My eyes squint shut as Noah crashes toward me, but the impact I brace for never arrives. When I open my eyes, shock zaps my bones.

Noah pins the hulking wolf to the ground by the neck with one bare hand. His clothes shred and burst. But beneath his clothes isn’t the skin I expect, his body morphing into a new, inhuman form. Fur. Claws. A dark snout as long as my entire body.

An enormous black wolf emerges from Noah’s body, snarling at the cowering wolf beneath him.

Reality bends, and I’m reeling with it. But I don’t have time to. The brown wolf snaps, ready to tear into Noah the second his black, towering form meets it face to face.

And I have an opening to run.

But no matter how terrified and confused I am, everything in me screams to protect Noah.

I scramble across the forest floor as the wolves tumble, searching for a large enough rock. When Noah pins the strange wolf to the ground again, I throw with all my might.

The rock hits the wolf square in the head, and Noah’s ears shoot upright in surprise.

Then he looks at me. Golden, piercing eyes spike my heart down to my knees.

But Noah can’t stare for long. His attacker wolf squirms to run away, whimpering louder by the second. Noah isn’t letting up. Hot, furious drool drips from his fangs as he lifts his lips. A low, rumbling snarl from the black wolf morphs the brown wolf’s cries from whimpers to yipes.

I can feel Noah’s anger - his thirst for revenge shaking in my own chest. And I get why; maybe the wolf would’ve hurt us, given a chance. But from what I know about wolves, they don’t attack without reason. I probably encroached on their territory, and now they’re pissed and trying to shoo us away.

None of that matters when Noah’s dominance has triumphed by miles - no blood necessary. And after what I’ve seen, I don’t want to see anyone else die.

My voice comes out small and shaky. “N-Noah, it’s over! L-let them go!”

Noah pauses, glancing between me and the animal beneath his massive paws - each paw three times larger than my head. With one final warning snarl, Noah releases the wolf.

Well, relatively. He chases it until it scrambles into the forest with its tail tucked.

Noah gives one final irritated huff through his massive black snout before turning around and padding toward me. He makes the trees feel like twigs in not just size but presence.

Fresh adrenaline stings my nerves. Even if he saved my life, a truck-sized wolf approaching sends red alerts to my system. I withdraw a step, and Noah freezes.

“O-oh, God. Y-you’re…”

He slinks back, his ears tucking in embarrassment.

“I-I’m sorry! It’s just - you’re so big, and I’m small to begin with, and—” I have to crane my neck to look at him, leaning so far that my shaky legs drop me onto my butt with a grunt.

Noah’s ears pop up in concern.

Before I can react, the massive black wolf circles me, his huge nose huffing hot air all over my body.

“N-Noah! What—?!” I giggle at his ticklish nose without meaning to, only cutting my laugh short with gasping breaths.

He stops at my hands, bloody from falling earlier. My heart pounds as he gives them the softest lick he can manage. This has to be a dream, right? Noah’s big, golden eyes peek at me before his tongue moves to my bloody knees. As I stare into them, I can’t help but feel he’s putting care into every lick.

When he’s done, his massive head moves in toward mine. I flinch - seeing him this close, he could swallow me whole.

Sensing my hesitation, Noah pauses a few inches from my nose. My heart burns from how hard it pounds.

This day makes no sense whatsoever, but that doesn’t stop Noah from being gorgeous. Layer upon layer of thick black fur frames golden eyes, his pitch-black nose blending in with his snout. I want to memorize every strand of fur. Become one with it.

But Noah awaits my next move. His sweet, puppy-like stare kneads my heart muscles into action, protective instincts welling in me. I dare to sink my hands into the fluffy fur on top of his head.

He’s softer than I expected. My skin erupts in goosebumps, begging to immerse more and more of it into Noah’s fur.

But that’s not the best part; Noah’s eyelids droop in bliss as I stroke him. My heart twirls.

As if he notices, his eyes laze open. They gaze deep into mine as I shift to scratching his cheeks. He looks so serious that my hands freeze.

Nudging his cheek against my palm, he easily brushes my hand from him.

My heart drops. Was it rude to pet him without his permission?

“S-sorry, did I—?”

I’m stunned as Noah nuzzles my palm back open until I hold it out for him. Noah’s eyes glint with a reflective glow in the moonlight as he tilts his head, pressing the bridge of his snout into my palm. As he shuts his eyes, trusting me to touch him, my heart swells with emotion I didn’t expect. I think this is as vulnerable for him as it is for me.

But this isn’t close enough for Noah. My skin erupts in tingles as his warm, silky fur smushes against my forehead, his head bowed. For a moment, all I can hear is his deep, gentle breath - coursing through his snout against the bridge of my nose.

I’ve been lonely for so long, but within minutes of meeting Noah, I feel valued. Just like Jenny said.

Whether I like it or not, tears stream. Noah’s bright eyes pop open, breaking our intimate bubble. He nuzzles my cheeks until his wet nose douses me much worse than my eyes.

I break into shy laughter. “Sorry, I don’t know what came over me. I’m okay.”

But Noah doesn’t buy it. After staring deep into my eyes, he gives a soft whine. Wrapping his chin over my shoulder, Noah tucks me against his furry chest with a powerful scoot, and I give a small, surprised yelp. But once I’m enveloped in his scent, my shoulders drop.

He’s so warm and fluffy. I’m wrapped in the biggest hug I’ve ever felt, comfort seeping through my ribcage until it spreads to every bone. I can’t admit how badly I needed this.

Hiding my face in his dense fur, I shed silent tears. This is the first time I’ve let myself be upset around a stranger in years. I thought I’d be more scared to be vulnerable, but he’s so gentle that I relax in his warmth.

As my muscles soften against him, Noah lets out a soft, purring growl, tucking me closer. I close my eyes, soaking in his comfort with a wave of fresh emotion flooding my heart. He’s so sweet that I want to thank him, but I’m not sure how.

“Noah, you’re so soft… And so warm. A-and you smell so good… It’s nice.” My cheeks burn the second I blurt out every compliment I can think of, forgetting to thank him in the first place. “A-and thank you! For protecting me. I feel much calmer, thanks to you.”

Deep, thumping vibrations erupt from the ground, pulsing through my feet. I spot its source behind Noah.

“Oh, my God, are you wagging your enormous tail?” I giggle, and his tail thumps harder, kicking leaves in every direction.

When Noah sniffs my side with huffing, ticklish breaths, I let out a surprised squeal of laughter. But then he nudges me toward his back, dipping a rippling, dense shoulder to my eye level.

“Do you… want me to get on your back?”

Noah looks me in the eyes with shy, tucked-back ears, and my heart flutters with adoration.

Then he glances all around - the concern for our safety in his flickering focus.

He’s right; safety is temporary out here. But I don’t know how safe Noah is for me, either. I barely know him. Stranded in the forest like this, who knows where he could take me.

But my gut wants to trust him. Is that irrational?