My phone chimed next to me, causing my ears to prick and my eyes to open as I glanced down at the phone’s sudden noise. Taking my paw off my pendent necklace I reached down and swiped my phone unlocked to open my messages. My heart fluttered as I caught Mikal’s name.

“Hey cute thing! I’ll be there around 1. less than an hour”

“Alright. Bring warm pjs, I like my room cold!”

“I’ll be fine I figured I’d have you.”

How does he always manage to make my heart race?

“We’ll see about that, Shep.”

“See you soon ;3”

I let out a sigh as my fur laid flat once more, looking down I realized the bugle in my boxer briefs was a little tighter than before. I let out a small giggle as I watched my sheath give a twitch beneath the fabric. I flicked my ears to check for any sounds, and the house was still silent. Giving my body a stretch, I swung my legs off the bed and walked over to my dresser to find some clothes to wear. Grabbing a simple pair of jeans and a tight fitting black sweater.
I guess mom will just find out later that Mikal is here, not sense in waking her..
I pulled on my jeans and slipped my sweater over my head. The sense of freedom from nudity lost to a sense of comfort from being wrapped in clothes. Finally being fully clothed, I left my room, being conscious about how loud I walked as I made my way down the hallway past the living room and into the kitchen. Shuffling through the pantry I found a box of cheap hot chocolate. Grabbing a mug of water I mixed in the powder and shoved it into the microwave to warm, careful to not let the shrill beeping happen, and made my way to the couch.
Sipping on my hot chocolate, I paid attention to all the sounds around me, wanting to hear immediately if my mom woke, or if Mikal finally arrive.

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I startled awake to the sound of doorbell chiming around the house causing me to sit bolt upright with a small gasp. Quickly glancing around I took in my surrounding, my mug from earlier was placed neatly on the coffee table, sun crept into the living room through the windows.
I must have fallen asleep…
Standing up I sprinted over to the front door, swinging it open I was greeted with just the sight to make my heart race once more. On my door step stood Mikal, the golden shepherd that made my heart race and air catch in my chest.
“Hayden!” Mikal called, shivering as flecks of white dusted his golden fur. “Kinda cold out here.”
“Oh! Ah-” My words were cut off as he pushed passed me to walk into the house, before I could invite him in, or even apologize. “S-sorry…”
Mikal let out a laugh and before I had time to react he wrapped his arms around in an embrace, kicking the door closed behind us.
“Little huskies don’t have to apologize to me.” Mikal whispered to me, his words blowing hot air onto my sensitive ears.
My ears flicked in annoyance at his taunting, his taunting...Which still forced a blush to form under my fur, even if I knew he was only teasing me. I felt his grip on me loosen as his arms dropped back to his side, his smug grin showing off his white teeth.
“Next time, I could just let you freeze instead!” I spoke in a mock growl towards him, which only made Mikal laugh at me. Only seconds had gone by, but it felt like forever as I stared at him as his laughing calmed down finally. “Do you wanna go up to my room?”
“I’m flattered! Always so quick to invite me to your room.” Mikal jived, mocking being complimented as he began to walk in the direction of my bedroom.
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it!” I felt my ears flattened while responding to him, pacing behind him towards my bedroom as he quickly crossed the house knowing right where to go.
I watched as Mikal kicked his shoes off at the bedroom to my room, before hopping onto my bed and spreading himself out on it, the tucked blanket pulling out from the sides from his impact as he made himself comfortable. From the corner of my eye, I could see Mikal take out his phone and begin scrolling through one of his apps, as I opened the draw of my nightstand to pull out a journal. Sitting at the end of my bed, I spread the notebook open to where I had notes scrawled all over the pages.

“I think I have the final playlist figured out, for the dance.” Glancing over as I spoke, I could see his ears perk to show he was listening to me. “So as long as this passes your judgment, we can get it to the band to practice. And also set up rehearsals.”
Mikal pulled himself up into a sitting position, his knees bending and legs pressing against me as he leaned in to scan over the list I had made. His ears gave an occasional flick as he read through it. It didn’t take long before Mikal looked back up at me, with a spark of interest gleaming in his eyes.
“There’s a lot of variety here, do you think you’ll be able to keep up with all of it?” Mikal tilted his head as he spoke showing his curiosity.
“Yeah, and I kinda thought we could just play the tracks if anyone needs a break…” I met his gaze, a shiver running through my body as I felt all his attention on me.
“Show me!” Mikal’s voice rose in excitement as he threw his arms in the air over his head, bouncing the bed slightly. “I wanna hear a sample.”
My ears twitched in nervousness with Mikal staring at me expectantly, my fur burned as I calmed my breathing and took a breath into my diaphragm.
“Day to night to morning, keep with me in the moment.” Singing softly, I tapped in rhythm to the song on my leg. “I’d let you had I known it, why don’t you say so?”
From the corner of my eye, I could see Mikal’s tail wagging behind him, his eyes never leaving me as I sang to him.
“Didn’t even notice, no punches left to roll with. You got to keep me focused, you want it, say so.”
I let out a gasp as Mikal quickly grabbed me, wrapping his arms around me again and pulled me down onto the bed. My entire body felt relaxed as I laid on my side held by Mikal, his warmth seeping through his clothes. I could feel his tail still wagging from the movement of the air and thumping on my bed, as he squeezed me.
“My husky always impresses.” Mikal’s voice was softer than usual, but still had that sly teasing nature of his in it.

‘His’ husky. What does that mean? I like it though. Does he know I actually want to be his?

I didn’t want to say anything, so I laid there silently and listened to Mikal’s breathing. I expected him to say something but instead I heard his breathing start to slow. Anytime he came over here, he seemed tired, and when I would ask him why, he would just say he didn’t sleep well.
Noel once told me that Mikal’s home life isn’t the best, but he didn’t elaborate any further. But for now at least, he seemed comfortable enough to sleep, and happy too. My breathing began to match Mikal’s in pace, and before I knew it my eyelids grew heavy.

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Mikal woke me by jerking into a sitting position, I rolled over to face him and my ears picked up the sound of my mother swearing in a raised voice from the kitchen. Mikal’s breathing seemed rapid, reaching out a paw I gave his arm a few light strokes.
“Hey, are you okay?” I ask, my ears twitching as I listened to my mother faintly in the kitchen.
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.” Mikal’s breathing was beginning to slow as he spoke. “Just startled, is all.”
“I’m gonna see what’s up with mom, and let her know you’re here as well.” Swinging my legs off the bed and opening my door, I could hear my mom more clearly now even though her voice was as raised.
Making my way down the hall way, I could hear her going back and forth between her room and kitchen and as I made it to the living room I caught a glimpse of her wearing one of her dresses. As I walked closer I could see her grab her keys off the wall.
“Mom?” My head tilted as I spoke. “Are you going out?”
My mother turned around, her amber eyes falling on me, a look of mild surprise on her face which faded as she began to speak.
“Hayden, I didn’t know you were home.” Her eyes fell off me as she paced towards the door. “I have to head out for work, honey.”
“But it’s the weekend,” Glancing towards the window, I could see the sun lowering in the sky. “And it’s getting late out too. When will you be back home?” 
“I’ll be back when I get back.” Opening the door, she glanced back to me one last time. “Make sure you behave, I know you’re good by yourself.”
I felt my stomach tie in knots as I watched the door close. I wanted to say something, but couldn’t figure out what to say. I wanted to run out the door after her, but I didn’t. I just stood there, my stomach sick and my mind blank.
Slowly I made way over to the door, my steps dragging as I walked. Reaching the door I turned the deadbolt to the locked, and let myself lean against the door.

Don’t cry. Don’t. Not when Mikal could see.

Hearing steps light from the hall way, I turned to see Mikal stepping out from the entrance of the hall way before giving me a confused look.
“Where’s your mom?” Mikal glanced around as he spoke, with his amber eyes landing on me.
“Work.” I answered as confidently as I could muster. “She had to go to work… But we have the house all to ourselves.”