REZ DOG

"Better?"

Issac Wise's bright white eyes switched to dark brown in a single blink. His eyes fixated at the cold, glass cup in his hand as the cold bit at his palm. He swallowed, his now brown eyes meeting Jamie Fault's. Her glossed lips twitched and frowned; her eyes were filled with concern and fear.

Say something.

"Much better. Thanks."

Jamie didn't look relieved. She bit her lip inside her mouth, looking over her shoulders, seeing that the diner they worked at was completely empty. They closed together every other day, she knew that.

"Hey," her voice quivered, her hand removing the cup from his hand, replacing it with her own, "let me know when you get home, please."

"You know I will," Issac squeezes her hand, nodding.

Issac walks Jamie to her car and then sits in his car, swallowing hard and leaning against the driver's seat. This all wouldn't be happening if he never met Javier.

He returns home, exhausted from work and from having to contain his werewolf transformation. He walks into the main living room, sighing with relief as his boyfriends Noel and Cory are tangled in each other's arms. He doesn't have to come up with any excuses as to why he's home late. He can sneak into their bedroom, changed out of his work clothes, and mentally prepare for the following day.

He slips off his sneakers, gently placing them near the door. He controls his breathing, stepping gently across the wooden floor, a hand pressed against the bedroom door, sucking his teeth as the bedroom squeaked. The sleeping bodies stayed low.

Issac shut the bedroom door, dug through drawers, and picked random articles of clothing to slip over his body. While slipping on his shirt, the door squeaked behind him. He sighed, his eyes shutting tight. He shouldn't be annoyed but he knew where this next part would go.

"You're home late," a deep voice grumbled, followed by a yawn. It was Noel.

"I had some extra cleaning to do. You know how it goes," Issac finished changing, turning to Noel, forcing a passive voice to cover up his lie.

There would've been extra cleaning if Jamie didn't know how to tame the beast. Issac wasn't himself for the wrap-up of his shift. He wanted to escape the dull, grey walls of the diner. He wanted to pounce and transform into a wolf and run rampage out in the woods. He wanted to bite, he wanted to eat, he wanted to hunt and rip whatever prey to shreds but he knew better. Jamie would never allow that; she couldn't lose him.

"With Jamie, right? You're always with Jamie," Noel's voice trailed off, thumping his fist against the arch of the opened door.

Issac pushed his tongue against his cheek, looking at Noel head to toe, reminding himself that this was someone he loved, someone who he didn't want to hurt.

The glow from the living room behind Noel made him look angelic. Two chunked of curly hair fell in front of his face while the rest was tied in a bun that was slowly becoming undone. He looked so gentle with sleepy, hooded eyes.

Issac exhaled through his nose, "Noel, stop that. She's my friend, you know that."

"I just..." Noel hesitated, biting his lips inside his mouth, shutting his eyes to gather himself, "I know. I'm sorry."

"Get Cory and come to bed, please," Issac whines, gesturing his hand behind Noel, "It's been a long day."

As Noel's hand slides off the arch and he turns to walk out the bedroom, Issac feels the room's tension finally leave. His breath hitches, trying to calm himself before making his way to his side of the bed: the right, farthest from the door. While laying in the dark, he focuses on his hands. His werewolf claws retract back into his normal, polished hands.

He shuts his eyes, feeling a frown on his face. He hates keeping this secret. He hates having to hide this vulnerable side of him.

He hates Javier Wilder.