jaid

You scratch the short, fuzzy hairs at the back of his head. “Nowhere, silly. Been right here all morning.”

Valko grunts, dissatisfied with your answer. “Liar. You were far away. Left me all alone.”

“I think someone was dreaming,” you whisper, poking his nose.

“Hm. Maybe,” he says. Then, more quietly, “it felt real though.”

“Oh?” Twisting in his grasp, you move to look at him. He squints back.

“Mm. Someone took you from me. Or took me away from you?” He shakes his head, as if to clear it. “I don’t know. AllI know is that you kept getting further and further away from me.”

“Aw, baby. I’m not going anywhere,” you tell him, cupping his cheeks.

“Damn right,” he says, turning his head to kiss your palm before his tone turns flirty. “You could never leave all this.”

“Same goes for you, mister,” you say. “You’re not allowed to leave either.”

“Wouldn't dream of it,” he says with a lopsided smile, one of his wolf ears flopping down as he does so. The two of you settle down again, snug in one another’s arms. 

After a few moments of quiet, Valko’s hand pauses in playing with your hair. “What would you do if I did?”

Your brow furrows. “Why? You’re not planning on turning tail already, are you?”

“‘Course not, baby. Just wondering.” His hand resumes combing through your hair thoughtfully. 

“I’d be upset, obviously. We’ve only just started properly dating, and I…” You trail off, shy all of a sudden. 

“What?”

Clearing your throat, you try again. “I… Well, I really like you. So it would hurt to see you go.”

Valko’s face breaks into a wide, cheeky smile, pointy fangs on full display. “Ohooo, so you like me, huh?” he teases, wiggling his thick brows at you. “How much?”

Heat blossoms in your cheeks, and you struggle to meet his eyes.  “Valko!” you whine.

“Someone’s getting flustered!” he sings, all too entertained by your reaction. You quickly hide your burning face in his chest, letting it muffle your words, but he still hears you perfectly when you finally decide to speak up. 

“A lot,” you admit. “Too much. Way too much.”

“Too much, huh?” 

You look up at him with a scowl. “Yes! I mean, you’re a wolf, for crying out loud! That’s not normal, is it? I shouldn’t like you this much!”

“Hey, you got a problem with us wolves?” he frowns, ears drooping slightly.

“No!” you say, backtracking with a shake of your head, wanting to soothe him the minute you see his expression fall. “It’s just- well. You don’t get the average person dating a person that sprouts ears and a tail and howls at the moon, y’know? I guess, I just wasn’t expecting to ever be in this sort of situation. I’m still getting used to it.”

“When you put it like that, it makes sense. But also,” he adds, pausing for effect.

“What?”

He nuzzles your nose with his, a warm, honeyed smile curving at his lips. “I feel the same way about you. So it’s okay.”

You melt at his words, scratching his ears again to enjoy the way his eyes flutter and how he chases your touch so eagerly. Endeared, you coo, “do you have any idea how cute you are, Val?”

Before he can respond, you lean in and quickly press a kiss to his lips, catching him off guard. You giggle at the surprise on his face, but it’s short lived because he quickly twists onto his back with you in tow, pulling a shriek from your lips. He holds you tightly against his chest, smirking up at you with his golden, lidded gaze.

“If I'm cute, then that makes you the most adorable person to ever walk this earth.”

“It does not,” you argue, rolling your eyes. 

“Does too,” he says.

“Says who?”

“Me, obviously.” His face is mere inches from yours, and you can feel the strong, steady beat of his heart pressed against yours. He closes the space between you easily, kissing you so softly you wonder how this same man is also a beast. His thumb caresses your cheekbone when you pull back, gazing at you with a look so tender it bleeds into longing. “And don’t you ever forget it.”

“You’re silly, Val,” you say softly, looking away bashfully. Valko turns your gaze back to his gently, wearing a serious expression.

“I mean it. Don’t you dare forget how much you mean to me. Even if this world decides to one day keep us apart, it won’t change a thing.”

You whisper his name, like you’re scared those words might actually come true if you speak too loudly. “I won’t,” you tell him, tucking your head under his chin as he holds you. “I promise.”