Noah awoke with a start. His eyes fluttered open slowly as they adjusted to his surroundings. Then everything came rushing back: how Daniel embarrassed him in the supermarket. He planned to pay him back for that.

The strangest thing of it all was how he'd somehow taken in a werewolf. It must've been a bad dream because there was no way.

Right?

He got out of bed to brush his teeth and dress in his work clothes.

Just a bad dream.

He walked into the kitchen, hoping with all his heart that Micah would not exist. Ultimately, the universe decided to bully him because Micah was already pacing around the room, exploring every corner.

Noah exhaled in exhaustion.

It would never be that easy.

"Human. I found myself on the floor. The couch does not appreciate me. I also require sustenance." He huffed, nudging the couch with his foot.

Noah swore the man spoke either like a robot or a war general. No human would say something like that without flinching. Then again, Micah wasn't human.

And the couch doesn't deserve all this hatred.

He yawned. Of course, the moment he woke up he'd have to suffer through Micah's problems.

I swear this guy is so black cat-coded. He complains too much.

Noah's eyes drifted to Micah's ears.

Aww... they look so cute. Unlike the owner.

He scowled and continued to observe the ears, which tilted in the opposite direction like they were also angry at the couch.

He almost smiled at the sight.

"Good morning," Noah said sarcastically. He quickly started making bacon and eggs, trying to ignore Micah the best he could.

Maybe he would just disappear. But not the ears, though. The ears would float around and let him pet them constantly.

Sounded like a win-win to him. No more arrogant man, just ears.

He peeked behind him, expecting to see Micah and his usual glower, but it was completely empty. As in, no trace of his existence.

Yessssss. I made him disappear.

He turned around to put a cooked pancake on a plate and froze.

The spatula trembled in his hands as he processed the sight.

Micah was standing shirtless in the kitchen, with his stupidly good-looking messy hair, his jeans hanging low on his hips, looking like some kind of clueless angel sent from heaven.

The words that came out of his mouth were even more stupid. "Human overheat, do they not?"

Noah's face turned darker than the cooked bacon in the pan. His mind was screaming one thing.

DON'T LOOK AT THE HANDSOME MAN.

DON'T LOOK AT HIS ABS.

DON'T!!

His gaze refused to tear away and, in fact, continued to drift lower.

"Ack! What the...?! What did you do with your shirt?!"

"But..."

"But nothing! Put. A. Goddamn. Shirt. On."

"I don't have any clothes here, though..." Micah stated matter-of-factly, running a hand through his hair.

Oh.

Micah was right about that.

He didn't exactly have clothes here. They were completely different sizes. But Micah couldn't just walk around shirtless. What if someone came in?

The last thing he wanted to do was explain to the neighbors why he had a shirtless man in his house.

He stalked to his room swiftly and rummaged through his closet to find something decent. The best he managed was one of his oversized shirts. It was still small, but it might fit him.

He left the room and went back to Micah.

"Try this one. It might fit."

Micah slipped on the shirt, and it stretched across his chest, making his muscles even more appealing to look at.

Noah's breath caught as he looked away. He needed to get him new shirts.

Immediately. Unless he wanted to risk cardiac arrest.

Micah moved an arm to get more comfortable, and the shirt split in half.

"Oh. Was that supposed to happen?"

"No!" Noah covered his face.

The shirt had a huge split in the back. Just how big was this man?

Extra large?

He peeked through his hands toward the clock. Toward his escape for the day. Or maybe he was minutes away from being late.

Quickly, he gathered his stuff, finished breakfast, stuffed his mouth with food, left a plate for Micah, and got ready to leave.

Noah walked toward the door, ready to leave.

"Umm... you're blocking the door," he muttered, his cheeks flushing pink.

"Yes, I'm aware. Are you abandoning me? Where are you going?" Noah could see the slightest quiver in his bottom lip.

"Uh... work? I need to go to my shift. I'll come back a bit late today because I'm going grocery shopping and buying clothes for you."

Noah thought he'd be satisfied, but to his surprise, Micah started pouting adorably and refused to let him leave.

"No. You're staying."

Noah was panicking now. He might actually be late to work. "Okay... erm... what do you want? I'll get you whatever you need. Just let me go."

"I don't want more food."

Micah paused, thinking, his tail swishing shyly.

"Can you get some fish?"

"Fish?"

"Yes."

"Oh, okay. I can do that."

"One more thing."

"Alrighty."

"I require... attention."

His ears lowered, betraying his embarrassment.

"Huh?! What does that mean?"

"...I want affection."

His voice softened to the point where Noah could barely hear it. Noah saw his life flash before his eyes.

What the fuck?!

Yesterday this jerk was acting like he ruled the world, and now he's asking for affection like a puppy?!

Noah's cheeks burned bright pink as he snuck a glance at Micah, who looked embarrassed as well.

It's cute.

His heart rate sped up as he continued to look at Micah's flushed face.

No, it's not cute. This is the same person who accused you of kidnapping! What kind of affection does he even mean? Will he let me pet his ears?!

The ears.

Yessssssss.

Noah took a deep breath and tried to look calm, but his eyes kept drifting to Micah's ears, which were colored a light pink.

"Ha... fine. Just please don't destroy the house."

Micah practically beamed at Noah and nodded fervently. "I'll be good."

Then he stepped out of the way to let Noah reach the door.

As soon as Noah stepped outside and onto the sidewalk, he muttered under his breath,

"Did that seriously happen?"

Yes.

It did.