Riya chucked the change of clothes Atticus kept in her room at him and turned around, covering her eyes as he shifted back. “Riri I have so much to tell you!” She patted the bed next to her, placing her phone back on the nightstand. Before she clicked it to sleep, Atticus saw his brother’s name on the messages app.

Giving her a smirk, Riya rolled her eyes, ignoring his expression. “Start talking then idiot, what’s the news?”

Atticus bounced up and down on the bed, not entirely sure where to start. “Ok ok. So, after I left you I let my wolf take over, and I just ran. Then I realised I wasn’t in our part of town anymore, and I panicked. And then I saw Blake.”

Riya’s eyes widened, but she waited for her friend to finish his story. “Ok yeah, so I thought he was gonna run off screaming or something, but he just sat there with his eyes closed and his hand outstretched!”

Now Riya looked shocked. “W-what?!” Atticus nodded furiously. “Yeah and he sat there for like ages. And I sort of ended up going over to him for head pats.” Riya’s face couldn’t decide if she was more shocked or amused.

“You just...wanted a head pat?!”

“Yep! He gives good head pats; can confirm. 10/10 would get again.” Riya finally burst out laughing, dragging him into a hug. “You think it’s him then?”

Atticus nodded, biting his lip. “That’s not what made me pretty certain - he dreamed about me. He got the wolf mate dream thing; apparently he saw my features.” Atticus let that settle in before continuing.

“And then, apparently after he officially met me the other day, the dream evolved and he wasn’t kissing someone with my features - apparently he had a sex dream about me.”

Riya had started slapping Atticus’s thigh playfully, giggling profusely. “Oh my God you’re not joking? He actually had a sex dream about you?!” Atticus shrugged, picking at his nails nonchalantly. “That’s what he said, anyway.”

His best friend thought about it for a moment, undoing her braid and letting her velvet strands fall like waterfalls to below her shoulder. “Why would he say that to a random animal? And doesn’t that mean he’s gay? Or bi, or pan anyway.”

Atticus smiled, leaning his head on her shoulder. “I guess he had no one to talk to about that kind of thing.” Riya pulled back, running a hand through his sunset locks. “Atti, I’m actually so happy for you. Blake is really nice, and I think you’d make a cute couple. Didn’t expect him to be such a horny beast though,” she giggled again, as Atticus joined her in laughter.

“He was so nice and gentle though, and I still can’t believe he just let a wolf check him out though.” Riya wiggled her eyebrows at him. “Wow, checking him out even in wolf form huh? You don’t miss a beat.”

Atticus squealed, laughing as he felt the blood bloom beneath his cheeks in the ghost of a blush. “Not what I meant but also yes, he’s really attractive so what do you expect from me?!” Riya grabbed him again, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and laughing joyfully.

“You don’t know how happy I am, Atti. You need to touch him on the shoulder or something, see if it’s really him.” Atticus nodded firmly, deciding that the next day at school, he’d find some excuse to touch the man.

—————

Blake was lying in bed, thinking over his very strange evening. It had felt great to tell someone, even if it was some random wolf, about what had actually been going on in his mind. He was very tempted to come out, but first he needed to know if Atticus was gay. And, if his eyes had gold flecks in them.

He’d never had a crush on someone two days after meeting them, but here he was. “There’s a first time for everything, I guess,” he chuckled. He hoped to see the red wolf again, it was cute and comforting to be around.

And so warm. He’d never expected to feel so totally warm and...safe, around a wild animal the size of the wolf. It was a very surprising day on the whole.

“First thing is find out is if Atticus is gay. Second, is see if his eyes are the same. It doesn’t really matter but I just want to know. Third is actually come out.” Blake thought back to the one person he’d come out to - the red wolf.

“That was scary enough and it was a literal animal. I’m so fucked,” he groaned into the pillow. Letting his mind wander to Atticus once again, his thoughts inevitably went to Daniel also. Hang on, if his leg broke, why is he back already?

He hadn’t mentioned it, because no one else had, but he was beginning to think it was very strange. If he hadn’t actually broken it, was Riya lying about what happened?

“No, the guy said he’d done whatever he did before. Riya wouldn’t lie. It doesn’t matter what Daniel did to Atticus, he still hurt him.” Rolling onto his side, Blake messaged Riya.

Blake😘: hey Riya, you know that group chat you mentioned? Have you made it yet?

Riya🌺: oh yeah!! I meant to tell Atti about it earlier but we went for a run and I forgot haha

Riya🌺: I’ll make it now, I asked him and he said he’d like to be part of it

Blake😘: oh damn that was fast 😂

Riya🌺: he’s literally sitting on my bed lol

Blake😘: oh fair

Blake😘: do you live nearby each other then?

Riya🌺: yep, we’re neighbours

Riya🌺: means I can go see my best friend and boyfriend easily 😉

Blake😘: hahaha that’s handy

Riya🌺: oh yeah I’m asking for a friend buuuut you’re single right?

Riya🌺: got a crush on anyone 😉😉😉👀

Blake😘: oh um yeah I’m single

Blake😘: and sort of? We only met recently but there’s this person I think is really cute

Riya🌺: awww I’m TOTALLY interrogating you about that in chem tomorrow watch out 😉😉

Laughing and blushing a little, Blake put his phone on to charge and went to sleep. This time, he dreamt of running with a red wolf.