Off Limits

Liliam

I sat at my desk, my mind drifting back to the dream from last night. The vivid images of the black and brown wolves, their eyes locked in a silent battle of wills, replayed in my mind. It felt so real, like a memory more than a dream. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to it, something I needed to understand.

Absentmindedly, I began typing into the search bar on my computer: **"meaning of wolves in dreams."** I scrolled through the results, clicking on articles that seemed promising. Most of them talked about wolves symbolizing loyalty, protection, and instincts, but none of them seemed to address the intensity of the fight I had witnessed in my dream.

My focus was so absorbed in the screen that I didn't notice Zeff approaching my desk. He leaned over, glancing at my monitor. I could feel his presence beside me before I even saw him.

"What are you looking at?" he asked casually, taking a sip from his water bottle.

Startled, I glanced up at him and then back at my screen, feeling a bit embarrassed to be caught Googling dream interpretations at work. "Oh, just... something weird. I dreamt about wolves last night—two of them, actually, a black one and a brown one. They were fighting. I'm just wondering if it means anything," I said, trying to sound casual.

At my words, Zeff suddenly choked on his water, sputtering and coughing violently. "What?" he finally managed to get out, his eyes wide with shock.

I frowned, taken aback by his reaction. "Are you okay?" I asked, handing him a tissue.

He waved it off, still coughing a bit. "Y-yeah, I'm fine," he said, though his voice was strained. He cleared his throat and tried to compose himself, but I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hand gripped the edge of my desk just a little too tightly. "What… what kind of dream did you have?"

I studied his face, noticing the sudden nervousness in his expression. "It was… strange," I said slowly, my curiosity piqued by his reaction. "I was walking in the forest, and I saw these two wolves—the black one and the brown one. They were circling each other, and then they started fighting. The black wolf seemed to be protecting me, keeping the brown one away."

Zeff's face was tense, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a look of concern. He shifted his weight, glancing around the office as if to make sure no one else was listening. "And… did anything else happen in the dream?" he asked carefully.

I shrugged, still watching him closely. "Not really. The black wolf scared the brown one off, and then I woke up. Why? Do you think it means something?"

He hesitated for a moment, clearly debating how much to say. "Well," he began slowly, "wolves in dreams can represent a lot of things. Instincts, protection… or even conflicts within yourself."

I nodded, sensing he was holding something back. "But this dream felt… different. Almost like it was trying to tell me something."

He opened his mouth to respond, then closed it again, clearly unsure of what to say. I could see the wheels turning in his mind, a flicker of something almost like panic in his eyes.

"Zeff?" I prompted, leaning forward a bit. "Do you know something about this?"

He finally sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Liliam, dreams are tricky things. They can mean a lot or they can mean nothing at all. Maybe it's just your mind processing things. You've had a lot on your plate lately."

I narrowed my eyes at him, not entirely convinced. "You're deflecting," I accused gently. "If there's something I should know, Zeff?"

He took a deep breath, looking like he was weighing his options. "I promise, if there's something you need to know, I'll tell you," he said, though I could tell he wasn't being entirely truthful. "Just… don't worry about it , its just a dream?"

I nodded slowly, though my mind was anything but settled. There was something Zeff wasn't telling me, something about those wolves that he knew but wasn't saying.

I decided to let it go for now, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to my dream than just a manifestation of my thoughts. And whatever it was, Zeff seemed to know something about it. Something he wasn't ready to share. Not yet, at least.

__________

I was at my usual coffee shop, standing in line and trying to decide between my go-to caramel latte or maybe something different for a change. The scent of freshly ground coffee beans filled the air, mingling with the sweetness of pastries displayed in the glass case. The hum of quiet conversation and the clatter of cups created a soothing background noise.

Just as I was about to place my order, a warm breath tickled my ear, and a voice, smooth with a faint Irish lilt, spoke from just behind me. "I'm more of a French vanilla kind of guy."

I jumped slightly, startled by the unexpected closeness. I turned to see a man with sandy blonde hair, his silver eyes gleaming with a mischievous glint. It was the same man I had noticed a few days ago, sitting at one of the rustic tables in the corner, watching me intently. His presence had lingered in my mind, and now here he was, right behind me.

"Oh, uh, hello," I stammered, taken aback by his sudden appearance.

He flashed a charming smile, dimples forming at the corners of his mouth. "Didn't mean to startle you. I saw you standing there and thought I'd say hello."

"Hello," I replied, offering a polite smile, though I couldn't help but feel a bit flustered by how close he was standing. "Nice to meet you."

The barista looked at me expectantly, and I quickly placed my order for a caramel latte. Before I could even think about reaching for my wallet, William stepped forward, handing over his card.

"Put her drink on my tab," he said smoothly.

I blinked, surprised. "Oh, you don't have to do that…"

"Nonsense," he cut in with a grin. "I insist. Besides, it's not every day I get to buy a lovely lady a coffee."

I felt my cheeks warm at his words, unsure how to respond. He had a certain charm about him, a confidence that was both intriguing and disarming. I found myself nodding. "Well, thank you, then."

The barista handed us our drinks, and William gestured toward the door. "Shall we?"

"Sure," I replied, feeling a little off balance but curious about him.

As we stepped outside, the crisp morning air hit my face, a refreshing change from the warmth of the coffee shop. We began walking down the street, William falling into step beside me.

"So, Liliam," he started, taking a sip of his coffee. "What do you do? Besides frequent coffee shops, that is."

I chuckled softly. "I work in administration department . It's not as glamorous as it sounds, but it keeps me busy."

"Administration, huh?" William said, nodding thoughtfully. "That does sound interesting. Lots of heavy thinking involved, I imagine."

"Sometimes," I admitted. "But it can also be a bit… monotonous, you know? Lots of data and numbers, trying to figure out what makes people tick."

"Ah, figuring out what makes people tick," he mused. "That's a skill worth having. People are more complicated than they let on."

I glanced at him, intrigued. "And what about you, William? What do you do?"

"Oh, I'm sort of a wanderer, you could say," he replied with a playful grin. "I like to explore, see new places, meet new people. Keeps life interesting."

"A wanderer?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow. "That's a bit mysterious."

He laughed, the sound rich and warm. "I suppose it is. But life's too short to stay in one place for too long, don't you think?"

I nodded, sipping my coffee. "I guess there's some truth to that. It must be nice, having the freedom to just… go wherever you want."

"It has its perks," he agreed, his silver eyes studying me closely. "But I imagine you've got your own share of adventures, Liliam. Just from the look of you, I'd say you've got a bit of a wild spirit yourself."

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "I'm not sure about that. My life's pretty routine, to be honest."

"Routine can be nice," William said, "but sometimes it's good to shake things up a bit."

As we walked, I couldn't help but feel drawn to him. There was something about William—his easygoing demeanor, his charming smile—that made me feel both comfortable and a bit on edge at the same time. It was like he was trying to peel back my layers, see what was underneath.

We reached the building where I worked, and I turned to him, a bit hesitant. "This is me," I said, nodding toward the entrance.

"Ah, so soon?" William said, pretending to be disappointed. "Well, it was lovely to meet you, Liliam. I hope we run into each other again."

"Yeah, maybe," I said with a small smile. "Thanks for the coffee, William."

"Anytime," he replied, his smile lingering as he took a step back. "Have a good day, Liliam. And remember, life's too short for routine."

As we approached the entrance of my office building, I noticed a familiar figure standing near the entrance, his arms crossed over his chest. Zeff. He stood there, his posture tense and rigid, his eyes fixed on us. As we got closer, I could see the look in his eyes—dark, intense, and unsettling, much like the day he kissed me in the office. My heart fluttered in my chest, a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

Before I could say anything or process the sudden tension in the air, Zeff pushed off the wall and strode straight towards us, his gaze locked onto William with a fierce intensity that made my stomach tighten.

"Zeff?" I called out, trying to catch his attention, but he didn't even look my way. His entire focus was on William, his expression a mask of barely restrained anger.

William seemed to notice Zeff's approach, his body language relaxed, but I could see a glint of recognition in his eyes. "Well, look who it is," William said, his tone light but with a subtle edge. "The Alpha himself."

Zeff didn't reply. He came to a stop right in front of William, standing close enough that I could feel the tension between them. The air around us seemed to hum with an electric charge, and I felt a chill run down my spine.

"Do you two know each other?" I asked, my voice a mix of confusion and concern.

William's lips curled into a smile, though his eyes remained cold. "Oh, we go way back, Liliam. Isn't that right, Zeff?"

Zeff's jaw tightened, and I could see the muscles in his arms tense, his fists clenched at his sides. "Stay away William," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

William chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the tension. "Now, now, Zeff. No need to be so possessive. I'm just being friendly. Liliam and I were just having a nice conversation, weren't we?"

I glanced between them, feeling caught in the middle of something I didn't quite understand. "Zeff, what's going on?" I asked, trying to make sense of their exchange.

Zeff didn't take his eyes off William. "This is not a game, William," he said, his voice steady but filled with an unmistakable warning. "I'm serious. Stay away."

William raised an eyebrow, his smile never wavering. "I didn't realize she was off-limits, Zeff. Last I checked, she's capable of making her own choices."

Zeff took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. "I mean it, William. Don't test me."

The tension between them was almost suffocating, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. There was a protective fierceness in Zeff's stance, a primal instinct that I hadn't seen before.

William finally broke the intense eye contact, glancing at me with a softer expression. "I'll see you around, Liliam," he said, his voice smooth. Then he turned back to Zeff, his eyes hardening again. "But don't think for a second this is over."

With that, he turned and walked away, his stride confident and unhurried. I watched him go, feeling a mix of confusion and unease. When I turned back to Zeff, I saw that his eyes were still locked on William's retreating figure, his expression dark and unreadable.

"Zeff, what is going on?" I asked again, my voice a bit more urgent this time.

He finally looked at me, his expression softening slightly, though there was still an edge of tension in his posture. "Let's clock in," he said quietly. "There's work to do."

I nodded, my mind racing with questions and concerns. Whatever was happening, it was clear that it was far more complicated and confusing. I needed answers—now more than ever.