"Welcome back, my love."
"You again?!" Skylar glared at the same werewolf she had once seen and dreamed before.
"You just miss me."
"I'm the one who's asleep." She refuted defensively, trying to hide the blush trying to show on her cheek.
"But you're the one who's visiting me here."
"How's that even possible? I'm just dreaming of you." She said with confusion in her tone as she sat on the grassy ground beside the huge werewolf.
"AHA! I told you, you're the one who's visiting me here."
"Shut up." She rolled her eyes over the teasing behavior of the werewolf.
"Cute. Anyway, dreamland is on board. Every dream was connected to everything like how the stars, the sun, and the moon connected to us. It was a kind of connection that can't be broken by anything since it's been here before any of us were alive. Dreams connect people to scenery from past, present, or even subjective future events. Sometimes it reflects people's inner desire or feelings you're going through."
"And you know them because you're in this kind of space where time is limitless? I mean, existing in both ways." Skylar guessed carefully, making the werewolf chuckle and frown.
"Even in dreams, time still exists. But we're in a type of space that exists in between which means spiritual realm."
"I'm not dead, right?" she gasped in worry, making the werewolf laugh and her frown deepened. Skylar began hitting the wolf until it stopped laughing.
"Don't be silly. You're pretty much alive and kicking. You just went into a very deep sleep, making your spirit travel here."
"Ohh, okay, then how can I wake up?" she curiously wondered.
"Just wake up. This is not a nightmare or something terrifying dream. It's a dream where the spirit traveled to rest. And don't worry about Vincencio. He's fully healed and may wake up, once you do. I hope you won't forget me once you wake up."
"I hope so since you kept me company here and I'm at ease whenever you're around." With sincerity, Skylar said while smiling at the werewolf.
"I love it when you say it like that."
"I mean it." Skylar firmly said and hugged the wolf. She grew to love its fur before adding a question she forgot to ask. "By the way, what should I call you?"
"Call me whatever you want. But don't call me a dog."
"I'll come up with something." She grinned mischievously when she felt her body twitching, signalizing her body waking up. "See you whenever."
***
As Skylar woke up from her dream, she found herself feeling light and warm. She loves the feeling and quickly gets up from the couch and checks on her husband. She could already see what the werewolf told her and Vincencio was fully healed.
"Morning, Hubby." She softly said and kissed his temple before opening up the curtains and stretching.
Skylar was savoring the morning sun touching her skin through the window when a knock happened, revealing the doctor and sister-in-law of her husband.
"I see you're up." With a genuine warm smile, Dr. Aletia Etzli Monsour greeted Skylar with familiarity.
"Morning." Skylar greeted back.
"Had a nice nap?" She noticed the radiant positivity spreading through Skylar's smile.
"Pretty much." She replied, grinning, making the doctor chuckle.
"I'll check him." She said, checking on Vincencio's smooth recovery while Skylar prepared a cup of brewed coffee.
"Doc, have you two met before he married me?" she wondered out of the blue, almost catching the doctor off guard while doing her job.
"A couple of times but recently when he got in the city, he has been dropping by." She answered while checking Vincencio's operated wound which pretty much healed.
"I'm glad he knew someone in the city." With a grateful smile, Skylar said, making the doctor carefully check on her.
"Okay, Vincencio is recovering pretty well, and maybe around noon or tonight, he'll wake up." She said with a genuine smile.
"Thanks, Doc." Skylar thanked her before wondering something. "Ahm, Doc, can I do something weird?"
"Well, it depends on how weird it is." She chuckled. However, the female doctor sensed something different in Skylar's smile despite her eyes fixated on her.
"Well, do you believe in supernatural, like werewolves, vampires, etc.?" She asked sternly, making the doctor narrow her eyes in curiosity.
"Well, they were myths, but based on my experience, I believed in their existence." She answered honestly, making Skylar nod.
"Experience? You've encountered them before?" She curiously asked, making the doctor smile.
"Just like what you heard, experience." She amusingly responded before asking, "How about you? Have you encountered them or you're just being curious that's why you asked?"
"Just like you, I experience them and surprisingly, I'm taking it lightly, like I've known it for so long but I don't remember." With honesty, Skylar replied followed by a deep sigh, catching the doctor's attention.
"Want me to check on you?" she wondered professionally.
"Is it a free consultation?" she teased, making the doctor chuckle.
"You're a billionaire and you worry about money?" she teasingly refuted.
"Well, just asking." She chuckled before asking. "Do I need to go to the lab or something?"
"With me as your doctor, you don't need one unless you want me to process it." Dr. Aletia Eztli replied with a slight mysteriousness in her tone.
"That's strange." Skylar sensed it but wanted to try and see it for herself. "I see, have it your way."
"Excuse me then." Dr. Aletia Eztli said and used the penlight to check on Skylar's pupil before cupping her face delicately and adding something strange. "Look into my eyes and don't blink as much as you can."
"She's not going to hypnotize me, right?" she worried, but with sincerity from the doctor, she agreed. "Okay."
"Here I go." She said and stared deeply into Skylar's orbs.
At first, Skylar was having trouble maintaining her gaze on the doctor's stunning eyes. But the more she didn't blink, the more her body began relaxing. However, she felt the heat rising and spreading erratically throughout her body, making her heartbeat fasten and her breathing become shallow. She wanted to break free from the doctor but her body began trembling which scared her until the doctor's hand left her face, making her breathe again.
"What just happened there? Did you hypnotize me?" Skylar wondered, gasping and stabilizing her breathing.
"I don't need hypnotism but I could compel you to tell me the truth." Dr. Aletia Eztli Monsour replied sternly, looking deeply at her as if reading a book.
"Why do I feel like I am talking to either Cleo or Irina?" She thought before replying, sounding confused. "What truth? I don't understand."
"Okay, from what I could see in you, there was a misty part of your brain. It was thick and strong blocking a certain memory from a childhood. And I am not sure it was caused by a traumatic experience or something else." She answered professionally, making Skylar calm and listen without panicking inside her mind until she heard her question. "Have you noticed something strange happening with you lately?"
"I've been dreaming bloody scenes and me as a monster, then I met Alicia Irie and I've been dreaming an annoying but serene werewolf," Skylar answered while thinking about strange things for her.
"Wait, you're dreaming about a werewolf, since when it happened?" she quickly asked, making Skylar curious.
"Since Vincencio was admitted here." She answered while trying to read the doctor's aura – but it was blurred or uneven. She could not see it.
"Have you talked to it?" She asked carefully.
"Yeah, it was annoying but its presence gave peace in me." She answered with slight annoyance in her tone before asking, "Why?"
"Nothing, it happened to me before I met Vincencio's brother." With a sigh, she replied while smiling before noticing her time. "Anyway, I have to go. I still have my rounds…"
"What it is?" Skylar asked since the doctor stopped by the door.
"Skylar, what would you do if one-day Vincencio became the werewolf you had been dreaming of?" She wondered sternly but Skylar noticed a concern in the doctor's eyes.
"Why does she look concerned?" Skylar thought before giving her honest response. "Frighten? Confuse? Intrigue? I guess? I'm not sure."
"But will you be able to accept him in case he is that werewolf?" she asked more, making Skylar carefully think about it.
"If that was the case…maybe…" She carefully thought before answering, "I couldn't say, but based on how I talked to the werewolf in my dream and my love with Vincencio, I think I could."
"I see, don't forget that in case it happened. See you, later." She said smiling at her and then left Skylar wondering about their strange conversation.
"What just happened to our conversation?" Skylar wondered and started doing her morning routine in the hospital.
***
Just like predicted, Vincencio woke up around noon where Skylar was eating her lunch and doing her CEO work with Medina. Medina quickly called for his doctor while Skylar was delighted. However, instead of being greeted by a sweet and loving wife, Vincencio met a strong slap on his face. Everyone saw it and he wanted to complain until he heard her sob.
"Wifey…" Vincencio softly called, but Skylar kept crying on his lap.
"You idiot. You made me worry." Skylar cried while lightly punching his chest, carefully not hitting his wound.
"Sorry." He chuckled while apologizing.
"Stupid." She said, crying.
"Sorry." He chuckled before pulling his wife into his arms, giving her back a soothing caress.
"You're banned from using the kitchen until you fully recover." She said, banning him from his kitchen as she pulled away.
"But…" he tried to reason but Skylar quickly interjected.
"That's your punishment." Skylar glared, making him quiet but attentively listen to his wife's worry rant. "I thought, I'm going to lose you…if you do this again, I'll be the one who'll end you."
They spent another night at the hospital but when Vincencio got clear, they headed back home which they missed. With the help of friends, Vincencio amusingly watched his wife being taught but Medina around the kitchen while Joey held on the side. Skylar smiled, seeing Vincencio laugh which gave warmness to her being.
"You're radiant," Medina whispered as they glanced at where the boys stayed, playing video games since Joey insisted.
"He's here, that's why." Skylar smiled genuinely because the person she truly loves is still alive and well before requesting Medina's help. "Help me cook without burning too much of it."
"Sure." Medina agreed and went into her full strict side as she taught Skylar around the kitchen.
Their first morning breakfast with friends went smoothly but when the couple was left alone in their nest, things changed. Skylar didn't let Vincencio do much aside from walking and bossing her around. Skylar could not complain about his bossy side when it came to cleaning the kitchen. He was very meticulous about it. However, Skylar easily slips or drops some utensils whenever she either gets them or stores them back on their rack.
"Wifey, what's that?! Are you okay in there?"
Vincencio's voice from the hall between the kitchen and the living space echoed when he heard the clattering sound from the kitchen.
"I'm okay," Skylar responded while rubbing her ass and kicking the rug she slipped on. "Stupid rug."
Skylar stood up, storing the utensils that she wouldn't be using back on their rack before grabbing a new set. So far, nothing bad happened to her as she put them in place but when she turned back to the cabinet, she hit herself and slipped again on the same rug.
"THE FUCK!" She groaned in pain upon discovering her clumsiness around the kitchen, but she'll live.
"Wifey, are you sure you don't need my help?"
She heard his worried voice but there were some snickers, making her frown. She can't do anything since she was punishing him but it felt like she was punishing herself around the kitchen.
"I can manage. Stay put in the living room. I'll be good around here." Skylar shouted back while murdering the innocent rug that she slipped on. "Yeah, I'll be good around here – save me."
Vincencio witnessed how determined his wife was although, she was not good at everything. He was amused and began helping her secretly. However, Skylar caught him, giving him a lecture. But then, turned into a passionate kiss, making her forget why she was mad in the first place.
"Let me help by giving you instructions on how to do the laundry." Amused, Vincencio offered help but Skylar couldn't say no because their laundry area had been covered with bubbles. Skylar put too much power on their top loader washing machine.
"Fine, just instruction and you're folding our dried clothes." Skylar bargained with a defeated sigh, making Vincencio chuckle and kiss her temple.
"Deal." He agreed and began helping his wife on cleaning her mess.