Chapter Text
The wind was beating against your small cabin, the sound of wolves filling the cries of the night with their voices. Anyone else would have been scared. A young woman living alone was no match for a wolf, and if one decided it wanted in your cabin, it would surely be able to get in.
But instead, you allowed yourself to fall into a deep slumber along with the sounds of the wolves. Besides, it was a full moon, you reminded yourself. They were going insane about it, so you had to cut them a little slack.
Then you heard the thud.
It was almost like a knock against your door; definitely not human, but much bigger than a wolf. You wondered dumbly if it was perhaps a bear as you slipped out of bed to go and check. You could hear scratching claws as you peeped out the window, and then a massive figure jumped up to meet your gaze, scaring you so badly you fell to the floor. The door suddenly swung open and the cool night breeze put you back to your senses if only for a moment; the huge beastly thing tackled you to the ground, curling up against you as if it was only cold.
You shut your eyes right in terror, and you felt a wide, rough tongue licking at a cut you hadn't noticed you received.
Your eyes opened tentatively.
The massive beast was borderline anthropomorphic. Massive, gleaming yellow eyes that had a human soul behind them. The paws which had you pinned down were more as hands would be, though they had long black claws.
You met the gaze of the beast. You could hear the loud panting, feel it beating against your face and neck, and you were frightened. The beast snarled lowly, and to your surprise, let go of one of your wrists. You thought perhaps all the wolf-being wanted was some attention, and with your one free hand, you outstretched it slowly, keeping eye contact. The beast snuffed and snorted at it, licking it softly, and then allowed you to proceed as if you'd earned its trust.
Slowly but surely you pet the beast's head, and seemed to calm it a little. Its eyes fluttered shut, and it licked its lips, settling its massive jaw on your chest.
The two of you laid like this for some time, until, though you could not believe your eyes, the beast transformed into a man. You could not believe it. The massive beast was a werewolf, and had fallen asleep right in your arms. You'd always thought that the stories about werewolves were a bit harsh. Perhaps indeed some of them were uncaring beasts, but you'd always had a feeling that a lot of them didn't want to be that way and were in fact exiled.
Peering down, the man had dark, thick curls of hair that came down in sideburns where he had an unshaven face though no beard, only stubble. Though he had no grey hairs except on the sides, he appeared very aged. You presumed this was a side effect of his lycanthropy. He was dead asleep, though you could imagine behind those tan eyelids there would be brilliant, glowing yellow eyes, like those of a beast. Something about that idea made your heart leap.
You felt something warm and wet trickle down the front of your tunic, and, reaching down, you realized it was his blood. You couldn't lift him for he was both tall and extremely muscular, but you would make due. You got blankets and warm water, and then began tentatively cleaning some of his wounds. He was still dead asleep but you really wanted it to stay that way. If he woke up, he would most likely be startled, and you didn't want him to make a fuss and hurt himself any worse.
Some of his wounds looked much worse than they really were. There was only one bad one, but you'd have to disinfect it for fear he'd get a fever. You wondered if you'd be able to do it when he was asleep.
Dampening a cloth with alcohol, you gently swiped across the wound. He did not budge. You sighed a breath you hadn't realized you'd been holding and carried on with the task. If he slept through it once, you thought, he'd do it again. Not the case.
He writhed in his sleep and stirred, his eyes fluttering open. They were indeed a fluorescent golden shade, but curiously not the same as before. They were now more of an amber. His eyes darted around and he tried to sit up, but winced hard because of the large gash in his stomach. You shushed him quietly, trying to calm him.
It was then you noticed his lack of clothes. You'd never seen a man down there before as you were a virginal young woman, and you tried your hardest to avert your gaze and focus- but he had a morning wood, something you'd only ever heard of and never seen.
"Where am I?" he asked, or really grunted through the pain his voice was laden with.
"You're just north of Whitewolf," you answered, for that was the closest town.
He laid his head down again with a grunt, and did not reply.
"You came wounded to my house in the night," you continued. "After you transformed back, I noticed you were harmed. I'm only trying to clean your wounds and then you may leave."
"My clothing," he said suddenly. "I'm naked."
"I won't look," you said quickly. "I'll get you something as soon as I'm done cleaning this wound. You'll be alright, okay?"
He nodded and looked up at the ceiling again, cheeks burning in obvious shame. "I'm sorry. I hope I didn't give you a fright."
"I'm not afraid of wolves," you assured him, rubbing the soaked cloth across his wound, making him wince.
He looked at you contemplatively. "You're a brave girl, letting a werewolf into your house."
"You were cold," you said simply, and it was true. He had cuddled up to you the moment he got inside.