I stirred on the bed and took a deep breath. I moved my hands that were at the sides of my body. I lifted my eyelids looking down and saw that I was free from the bonds that were on my legs and wrists until recently. I felt as if I had choked on water that had fallen into the wrong hole that it should have. Fortunately, the water was not involved in any of this. I opened my eyes wider and looked ahead. Daniel and Rafael were staring at me as if they had seen a ghost. After a moment I heard a mournful howl, so I asked:
- Who died? - Dan was immediately at my side and scooped me up in his arms almost breaking all my bones. I laughed and reciprocated the gesture.
- You.
- What me?
- Well, you died... - I choked on my saliva at his announcement.
- I'm doing great, so how could I die?
- Lia... Your heart stopped beating a few hours ago. Adrian fell apart. He said it was his fault, that it was because of his bite. He turned into a wolf, and that was all we saw of him. The rest of them scattered around the house and are in the middle of planning your funeral. We stayed behind to look after your body... - oh dear, that's the way it went. I thought I'd been gone for fifteen minutes at the most, but here I was for several hours. I sighed and got out of bed. I'm not sure if they'll believe me that I talked to the goddess herself, so I didn't mention anything about it.
- Don't get up. You should lie down... - he fell silent at the sight of my threatening look. I don't have any serious injury, so he doesn't need to babysit me or order me around. I walked to the door and wanted to leave, but a tug on my arm stopped me.
- Where are you going?
- What do you mean, where? We have to tell everyone about my resurrection and that they don't have to prepare my tombstone yet. I'll be around for a while longer. - He had a dumbstruck look on his face. I laughed, patted him on the cheek a few times and left. Only now did I realize that the blockade had stopped working. I stopped in the middle of the hallway. I thought... Never mind. However, their plan with the bite had succeeded. At a rather salacious cost, but a huge thank you to Hekate. If it wasn't for her... I really wouldn't be back here. They've had quite a nervous breakdown. I'll show them what it's like to play with fire. Oh, I'll have a laugh out of this world. My smile must have shown, because when Dan saw it, he groaned and almost crossed himself.
- What did you come up with this time?
- Well... They've had their fun at my expense, so I'm going to return the favor. I know they didn't do it on purpose, but... They'll either be happy to see me again or they'll be gone from this world in a heartbeat. - I shrugged my shoulders and headed for the stairs.

**********

Some time ago Rafael went to say that they had taken my body to the morgue. We waited in the stairwell for a sign from Rafael, who informed us that we could move slowly to the living room. He then ran down the stairs leaving us alone. The moment came for the dragon to enter. I followed Daniel step by step, treading on his heels. Finally, he entered the living room, and I followed him. When they all saw me, they froze in one position. Dan looked back pretending not to see anything there.
- Is something wrong? Do I have something on my forehead or what?
- Dan...niel...You...be...hh...iin...d...yy...ouu...She...
- What are you talking about, Mom? There's no one or anything behind him. - Rafael got up from the couch and stood nose to nose with me. I could see that he was barely holding back his laughter, so I turned sideways to him and wrapped my arms around Daniel's biceps.
- She's... Standing right next to you... Touching your shoulder. - Cecil said with his eyes wide open. The boy looked to the side and now he landed face to face with me.
- No one is here. Stop playing marbles. It's not funny at all. - Oh, it is. He's close to laughing too, so I started fluttering my eyelashes, which was supposed to look flirtatious, but I guess it didn't work because they both roared with laughter. I won't say, I had a big banana on my face too.
- I got you guys. - I turned to face everyone. They were rubbing their eyes in disbelief.
- Their...faces...are...priceless... - breathed out Rafael with pauses for choked laughter.
- You had identical ones when I opened my eyes. - I reminded him. He shook his head and sat on the couch grabbing his stomach.
- Are you really alive? - stated Em in a trembling voice. I snorted at her question.
- Would I be standing here if I wasn't? - I spun around on my axis. - I'm as healthy as a fish. Well, except for the fact that my heart failed for a few hours. Only that is a side effect of your plan. - I sent each of them a punishing look. Everyone's faces turned a deep blood color.
- We didn't know this would happen. - My father began.
- I am aware of that. - I nodded and again heard the mournful howling. There were three people missing among us, including the one closest to my heart. - How far away from here?
- Somewhere in the woods. Ever since you died... ekhm... Momentarily your heart refused to obey, he has changed and sits there, howling every now and then. We wanted to give him some privacy so he could mourn your loss. - I felt a lump in my throat. I swallowed my saliva, grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch, and wordlessly walked outside.

**********

Following the scent, I reached a stream deep in the forest. On the bank laid a beautiful light brown wolf staring into the water. I spread out my blanket and watched him in silence. Finally, he felt someone's presence and turned his head in my direction. Familiar black eyes glared at me from above his muzzle. When he realized it was me, he got up on all fours and trotted to the blanket on which I was sitting. He jumped with his front paws onto my shoulders rolling me over onto my back, and in the meantime he took on the form of a human. He snuggled his head into the hollow of my neck and for some time we remained like that in silence. Finally he raised his head and kissed me gently. At some point the hunger of our bodies was awakened. We were thirsty for the touch of the other person.

**********

- Why didn't you come back? - We were lying naked on the blanket I had brought. I snuggled into him more comfortably as he started questioning me.
- I couldn't Dri.
- Or maybe you didn't want to? - he suggested uncertainly. He raised my blood pressure a little with that, but I figured he just wanted to know more about me. The wound in his heart is fresh, so he wants to make sure that he doesn't keep me with him by force. That I am with him of my own free will.
- I wanted to, but I hid that need deep within me and locked it away. I also didn't allow my she-wolf to the surface. I had just turned myself off. I came back after the conver...after your wonderful plan. - I kissed his jaw lightly pinching the skin with my teeth. When he fidgeted at the mention of their idea, I giggled. I laid my head on his shoulder and closed my eyelids breathing in his wonderful scent. There was no point in telling him that if it wasn't for the goddess they would have lost me for good. He would have even more guilt than the guilt that already exists.
- It's good to have you back. - He placed a kiss on my forehead and I smiled gently as I wrapped my left arm rounded his waist. - When you disappeared... I was sulky. I used to raid everyone for no reason. After I was finally able to get around on my own after the injury, my father talked some sense into me. Then my attitude went the other way. I closed myself off and didn't speak to anyone, stashing all my feelings inside. This was made worse by the fact that I had to undergo rehab for this leg, which was bothering me every now and then, despite being healed. My wolf also began to slowly lose itself. The improved senses were fading. I... - he paused, swallowed his tears and wanted to continue, but I put my index finger on his lips.
- You don't have to say anything. I know the feeling. I know what you felt. - He furrowed his brow, but made no comment. I rose to a sitting position and he did the same. - I'm the one who should make such a talk. But, what can I say? I'm sorry? You are well aware that I never meant to hurt you. Back then... The past is the past and we can't change it anymore. We can only think about the present and the future. About what we can do to make sure nothing like this ever happens again under any circumstances. I'll try to make sure of that. Never again. - He nodded and grabbed my hand, squeezing it tightly with his bigger one. - I don't want to ruin our colorful fairy tale, but we have to go back. Our family probably thinks we've been chewing on each other here.
- Or that we manage our time so well and are so busy with each other that we don't see God's world. - He sent me a sly grin and then slapped my bare ass when I got up to get dressed. I squealed and heard him laughing from behind one of the trees. I put on the clothes I came in and he emerged in sweatpants and a loose t-shirt.
- Ready to get back to reality? - I nodded and he intertwined our hands together and we started our way back home.