Loving A Wolf

Running

Winona opened her eyes and looked at the clock on her nightstand, before her eyes widened. Oh no, he was going to yell at her. She'd overslept. He hated it when she overslept.

She jumped out of bed and quickly got dressed, before she listened in silence. Nothing. No footsteps, no shouting, no slammed doors. All she could hear was the birds outside and a faint hum coming from the kitchen.

Because he wasn't there. She didn't live with him anymore. He had no access to her. And he never will.

On her way down the stairs, she stops at a creak from one of the steps, and catches herself apologizing. She didn't have to apologize.

She reached the kitchen, where Missy was humming to herself while making her morning coffee. "Good morning, Sweetie." she smiles. "...Morning." Missy noticed her hesitation. "Couldn't sleep?" she asked, before taking a sip from her mug.

"I was...waiting for someone to yell." she shrugged quietly. Missy's expression softened. "No one's going to yell at you here." she said, giving her a reassuring smile.

"But, what about school?" she asked, noticing how the house was so quiet. "You're teachers said that you could just relax for a couple of days. Addison promised to bring home your homework and help you with it, but you don't have to do it." she explained.

"Does everyone know?" she asked, looking...ashamed. Missy placed her hands on her shoulders and smiled. "Don't worry, Winona. Bucky has promised to make sure that no one says anything once you're ready to return."

She gave the girl a quick kiss on her forehead, before leaving for work. Now, the house was even quieter, and she felt herself jump at the slightest of sounds. "Come on, Win." she groaned, annoyed at herself, before her gaze fell through the kitchen window and on the neighbour house.

She wondered if they'd cleaned it up, or if everything was still a mess. Maybe her dress was still there. Finding the courage, she left her new home, and walked up to the front door of her old. The door was slightly opened, and everything was a complete mess.

Shattered glass everywhere, broken furniture, and police tape. She walked through the hallway to the living room, before her eyes fell on the mannequin on the floor, still wearing her dress.

She picked it up, before the sound of a car door slamming startled her, and she dropped it to the floor, heart beating rapidly.

She picked up the dress again, carefully smoothing the wrinkled fabric over the mannequin. It wasn't perfect anymore...neither was she. But it could be repaired.

Just like the dress..

her thoughts were taken elsewhere, when her phone buzzed with a message from Addison.

The guys wanted to know if you wanted to hang out today?

Winona thought for a second, before she came to a conclusion.

Gladly. I need the distraction. I'm at his house.

She put her phone back in her pocket, before her eyes landed on a cracked picture frame lying beside the staircase.

She crouched down and brushed away the glass. It was one of the few family photos they had ever taken. She couldn't have been older than seven. Her mom was kneeling beside her, smiling at the camera.

With him standing behind them.

Even through the cracked glass... She could see the way her younger self leaned toward her mother.

Away from him.

Suddenly, she hears the sound of keys jiggling, and her entire body freezes. For one horrible second, a though reached her mind.