1 I Don’t Like You Fighting

My eyes follow anxiously as the brown wolf rams his entire body at the slightly smaller gray one he was wrestling. The ground beneath my feet shakes as the two massive creatures fall to the ground once more, their large bodies dropping heavily onto the red-colored snow.

The crowd of werewolf and human spectators begin to cheer as the bigger one gets back up, ready to charge again.

I hold my breath.

Just tumbling to the side, the gray wolf successfully avoids the attack. Putting all the power in his hind legs, he hurls his sturdy form like a cannon at his opponent and a thundering sounds as their monstrous physiques collide.

Given any other rival, he would've been crowned the victor. However, the brown alpha withstands all the weight and ultimately throws his adversary over his head.

All around me, the audience hollers in excitement as their leader growls something that I can't comprehend.

I reluctantly look upon the gray wolf lying limp on the ground, not showing any hints of consciousness.

Get up Ralphie, I pray with all my heart.

In what seems like forever, his furry ears wriggle slightly back and forth. Only then did I dare let out a sigh of relief.

He gets up and effortlessly shifts back to a full grown teenage boy in all his rightful glory. Right away, he gets up to converse with the alpha, completely neglecting his utter nakedness.

Some girls around me giggle while others simply look away. I quietly thank a pack mate for handing him something to cover up.

Acting as if the fight didn't faze him, Ralphie joins his pack on the bench and engages in light banter with the other fighters. He shares a few friendly punches with them before casting his wild eyes in my direction, knowing that I'm watching him intently.

He gives me a small smile and mouths, "I'm alright."

I offer him a forced one, trying my best to hide that I almost had a panic attack when he didn't move for a whole minute in the ring.

Well, right now he seems better than ever, still having the energy to laugh and joke.

I give him one last glance before the next wrestling match begins.

"See you at home," he adds and slips in a wink before turning his attention back to the new round of wrestlers.

...…

Sitting on the bed and leaning back onto the sides of the tent, Ralphie beckons me over, one arm extended and the other sitting shyly to the side.

I eye Ralphie doubtingly before sliding off my warm moccasins and planting myself next to him on the bed.

With his unbroken arm, he grabs my waist, forcing me to lean on him—to take his heat.

Nuzzling my neck, he cleverly hides the pain from my body pressing onto his injury. I try shifting positions, but he locks me back in place, unable to let go of his stubborn pride.

"Let go," I command, gently pushing him away.

When he blatantly ignores my good intentions, I give him a stronger shove, causing him to yelp like a baby pup and instinctually pull away.

"How many broken ribs?" I ask, arms crossed.

"Just three," he answers shamelessly.

Seeing him like this, I decide against my original plans to give him an earful. Instead, I reach out my hand to touch his battered face.

"You scared me."

My finger brushes the mean gash at the end of his eyebrow and down to his swelled up cheek.

"I don't like you fighting," I confess, eyes dropping to the blue purple marks covering half of his torso.

"I heal quick," Ralphie beams, only to accidentally reopen the cut on his bottom lip. He sends me his usual smile. "I'll be alright."

Sometimes it's just easier to believe him than convince myself otherwise.

"You're trembling," he says, adjusting back to his original position and lying on the wall for support. "Come here."

For a while, I did forget the biting cold creeping under my thin white gown. Unlike the wolves and native inhabitants, the snow actually gets to me. Across the Infinite River where I'm from, the temperatures are much more favorable.

He sees me hesitate, obviously unsure which position to get into without hurting him.

"Lean on the right side."

I didn't put up too much of a fight, which saved us the trouble since we both knew that I'd end up back in his embrace one way or another.

Ralphie's arm immediately covers my shoulder like a heated blanket. After testing and finally finding a painless position, I slowly ease my head down onto his good shoulder.

Usually, he would put a fur blanket over us—more like over me—before drifting off. But today, he seems to have dozed off first. I don't want to wake him so I snuggle closer and tuck myself into the tiny curvature formed from his bent arm.

"You cold?" he mumbles as he looks groggily around for something.

"Go back to sleep, Ralphie," I say as I scoot closer and lay my head down on his bare chest.

He nods and closes his eyes, falling fast asleep once again.

After some time, his jagged breathing evens out. I tilt my head to see an angelic smile sitting atop his sleeping face. Every time I see him so peaceful, I can't bring myself to tell him.

So for another night, I lock my lips, choking down the words that were meant to be said many yesterdays ago.