Eira reassured herself that he was fine. All he needed was a little time to heal. However, she couldn't help but check his pulse – nice and steady – before retrieving the first-aid kit from the bathroom.

Her mouth was set in a hard line, her brows furrowed, and her nose scrunched as she worked on cleaning and disinfecting the wounds. His neck had taken the most damage, looking mangled, as though someone had sought to end his life.

Eira released a heavy breath after patching him up as best as she could. Her knees ached from sitting cross-legged for so long but her mind lingered elsewhere. 

Tiny trembles of thin lips, treacherous teardrops gathering at the corners of glossy amber, and a growing lump choking her throat. Her hands shook as she covered her face. She sniffled once, twice, and then a muffled sob escaped her sealed mouth.

In a poor attempt to gather herself, she crawled to the abandoned mess of her broken mug and started picking up the pieces again. Discarding everything in the bin, she washed her hands, fetched a blanket from the couch, and tucked it snugly around the stranger.

Eira fed the fire more wood and watched the flames flicker and dance to the beat of life. She found solace in its warm embrace while tending to the scattered cuts on her own hands with fresh band-aids.

Her phone rang again and she quickly picked up, mindful not to disturb her uninvited guest's sleep.

"Oh, my," Audrey teased, "look who finally decided to pick up their phone." When Eira rolled her eyes, her friend said, "Don't you dare roll your eyes at me."

"You're so creepy sometimes."

"True, but it's always not just sometimes."

Despite herself, Eira couldn't help but smile. "Before you ask, yes I'm fine and safe and warm."

"Good. Why are we whispering?"

"Oh, nothing," Eira cleared her throat. "I was just napping."

Her friend hummed. "So, how are you finding my humble abode? My secret haven and getaway?"

While Audrey giggled, Eira's gaze flickered to the guy not too far away from her spot in front of the fireplace. He was facing away from her but his chest moved in a reassuring rhythm. "It's lovely."

"I know, right? Perfect place to get over your asshole of an ex."

"Audrey."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Then, her tone softened and she spoke gently. "You've burdened yourself with suffocating negative thoughts ever since the breakup. It's only natural that I'd want you to get over him ASAP. I only want you to be happy, Riri."

Fresh tears filled her eyes. "I know."

"By the way, please pick up your phone sooner. I hate having to call you a hundred times before you do."

Eira chuckled breathily. "No promises."

"Fuck you."

"Love you too."

Another set of giggles erupted from Audrey before she hung up, leaving Eira to her tumultuous thoughts yet again. The fire swayed, bathing everything in cozy orange.

"You're Eira."

Wide-eyed, she whipped around toward the mysterious man. Some color had returned to his face, and his skin looked more vibrant. Life flickered in his dark eyes, and his lips lifted in a lopsided grin. His words, though casual, carried a hint of curiosity and familiarity.

"Yeah, that's me," Eira replied, offering a cautious smile. "How do you know Audrey?"

With a grimace, he slowly propped himself up against the couch behind him. Her gaze instinctively latched onto his chest when the covers dropped to his lap. She swallowed. Well-defined abs and taut muscles aside, he looked utterly breathtaking under the glow of the shimmering flames.

Despite the bandages on his neck and chest, he appeared much healthier than when he first came in. Rolling his shoulders with a quiet groan, he explained, "We're friends. We've known each other for too long. I'm Carwyn, by the way."

If he noticed her prolonged stare, he didn't comment on it. Thankfully, because she was staring quite a lot. There was an inexplicable pull, drawing her toward him—his voice lulling her, and his presence comforting her.

Eira's brows furrowed in thought, trying to recall if Dree had ever mentioned any Carwyn before. Nothing.

"She wouldn't have told you about me." Which was understandable. Having supernatural friends wasn't something you broadcast to others. He added after a while, "How do you know about shifters?"

Pain.

It tore through her heart and gripped every fiber of her being. Clearing her throat, Eira blinked the tears away before locking eyes with him again. "My ex was one. A werewolf, just like you."

For some reason, Carwyn visibly tensed. His jaw clenched, his eyes hardened, and his mouth morphed into a hard line.

"Ex?" His voice came out strained.

"Yeah," she sighed. "He found his mate."

His shoulders deflated, his frown replaced by an apologetic expression. "Oh."

"Yeah, oh." Eira laughed, standing up. "Let's get you something to wear. Can you move?"

He stood, not commenting on her change of subject. The blue shorts hung way too low on his hips, making her eyes widen. "Sorry," he stuttered, pulling it up. "I put it on in a rush."

Glad he misunderstood her reaction, Eira turned away to conceal her blush and gestured for him to wait.

After rummaging through the closet, she returned to find him obediently waiting for her on the couch. An involuntary smile stretched her mouth. Eira decided to melt the ice further. Something urged her to. "So, what happened out there?"

Carwyn rubbed the back of his head. "I was heading back to the pack when I caught a strange scent. Vampires were heading this way."

"Vampires?" Unable to stay upright, she joined him. Aside from the startling revelation, her body sought closeness to his. "Why were they coming here?"

His gaze darted to her hands. "They must've caught a whiff of your blood. They were rogues. Otherwise, they wouldn't dare attack anyone within our pack's borders."

Eira recalled her dramatic episode earlier and couldn't help the shame that nearly drowned her. She had not only endangered her life but his as well.

"I'm so sorry." The words rushed out. "I owe you my life, truly. Thank you so much, Carwyn."

Extending her hand toward him, she felt a jolt when he took it. Sparks ignited, dancing across their skin until a surge of heat flared and enveloped both of them.

Word count: 1065.

Total word count: 2031.