?" I ask.

"I'm not a creep...he is," he mutters, his brow furrowed.

I look at him in confusion and rub my forehead, trying to muster all the patience in the world.

"What do you mean he is? You're the wolf! You were the one staring at me while I was sleeping, you creep! Now either you tell me what you're doing here in the middle of the night watching me, or I'm going to kick your butt all the way back to your village," I say impatiently.

He takes a deep breath.

"I think it's best if I explain from the beginning," he says.

"You think so, genius?" I mutter.

He takes another deep breath, gathering all the patience in the world.

"I told you that I have the genes that allow me to transform into a wolf...the thing is, it's like we're two people sharing the same body," he pauses for a moment to see if I'm understanding. "The wolf has its own personality and its own tastes, while I have mine...so when it's the wolf, it's one way, and when it's me, it's another..."

I just stare at him with a neutral expression.

"He's the one who wants to come here to see you..."

"And you guys couldn't do this during the day so it wouldn't be so weird?" I ask.

"I'm busy during the day...."

"And why on earth does 'the wolf'" I say, making quotation marks, "want to come here to see me so badly?"

"Because...you saved him..." he murmurs, and my expression softens slightly.

"Oh..."

But before I can formulate another question, he continues, his voice heavy with seriousness.

"For having saved the wolf, he developed a sense of possessiveness and responsibility over you. And it is his desire that you go with him to live in the village."

My eyes widen, and I try to process what he's saying, and I realize that this weird being the wolf is not the most absurd thing he's said so far.

"Wait a minute," I say, my voice thick with disbelief. "Are you telling me that the wolf, which is now you, decided that I belong to him and that I have to go live in your village?"

He nods, his expression serious and determined.

"Exactly."

I start laughing like I can't believe it.

"So you're telling me...that I saved a wolf caught in a trap, and now I have to deal with all these personalities and obligations?" I say, laughing.

He nods, and soon my laughter dies down and my face falls.

"Get out of my house," I say.

"Look, I know it sounds crazy, I don't agree with it at all either, but I have no choice but to accept the wolf's will. He's a part of me, and his desires are hard to ignore," he explains.

My eyebrow shoots up in disbelief.

"YOU'RE CRAZY!" I shout. "AND WEIRD! I have nothing to do with your internal problems. Get out of here and go get help for your psychological problem!"

He looks at me with a mixture of boredom, frustration, and a hint of amusement, as if he really was being forced to go through this.

"You don't-"

"Leave!" I say firmly.

He looks at me for a moment, as if in an internal struggle, and then turns and walks out of the house...

I hear footsteps outside and a short while later, silence...

But despite the relief of seeing him go, I knew this wouldn't be the last time I saw him, nor the last time I would have to deal with the consequences of saving that wolf from the trap...

And I was right...

The days that followed, he continued to appear at dawn and stare at me like a creep...

I started sleeping in the living room...I was having to hide in my own house...it was too much...

One early morning, I hear his footsteps outside, and that's enough for me.

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