a gorgeous white by Heather_anare

251: Reuniting anxiously

Something was tickling his cheek, like the tips of brush bristles caressing his cheek.

A huff blew in his face, and Moulin was more awake than he was a minute before. Slowly, he opened his eyes and waited until his vision adjusted. The drowsiness which kept him asleep gradually diminished. He turned his gaze away from the ceiling and looked at the thing that awoke him.

Golden eyes, burning brighter than the sun, met his silver gaze. A long, slender black snout bumped his cheek gently. A midnight black wolf was panting before his face, huffing excitedly. Its front paws, marked with flaming gold, rested at the edge of the bed as the creature leaned forward and sniffed Moulin carefully.

Moulin stared.

In the next second, he hastily backed away from the creature with wide eyes. His heart drummed as his back met the headboard with a soft thud. The black wolf tilted its head, confused by Moulin's movements. Moulin slightly drew his brows together, confusingly. Why the hell is a massive staring at me while I slept?

"You don't recognize him?" A smooth voice spoke.

Draw by the familiar voice, Moulin turned his head and sighed in relief. Hadrian was sitting by his side. The book in the man's hand closed. His fingers stroking the spine of the leather book. Golden eyes met Moulin's gaze, and an indescribable warmth flowed inside his irises.

Moulin furrowed his brows when he recalled Hadrian's words. 'Recognize?'

He shifted his attention to the large beast beside his bed and gave the wolf a long, deep stare. This time every little detail, starting from the sight of those beady golden eyes to its shiny black fur, became extremely familiar to him. The pieces were connecting, and Moulin widened his eyes. His lips parted slowly, and his hand reached out.

Moulin's voice was soft and gentle, filled with surprise and shock. "Kier?"

At the sound of his name, Kier barked loudly. It was so loud Moulin wished he had covered his ears in time. Kier had grown surprisingly large. Every bit of adorable submissiveness in his nature had transformed into something fierce and intimidating. At first sight, people would have thought that he was an aggressive creature. But in front of Moulin, he was surprisingly submissive, with his tail that was wagging happily. Surprise coursed through Moulin's veins.

"Kier..." Moulin stroked the wolf's crown. The black fur and his pale rosy fingertips contrasted deeply. Ignoring the frightful row of teeth Kier was exposing as he panted excitedly, Moulin brought himself closer to the wolf and smiled. "Look how big you've grown..."

Kier barked in response, which earned him a chuckle from Moulin.

Hadrian watched the two. More specifically, he was watching Moulin, smiling happily. The warmth and gentleness in the youth's bright eyes were like a cool, soothing current that nourished Hadrian's barren soul. It felt like flowers would bloom, and the sun would shine brighter in his presence. Hadrian lowered his head, finding his thoughts absurd yet, he didn't deny every single bit of it.

"This marks..." Moulin suddenly interrupted his thoughts. The youth touched Kier's paws curiously. "I don't remember him having these when he was a pup..."

"It appeared a few years ago. I discovered his lineage to the blood of Ancient Aurelion hounds in Rafelon. He's the last of his kind." Hadrian said as he raised his hand. Kier noticed his gesture and immediately hopped down the bed, went around it, and approached Hadrian's hand. The floor seemed to tremble under the wolf's weight.

Moulin watched intriguingly as Kier obediently let Hadrian stroke his head. The wolf's tail was wagging frantically.

"I see you have grown closer," Moulin smirked.