Chapter Two:

Yui had made a quick fire in her fireplace, and her guest took an uncomfortable seat on the rug in front of it. And after rejecting any sort of washcloth or towelette, the wolf Hybrid spent the last twenty minutes cleaning himself like some kind of animal.

Well… he is part animal…

His tongue lapped at his open wounds. Or the ones he could reach, at least. And just as Yui was about to make some comment about what he was putting in his mouth, he curled himself up and tucked his huge, bushy tail around himself. His shivering had stopped, but he refused any help, and he would growl whenever she neared him. He didn't even take an offer of reheated chicken a few minutes ago. I wonder if he only eats raw meat.

She figured it was best to just leave him alone to rest, but then she realized there was a rabid Hybrid in her home, and it was almost sunset. Even if he was injured, what if he woke up in the middle of the night and wanted a snack… a human snack. Yui didn't feel safe enough to fall asleep with him in her small living room, or even to start a shower. Honestly, she didn't want to leave the kitchen. She didn't know what could've happened if he wasn't as badly injured as he was. He proved that he would, in fact, try to kill her. And he'd threatened it plenty more times. Was she falling into some kind of trap? Was it a mistake to try and help him?

"Relax, prey." Yui jumped when she heard him grumble from the other room. "I can smell your fear."

"Are you going to hurt me?" she asked, wondering why she would even bother asking.

"Your stench is making it hard to sleep," he continued angrily, and Yui looked through the room and over the back of the couch to see the tip of his blonde tail covering his mouth and nose. His eyes were shut, too.

"You're covered in blood and dirt and you're saying I'm the one who stinks?"

"Shut up, prey. First the stench. Now the noise."

"My name isn't prey. It's Yui."

She didn't know why, but even through his threats and insults, she didn't believe he meant to harm her. Not right now, at least. She turned back towards the fridge and opened the door. She knew there was—Ah! There it is. I knew I left it in here a couple days ago, but I was too distracted to cook it yesterday… She pulled out a single-serving container of raw steak. It had been defrosting for a few days, but considering the recent events, she thought it was normal to have forgotten about her steak. She grabbed a butter knife and sliced open the package. She looked back over the couch—

Where did he—

"Give me that."

Yui screamed when the Hybrid stood directly beside her, staring at the meat she held. He bared his fangs and Yui just dropped it into his outstretched hand with a gulp. She hadn't realized how tall he was—at least a head over her—and big. She hadn't been paying much attention to his physical features, but he was covered in muscles, and it was easy to see with the half-fur, almost-shirt he was wearing. It looked to be made from some kind of animal hide, and exposed a lot of his front.

"It… It was for you anyway."

"Shut up," he snarled, ripping into the raw red meat with his sharp teeth. He tore off a large piece and chewed it right in front of her, blood red eyes on hers. Yui stood frozen again. He was so hard to read. One moment she felt like he was all bark, and in the next, just his expression reminded her that he could kill her in a heartbeat.

"How… is your leg?" she stammered, not knowing what to say to him with their eyes locked together.

"What did I just say, prey?" he tore off another chunk. "If I wanted to hear your voice, I'd make you scream." He swallowed a hard gulp and Yui just stared, wide-eyed as he finished the steak. "Where's the rest of it?"

"It was just the one package."

"What do you mean? The animal must have been larger than that tiny piece," he snarled, lowering his voice in annoyance.

"That was all I bought."

"Well, get more! Or I'll have to find something else to eat."

"It's sundown… The shops in town would be closing any minute now." And even if I could go, the last time I went out into the woods past sunset, I got attacked by a very angry animal. She mentally rolled her eyes.

He growled again, this time taking a threatening step forward. Yui jumped but the Hybrid let out a low yelp and dropped to his right knee. She took the opportunity to take a few steps back. Her racing heart told her to run, but there was nowhere to run to. She was the one who invited the animal into her home.

A slight sound like a whimper made her head snap back to the wolf and she stared at the top of his head. His ears weren't sticking up like they had been. Instead, they were pushed down a bit on either side, and his eyes were on the floor. He sounded like he was panting. Right… his injury is severe. It must not have hit him until now because of the adrenaline…

"You're probably dehydrated…" she whispered, taking careful steps around the table to avoid being anywhere near his reach. Injured animals were always the most dangerous, her mother always taught her. She stepped to the sink and filled a glass with cold water, placing it on the floor next to him and sliding It closer. As soon as she saw him notice it, she quickly retracted her hand and watched him. She had zero knowledge of wolf Hybrid care, as would any sane person, but she knew food and water would probably be a good start to helping him heal.

He grabbed the glass with one hand and Yui winced when she heard his sharp nails scrape along its side. He pulled it too fast, and water spilled out onto the floor, and more spilled as he opened his mouth and practically dumped it into his wide-open mouth. Maybe he's never used a glass before…? And then she figured something she should've realized sooner. He's always been out in the woods, hasn't he? Born there, raised there. Considering how scared people are of rabid Hybrids in the mountains, he's probably never been to town or even interacted with many people.

"My name is Yui," she repeated softly, remembering how he wouldn't tell her his name before. "I'd like to know your—"

"Prey don't have names," he grumbled, dumping more water into his mouth.

Yui stood and filled a second glass. She set it down next to him and pushed it towards him again. "Yui Nagamori is my full name. I grew up here, in this house. My family and I left for a short time, but eventually I came back. I love it here. I love the snow."

"What makes you think I care?" he spat, taking the second glass once the first was empty. He took another large gulp.

"Do you have a name?"

"What's it to you?"

"I don't know what to call you."

"It doesn't matter."

Yui pursed her lips. "You should go back by the fire so you stay warm. I'll bring more water over there, and tomorrow I'll buy more meat in town. Does that sound okay?"

He looked over his shoulder to glare at her, but didn't reply. And after a few more moments, he took another large gulp of water and moved to stand. She saw him grit his teeth as he grabbed the edge of the kitchen table to help himself up. His claws dug into the table's wood and left scratch marks there. Then he limped his way back to the foot of the fireplace and sat down on the rug, curling himself back into a large ball of blonde hair and fur, his tail settling over his nose.

He still has blood in his fur… But she knew there was nothing she could do about it, and she didn't dare get close to him, especially when his eyes were closed. She knew that he could snap at any moment. And he was fast when he wanted to be.

But at least he was resting, and he'd gotten some food and water in him. He was on the right path to healing, and he definitely had the personality to struggle through any pain or discomfort and come out stronger.

Yui filled the same two glasses with water and slowly walked around the table, nearing the rug and the wolf. She set both glasses down on the floor and took a few steps backwards until she was back in the kitchen. She stepped until her back hit the table and she felt her way to the farthest seat before pulling it out and sitting down. She kept her eyes on the Hybrid, but he was drifting off. She felt like he wouldn't be attacking her anytime soon, so maybe it was safe for her to get ready for bed. She didn't know what she was going to do about work tomorrow, either.

She figured it was best to go to work in the morning, considering how kind the kitty Hybrid had been to her today. And she didn't want Miss Midnight feeling like she had to check up on her if she didn't show up again. And the last thing she needed was for someone to see a wolf in her home.

Yui leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes for a bit. She squeezed them shut as an image of a body floating down a river stained with red entered her mind—a familiar body. Everyone always said the deaths in the town used to come from rabid Hybrids, and everyone knew that wolf Hybrids weren't included in society because of their violent nature. Is it really possible that this is the wolf that killed so many of the villagers over the years? Killed my… no… He looks barely over twenty years old… He must've been just a kid when the killings started. And apart from our initial meeting, he hasn't tried to hurt me at all. I wonder how many are up in the mountains. There must be more of them.

She wondered if there was anyone in town that she could even talk to about her strange guest. Or if there was a way to get any information on wolf Hybrids at all. No one ever talked about them, unless they were telling scary stories, so she knew next to nothing about them.

The wolf's breathing had evened out, and Yui opened her eyes, staring at him for a few more minutes before deciding it was probably safe to move around a bit. She put a pot on the stove to boil some water for ramen, seeing as it was her quickest option. She really wanted to take a shower, but she wasn't so sure about that one, yet. At least in the kitchen, she could keep one eye on him in case he made a threatening move.

The water was done in ten minutes, and she dumped in her noodles, stirring them around occasionally for a few minutes. Then she sat back down at the table to eat, with both eyes glued to the wolf in her home.

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Yui opened her eyes to a slight shiver. It was cold.

She lifted her head to find a half-eaten bowl of ramen beside her and a bit of drool on her forearm. She shivered again and looked up. The fire had gone out, and something was missing—

The wolf!

She could almost feel his eyes on her and she yelped when she looked left, finding him crouched on the floor, staring at her. "What are you doing?!" she shouted, more from shock than anything else. But he only narrowed his eyes at her. "Well?!"

"I liked it better when you were asleep," he grumbled, picking at one of his ears with his sharp claws.

"Why are you just sitting there?!"

"Stop shouting," he groaned, shaking his head. His ears flattened a bit as his hair moved. There was still some blood on him, and especially in his hair. He seemed to have done a half-decent job with the rest of his wounds.

"Well, why are you just sitting there, staring?!"

"I said stop shouting!" he snarled. He curled his upper lip back, exposing his sharp teeth, and Yui's eyes went wide. They stayed like that for at least a minute, in an awkward standoff, before Yui's shock and fear calmed down.

"You're feeling a little better?" she asked.

"No thanks to you," he snorted, motioning to his leg. It still looked pretty torn up.

"Maybe if you stopped killing people…" she trailed off.

He tilted his head. "Speaking of food, weren't you supposed to get me some?"

She took a quick glance towards the window, but it was dark out. "The shoppes won't be open yet. I have to wait until sunrise."

"Why?"

Why? "What do you mean? People sleep when it's dark out."

"Just go take it, then."

"I have to pay for it."

"Pay?"

"Yes, pay for the meat."

"You're a confusing prey."

Yui shook her head, trying her best to remember that he wouldn't know anything about such things. "My name is Yui. Not 'prey'."

"Whatever." He stood and Yui gulped, recognizing his size for only the second time. But he turned towards the door and started pushing on it. He then turned to her and growled. "Let me out, or I'll rip you to shreds."

"You have to turn the—you know, I'll just get it," she sighed, and then paused as she stood. "Wait, where are you going? Don't you need more time to heal?"

"I said, let me out," he pressed, showing his fangs again.

"But… your leg—"

"Let me out!" he howled, taking a violent step towards her. Yui threw her hands in the air and widened her eyes.

"Okay, okay, calm down," she stuttered, quickly standing from her seat. "I just need to turn the knob…" She slowly took steps towards the door and the Hybrid. His growling got louder with every step she took. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay to—"

"Shut up," he snarled. He took a step towards her, and Yui stopped in her tracks. His claws elongated and he flexed the muscles in his forearms as he took another step. His upper lip curled back and his red eyes started to glow.

"Y-you're not trapped," she said, her voice coming out hoarse. "The door isn't locked. You just need to turn the knob there…"

He was directly in front of her and Yui felt her heart racing. The beat of her blood pumping through her chest was banging in her ears and her breath caught in her throat. The Hybrid lifted one hand, showing his claws, and slowly brought in past her head. She took a step back, and he took a step forward, until her back hit the wall behind her. She winced when his claws screeched against the wood right next to her ear. He was towering over her, reminding her of his size. She could feel his hot breath in her face, and hear his growls with every exhale.

"Enough of this game," he growled. "I'm starving."

"Please…" Yui said slowly, as he raked his other hand's claws along the side of her face. He moved quickly and made a small cut on her chin with his pointer finger, and she jumped a little. She gulped and stared into his glowing eyes. Is he really going to kill me now? Was all of this just for nothing?

"Please what?" he asked, tilting his head.

"I… I don't want to die."

There was a long pause, but the wolf Hybrid finally took a few steps back, and Yui slumped to the floor, closing her eyes.

"Fine," he snapped, turning towards the door. He fumbled a bit with the knob but managed to twist it and jerk the door open. "But if I ever see you wandering around the mountain again, I'll kill you for sure."

And within a heartbeat, the blonde Hybrid was gone.

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Dear fans,

I really like this story, but I'm not getting much feedback for it. Sad days. I'm not sure if it's worth it to continue, although I'm enjoying coming up with the plot and everything. So, if this one isn't really a fan favorite, I'll probably put it on hold and stick with the other fanfics that I know you guys like and are waiting for. I know OC fics are also a lot less popular, and that's okay. This one can just exist in my head for a while. LMAO. I have plenty of ideas, and I definitely wanna write chapters for the stories you guys are looking forward to, so I'll do that instead. But anyway, feel free to drop some love on this one if you enjoyed it, and I'll get back to it eventually.

Yours Truly,

-Light