Wolfe

11

Chapter 11

A discontent and sleepy rumble echoed in the silent room as Marley blearily blinked her eyes open. Her eyelids didn't rise more then halfway, her gaze roaming around the bedroom and her brows furrowed when she saw the empty spot beside her on the bed. She rested her hand atop of the empty spot, another displeased rumble leaving her when she felt how cold it was.

The wolf picked herself up with a tired grunt and slipped off the bed, her footsteps light as she headed towards the door. Her nose twitched as she scented the air, finding the scent she was looking for and followed after it. Her walk slowed before stopping completely when she finally found who she was looking for.

Jace was unnaturally still, her back slouched as she sat at the very center of the couch. Her eyes were distant, the blood vessels in them being highly visible as she stared unblinkingly at the muted TV. It showing a man with a sparkling crystal-clear knife as he began to cut a tennis ball with it.

Marley cleared her throat, doing it once more when Jace didn't react. The human stayed still even as Marley started to walk towards her, more weight being added to each step as to not spook the blonde.

"Jace." Marley called out, her voice gentle but just loud enough to have a slight reverb to it. And yet, Jace continued to be in her trance-like state.

"Jace." The redhead repeated a bit louder.

Still nothing.

Marley's brow furrowed even more with worry before she stood right next to the right side of the couch. She raised a bare foot as the guy on TV started to chop at a brick of all things.

"Jace!" Marley all but shouted with a swift kick to the side of the couch. The young wolf knew better than to get close to someone that was too deep in their mind. Her aunt, Rigel had similar moments after a particularly nasty rogue attack on the pack when Marley had been a pup.

No one ever told Marley what happened to her aunt. Only that the rogues took her and that she managed to return 4 days later covered in rogue blood with countless scars and a newfound hatred of being touched.

Thankfully the light jostle worked, The wolf watching as the Human jumped up from her spot with a choked noise leaving her dry lips. Dry light brown eyes blinked rapidly, Jace's gaze darting around until it focused on Marley. The tenseness of the blonde's body beginning to slowly, slowly leak away as light brown stared into gentle gray.

"....Marley?" The blonde's voice was raspy. It clearly being shown that she hadn't spoken in several hours, probably since they had gone to sleep.

"Hi."

"....Hey." Jace sighed as she moved to sit back down on the couch. Marley's lips pursed slightly as she watched her human run a hand over her face before she took a seat beside the blonde. A foot of space between them as Marley watched Jace release another heavy breath, her eyes roaming lazily over the TV before tilting her head back to look at the roof.

"How long you been up?" The blonde asked softly. Her throat bobbing as she swallowed to rid herself of the scratchy dryness. Marley let out a small puff through her nose before slowly moving one of her hands towards Jace's thigh.

She rested only the tips of her fingers against the firm muscle, feeling it tense quickly before that tension leaked away. Marley taking the sign to rest the entire of her hand around it and giving it a loving squeeze.

"That's more a question for you then me."

"...I never slept."

It was quiet, only the faint sound of the early morning wind blowing against the cabin's roof being heard as they were illuminated with the muted TV's harsh light. Another soft squeeze against firm muscle, Jace's eyes lazily staring at the TV.

"I see." Marley murmured, her gaze moving from Jace's profile to her neck. She leaned her head forward and gave a cautious tap against one of the scars with her nose. She waited until Jace slowly turned her head and lowered it to rest atop of her own before nuzzling deep against the scarred skin.

A gentle rumble vibrated deep in her chest, it echoing in the silent cabin. A soft exhale was heard, Marley feeling Jace's body slacken against her own and let her rumbling grow louder as she slowly leaned herself back. Her arms wrapping loosely around her human and taking her with her, resting Jace's head on her chest as the blonde's eyelids drooped.

Marley's ears twitched at the faint sound of the early birds songs as the forest surrounding them awoke with the rise of the sun. Slim fingers ran through disheveled, soft blonde hair as calm gray eyes roamed around the wooden ceiling.

"Sleep, Jace." Marley whispered between rumbles, a low noise leaving Jace as she soaked in the soft touches and soothing noise coming from the werewolf. Her heavy eyelids drooped even more before shutting completely, her breath quickly evening out as the Sandman worked his magic.

Marley never stopped in her calm strokes or rumbling even as her own eyes slipped closed.

Because even those with the strongest of wills have moments where they are the ones in need of safety, a comforting hand, a gentle rumbling.

Cardinals and Bluejays sang, Caribou and Does shook out their hides and searched for places to graze. Argo and Marley's siblings woke up with a constant light worry and hope for the youngest wolf and her potential mate.

And the Sun...

The Sun rose. Slowly, Steadily, and Surely. The Sun rose and bathed it all in its brilliant, bright light.