After the Father left, Cherie’s grandmother came back to the living room, finding Cherie cleaning up the floor that was coated in the berries’ juices. Merissa had a disappointed look on her face.

“What happened?” Merissa asked as she crouched down, grabbing Cherie by his face to get his attention.

“It fell,” Cherie said simply.

“‘It’?” Merissa asked.

“The basket.” Cherie said dismissively and Merissa scowled.

“How did the basket fall?” She asked him, her blue eyes narrowing.

“I accidentally knocked into it,” Cherie told her, but judging by her expression, he knew that she didn’t believe him at all.

“Where’s the basket?” Merissa asked, glancing around.

Cherie glanced at the fireplace and Merissa’s expression darkened. He could tell that she was mad at him but she sighed heavily and examined Cherie’s face. “You’re bloody,” she stated and stood up, shuffling over to the sink and grabbing a rag. She threw it on the floor. “Clean your face, then the floor.”

Cherie scowled as she left but he did wipe his face then the ground, grumbling. His grandmother never gave a shit if the Father beat him up. It wasn’t like she hated him, but more so thought of him as a nuisance. Probably because his mother died. Merissa believed that it was Cherie’s fault for her daughter’s death. But it wasn’t like Cherie called for the wolves that night.

After he cleaned the berry juices off the floor, he tossed the rag into the sink and exited the cottage. He went back to the forest—he didn’t care if he got caught. He just wanted to see the wolf again. He wondered if the wolf was prowling around the forest or hunting. He hoped the wolf was hunting. He wanted to see it hunt—it’d be a thrilling thing to witness.

Even though it was late noon and the sun was high up in the sky, inside the forest, Cherie was welcomed by darkness and a cold breeze. He pushed past the thick bushes and ducked under the branches as he tried to head back to the berry grounds. Upon stumbling into the clearing, he found the wolf-man lying on the flat ground, staring at the sky. The wolf-man’s silver eyes glinted a reflective light when the sun’s light hit them. Cherie’s breath stilled in his throat as he stared ravenously over the wolf-man’s bare body, relishing the hard muscles.

The wolf-man sat up and he turned his frigid gaze to Cherie and his silver eyes slitted and he snarled, flashing his fangs at him. “What are you doing here? Didn’t I tell you if you were to step foot in here, I’ll kill you?”

Cherie grinned at him. “Did you, now?”

The wolf-man furiously made his way to Cherie until Cherie’s back was pressed up against the tree. The wolf-man jabbed a finger in Cherie’s face and spat, “Foolish child, I will end you. Just you wait. I can snap your neck in half and rip your pulsating heart out of you with the rip of my fangs.”

“Go ahead,” Cherie murmured, tilting his head back to give the wolf-man access to his neck. “I don’t care. Please take my life.” He could feel the hot breath of the wolf-man on his neck, could smell the wolf-man’s earthy scent. He wanted the wolf-man to sink his fangs into his neck and let him drown in his own blood. He wanted it so badly that he was trembling with need.

“Delusional—you’re really fucking delusional,” the wolf-man snarled, his fangs ghosting Cherie’s neck. “Do you really have a death wish?”

Cherie’s breath caught in his throat as he felt the wolf-man’s fangs sink into his neck, a shockwave of pleasurable pain flooding his system. He gave off a harsh noise, caught between a strangled gasp and a hitching moan, before he was able to stop himself.

Blood was trickling down Cherie’s neck, staining the front of his shirt a crimson red. His head felt light and his legs went weak under him. Despite the stars in Cherie’s vision, he held the wolf-man closer to him, begging him to take his life, to taste him—

Cherie was distracted by the wolf-man’s tongue against his neck, lapping at his blood. He fisted the wolf-man’s hair, clinging to him as the wolf-man’s tongue continued laving at his neck, making Cherie feel enervated. He wanted more, so much more, but the wolf-man drew back, lips and tongue stained ruby.

“You really don’t care, do you?” The wolf-man murmured, a bemused expression on his face. “Why would a child like you crave death? Why are you so unhappy with your life?” He gripped Cherie’s chin, tilting Cherie’s face upward until Cherie and the wolf-man were nose to nose.

“No one could fulfill my wish like you can,” Cherie murmured, his eyes trained on the wolf-man’s blood-stained lips, wondering what it’d be like to lick those lips.

“And what…wish…do you want to be fulfilled?” The wolf-man growled, his nails digging into Cherie’s cheeks.

“I want to be fucked senseless with someone choking me. I want to feel his hands wrapped tight around my neck, suffocating me slowly while he slams deep into me. I need to see the stars and taste blood in my mouth while he thrusts in and out of me. I need to feel his teeth close around my throat, to feel my pulse sputtering against his tongue, to feel my life slip between his fingers. I want to feel his nails dig into the divets of my body, feel his hot breath against my ear as he threatens to beat me, punish me, and fuck me ruthlessly. Sweet nothings turned toxic; he’s delusional and I am insane, just giving my body to him to own.” Cherie looked at the wolf-man and saw that he had an aghast look on his face.

The floored look on the wolf-man’s face was almost laughable. He had an expression crossed between repulsion, admiration, and morbid curiosity. He canted his head, silver eyes burning lasers into Cherie. When he spoke, the wolf-man’s voice was rough:

“Looks like I got myself a little masochist,” he mused, dragging a nail softly against Cherie’s jaw. “Isn’t that right, boy?”

Cherie kept quiet. He didn’t deny nor confirm this. Why would he? After all, the answer couldn’t have been more clearer. It was a darkness that was brewing deep within Cherie and it was spreading fast. He wouldn’t stop—didn’t want to stop it. In fact, he wanted that darkness to manifest. After all, what was the harm in a little danger? It meant more thrill for him.

“You’re a whore for attention, aren’t you?” The wolf-man continued as he stared deeply into Cherie’s eyes. “That’s why you keep saying the strangest shit to me. You want a reaction from me, be it disgust or violent or whatever. You keep rambling until I snap. But I gotta say, it’s fucking entertaining.” The wolf-man mused, lips curling into a delighted grin.

Cherie reached out and cupped the wolf-man’s face in his hands, running his finger against the wolf-man’s hard jaw. He studied the silver eyes, those silver eyes that looked like perfect moons. He wanted to drink in the wolf-man’s heedy, earthy scent, and he wanted to beg the wolf-man to take him right there, right now. But restraint. He kept telling himself to restrain but he was so deeply aroused by this wolf-man.

“You should go.” The wolf-man said in a low voice. “I’m serious, kid. You shouldn’t be in this forest. Don’t you know the dangers that lie in here?” He leaned close and whispered in Cherie’s ear, “I swear, if you come back one more time, you will regret it.”

Cherie was unable to suppress the shudder that ran down his spine, a half-gasp, half-moan slipping from his throat. He felt a heavy pang in his chest as the wolf-man stepped back, creating distance between them. He wanted the wolf-man to be near him, to let him feel the fire that was growing within him.

“Before I go,” Cherie said hastily when he noticed the wolf-man turning around to leave, “could you tell me your name?”

“Name?” The wolf-man mused. “And why would you think I have a name? I am a wolf. And if I did have a name, do you think I’ll tell a human boy my name?” He looked at Cherie, silver eyes flashing.

“Then…can I call you Wolf?” Cherie asked. It was stupid—childish—but Cherie found it suiting the wolf-man.

“‘Wolf’?” echoed the wolf-man, chuckling dryly. “If it pleases you, you can call me Wolf. But,” he growled, “I’m warning you: don’t step in this forest again.”

“Cherie,” Cherie added softly, and Wolf cocked his head, bemused.

“Cherie?” Wolf repeated slowly. “Is that your name?”

“Yes. My name is Cherie.” Cherie confirmed.

Wolf’s grin grew and he smirked. “Befitting name for a fiery-tempered boy like you. I hope our paths don’t cross again, Cherie.” He vanished amongst the dense thicket and trees.