Teo whipped his head up, and as fast as thunder, he sat up and withdrew a meter or two. He was very embarrassed, and it showed. He shook his head in disbelief. 

Alex started laughing at his antics and Teo looked even more betrayed- which made him laugh even more. 

“Aren’t you a guy? I mean…” Maybe not….what do I know anyway….

I am a guy! Alex got so startled he flinched hard. He heard Teo’s voice inside his head. He clutched his head. “Did you just…..” He looked Teo in the eye. His heart wasn’t ready for this and started heavily pounding. 

Yeah, I can….it’s the link that mates have…..I can say things to you, but I don’t know about you……a-anyway!

Teo’s wolf shook…her? head again.  It sometimes happens that….our wolf doesn’t end up having the same sex as us. 

Hello~ A female voice resounded in Alex’s head instead of Teo’s.  My name is Selina, nice to finally meet you. Her voice sounded very deep and calming. It felt like honey to Alex’s ears….or head, rather.

The look in Teo’s eyes changed. Instead of the soft color of his irises, it changed into the color of sand. Such a pretty eye color.

Now Selina’s round lenses changed into slits. Her eyes looked magical. He could get lost in their mere sight.

As soon as he heard her voice again, he got out of the little trance he was in. The other one was restraining himself from not making me take control, what a disrespectful little dummy.  She got a bit closer to him, her paws stepping on the cold ground.

He had you for such a long time, and I just got to watch from a distance. Selina let out some sort of a huff, it kinda sounded like she started laughing. I can watch through his eyes, of course, but it gets boring very fast. 

Before Alex even realized it, Selina was right in front of him and started licking his face. Her tongue felt so hot and squishy. “Ewwwww….don’t do that! Your breath smells so badddd….” Selina began laughing again and intensified her licks. 

I must take care of our mate~, it’s my duty!

Alex was starting to like her even more. She seemed to be so caring and cool at the same time. 

But still…..Alex had one thing on his mind, and Selina must’ve sensed it in him. 

What’s wrong? She asked. 

He paused for a second. 

“Isn’t it, like, kinda weird to be stuck in each other’s body? Do you not like…..want to have your own everything sometimes?” Alex didn’t know how to verbalize his point of confusion properly, but it seemed like Selina understood his feelings either way. 

She looked into his eyes, a glint of amusement still in them. It is hard. She admitted. But…..I don’t feel complete if the idiot isn’t with me. I don’t feel complete without him, but it’s very annoying sometimes. 

Selina showed him her wolfy smile again. It’s a werewolf thing. Don’t worry about it. 

“Well……..alright.” An unsure feeling set in Alex’s chest. He didn’t know entirely why, but the thought of him not understanding the only people who were essentially there for him kind of made him feel unsure about the whole thing. 

It was a bitter feeling he wished he didn’t have. On the first time meeting Selina, nevertheless. 

For the whole rest of the day, Selina sat on Alex’s lap and told him the experiences she lived through back in their home, her and Teo’s travels here, and other interesting things. It was so clear she was so passionate about describing the nature around her, and every little detail about it.  

Selina all of a sudden fell silent, and Alex noticed, under the soft glow of the setting sun, that her eyes were closed. She must’ve been tired after all that talking for such a long time.

….so what do you think?  

He heard Teo’s voice in his head again. 

“....about her?” Alex whispered in response. “She’s fun to talk to, I guess.” 

No…I mean….about this all. There was this anxious, sad tone to his statement. 

Selina opened her eyes and looked at Alex, but he noticed the eye color, so Teo was in control of the wolf form this time. He was looking deeply into Alex’s eyes, almost looking through his entire soul. 

Alex shifted in his posture. “I’m still pretty weirded out, but….I’m glad I know the truth.” 

It looked like Teo was satisfied with his answer, and he stood up. He nuzzled up his snout to rub Alex’s shoulder in a friendly manner. 

You should go inside, it’s starting to get cold out here. 

“Okay..” Alex moved his legs and realized just how stiff they were. His bones must’ve cracked so many times while he was hobbling to the house in front of him. He heard Teo’s almost silent footsteps and turned around to see where he was going. Where is he gonna spend the night?  

oh.

He saw Teo, huddling around a nearby tree, on the brink of the forest. It somehow gave him comfort. Comfort that he'd stay there for the night.

He shut the door and went to bed, feeling….……..safe. It was a strange feeling.