(This is a trigger warning. I'm not an expert on domestic violence. I don't know persay where it starts/ends. This story contains it. If you think you might suffer from it please seek help in your retrospective communities.)
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The long awaited blizzard had finally hit and heavy snow was starting to fall as Cian returned to Wren's small trailer. He was an enormous silver wolf with faint strains of amber. He had powerful sinewy muscles. Cian was older and no longer looked like the dashing young man he once had but he was still a formidable wolf not an ounce of his strength had dissipated. As an Alpha he was a fierce protector. No one would harm his love. Even though he wouldn't admit it to his human side, Cian's wolf knew that Wren was his woman. He'd found his true mate at last.
Layton was still having dry heaves in the double-wides small bedroom. After a stressful day, finally Wren was "relaxing". She had time to herself and herself alone. Wren picked up one of her many paperback books and made herself a cup of peppermint tea. She grabbed some Oreos and sat down at the tiny kitchen's careworn fold-out table to enjoy.
As a wolf, Cian laid sprawled across the trailer's front porch. Unfortunately, Layton's putrid scent lingered. He smelled of liquor and loose women. But, Cian could smell Wren still awake and sipping her peppermint tea. She started laughing, something funny must have happened in her book. She looked up at the clock. "Shit, fuck... is that the time...I wanted to take a steaming hot shower but now it's so late. I have crossing guard duty tomorrow. I suppose skipping the shower is alright. The cold weather will affect the water heater anyways. It'll just be lukewarm at best." Wren said to no one in particular. She picked up her plate and cup and placed them in the dishwasher. Cian loved that about Wren, she made the best of shitty situations.
Cian felt bad for Wren.Those few minutes of reading, brushing out her long coffee-colored hair and drinking her peppermint tea was all the joy Wren had in a day. It relieved her of her anxiety and troubles or at least eased them temporarily. When he had a pack, Cian rarely had joyful moments to himself. So he knew how precious they were. It had only been since his pack left that Cian had started developing an identity outside of an Alpha. Now he was free to discover who he really was. Wren gave a deep rueful sigh and Cian heard her join the drunk Layton, in the too small of bed.
Cian lazyly sprawled across the porch warm as a wolf. He was relaxed but alert. Listening for any potential trouble between the couple. After midnight, the blizzard picked up in intensity. It was an ice hurricane now. The snow came with a ferocity and was accompanied by a fierce howling wind.
Wren's tiny trailer shook in the harsh wind. The temperature on the porch plummeted below zero. Even Cian got cold in wolf form. Cian could hear Layton start to vomit again. Wren sighed in her half sleep murmered "fuck". She woke up and took an old blanket out of the linen wardrobe. Cian listened as Wren stumbled around in the dark. She headed to the pullout bed in an attempt to sleep a little. He could tell Wren was shivering and uncomfortable on the sofa bed's thin mattress. Its iron bars poked into her delicate petal-like skin. Cian couldn't bare the thought of Wren being uncomfortable. Wren should be safe and warm...like a bird in its nest.
A strong woman like Wren deserved someone to take care of her. Obviously, that wasn't Layton. There was no way around it. Layton was an asshole with no redeeming traits. Cian knew he was no true mate to Wren. He wasn't a good husband. He was barely a man.
Cian had known rabbits who had taken better care of their spouses. His wolf had enough. He broke into the trailer, took a blanket out of the linen closet, set it across Wren. Cian watched as Wren snuggled into the blanket and drift off to an untroubled sleep. Cian knew she must be exhausted. It was hard to fall asleep on a pullout sofa. The iron bars always jabbed you. But, Wren seemed to be having good dreams. That gave him some peace. Then, in wolf form, he slept on the floor next to the sofa. Cian couldn't predict what Layton would do. He was a psychopath.
The night passed peacefully. Wren woke up at the first light of dawn, the blizzard's hurricane force winds were still battering the trailer. Cian was grateful that Layton passed out in the bedroom. Wren saw Cian on the floor. Wren had assumed he was a dog, since she thought there were no wolves nearby. She took Cian's head in her arms, kissed it and started petting him all over. "Oh my goodness...you're a big boy aren't you? You must have come in late last night because of the blizzard. It's so cold out! I'm glad you came in so you didn't freeze to death. Such a big big boy! Let's see if we can get you something to eat! I'm sorry we don't have any doggie food. But I think I have some tuna in the pantry. That's okay for doggies to have. Let's get you that. I see you're not wearing a collar so I can't call anybody to pick you up. You're welcome to stay here. That way you can be all cozy, wozy, warm and full." Cian didn't mind that Wren was talking to him like he was a dog. Cian was just happy to be in her company. He wagged his tail and followed her into the pantry.
Wren plopped down a can of tuna in a bowl and gave it to Cian. Cian was used to being treated like a proud Alpha instead of a common dog but he ate it to please Wren. She beamed at him and patted him on the head. "Good doggie, that's my good boy. There's so much snow...I don't think I have to go into school for crossing guard duty. School is closed! Isn't that wonderful doggie? I finally have a day all to myself to do whatever I want!" As Wren said it she jumped up and down, clapped her hands and did a little spin like a small girl.
"Oh doggie, I think I'll read. I love to read and I'm so busy I never get a chance." Wren went into the bedroom. She came out changed into a fluffy pink robe with bunny slippers. Cian thought she looked utterly ridiculous but also very cute. "Forget coffee or tea, hot chocolate is what I need on a cold day like today."
