The snarls behind me seemed to be louder than any sound a normal animal should make. I kept my back to the beasts, hoping and praying that Easton would come to my rescue. But, just by the sounds they were making, I could imagine the jagged teeth clenched together. I could picture their claws dragging on the pavement of the driveway as they took slow, predatory steps forward.

How long would my fragile body last against them? Even if I was able to use the water still clinging to my clothes to command one of them away, I would still have far too many to take on by myself. Human self defense training wouldn't help me now. I would be in ribbons in a matter of seconds.

There was the shuffle of feet on flooring and I heard the lock slide in the front door.

Then, a very sleepy Easton appeared. 

Thank Neptune.

Had I been any less frantic, I would have appreciated the sight in front of me. His golden brown hair was tousled all over the place, some strands hanging over his eyebrow, some pushed back, some even standing straight up. It looks like he had haphazardly pulled on whatever had been closed to him, grey sweatpants and a dark blue shirt.

Hell, if I had even half a functioning mind right now, I would have had the decency to be worried about how I looked, standing on his porch in the middle of the night. My pajamas were still soaked through, my face was red from crying and I probably still had stray tears trickling down. I was shivering and shaking, letting quiet sobs leak through my quaking lips.

"Lass," Easton murmured, then his attention turned to the wolves who still refused to back down. "Are you alright? They didn't hurt you, did they? Do you need an ambulance?"

I could only shake my head mutely.

"Alright, you go inside. I just have to talk to them, okay?"

I nodded.

He looked like he was about to reach out and touch me, but thought better of it as he always did. He pulled on a pair of beat up runners and made quick work of the stairs while I shimmied inside and shut the heavy door. 

I was alone for a short time and I had never felt so out of place. In his perfectly neat home, I was standing with muddy, bare feet. In the quietness of his house, there was only the sound of my ragged breathing and constant sniffling. I tried to get myself under control, but the most I could do was rub my cold arms and try to tell myself that everything was going to be okay.

Easton came back into the house less than five minutes later. 

And I was still right there, shaking like a leaf in the middle of the open floor plan.

"They didn't mean to frighten you," he stated, putting his shoes back in place. "I haven't told many people about you yet. They were a little nervous of you showing up in the middle of the nights, but they recognized your vehicle. They wouldn't have hurt you no matter what, it was just an intimidation thing."

I swallowed hard and nodded once more, staring at the floor. Now that my frantic state was waning, I was left with trembling fingers and rapid breathing and scorching embarrassment. I shouldn't have come here, not like this.

Easton took a moment to appraise me, not saying a word as his eyes traveled over my form. I could only watch as he assessed my wet, shaking body. And I didn't miss the way he paused when he saw the scars that my meager clothing revealed. 

God, I was a fool. A complete and utter fool. 

But it was too late to go back now.

I expected a million questions to fire out of Easton's mouth. I thought he would demand to know why I had come here, why I was dripping with creek water, and where my scars had come from.

But he didn't ask me any of those things.

"You look like you're about to freeze to death. How does a shower sound?"

"Really good," I confessed, finally locating my voice.

I followed him as he led me down a small hallway. I was highly aware of the muddy prints I was leaving behind, but he didn't seem to care. He pushed open a door and gestured for me to go inside. 

The bathroom was somewhere between industrial and rustic with it's slate grey colours and vintage fixtures. Just like the rest of the house, it was cleaned to perfection.

"I'll put clean clothes outside the door," he grunted.

He left immediately after and I was left thinking that I was an idiot for coming here. What impulses had dragged me here? Now he was going to have a million questions for me and I would struggle to answer even half of them. But he had every right to ask because I had nearly kicked down his door in the middle of the night, looking nothing short of a walking disaster covered in scars. 

I wanted to hide in that bathroom forever. I would have stayed under the spray of the hot water forever just to avoid the impending conversations. But the water rejuvenated me, as much as processed, filtered water could. It seemed that any time humans tampered with water it lost it's spirit. I was just thankful that it had become a comfort once more, even just slightly.

It gave me the strength to get out of the shower and dry off. With a towel wrapped around my body, I opened the door a crack and, as promised, there was a set of clothes waiting for me. I pulled on the soft teeshirt and baggy sweatpants without a second thought. His distinct summer scent wrapped around me like a warm embrace. 

But when I looked in the mirror, I saw something close to a monster staring back at me. My yellow blonde hair was snarled in nasty knots. My cheeks and eyes were red from my constant crying and my skin was blotchy from the transition of cold air to hot water. 

God, now I really wanted to stay in here forever. 

Still, I knew that Easton would come and check on me eventually and that would only make matters worse.

I didn't spare myself another glance. I steeled myself as best as I could, reminding myself that I was related to a literal god. I could handle this interrogation. 

The first thing I noticed when I emerged from the bathroom was that my muddy trail had been cleaned up already. There was wet marks from a mop over the area that I had covered, but that was the only sign that there had ever been filth in this home. The second thing I noticed was the smell. I would know that smell anywhere: buffalo chicken.

"Hey," Easton murmured when he caught my eye in the living room. "Come sit and eat something."

"I really shouldn't impose," I began. Like a coward. I was bowing out and running away because they was all I knew now. "I think it would be best if I actually just left. I'm sorry for-"

"Kaia, you showed up banging on my door in the middle of the night, soaked to the bone and shaking. I want you to be comfortable and I'll do whatever it takes to put you at ease, but I am not leaving you alone tonight. I don't care if that means I have to sleep outside your door at the cabin, I'll do it. I just...Kaia, you scared the shit out of me."

"I'm sorry," I repeated, dipping my head down. 

Easton blew out a tense breath through tight lips. "I'd really like it if you sat down and ate some food. It's just leftovers, but it would make me happy. Last time you ate like you hadn't eaten in weeks."

I complied with his wishes, unable to resist the smell. He gestured to a blanket covered portion of the couch and when I seated myself, he pulled the blankets over me, tucking in all the loose ends until on my hands and head were free. Even with the fabric between us, I could feel the tingle of electricity between us, like we were two charged magnetic drawn towards each other.

When I peered up at him through my thick, dark lashes, I saw the way he was being careful to never touch my skin, but how he was meticulously swaddling me. And I could see the fear that he was talking about. 

"I had a nightmare," I admitted.

"Must have been one hell of a nightmare," he grunted, flopping on the couch beside me, still so careful to keep his distance.

"You have no idea. I've had nightmares like that before. I can usually fight through things like this. But I was so afraid. I couldn't be alone, I couldn't be in the cabin. I couldn't be outside. I just didn't know what to do. I had to come to you," I blurted.

A ghost of Easton's usual smile dusted his mouth. The situation was too striking and too upsetting for much more, but I considered it a win nonetheless. 

"Is there anything else I can do to make this easier?" he asked.

"Would you mind turning on a movie for me? It would make it easier for me to relax."

"Whatever you want, lass."

~~~Distraction Section~~~

We have hit the end of our seven day streak. Hope you all enjoyed it! Fourteen brand new shiny chapters between the two books and I couldn't be happier with the support.

Question of the Day: Who are you really grateful for?