I find Will on the back deck with a towel around his waist. It’s freezing out here. He’s got his fingers poised with a cigarette and a lighter, and I try not to growl about it. Gross. I pull my towel tighter on my shoulders and clutch my hands to my chest as nerves nearly crush me from the inside out. Okay. Just get a bit closer. 

Will doesn’t acknowledge me until I stand directly in front of him and pluck the lighter out of his grasp. He tries to take it back, but I toss it behind me into the grass because why shouldn’t this exchange become borderline juvenile?

“That was rude.” He scowls with his narrow cheeks dipping inward.

“You pinched me.”

“I was trying to wake up,” he explains with such sentiment, I almost laugh.

“You’re supposed to pinch yourself!” I huff, before wrapping the towel around my waist since I’m suddenly burning up. Geez.

His eyes shift to my feet, and his face explodes into a smile. “Well it’s about damn time you made an appearance. Deal with him, will you?” He motions to me and walks back inside through the screen I guess I left open, but I’m too distracted by the glorious expression I’ve just witnessed to care.

I snap out of it to discover his cat eyeing me from the deck boards. I match her stare until I can’t take it anymore. “Shoo.” I wave my hand in her general direction, but she merely walks between my legs in response, then promptly rolls on her side at my feet.

“This is the greatest betrayal.” Will’s suddenly deeper tone actually makes it seem like his feelings are hurt. I blink at him leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed over his bare chest and take note of the fact that he changed into sweatpants.

When I approach him, he flinches with his eyes examining my face. I can see the lake in their coloring, like he’s got waves crashing against his skull as he takes me in. “So…” He clears his throat and tilts his chin just a bit. “I’m awake, then?”

I nod slowly. 

“And you’re...Sam?”

Nod.

He drops his arms and slides his hands into the pockets as his gaze falls to my feet.

“How long have I been awake?” His voice is so soft, I barely hear him.

“Pretty much all night.” I force myself to swallow the lump forming in my throat. “You slept a little this morning,” I add, scratching the back of my neck.

He sighs and bites his bottom lip. “I need coffee.”

I follow him inside, but we turn down a different halfway that leads to a tiny bedroom with a bay window facing the water. He motions towards a dresser before leaving me alone and closing the door. Um. Okay, then.

Will’s sweatpants are too long on me, so I roll them up a bit before going to find him in the kitchen. 

He’s seated on the countertop with his legs crossed and eyes narrowed on his cat when I walk in. She’s happily munching away over her food dish and pretending that everything about this is just the same shit as yesterday.

“Coffee?” He asks without moving his gaze.

“No, thanks.” I shuffle stiffly towards the refrigerator.

“Help yourself to whatever you find in there.” He’s still not looking at me.

I settle for an apple, since everything else he has, which isn't much, requires some form of cooking. I finish the entire thing in silence, then pause, searching for a trashcan to pitch the core.

“Over here.” Will reaches below his perch and swings open the cabinet under the sink.

My walk towards him is uncomfortable, made even more so when he laughs at me. More like...giggles.

I meet his eyes with my brows raised.

“You’re super awkward.” He shrugs, then takes a sip of coffee.

I can’t exactly argue that. I fold my arms across my chest, clutching the goosebumps along my skin as this staring contest becomes nearly unbearable. I felt weird enough wearing his boxers and pants, so I didn’t bother with a shirt. Plus, he isn't wearing one either. How can he stand this temperature? He’s got nothing to him.

Will still seems amused, and it’s really starting to bug me.

“What?” I grunt into a sigh.

Another sip.

I wait.

“If you’re so cold...don’t you have a fur coat in there somewhere?” He flutters his fingers at me, his gaze unwavering.

“Hheh...wha...nnm.” I’m unable to form words and my skull feels like it’s shrinking against my brain.  

“Don’t hurt yourself.” Will drops a high-pitched laugh into his coffee.

He knows. I shove my hands into my...his pockets, and blink at the hardwood floor.

“Thank you.” He’s cradling the mug in his lap while still watching me. “I’m not sure what all went down last night and I have questions, maaaan I have questions, but...you did save me from that other wolf.”

He’s thanking me? I forget how to breathe as my entire body clenches, crushing my brain along with it. After everything I did to him? After everything he did for me?

I spin around and glare at the kitchen table that Ella Jo had to use her magic to clean. The floor where my blood pooled is shining now. The same spot on the hardwood where he collapsed. Where he collapsed because I forced all my pain into him. After he saved my life. Twice.

“Uh...Sam?” Will’s soft voice pierces my chest.

I back away. I can’t see anymore.

Warm hands suddenly grasp my shoulders and push me against the wall. His lavender shampoo completely overwhelms me and I reach for him on instinct. My fingers find his sides to graze over the scratches from my claws, and when my vision snaps back into focus, I try to pull away.

“Are you okay?” Will gives me a gentle squeeze with his hands firmly on my biceps.

I nod. I still can’t speak. Where would I even begin?

Will’s eyes widen suddenly, like tiny oceans set in his face. Before I can really wonder about how close he is now, his fingers are sliding upwards until he’s cupping my cheeks.

“It just grew,” he whispers, his breath hitching on an inhale. “I saw it…” His finger brushes the mark by my eye, and I think maybe we should sit down. That maybe I can’t stand like this with him...right there, and being so distracting when there’s a whole lot I need to explain. Then there’s me not willing to move because I want him here. This close, this...everywhere I look. But when he presses his thumb against that same spot, everything goes dark.