Visitations

Lila's POV

I sat up abruptly, disoriented and tangled in my sheets. The blaring noise wasn’t a wolf howling or a whisper in the trees it was the alarm on my phone.

Right. Just a dream.

I shut it off with a groan and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. My room was filled with soft morning light streaming through the rounded windows. Despite the chill in the air, I still felt too warm like his touch was still on my skin.

Standing under the hot water in the shower, I tried to shake the dream from my head. The way he’d kissed my throat, the weight of his bare body against mine, his voice whispering, Once I have you, I’ll never let you go…

I pressed my forehead against the tiled wall and exhaled. I didn’t want to admit it, but I’d wanted every second of that dream.

Tobi's POV

The apartment my parents kept in Lenweil was small barely a kitchen, a couch, and a bed. Enough to get by, but no comfort.

I sat on the couch, head in my hands, replaying the image of Lila stepping from the steam, towel barely clinging to her curves. I had tried so hard to be respectful, to stay back when I worked for her father. But that moment? That glimpse?

I had wanted her so badly I could hardly breathe.

And then I’d stood there like a damn idiot and scared her half to death.

I sent her a message. No reply.

Then another. Still nothing.

After the fourth, I realized how desperate I sounded. I needed to get out. I needed to run.

I shifted in the woods behind the apartment, close enough to the hostel that I could catch her scent if the wind was right. Just knowing she was nearby was enough to calm the frantic edge in my chest. Then, finally, my phone buzzed in the hollow where I’d stashed my clothes.

Lila: It’s fine. Just an accident.

Me: Are you sure?

Lila: Yes.

Me: So when can I make good on my promise to take you out? ;)

Lila: I’m not sure. Moira has me working 2pm to 10pm every day. She said I can take a night off when I need, but I might wait until I’m more settled in.

Me: I’ll try again in a couple of weeks. :x

Lila: Goodnight, Tobi.

Me: Sweet dreams, Lila.

I stripped down again and shifted, running until the trees blurred into nothing, until my lungs burned and my paws ached.

And that was when it hit me.

I could smell her.

Elderflower and honey.

She was nearby. In the woods. Alone.

I changed course instantly.

She wasn’t walking toward the hostel. In fact, she was heading the wrong way, deeper into the trees. I tried to block her path—nudge her gently back in the right direction but she turned, panicked, and ran the other way. I shifted to my human form and headed straight to the place I knew she’d pass through. She crashed into me like a magnet pulled to steel, her tears soaking into my chest as I wrapped my arms around her.

I whispered promises, kissed her neck, felt her fingers dig into my skin. When I pressed my lips to her ear and told her she would be mine, I meant it.

I leaned in to kiss her and woke with a jolt, sprawled naked on the riverbank.

Alone.

A bird screeched overhead. The dream was gone, but the scent of her still lingered in my head, her voice, her warmth. I roared into the morning sky, the sound shaking the trees, and punched the nearest trunk until my knuckles bled.

If I didn’t have her soon, I would go mad.

Lila's POV

Henry was waiting in the common room like he’d promised, sitting cross-legged on a retro armchair and humming along to a song playing faintly through his earbuds. I was so relieved to see him his warmth, his casual ease, the normalcy of it all.

That dream had unsettled me more than I wanted to admit.

“I got you a coffee,” I said, holding out the cup.

“Oooh, bribes already? I could get used to this.” He grinned and took a sip. “Okay, that’s legitimately good. You weren’t kidding.”

We made the ten-minute walk to the supermarket with light conversation and easy laughter. Henry darted straight to the freezer section, piling frozen meals into his basket but only the clearance ones.

“These are the best,” he said, holding up a pasta bake with faded packaging. “Three minutes in the microwave and perfection.”

“I’ll grab a few, but I want real food too,” I said, wandering toward the fresh produce.

I picked out apples, mandarins, a tub of yoghurt, a box of mystery granola, white sandwich bread, and a wedge of hard cheese. It wasn’t gourmet, but it felt like something an adult would buy.

When I circled back to the frozen aisle, I saw Henry counting coins in his wallet. Then, with a sigh, he started putting some of his meals back.

Something tugged in my chest.

“Hey, which ones are the best?” I asked casually, pretending not to notice.

He glanced up, sheepish. “I like the pasta ones.”

“Great. I owe you for dinner and a tour anyway.” I reached into the freezer and loaded up his basket. “Repayment with interest.”

He stared at me, then threw his arms around me.

“Little Lila, if you keep this up, I’m going to have to marry you.”

“Any day of the year,” I laughed, pulling back and brushing away the tear that had slipped down his cheek.

Henry was my first real friend here. And there was no way I was going to watch him struggle if I could help. We walked back to the hostel with easy banter, him rattling off obscure band names I’d never heard of and promising to educate me thoroughly.

By 11 AM, we were unpacking groceries into the shared kitchen. We labeled everything with sharpies and stuffed it into fridge drawers.

“Okay, Little Lila,” Henry said, grabbing my hand. “School is in session.”

He dragged me to the common room and opened a playlist called Chilled Mornings.

“Easing you in gently.”

I grinned and scanned the bookshelves for something fun. A dusty deck of cards was wedged between two travel memoirs.

“Fancy a game?” I asked, not waiting for an answer as I started shuffling.

“Gin rummy?” he said, raising an eyebrow. “You’re on.”

The next hour was a blur of music, laughter, and cutthroat card-playing. Turns out Henry was just as competitive as me, and the game only ended when I hit 100 points and he threw down his cards dramatically before stomping toward the kitchen.

“Henry!” I called after him. “Come on, I’ll let you win next time.”

He turned back, holding out his pinky. “Promise?”

“Promise,” I said, linking mine with his.

We had a quick bite to eat, and I dashed upstairs to get ready for my shift. By 1:45, I was behind the desk, taking over from Moira.

“Lila, you look so much better after a good night’s sleep,” she said, giving me a warm hug.

“Thanks, Moira. Bookings tonight?”

“Ten. All one-nighters. Should be an easy evening,” she said, folding up her paper and heading upstairs.

I settled into the desk, reviewing the emails and checking the reservation system. All ten guests were due to arrive around 7 PM looked like a group booking. I prepared their welcome packs, towels, and scanned some light reading material until the first familiar face popped in.

“Lila!” Ramil said, leaning on the counter.

“Hey! How was the gallery?”

“Small. But interesting.”

“Doing anything fun tonight?”

“A few of us are having drinks in the common room, maybe going out later. You should join.”

“If you’re still here after I clock off, count me in.”

He smiled and headed back upstairs, and I returned to sorting emails and writing long letters home. I even stepped outside to snap a few photos for my parents, wanting them to see what this quirky, magical place looked like.

By 6:30, I was prepared for check-ins. Ten towels. Ten welcome packs. Printer on.

The group arrived exactly at 7 PM ten Scottish guys on a lads’ holiday, all looking exhausted and mildly hungover. After getting their details scanned, I handed over keys, towels, and a pizza flyer.

They mumbled thanks and trudged upstairs.

I was tidying the desk when someone cleared their throat behind me.

I looked up and froze.

Tobi.