The morning sun shone through the curtained window of Anastasia’s bedroom, its light falling upon her closed eyelids.
She stirred gently, rousing from a deep sleep.
As consciousness returned, the mories of her encounter with Nickolas the previous day ca flooding back.
A soft smile ford on her lips as she recalled his smile.
She stretched and rose from the soft mattress, the fine linen sheets sliding off her bare skin.
After a refreshing shower, she towel-dried her long hair and dressed in comfortable clothes - leggings and a loose blouse, perfect for a day of learning.
The scent of breakfast drifted up the stairs as she made her way down to the dining room.
One of the cooks had prepared eggs, toast, and fruit.
Anastasia ate slowly, still thinking of Nickolas.
All too soon, it was ti for her morning lessons.
She said goodbye to her mother who did not bother to recognize her daughter’s presence she was too busy still trying to reach her husband.
Anastasia climbed into the back of the family car as her driver started the engine.
As they pulled up to the iron gates of the school, Anastasia spotted a familiar figure hovering near the entrance.
There was Nickolas, phone in hand, glancing around anxiously.
When he saw her erge from the car, his face broke into a soft grin.
"Hi, Anastasia. I was waiting for you," he said as she approached. "Would you like to walk in with ?"
His friends called to him from the doorway but he waved them on, saying he’d catch up later.
Anastasia’s heart swelled at this small gesture of thoughtfulness.
He literally rejected his friend’s invitation just to stay with her.
Nobody has ever done this for her not even her own parents.
As they strolled through the gates side by side, Nickolas looped an arm around her shoulders in a half-hug.
She internally panicked at the casual contact but didn’t pull away because she loved it, she just did not know how to react or respond to it.
Their friendship blossod over the coming days and weeks.
Texts turned to calls which turned to invitations to spend ti together outside of classes.
Anastasia found herself opening up around Nickolas in a way she hadn’t before.
He was endlessly kind and patient, easing her social anxieties.
By the end of the first month, they had truly bonded - two souls drawn together by fate itself.
Their first week of friendship saw many morable monts.
On Friday evening, Nickolas asked Anastasia if she’d like to see the new action movie that had just co out.
She agreed nervously because that was her first ti getting invited to watch a movie with a friend but found herself thoroughly enjoying both the film and Nickolas’ company.
After the movie, they walked through the nearby park as the sun dipped low in the sky.
Nickolas pointed out different birds fluttering amongst the trees.
Anastasia told him about the types of flowers growing along the path.
As darkness fell, he drove her ho, giving her a gentle hug goodbye on the porch.
The next day, Nickolas invited Anastasia over for lunch.
She t his cheerful parents and playful younger siblings.
They made her feel instantly at ease.
After eating, Nickolas gave her a tour of the backyard.
He’d built a treehouse as a child and they sat up there for hours, talking and laughing together.
Their week culminated with an outing to the animal shelter.
Both loved dogs and volunteered to walk so of the energetic pups.
Anastasia was enchanted watching Nickolas play with the puppies, their tails wagging happily.
As the sun set that evening, Anastasia realized she’d never felt so content - all because of her new dear friend, Nickolas.
One sunny afternoon, with the woods empty, Nickolas suggested they go for a run in their wolf forms.
Anastasia agreed hesitantly, still learning to control her powerful instincts, she was afraid of not being able to control her wolf and ended up hurting her only friend because she still was not sure how her wolf would react around an oga.
Under Nickolas’ guidance, they stripped and shifted, their bodies twisting and reforming into magnificent wolves.
Nickolas’ wolf stood barely to Anastasia’s wolf’s shoulder, his coat a pristine snowy white.
They loped through the forest trail, Nickolas nipping at her fur playfully.
But his smaller stature began to tire him out more quickly than anticipated.
Slowly, he fell behind panting.
Anastasia sensed his fatigue and stopped, watching his pink tongue loll out one side of his mouth.
Out of concern for her friend, she had an idea.
She lowered her large, muscular wolf fra and nudged Nickolas onto her back.
With an excited yip, he climbed on, holding tight with his forepaws wrapped around her neck.
Reinvigorated, Anastasia took off running at top speed, relishing Nickolas’ joyous howls in her ears.
The trees and bushes flew by in a green-brown blur as her powerful legs powered them farther and faster than Nickolas had ever traveled before.
When they finally slowed to rest, both were grinning canine smiles, their bond of trust and friendship stronger than ever.
———
Anastasia had the best ti with Nickolas after school.
They laughed and played all day.
But when her driver took her ho, the problems returned.
She opened the big front door, hoping for quiet.
Instead, loud bangs and yelling ca from the living room.
Anastasia walked over slowly and looked inside.
The furniture was flipped over ss-like.
Decorations were thrown all around.
Her mom cried in the corner.
Her dad waved a lamp and shouted an words.
For a mont, Anastasia wished she could stay with Nickolas and not co back.
But playing all day did not fix the trouble at ho.
It was a reminder that running can’t make the past go away.
And being with Nickolas did not solve her family’s problems.
Even though he made her days happy, the yelling followed her back.
The future was not clear.
The ho did not feel safe from storms.
But Anastasia was strong.
And she had Nickolas to help on bad days, with his nice friendship.
That helped so, for now.
Anastasia walked inside uneasily, clutching her bag tighter.
The atmosphere was heavy with distress.
Her mother Elizabeth sobbed in the corner, blood spattered on her dress.
He could not tell whose blood that was.
Her father paced like a caged animal, teeth bared in a snarl.
"You promised it was over, but I found the ssages again!" yelled Elizabeth. "How long have you been seeing her behind my back? How long have you been cheating, William?"
"I never wanted to be mated to you!" William bood in response. "Fate forced into this bond against my will. It’s Samantha I love, and always have! You were just a ans to an end. I never wanted this bond with you. I will take my daughter and raise her with Samantha."
"You ruined my life the day we t," Elizabeth spat, tears flowing freely now. "I trusted you with my whole heart and soul, yet that was never enough. I’m your fucking fated mate. Why don’t you feel anything for like any normal mate? You can not take my daughter away from . Anastasia will stay here, with her mother and be the head alpha of our pack."
Anastasia stood frozen, horror-struck, as the screaming match escalated.
Her parents seed strangers.
A vase shattered against the wall.
She stumbled back unnoticed, slamming the heavy door behind her.
Blindly, Anastasia fled into the dense woods, uncaring of the gathering dusk.
Her parents’ anguished screams followed, echoing her own turmoil.
All the while, one thought pounded in her head - she had to escape this nightmare, if only for a little while.
She is just fifteen for god’s sake, she can not take this anymore.
———-
Nickolas was lounging on his bed watching TV when his phone rang with Anastasia’s na.
"N-nick?" he heard her shaky voice through the phone.
"Hello? Anastasia." he answered, sitting up with concern at the tremor in her voice.
Through the device and his open window, he could hear rain pouring down outside.
"Where are you?" he asked nervously. Her reply chilled him: "I’m right outside your house."
Jumping off the bed, he sprinted to the window and peered into the night.
Through the wet gloom, he spotted her shivering form below, white blouse soaked through.
As his friend in need, he wasted no ti.
"Co on up!" he called down to her and opened the window widely.
With her supernatural abilities, climbing to reach the window wasn’t an issue at all, more like a peace of cake.
She scrambled nimbly up the tree trunk until her muddy boots appeared on the sill.
Nickolas leaned out to help pull her inside, out of the storm.
Anastasia collapsed into his arms, trembling violently.
"Hey, it’s okay," he soothed, rubbing her back as her tears mixed with the rainwater. "You’re safe now. Let’s get you ward up and dry."
Guiding her gently to a chair, Nickolas gathered so towels and clean clothes.
He turned giving her privacy to change while he heated tea to chase away the chill.
Whatever had driven her to seek sanctuary with him, he was glad she found relief from the tempest within and without these walls.
As Anastasia’s shivers lessened, Nickolas turned on the TV, keeping the volu low.
They sat together in silence, him glancing at her in concern and staring vacantly at the screen.
He could tell she was still processing whatever had sent her running to him in the storm.
"I’m sorry for coming over so suddenly." When she apologized weakly for her unannounced arrival, he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"Don’t be silly. I’m glad you ca here. Are you okay?" She didn’t reply to his question about her well-being, and he didn’t press - it was clear she wasn’t okay.
Scooting closer to the couch, Nickolas spoke in soft tones ant to soothe. "You know you can tell anything. What’s troubling you, Anastasia? Maybe I can help."
She looked into his caring eyes then, tears welling up once more.
And slowly, hesitantly, she began to open up about the fight that had exploded back at ho.
Nickolas listened intently without judgnt, empathy in his gaze.
For the first ti that night, Anastasia felt safe enough to let her walls down and share her burdens with another person.
She took comfort in his compassionate nonverbal support as words poured out amid fresh tears.
Nickolas softly wiped Anastasia’s tears away and pulled her into an embrace.
She lted against his comforting form, overco by the release of crying in another’s arms for the first ti.
His soothing oga scent filled her senses; she couldn’t help but nuzzle closer, gently pressing her face to his neck.
Afraid her true blood nature could intimidate the oga, she hesitated.
But Nickolas kept reassuring her with murmurs of "It’s okay, I’m here for you."
As always, the sweet nothings he whispered helped dissipate her worries.
She relaxed into his calming hold, taking consolation from scenting his gland just as before.
After a few monts, Nickolas slowly pulled back to et her gaze.
His kind blue eyes showed only care, patience, and acceptance as they had the first ti.
As she looked at him through watery lashes, he reached up to gently cup her face - keeping the sa gentle touch.
Leaning closer so as not to startle her, just as he had initially, he pressed a soft, chaste kiss to her lips.
The tenderness of his gesture eased Anastasia’s lingering turmoil more than any words, exactly as it had done previously.
In Nickolas’ embrace, she felt protected yet not suppressed, mirroring her earlier experience.
Her burdens seed to lift in the bubble of relief they created together through open-hearted understanding and comfort, repeating the glimr of hope from before.
Their kiss deepened as the darkest of nights continued passing.
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