17

I couldn't stop thinking about the angry look on Slater's face. In the time I had known Slater, I had never seen him so mad. It was scary even if it wasn't directed at me.

I sat in the bed but one look around the room was enough to tell me that Slater wasn't here. The door was wide open, but there was no sound of moving. I sniffed around and I could smell Slater's scent outside the room. My brows furrowed and I glanced down at the floor. I needed to get out of bed.

I kept my hands on the bed as I lowered my feet to the floor. Last time I tried this I fell, but this time would be different.

My foot touched the floor and I paused for a moment before lowering the other. With both feet touching the ground, I pushed the rest of my body off the bed but, unlike last time, I used the bed to make sure I didn't fall again.

Come on, Milo.

My legs were still shaky from not using them, but I was determined to get out of the room. I didn't want it to be like last time where I was stuck in the room while Slater wasn't there. I wanted to be able to get around on my own.

My steps were slow and I had to repeatedly stop, but it didn't stop the strange feeling from filling up my chest. I kept using the bed until it ran out and then I looked around for something else to lean on, but Slater had most of the things in the room against the walls or tucked away somewhere out of sight.

My eyes landed on the doorknob and taking a deep breath, I pushed myself off the bed and stumbled my way toward it, managing to grab onto it. I stuck my head out of the door and that's when I saw him.

Slater lay on the couch, his eyes were still shut and there was a blanket on top of him. My head tilted to the side. Usually, when I woke up, Slater was already moving around. Using the wall and some of the objects lying around, I made my way to the couch and stared down at the sleeping man.

"S...Sla...ter?" The words left my mouth and my brows furrowed. It sounded funny. "Sla...ter?"

His eyes fluttered open and I could see the confusion on his face as he stared up at me.

"Milo..?"

"Slater," I repeated and the words sounded closer this time, but not quite right.

His eyes widen for a second before they soften and a small smile breaks out on his face. He wasn't angry like yesterday anymore. Slater sits up and moves over before patting the couch and helping me over to take a seat.

"Happy?" I asked him.

Slater stared at me. "Very happy."

I smiled and so did he.

Slater's hand gripped mine and he sighed. "I'm sorry I scared you yesterday, Milo."

I could still remember the way Slater's voice raised and the look on his face. I didn't say this though. Instead, I reached up to rest my hand on his head like he did to me last time.

"It's okay," I told him and Slater just stared at me for a moment.

"I can't believe you're actually talking," he said quietly. "Why now?"

Why?

I wasn't sure really. When I saw Slater sitting on the couch it was like my mouth moved faster than my head. The words felt like second nature even though I had been in my wolf form for so long.

I shrugged and Slater smiled. "Well no matter the reason, I'm happy to hear you speak, Sweetheart." Slater lifted his hand and pushed a piece of my hair to the side. "You know, I think it's time for you to get a haircut."

Haircut? Me?

"Why?"

He smiled. "We don't have to go if you don't want to, but I'm sure it'd be nice to not have hair constantly in your face." I tilted my head, causing my hair to block my vision and Slater laughed. "See, that's what I mean. Besides, it would be nice to get out of the house again. We could make a day out of it."

I didn't respond, but I don't think I needed to if the look on Slater's face meant anything. There was a small smile and I could tell that he was thinking about something in his head. His eyes clouded over but before I could even begin trying to talk, they returned to their usual color.

"Come on," he said. "I know that you aren't going to like it, but if we're actually going to this then we need to give you a bath."

I scowled.

Slater's smile grew larger.

He gently took my hand and helped me up. The two of us took slow steps toward the bathroom, though I was mostly leaning on him but he didn't seem to mind.

Slater and I entered the bathroom and he helped me take a seat before he started to get the bath ready. As he did so, I found my eyes lingering on his form. The longer I seemed to be around Slater, the stranger he became. Still, I found myself curious about him. I wanted to stay by his side.

I couldn't remember a time when I actually wanted to be around someone. Before I met Slater, it was almost like an unspoken rule not to get close to each other. You never knew when something would change. One minute someone could be your best friend and then the next thing you know, they're your enemy on the other side of the ring.

I had long since stopped getting close to people, but every time Slater stared at me with his warm eyes, I was drawn closer and closer to him.

And it scared me.

Once the bath was ready, Slater helped me inside. Unlike the last times, he didn't help me as much but rather, he gave out instructions. I tried to pay attention to what he was saying, but I couldn't stop staring at him. There was the faintest hint of red on his face, his dark hair was messy compared to its usual style, and his eyes were focused mostly on the wall rather than me. Still, it didn't stop me from thinking about him.

I opened my mouth. To say what? I don't know, but I didn't manage to get any words out. The sound of the doorbell ringing caused both of our pairs of eyes to turn. After the last people we had, I was worried that Slater was going to get mad again. He started to stand up and without thinking, I reached out and grabbed his hand. Slater seemed surprised by this, but he shot me one of his familiar smiles.

"Don't move. I'll be right back, okay?"

An unfamiliar warmth filled me and my grip on his hand loosened. Slater disappeared out of the door, making sure to close it. I could barely make out the sound of talking. It didn't seem to be bad so I relaxed some. I waited patiently for Slater to return; that would be the real answer.

I could hear the sound of footsteps coming toward where I was. The door was pulled open and Slater entered, a newfound excitement in his eyes. There was a big bag in his hand and I could see a light blue shirt sticking out of the top. He sat the bag down and set another item, with a picture of a person running it through their hair on the front of the box, on the counter.

"Are you ready to get ready?"

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