Smiley (Yandere Werewolf x Reader)

Chapter 10 - Nightmare

After the unsettling lesson, we all headed back home. The heaviness of the old man's words lingered in my chest like a storm cloud, but I tried to shake it off. I couldn't spend every waking moment thinking about the bond, or rejection, or the doom that seemed to hang over us.

When we got inside, Smiley already had a movie queued up. The familiar title of Fight or Flight flashed on the screen. He sat down next to me, closer than usual, his arm brushing against mine as he settled in.

"Oh my..." I muttered under my breath.

It was a dramatic film, full of action, betrayal, and tension—a fitting distraction from the chaos of reality. I tried to lose myself in it, let the explosions and dramatic confrontations pull me away from my thoughts. 

Smiley seemed invested in it too, his eyes never leaving the screen, though he occasionally glanced at me to gauge my reaction.

As the movie played, I couldn't help but feel the weight of his presence beside me. His warmth was comforting, despite everything. It felt wrong, but at the same time, my body seemed to respond naturally, as though being near him was the only place I was meant to be. The bond, again.

By the time the credits rolled, exhaustion had taken over. I drifted off on the couch, resting my head against the cushion as sleep quickly claimed me.

But sleep didn't bring peace—it brought something far worse.

____

I was back at my old house, the one I barely considered a home.

The paint on the walls was peeling, and the air felt stale. It was always cold, no matter how many layers I wore. Today was no different. I was getting dressed for another graveyard shift, the only work I could get. My fingers fumbled with my worn-out jacket, and exhaustion weighed down my every movement.

As I slipped into my shoes, I felt it—that eerie sensation of being watched. I paused for a moment, scanning the room.

But there was nothing.

I'm too tired for this.

My body ached, and my brain was clouded with fatigue. I shrugged it off and grabbed my keys, heading for the door.

There wasn't even a point in locking it.

Nothing in here worth stealing.

I let the door close behind me with a dull thud, the sound echoing through the empty street. The world outside was still, quiet, and somehow unnerving. The moon hung low, casting long shadows on the pavement as I trudged along the road toward the corner store where I worked.

"Morning, Y/N," a coworker mumbled as she walked out the front door, not even sparing me a second glance.

"Morning," I replied, though it wasn't much of one.

My voice felt as hollow as the store itself. It was dead in here, just like every other night. I slumped into the creaky chair behind the counter, grabbing a bag of chips from the shelf.

Might as well eat something to stay awake.

The hours dragged on, each second ticking by slower than the last. I fought to keep my eyes open, my head dipping dangerously low as sleep beckoned. But then, the familiar jingle of the door opening jolted me back to reality.

"Welcome to Quick Mart," I said automatically, not even looking up at first.

But when I did, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise. There, standing in the doorway, was a man—a stranger in a hoodie, staring right at me with an unsettling smile.

"Do you need help with anything, sir?" I asked, my voice steady, though inside I was already on edge.

He said nothing.

Just stood there, watching me. His silence pressed down on the room, thick and suffocating.

Maybe he's just some weirdo.

Happens all the time at night.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally moved toward the counter, placing a few items down. I started scanning them, not even bothering to make small talk. Something about him made me uneasy, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

When I glanced up again, he was holding out a hundred-dollar bill.

Way too much for what he's buying.

I frowned, taking the bill and waiting for him to say something, maybe ask for change or at least acknowledge the weirdness of it.

But he didn't.

He just turned and walked out without another word.

"Sir?" I called after him, confused.

But he was already gone.

I stared down at the food he'd left behind.

What the hell just happened?

I didn't like how this felt. Something about it was off, and my instincts were telling me to be on guard. But exhaustion had dulled my senses. I ate the food anyway, too tired to care, and waited for my shift to end.

As I clocked out and left the store, the cold night air slapped me awake. I began my walk back to the apartment, already dreading another day in that miserable, run-down place. 

My feet dragged along the sidewalk, but the sound of footsteps behind me snapped me back to full alertness.

I glanced over my shoulder.

No... it can't be.

It was him.

The man from the store, the one with the hoodie and that unsettling smile. He was following me, his pace steady but just slow enough to make it clear that he was in no rush.

"What the..." I mumbled, my heart pounding in my chest.

Stay calm.

Maybe it's a coincidence.

I quickened my pace, hoping he would pass me or turn down another street. But his long strides easily closed the distance between us. His presence was like a shadow, growing larger and more menacing the closer he got.

Fear twisted in my gut as I walked faster, my breath coming in shallow bursts. I was nearly running now, but so was he.

And he was faster.

Before I could react, something sharp jabbed into my side. Pain radiated through me, and everything went black.

I woke up with a jolt, the familiar scent of old wood and mold filling my lungs.

What happened?

Where am I?

My vision was blurry, my head pounding. I tried to move, but my limbs were heavy, like lead. Slowly, the events of the night started piecing themselves together in my mind.

The man from the store. The chase. The sharp pain.

And now... darkness.

Panic surged through me as I struggled to sit up, but my body wouldn't obey.

What did he do to me?

Where am I?

The room around me was cold, and I realized with a sickening feeling that I wasn't in my apartment anymore.

Who the hell was that guy?