Watching Afar
---
Sprout’s Pov.
---
I groaned, rolling my shoulders as I tried to make sense of what the hell just happened. My head was pounding, my body ached like I’d been dragged through the dirt, and for some reason… my lips tingled.
What the hell?
I touched my mouth, my fingers lingering for a second too long. It was a weird feeling warm, lingering, like something had been there.. Like someone had..
No. That was impossible. Right?
I shook my head violently. I got knocked out. Maybe I hit my head harder than I thought.
Then my fingers grazed the bandages wrapped around my forehead.
Bandages.
Someone had taken care of me.
I scanned my surroundings, my eyes adjusting to the dim light. The clearing was empty, the trees swayed gently in the breeze, and there was no sign of anyone nearby. But I wasn’t an idiot.
Someone had been here.
And deep in my gut, I had a feeling I knew who.
Before I could linger on that thought for too long, a voice cut through the night.
"Sprout!! WHERE ARE YOU?"
Shelly.
I sighed, running a hand down my face. Welp. There goes my quiet exit.
I steadied myself, shaking off the last bit of dizziness, before pushing through the trees toward her voice.
The second she spotted me, her face twisted into frustration and relief all at once. “Sprout! There you are! What the hell happened to you?”
I opened my mouth, then hesitated.
What did happen to me?
Do I tell her I got knocked out like an idiot? That I had seen golden eyes that felt like a ghost from my past?
"...I tripped," I said flatly.
Shelly stared at me, deadpan.
"You tripped?"
"Yup."
"And you looked like you had a fight?"
"Hard fall."
Her eye twitched. "Sprout "
"Look, I’m fine, okay?" I cut in, sighing. "Let's just get back before Astro and Dandy lose their minds."
Shelly muttered something under her breath before crossing her arms. “You are so lucky we didn’t find your dead body in a ditch somewhere.”
I rolled my eyes but didn’t argue. Instead, as we walked back toward the village, my mind drifted back to the bandages. The ghostly warmth lingering on my lips.
And the golden eyes that haunted my memories…I miss those..
Shelly’s eyes narrowed as she walked beside me, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. “You really expect me to believe that?”
I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. “Shelly, does it really matter?”
“Yes,” she snapped. “Because when I found you, you looked half-dead, and now you’re standing here acting like it was nothing.”
I let out a humorless chuckle. “Guess I’m just lucky.”
“Lucky?” Shelly stopped walking, grabbing my arm and forcing me to face her. “Sprout, you were bandaged up. Someone took care of you.”
I stiffened, my breath hitching.
She wasn’t wrong.
I had woken up with my injuries treated, my head wrapped in careful bandages someone had gone out of their way to make sure I was okay. And deep down, I knew who.
I knew those eyes.
I swallowed hard.
"Maybe a villager found me," I muttered, forcing my voice to stay even, my grip tightening on my belt.
Shelly didn’t look convinced. "And just happened to leave you in the middle of the alleyway?"
I shrugged, feigning indifference. "Stranger things have happened."
She let out a long sigh, rubbing her temples like she was resisting the urge to knock some sense into me. "I swear, you're the most stubborn person I've ever met."
"Yeah, well, that makes two of us."
Shelly rolled her eyes, turning back toward the village. "Fine. Whatever. But if you randomly pass out again, I’m dragging you back by your hood, and I don’t care if I have to break your ribs doing it."
I smirked. "Noted."
As we walked, my fingers brushed against my lips absentmindedly. The warmth was gone, but the sensation still clung to my skin like a ghost. A haunting presence I couldn't shake.
Had it been real?
Had he really been there?
I swallowed hard, my heart hammering in my chest. It had to be him. The bandages. The scent of herbs. The golden eyes watching me from the dark.
Cosmo.
The name alone sent a shiver down my spine. It made my blood burn, my thoughts spiral. I knew him I had memorized every detail, every expression, every fleeting emotion that crossed his face. And now, after all these years, he had been right there. Close enough to touch.
My breath came uneven, fingers curling into fists.
Why didn’t he stay?
Why did he do that..
I clenched my jaw, frustration bubbling beneath my skin. Did he hate me that much? That even after saving me, he still wouldn’t face me?
My lips parted slightly as my pace slowed. No. That wasn’t it. If he really wanted nothing to do with me, he wouldn’t have patched me up. He wouldn’t have lingered.
He cared.
Even if he didn’t want to. Even if he hated himself for it.
That thought sent something warm curling deep in my chest.
It didn’t matter how far he ran, how well he hid he was still mine…
He always had been.
And now that I knew he was here?
Oh, I wasn’t letting him slip away this time.
I’ll find you, Cosmo.
One way or another.
…Or maybe I was just imagining things.
The thought hit me like a stone to the chest. My steps faltered, doubt creeping in like a slow poison. Was I really so desperate to see him again that I was clinging to shadows? Was my mind playing tricks on me, conjuring him out of thin air just because I wanted him to be there?
No.
The bandages were real. The scent of herbs his scent still clung to my skin, refusing to fade. And that warmth, that ghostly warmth on my lips…
I ran my tongue over them absently, my brows furrowing. It felt strange, like something lingered there, something I couldn't quite place.
Had someone else found me? No, that didn’t make sense. If a villager had helped, they wouldn’t have just left me in an alleyway.
So why did it feel like… like I wasn’t alone when I was unconscious?
I shook the thought away. You’re thinking too much, Sprout. Focus.
But I couldn’t focus.
Not when the answer was right in front of me, clear as day, yet still just barely out of reach.
Cosmo.
It had to be him. Who else would have taken the time to treat my wounds so carefully? Who else smelled like crushed herbs and the forest itself?
He had been there.
And I missed him.
I clenched my fists, frustration curling in my gut like a storm. Why didn’t he stay?
Why didn’t he wake me up, say something,
let me see him even for a second?
Had I really lost the right to see him again?
"Sprout, seriously you okay?" Shelly's voice snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts, her eyes narrowing at me with concern.
I exhaled slowly, forcing my body to relax. "I'm fine."
She raised an eyebrow. "You sure? Because you look like you're either about to start a fight or cry."
I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "I don’t cry."
Shelly gave me a look.
I ignored her and kept walking. "Let’s just meet up with the others."
But even as we made our way back, even as I shoved my hands in my pockets and pretended I wasn’t still reeling
My mind was already racing.
Already searching.
Already chasing after him.
If Cosmo was here, if he was this close, then I had to find him.
No more running. No more hiding.
I needed to see him again.
As we reached the meeting spot, the tension in the air was thick. Astro looked drained, rubbing his temples like he had the worst headache of his life, while Dandy stood stiff with his arms crossed, visibly seething.
Shelly and I exchanged a glance before stepping closer.
“So?” I asked, eyeing the two.
Dandy groaned, running a hand through his hair. “They fucking closed last minute.” His voice was laced with frustration. “That stubborn Chief won’t even read the damn letter because apparently, we need to make an appointment first.”
Shelly tilted her head. “Wait, wasn’t Vee supposed to handle that?”
“Yeah, that’s what we thought,” Dandy muttered. “But the Chief basically told us, ‘Since Madam Vee isn’t here with us, we must be lying.’ So now we have to wait in line like a bunch of idiots until we get called.” His voice dripped with irritation. “Let’s just say that line made Astro seriously regret being there.”
Astro let out a slow, suffering sigh. “A child kept pulling on my cape and hood the entire time…” His eye twitched as he turned toward me and Shelly. “At least you two managed to get us an inn, right?”
Shelly and I glanced at each other before I scoffed. “Yeah, but the woman’s charging twenty silver a night.”
Astro blinked, deadpan. “...You’re joking.”
“I wish I was,” I muttered, rubbing the bridge of my nose.
Dandy threw his hands up. “Twenty silver?! That’s insane! What, is the bed stuffed with gold coins?”
Shelly sighed. “I told her it was ridiculous, but she wasn’t budging. Apparently, because of the ‘current circumstances’ in the village, all visitors have to pay extra.”
Astro's expression darkened. “She’s exploiting the paranoia.”
“Exactly,” Shelly nodded. “And it’s working. The inn’s practically full, so people are actually paying that price.”
Dandy groaned, dragging a hand down his face in pure frustration. “This whole town is just one massive headache.”
I sighed, barely listening, my mind still half-distracted. Cosmo… was it really him?
“How many days do you think we have to stay here?” Shelly asked, arms crossed.
Dandy unfolded the crumpled paper in his hand, the ink still fresh. “If we’re lucky? A month.”
Shelly blinked. “A month?”
Dandy shrugged, irritation laced in his voice. “The line to see the Chief moves slower than molasses, and unless Vee somehow speeds things up, we’re stuck here waiting our turn like everyone else.”
Astro let out a deep sigh. “Great. So we’re wasting an entire month in a village that clearly doesn’t want us here?”
“Ouch…” Shelly muttered. “That’s definitely going to burn through our coins fast. Especially with how ridiculously expensive everything is here.”
“Yeah,” Dandy grumbled. “Food prices are through the roof, supplies cost double what they do back home, and don’t even get me started on the innkeeper scamming people out of twenty silver a night.”
Shelly shook her head. “I’ll write Vee a letter when we get back to the inn. Maybe she can talk to someone higher up and pull some strings. But for now, we really should get moving…” She nudged me slightly, drawing my attention to the people around us.
I hadn’t realized it before, but eyes were on us. Quiet glances from villagers passing by, their gazes lingering just a little too long.
Suspicious.
Cautious.
Wary.
I tensed, my grip tightening at my sides.
“We’re being watched,” I muttered under my breath.
Shelly hummed, glancing to the side without fully turning her head. “No kidding.”
Dandy scoffed. “Of course we are. We’re outsiders. And the infamous Red Hood Hunter being in their village? It’s got them on edge.”
Astro exhaled, adjusting his gloves. “Let them look. It won’t change the fact that we’re here for a reason.”
Maybe.
But something about the way they looked at us at me felt different. Like they knew something we didn’t.
And for some reason, that sent an uneasy chill crawling up my spine.
As we walked back to the inn, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Not the cautious glances of the villagers, not the judgmental stares of those who feared hunters this was different. This wasn’t fear or distrust. It wasn’t cold.
It felt warm. Familiar.
Comforting.
I kept my head forward, pretending I didn’t notice, but my body remained tense, muscles coiled like a spring.
As we stepped into the inn, Teagan sat behind the counter, scribbling something into her ledger. She glanced up at us with a polite smile, but I didn’t miss the way her eyes lingered on me just a second too long before returning to her work.
We climbed the stairs to our rooms Astro and Dandy took one, while Shelly and I took the other.
The moment we stepped inside, I let out a long, exhausted groan and collapsed onto the right-side bed. My body still ached from whatever the hell had happened last night.
Shelly flopped onto her own bed on the left, stretching out her arms. “Well, that was a day.”
I grunted in agreement, running a hand through my hair. My fingers brushed against the bandages still wrapped around my head, and my stomach twisted.
Cosmo.
It had to be him.
That scent. That warmth. That feeling.
I pressed my fingers against my temple, inhaling sharply.
What the hell was he doing here?
“…You’re making that face again,” Shelly said, not even looking at me.
I blinked. “What face?”
“The one where you get all broody and dramatic.” She turned her head lazily to glance at me. “The same face you make when you think you’re being mysterious and deep.”
I scowled. “I do not do that.”
“You so do.” She grinned. “It’s part of your charm.”
I groaned, dragging a pillow over my face. “I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
I sighed, letting the silence settle between us for a moment before I spoke again, my voice quieter. “…Do you ever get the feeling that someone’s watching you?”
Shelly turned fully onto her side, propping her head up with her hand. “You mean, aside from the entire village?”
I hesitated. “…Yeah.”
She studied me for a second, her teasing demeanor fading slightly. “You felt something, didn’t you?”
I didn’t answer right away.
Because yes.
I had felt something.
And I wasn’t sure what scared me more the fact that I was being watched.
Or the fact that I wanted to be.
The thought unsettled me in a way I couldn’t shake. I swallowed hard, trying to push it down, trying to ignore the way my skin prickled as if something or someone was just out of reach.
Shelly stretched, rolling her shoulders before reaching into her satchel. “Alright,” she said, yawning. “I should start writing that letter now and get someone to deliver it first thing in the morning.”
I barely processed her words. My mind was elsewhere, stuck in the ghost of a memory I wasn’t ready to face.
“…Yeah,” I murmured, nodding absently.
She glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. “You okay?”
I forced a smirk, trying to shake off the heavy weight pressing on my chest. “Tired. That’s all.”
Shelly hummed, not entirely convinced, but didn’t push. “Alright, mister broody,” she teased. “Get some sleep before you start seeing shadows.”
I huffed, kicking off my boots and lying back against the mattress. But even as I closed my eyes, exhaustion creeping in, my mind refused to settle.
Golden eyes flickered behind my eyelids. A warmth I couldn’t explain lingered on my skin.
And just before sleep claimed me, a whisper of a thought crawled through my mind unbidden, unwanted.
Was it really you, Cosmo?
---
A week had passed
---
And I was still here.
I groaned as I pushed myself up from the bed, my muscles stiff and aching like I had been wrestling with the mattress in my sleep. They called this thing comfortable? Felt more like sleeping on a slab of stone
The room was dim, bathed in the faint glow of moonlight spilling through the window. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, but the moment I sat up, a sharp pang of hunger twisted in my stomach.
Great.
This food is killing me.
I grumbled to myself, stomach twisting in hunger as I paced the empty streets.
Bland. Dry. Lifeless. I didn’t even know food could taste empty until I came to this village.
Every meal was the same the kind of tasteless slop that made me wonder if the cooks here even had taste buds. I had tried everything to fix it: sneaking extra salt, drowning it in honey, even mixing different dishes together just to see if it made a difference.
Nothing worked.
It wasn’t even just the taste. It was the feeling of eating something that didn’t satisfy, didn’t comfort. It wasn’t like home.
It wasn’t like…
I stopped in my tracks, fingers curling into fists. No. I wasn’t going to think about that.
But damn it, at this point, I missed real food. My food.
I should just cook for myself. Hell, I could probably better than anyone in this entire village. It wasn’t like I hadn’t done it before.
Maybe I’d find a kitchen and take over. Storm in and tell them, “Step aside, because I can’t take another day of whatever tasteless excuse for a meal you people are serving.”
Would they kick me out for that? Probably. Did I care?
Not one bit.
With a sigh, I pulled my hood lower over my face and kept walking, the cold air biting at my skin.
I needed to do something about this.
Because if I had to eat one more meal like that, I might actually lose my mind.
I forced the thought away and stood up, wincing as I stretched. My body felt like it had been fighting a war on its own all night. Maybe a walk would help loosen me up.
I reached for my boots, lacing them up quickly before grabbing my red hood off the nearby chair. As I moved to leave, my gaze flickered toward Shelly, who was still curled up in bed, her breathing slow and steady.
I hesitated. Then, quietly, I pulled the blanket up over her shoulders.
She’d scold me for sneaking out if she knew.
With one last glance at her peaceful form, I turned and slipped out the door, closing it softly behind me.
The night air was crisp against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine as I stepped into the deserted streets.
By day, this village was filled with murmuring voices, bartering vendors, and the clatter of daily life. But at night, it was different eerily still, as if the world had taken a deep breath and forgotten to exhale.
The only signs of life were the faint flickers of candlelight through tightly shuttered windows. A reminder that even in the quiet, people were here. Watching. Listening.
I pulled my hood lower, tucking my hands into my pockets as I started walking.
I didn’t know where I was going. Didn’t care.
I just needed this needed to escape the suffocating walls of that room, the dull ache in my bones, the taste of nothing lingering on my tongue.
I walked without thinking, my boots barely making a sound against the cobblestone. The cold nipped at my fingers, but I barely felt it. My mind was too loud, too restless.
And then...
A scent.
Faint, delicate, drifting through the night air like a whisper.
Sweet. Warm. Familiar.
My feet stopped before I even realized it.
I inhaled again, slower this time, letting the scent curl through my senses. It was faint, but unmistakable sugar, vanilla, something rich and deep beneath it, like caramelized butter.
My stomach clenched. Not in hunger. Not entirely.
Something about it made my chest ache in a way I didn’t want to acknowledge.
And yet, before I could stop myself, my feet were already moving.
As I followed the scent, it led me toward the forest’s edge.
I hesitated.
Was this a trick? A joke? Or was I just losing my mind?
Either way, my stomach twisted painfully, reminding me of the bland meals I’d been forcing down for a week.
I exhaled sharply and stepped forward, but before I could enter the tree line, something caught my eye.
A faint shape just off the path.
I walked closer and found a large, flat rock, just high enough to reach my waist. And sitting on top of it was
Pastries.
I blinked, my brows furrowing. A wooden platter rested neatly on the stone, piled with freshly baked goods. I could still see the sheen of melted chocolate on the cookies, the golden edges of the biscuits, the deep red jam glistening at their centers.
They were fresh.
Not just baked and left out for the day these were recent, warm, as if someone had placed them here just moments before I arrived.
I swallowed. My fingers twitched.
Then I noticed the note.
A small slip of parchment, folded and tucked beside the pastries.
I picked it up, unfolding it carefully.
The handwriting was neat but slightly rushed, as if written in a hurry.
“I hope you’re doing well. I noticed you haven’t been eating much, so I baked these. Stay safe, Red Hood.
-Pâtisserie”
I stared at the name at the bottom of the note, my brow furrowing.
Pâtisserie?
That wasn’t a name. That was a title. A reference to a baker? I don’t know a person that has a name Pâtisserie attach. Sigh.
It could have been anyone…
And yet, something about this was unsettlingly familiar.
I ran my thumb over the ink, feeling the texture of the parchment beneath my fingers, my mind racing with questions.
Who would go through the trouble of making these? How did they know I wasn’t eating well?
More importantly…
Why?
My eyes flickered back to the pastries, and despite my hesitation, my stomach clenched painfully at the sight of them.
They were beautiful.
Neatly arranged, carefully prepared each one made with intention. The chocolate cookies still had that soft, slightly melted sheen. The biscuits with jam looked perfectly golden, the fruit glistening in the dim light. There were a few other treats I couldn’t name, but they were all arranged with the kind of precision that only came from someone who truly cared about what they were making.
And they were warm.
Not just fresh.
Still warm.
Whoever left these had been here not long ago.
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry.
A chill ran down my spine as I turned my gaze toward the trees, scanning the darkened forest for any sign of movement. But there was nothing just the steady hum of the night, the whisper of the wind through the leaves.
And yet, I felt it.
A presence.
Watching.
Lingering.
I inhaled sharply, forcing my pulse to steady.
This could be a trap. It should be a trap. I was a hunter, after all trained to suspect things like this.
And yet, as I reached for one of the pastries, my fingers hesitated, my body torn between instinct and something else entirely.
A feeling buried deep in my chest.
A memory.
Flashes of flour-dusted hands, the scent of cocoa and cinnamon, soft laughter in a hidden clearing.
My breath hitched, and I clenched my jaw, pushing those thoughts down before they could fully form.
I shouldn’t. I couldn’t.
And yet…
The cookie practically melted the moment it hit my tongue.
Soft, but not too soft. A slight crisp at the edges, just enough to give that perfect first bite before it gave way to the rich, velvety center. The chocolate was deep and smooth, with a hint of bitterness that balanced out the sweetness it wasn’t just sugar-packed like the bland ones they served in the village. This was real.
And the flavor damn.
Warm, buttery, with just a touch of vanilla. But there was something else. A subtle spice, cinnamon maybe? No… something softer, more delicate. A blend so precise it could only belong to one person.
I swallowed, my throat tight. My fingers trembled as I reached for another, this time a jam-filled biscuit. The pastry crumbled slightly as I took a bite, buttery and light, the fruit inside bursting with just the right amount of tartness. The jam wasn’t just some store-bought preserve it was fresh. Homemade.
Who goes through the trouble of making something like this for me?
I already knew.
I moved to the next treat, something smaller delicate, almost like a tart but softer. When I bit down, a burst of honey and almond filled my mouth, smooth and rich, but never overpowering. Every single flavor was layered perfectly, every bite crafted with care.
I hadn’t even realized my eyes had closed until I opened them again, my breath coming out slow and uneven.
No one else knew how to make something taste like home.
The realization sat heavy in my chest, pressing against my ribs like a secret too big to hold.
I looked down at the note again, my fingers brushing over the ink.
Pâtisserie.
The name lingered on my tongue, unfamiliar yet carrying a weight I couldn’t ignore. Who else would go through the trouble? Who else would know?
A lump formed in my throat.
“…Thank you,” I murmured, the words slipping out before I could stop them.
I didn’t know if they would ever reach the person who made these, but it didn’t matter.
I reached for another cookie, taking a slow, deliberate bite. The moment it touched my tongue, the flavors bloomed warm, rich, and perfectly balanced. I licked my lips, savoring the lingering sweetness, letting it coat my senses.
Before I even realized it, the plate was empty.
I exhaled, leaning back against the rock, my body sinking into the quiet of the forest. A warmth settled deep in my stomach not just from the food, but from something else. Something I hadn’t felt in years.
Comfort.
For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t just eating. I was satisfied.
I scoffed softly to myself, shaking my head. “If this village keeps serving those bland, tasteless excuses for meals, I swear I’ll burn the whole damn place down.”
The thought was only half a joke.
But for now… I’d let it go.
For now, I had this.
And whoever Pâtisserie was…
They had my attention.
---
Cosmo’s Pov.
---
I watched from the bushes, hidden beneath the thick shadows of the trees. My heart pounded against my ribs, my breath barely audible as I took in the sight before me.
He ate them.
I exhaled slowly, relief washing over me. If he had kept going without food, looking like a walking corpse..
I shook my head. No, I didn’t want to think about that.
I had been watching him ever since he arrived. Every night, I saw the way he barely touched his meals, the way he would push his plate away with an irritated scowl, or worse walk out mid-dinner, looking utterly disgusted. It… hurt.
Seeing him now, his posture relaxing, his expression softening with something close to satisfaction it made all of this worth it.
I gave a small, unbidden smile as I continued to watch. The way he bit into the pastry was almost sinful slow, savoring, like he was experiencing something precious. And then
A soft hum of appreciation left his lips. He licked the crumbs away, his tongue flicking over his lips
Oh.
Oh no.
My face erupted in heat, my tail wagging wildly against the leaves despite my best efforts to stay still.
Cosmo, what the hell are you doing? Get a grip.
I pressed my paws against my burning cheeks, my brain screaming at me to stop watching like some kind of obsessed lunatic.
But Moon help me, how could I not?
It had been years.
Years since I last saw him. Since I had last heard his voice, seen the way his brow furrowed in thought, the way he existed in a way only he could.
And now, here I was reduced to a fool, hiding in the bushes, barely able to contain the whirlwind of emotions clawing at my chest.
I squeezed my eyes shut, taking a slow, steadying breath.
This is fine. This is okay.
As long as he was eating. As long as he was safe. As long as he…
I peeked through the leaves again, watching as he leaned back against the rock, a small, almost content sigh escaping him.
As long as he kept coming back.
Because if he did…
Then maybe, just maybe…
I hadn’t lost him completely…
That thought clung to me as I forced myself to move. I brushed off the dirt from my fur, taking one last glance at him at Sprout, before I turned away.
I needed to get back before someone noticed I was gone.
As I walked through the moonlit forest, my heart was still pounding. The scent of fresh pastries clung to my paws, a lingering reminder of what I had done what I had allowed myself to do.
Watching him like that… it was dangerous.
It was foolish.
But it was the only thing keeping me sane.
The village came into view, the soft glow of lanterns flickering against the woven dens. The night was quiet, save for the distant rustling of leaves and the occasional howl from a patrol.
I was almost at my den when I spotted a familiar figure standing awkwardly near the entrance.
Boxten
I blinked.
Since we had moved into this new village, our former Alpha had stepped down his role, and to us accepting our new Alpha, and that Alpha had a kid… Boxten was still learning the responsibilities of leadership. As the eldest son of the new Alpha, the weight of the title rested on his shoulders, and while he carried it well in public, moments like these reminded me he was still just a young wolf trying to figure things out.
Right now, though, he just looked like a nervous pup caught doing something he shouldn’t.
"O-Oh! Cosmo! H-Hi!" Boxten stammered, his ears twitching as he shifted awkwardly on his paws.
I raised an eyebrow. "Boxten? What are you doing out this late?"
His tail flicked anxiously behind him. "Uh… I was just… making sure everything’s okay!"
I crossed my arms, unimpressed. "At my den?"
Boxten let out a forced chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "I may have been waiting for you…"
My stomach twisted. Did he notice I was gone?
I kept my expression neutral. "Why?"
Boxten cleared his throat, straightening his posture like he suddenly remembered he was supposed to act like a future Alpha instead of a jittery pup.
"I just wanted to check in on you," he admitted, shifting his weight between his paws. "You’ve been… distracted lately."
I tensed.
He noticed.
I forced a casual shrug. "I’m always busy, Boxten. That’s kind of my thing.”
He frowned. "Yeah, but… this feels different. You've been slipping away at night, and honestly? It’s weird. It’s not like I watch you or anything, ahah!!"
His forced laughter trailed off when I didn’t react.
I clenched my jaw.
Damn it.
I kept my voice even. "You should be more focused on your own responsibilities instead of what I do at night."
Boxten’s ears flattened slightly, but he didn’t back down. "I am focused, Cosmo. But I also care about the pack. And whether you like it or not, you’re part of that pack." His gaze softened. "And I care about you too, y'know?"
That made me pause.
I looked at him carefully, searching his expression for any sign of insincerity.
He meant it.
That made it worse.
I swallowed hard, forcing my emotions down. "I appreciate the concern, Boxten, but I can handle myself."
He hesitated, then sighed. "Alright. But just… if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here, okay?"
I nodded, not trusting myself to say anything else.
Boxten lingered for a moment before stepping back. "Get some rest, Cosmo."
As he walked away, I let out a shaky breath.
I guess, I can try something new tomorrow..