“Lake?” I rasped, trying to focus on his face.
Purple eyes lowered to mine, softly glowing in the dark. His silver hair rustled with the speed at which we were moving. Bushes and tree trunks blurred as we passed them. He didn’t say anything. He only cupped the back of my head and held me closer, protecting me from any outstretched branches or vines.
Kuya’s calls grew distant. Not even he was quick enough to keep up with the wolf.
Questions swam through my head. Why had Lake captured me? And why was he so close to town to begin with? Humans made him uneasy.
“You need to put me down.” The shaking of my voice made the demand sound feeble. “Please, Lake.”
He stopped running but didn’t release me. His gaze darted around us before settling on my face. The moon cut through the overhead clouds and filtered through the branches, the beams shining on his pale skin and silver hair.
“Can you put me down?”
His hold tightened on me instead, and the softest of whimpers climbed up his throat.
“Lake?”
“I…” Gently, he placed me on the ground feet-first but didn’t fully let go. Worry wound through his eyes, visible even in the moonlit forest. “I don’t know why I…” He then jerked away, that worry twisting into fright. “I’m sorry, Evan. I’m not sure what came over me.”
“Hey, it’s okay.” I stepped forward and came to a sudden stop as the movement startled him. “I’m not mad. Just, um, confused.”
“I’m confused as well,” he said, voice taut. His tall ears slumped a bit, and his poofy tail lowered. “Since you left, I’ve been… lonely.”
Like the little red fox from his storybook. Misunderstood and craving companionship. Lake stood at over six feet and had broad shoulders and a muscled, athletic build. His eyes held a quiet intensity. At first glance, he could be intimidating. But deep down, I knew he had a gentle heart.
“I busied myself with gardening,” he continued. “I read books, whittled, painted, and crafted a new chair and table for the back patio. But nothing I did helped. I was restless and couldn’t get you off my mind.”
“So you came to see me?”
“Yes.” Lake slowly stepped back. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I followed you and the cat for a while. Before I knew it, I was snatching you from the road and carrying you here.”
“Not to eat me, I hope,” I teased, trying to lighten the mood.
It worked. A ghost of a smile landed on his lips. “Never to eat you.”
“I’m sorry, too, by the way.”
“What for?” His ears perked back up, and god, it was cute.
“For what happened the morning after I stayed with you. I never got the chance to apologize.” Guilt pressed down on me. “The knights thought you were holding me hostage and were in full-on defense mode. You didn’t deserve it.”
“Didn’t I?” Lake asked softly. “I was mean to you when we first met. Or have you forgotten my threat to kill you?”
“You weren’t serious. You were just trying to scare me off. But unfortunately for you, facing the dark forest was way scarier than being around you, so you got stuck with me anyway.”
“How unfortunate, indeed,” he said with a small smile. “You came into my quiet, bleak world and showed me how colorful life can be. Now I can’t forget it. Or you.”
Flutters danced along my heartstrings.
“I’m sure your friend will alert the others, and they’ll come for you soon.” Lake swept his gaze around us. “I should leave.”
“Wait.” I shuffled forward and felt a jolt of satisfaction when he didn’t react. He let me approach him. I had no idea what to say. Stopping him had been impulsive. I just hated the thought of him returning to an empty house. “Come back with me.”
“I can’t,” he said with a firm shake of his head. “I’m… not good around other people. I don’t trust humans.”
“I’m human, and you still came all the way here to seeme.”
Lake gripped his opposite bicep, taking an awkward stance. “You’re different.”
