Chapter 2: Fluffy, The Gorgeous Man

Groaning, I put the laptop on the cushion and stepped out of the pergola to glare at the kennel behind the bamboo screen. I breathed in fresh air, but it wasn’t enough to calm me down when I had yet to type a single word on my laptop, and this massive dog wouldn’t stop the scratching noises inside its house. 

Anya was in her room enjoying a siesta, and I decided it was best to come out in the garden to try and pinch my mind for something that could prove I was a writer. It must be because of the application letter I sent that remained unanswered that I couldn’t think of anything better to write. 

I've been waiting for months. And the dog's only been here for three days. It was not to blame, but I’d blame it anyway. 

“What the hell do you want?” I hissed, looking around the house to ensure neither the maid nor the guard heard me mistreating the dog. Especially not Anya when she grew fondly with her gigantic fur of a pet. I spotted that the silver container next to the food storage was full. “You have your food and water here. I’m sure Belinda’s done feeding you. You cannot continue scratching like that. You’ll break your house with those sharp claws!”

I kept a safe distance from the opening of the kennel. The dog was far behind the back. What was supposed to be a simple dog kennel turned into a small wooden house, which could even be Anya’s playhouse, though it would be much bigger for her. 

The pet she decided to take home was so massive that it took up almost half of my apartment's space. Anya was such an angel she also bought him comfortable bedding and toys bigger than her dolls because she was worried small toys could choke the huge beast. 

Three days ago, there was only the pergola in the middle of the lush greenery in the backyard of the Bello's bungalow. It was my favorite place to breathe fresh air without direct contact with the sun. It was made of bamboo screen with vines crawling and a lattice roof in black, casting a shadow pattern of the sunlight. It’s an open space; it could be an outdoor bedroom with outdoor furniture. 

But because of another member of the Bello family, a massive dog kennel was built for a massive furry animal. Mr. and Mrs. Bello hired men to build it five days ago. The following day, the dog from the shelter came home, and so far, it had proven itself to be clear of danger. 

Willy was convinced it was no threat to anyone despite the enormous height. When they found him, he believed the wounded dog was old, alone, and homeless. After being taken into the shelter and now finding its new home, he believed the dog had found some sense of security and was actually friendly. 

I couldn’t agree for some reason, but I couldn’t voice it out either when Mr. and Mrs. Bello simply wanted to support Anya. I could still remember the look on their faces when we all returned to the shelter to see Anya’s ‘unicorn.’ It was expected, and I thought they would drag their daughter out of the building right then and there. 

But the dog made some show-off, desperately wagging its tail and licking Anya’s small hands and face. He knew the decision would be on Anya, so he did his best to get to her good side, which honestly was not needed because back home, Anya already caused a storm in the house the night before. She wanted the dog, and that’s final. 

It was playful and, perhaps, thankful of her. He let everyone play with his thick, seemingly soft furs. Everyone easily got fond of the beast, but there’s just something about it that feels off. Maybe it’s just me. My lack of personal experience with them. But I swear, there’s something more than just meets the eye, and I’m going crazy for thinking the dog was up for some kind of fake act or something. 

I haven’t dared touch it yet. Well, I simply have no plan. Mr. and Mrs. Bello clarified that the ‘pet’ was not my job anyway.

I had been ignoring that smell I’d gradually become familiar with, and coming this close to the kennel, it was stronger. I couldn’t resist but wondered what it was. It sure was coming from the dog, but I asked Willy and the others about it, and they just said he smelt like normal dogs. 

With that height, do they really think he’s normal?

The noise continued. I placed my hands on my sides, wondering what to do, and my eyes landed on the small board on the roof where its name was written in white paint. 

“If you’re hungry, come out here. Your food is right here.” I gestured my hand to the silver platter. In the end, reluctantly, I picked it up and carefully placed it at the entrance of the house. A silent snarl echoed, and I couldn't tell if he was pleased with my effort or if I was such a disturbance to his scratching.  

Looking up, large cunning silver eyes glinted in the shadow, surprising me that I fell to the ground with my butt. A scream got stuck in my throat when the beast came out and lunged at me. 

A giant face swung right before mine. I was dizzy for a moment because of the proximity, plus the evident predatory look it had on me. I saw myself once again trapped in his silver orbs. I instinctively closed my eyes, afraid to be under some kind of spell again. 

Then I inhaled it. It had a musky, leather-like scent. A wet ground. Like how the earth would smell after the rain overnight. My skin crawled in recognition. How that scent smelt familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time was beyond me. 

It moved closer. Goosebumps pricked my skin as the soft tip of its sleek furs grazed my face. It was indeed a massive creature, obviously muscular and strong beneath those thick coats. It lowered its head to my forehead. My lips pursed. I refused to close my eyes this time and regarded it with suspicion. My hands fisted against the ground, hoping a fistful of dirt in its eyes could help me if it decided to devour me. 

But its calm and slow breathing was telling me otherwise. It had no intention to cause harm. Curious, yes. It took a deliberate sniff of my hair, and when it moved closer, I lifted my fisted hands against its chest. My lips parted in surprise at how soft the fur was. Warm. Velvety smooth. 

Before I knew it, I had opened my palms, letting the dirt drop back to the ground just so I could spread my fingers through them, a bit hesitant to feel it heaved against my touch, considering this was my first time touching a furry animal. I stared in awe as my hands faded under thick, feathery furs. 

The beast tilted its head to the side, seizing the moment I admired his fur so he could study me back. Afraid that he didn’t like the way I was touching him, though I was positive at the silent snarl of approval from the back of his throat that it does, I lifted my hands in a defensive stance, refusing to give into more temptation to touch it. 

But as if to ask more of my touch, it nuzzled its head to my hands. It was a heartwarming gesture that I found myself smiling like how Mr. and Mrs. Bello did when they finally decided they would take him home. 

“You know your way around humans, I see,” I whispered, moving my hand to its ear like how I saw Anya rub it. 

The muzzle touched my neck. I gasped when it licked my skin. My chuckle was a bit shaky as I reminded myself not to panic. It was uncomfortable and ticklish. I recoiled and tried pushing its large face away from me, but my heart began to race when I realized its strength. It could pounce on me, and I wouldn’t have a single chance to fight. 

“Stop it! Give me some space, enough with that tongue!” I hissed and even used my legs to take it off me, but to no avail. 

It wouldn’t listen. If anything, he forced his weight against me while he fervently licked my skin. I was breathless by the time his hot tongue reached my face. 

He got my entire face wet with a single flick of that long tongue. I would have thrown up in disgust had I not been panicking. It desperately lapped against my pursed lips like it was dying to get inside as much as I was dying to get out of this situation. 

“Stop!” I shouted at the brief second I could hold its head and move my face away but soon fell flat on the ground when an ominous weight knocked the air out of me, nearly crushing my bones. My nails were almost biting on its skin, but I controlled myself to not cause it to be more aggravated than it already was. 

“Fluffy, stop!” I yelled when I caught its name on the roof. Anya gave that name. Indeed, he was fluffy but a monstrous fluffy pet! I groaned in irritation. “Hmmm! Unicorn, stop!” Still not listening! “Siberian, stop!... Doggy! Dammit, you monster dog, get off me!” 

My frantic thrashing and kicking beneath the beast was no use. It didn’t give me another chance to scream again when its tongue tried forcing my mouth open. I grabbed a fistful of its fur and used my remaining strength to keep the distance. 

I closed my eyes. My head pressed on the side, desperate to win against the beast, and suddenly, it didn’t weigh that much anymore. It’s still heavily weighing me down, but… 

I stopped struggling. 

Because when my eyes fluttered open, I witnessed the strong hand of a man pinning my arm on the ground. Both my arms were under a strong grip to stop me from squirming as if to tell nothing was attacking me anymore, and I was overreacting with my squirming. 

But what horrified me was the fact that it was indeed an arm of a man. Tanned, muscular arm with veins protruding out. It hardly used strength to keep me in place, but every muscle was obviously hardened. 

I couldn't wrap my head around it. One second, a massive dog was assaulting me, and then next, there was a gorgeous man straddling me. 

“W-What…?!” I muttered in utter disbelief. 

Silver eyes stared down at me, horrified as I was. Panting.

I couldn’t take my eyes off those luminous eyes. Wild and tauntingly mesmerizing. And because I was sure as hell, they were the dog’s eyes. His seemingly soft hair reached past his shoulders, the same color as the dog’s. 

I closed my eyes and shook my head to wipe that image off my head, but once again, my eyes were locked with the man’s eyes. 

“Oh, fuck it!" I exclaimed, delirious. "No way! Did the dog just turn into a human? What fuckery is this?"

I grabbed my arms from his hold forcefully, and he instantly let go of me. That’s when my eyes traveled down from his face to find the pink leash around its neck. 

Bewildered, my gaze went further down, only to realize the stranger was completely naked. In the garden of the Bellos. In broad daylight. Down on the grass and in between the kennel and the pergola. With me beneath him. 

I choked at the extended flesh in between the man's thigh, comfortably resting on my stomach. 

“Holy cow, you’ve got to be kidding me!” I gaped at him, but his eyes were vacant. 

“Mate,” a deep baritone, out-of-this-world voice halted me. Maybe the 'out-of-this-world' was an exaggeration, but it honestly left me speechless. I doubted it was from the man straddling me until he spoke again, “You’ve made me wait for hundreds of years; you must be punished.”

My jaw dropped. It was him. “Y-Yeah?” was all I could say, slowly beginning to believe I was dreaming and thought this could be a better storyline I must remember when I woke up. I kept my vision focused on his gorgeous face, but my eyelids grew heavy, and my head throbbed. 

“You must bear my heir now. Be my Luna, and save the pack before the second…” the rest of his words became a distant whisper as my mind instinctively succumbed to oblivion. I whimpered as I reminded myself to remember this dream.