Coyotes and Wolves, Milo Manheim Original Story

Woke Up in a Panic

It was 2:00am.

Estella had woken up several times in the night. Her mind kept pulling her back into these terrible dreams, and she woke up in a panic. Everytime she got herself to fall back asleep, the same thing would happen again. She was exhausted. Sad. And shaking with anxiety. She wanted Milo. She needed him. But she didn't feel like she deserved to ask him for help right now. So she tried her best to shake through it.

Henry started to whine in his bed, he always knew when Estella was falling apart, and it made him nervous. He kept whining and Estella finally got annoyed with the noisy pup and opened her door to let him out.

"Go! I'm fine! Just get out." She whisper shouted to the distraught little dog. Her patience wearing thin due to exhaustion and aggravation.

Henry continued to whine and cry from the hall, as she shut the door. Eventually he gave up and waddled his way towards Milo's room. He began scratching and continued crying little high pitched whimpers, this time annoying the tall brunette and waking him up.

Milo opened the door, squinting from the light and rubbing the sleep from his chocolate brown eyes.

"Dude!" He scolded in a whisper. "What?" He demanded, as if the pup would somehow answer him.

Henry's whines grew louder and he started to wiggle his butt as he walked backwards away from Milo. The pup turned and began to beckon Milo, whining as if trying to get him to follow.

"Estella?" Milo piped up, finally getting the message as Henry cried louder. "Okay! Okay! I'm coming." He added, closing his door and following the nervous bulldog.

Milo opened Estella's door with Henry in toe, the dog finally calming down.

"Estella?" Milo voiced, urgently. "What's wrong?"

It was dark and he couldn't see her face.

"Mi...Milo..." She sobbed, softly.

Milo rushed to her side and put his hands on her face.

"What is it, baby?" He gasped, in concern.

"I'm sorry. I'm...I don't...please..." She stammered, hyperventilating.

Milo released a cleansing breath and wrapped her in his arms holding her head against his bare chest as he stroked her hair, comfortingly.

"Alright...alright...shh...I'm here, Princess." He cooed, softly.

"I'm..." She continued to stutter.

"Stop. Just...shush, okay? Breathe, babygirl. Just breathe." Milo mildly scolded her, while trying to get her to calm herself. "Why didn't you come get me?" He groaned, under his breath.

But she wouldn't stop, the panic had hit her hard this time.

He picked her up and laid her on her back.

"Alright, baby. Keep breathing." He repeated, climbing up and perching above her on the bed, taking her arms over her head and holding her down, firmly.

"I'm so...I can't..." She continued to cry.

"Estella!" He cut her off with a sharp warning. "Keep your mouth shut, or I swear to God, I'll gag you! Don't test me, Princess."

She immediately stopped struggling and took in a deep breath.

Although it sounded mean, he knew that it helped when he took over for her. And sometimes the scolding helped her snap out of it.

"I'm in control, not you." He continued, in a dominant tone. "You can't do anything right now because I'm not going to let you. So just lay back, breathe, and stay quiet."