What is a wolf?

I descend the stairs while occasionally observing every corner of the room around me. In this large house, it's only Rex who consistently resides here. Aunt Anna is always busy managing her bakery, which isn't far from this residential complex. Her bakery is always bustling with customers because her homemade bread is simply the best. Sometimes, she chooses to stay there if she feels tired of going back and forth between the shop and home. Her husband, Uncle Jo, only comes home once a week as he works in a different city from us. 

"Morning, aunty." I greet as I see Aunt Anna preparing bread—her own creations. 

"Morning, sweety. Did you sleep well?" she asks while gently patting my cheek. 

"Yes, I slept really well." I reply, offering her my best smile. Aunt Anna bears a striking resemblance to my mother, though she's more motherly in her demeanor compared to my actual mother. Aunt Anna knows how to treat a child and knows how to give them attention—a quality that sets her apart from my biological mother. One of the reasons I accepted staying in New York is because of Aunt Anna. 

Then my attention is drawn to the delicious aroma coming from the table. Neatly arranged bread decorates this not-too-big dining table. I reckon they've just come out of the oven, judging by the lingering steam around them. 

"I'm so sorry, sweety. I haven't had the chance to go grocery shopping for rice. I promise I'll buy it later after coming back from the shop, okay?" Aunt Anna's words immediately make me shake my head. I understand her intention. 

"No need, you know I'm not a picky eater. I can survive without rice," I reply with a chuckle, creating a slightly awkward joke that still manages to make Aunt Anna laugh. 

"Alright then, go ahead and have your bread. I need to head to the kitchen." she says, pushing my shoulder gently to prompt me to sit on one of the dining chairs. 

"Auntie, where's Rex?" I ask, realizing his absence from the dining table. 

Aunt Anna stops in her tracks and turns towards me. 

"He's picking up his car from the repair shop. He might come in a little while," she answers, and I simply nod while biting into a piece of bread with chocolate filling. Ah, Aunt Anna's bread is always my favorite. I hardly notice I've already devoured almost half of the bread she prepared, and my stomach is starting to feel a bit stuffed. I never thought my small stomach could hold so much carbs. 

"Sweety, has Rex not arrived yet?" Aunt Anna asks from the kitchen, now holding her bag, and I simply shake my head to answer. 

"Where is that boy?" Aunt Anna mutters, her annoyed expression clear as she presses the buttons on her phone. I know she's trying to reach Rex. 

"Are you going to the bakery now?" I ask, curious. 

"Yes, sweety. I apologize, but I was planning to spend today with you and take you around. Unfortunately, one of my employees called with a little issue at the shop." she explains, her face turning slightly red. I can tell Aunt Anna isn't at ease, especially considering her frustration with Rex, who hasn't shown up yet. 

"In that case, can I come along with you?" I ask. It seems like a good idea to me. Instead of being alone at home, I can go with Aunt Anna. 

"Are you sure?" she double-checks. 

"Of course, consider it as you taking me on a tour, and I can help out there." I offer. She responds with a pleased smile. I know her answer will be yes. 

"Alright then." she says, making me do a little jump and rush up to my room to grab my sling bag. 

"Bake the bread now!" 

"Vin, your dough is too soft." 

"Hey, get the buttercream!" 

I'm transfixed by the people in front of me. They're bustling in this not-so-big kitchen. Aunt Anna is currently dealing with an order from a customer who suddenly ordered a large quantity of bread. Four employees are helping her in the kitchen, working as if they're being chased by ghosts, their faces flushed with nervousness and the heat of the room. 

"Anna, the order for Miss Brenda hasn't been delivered yet!" one of the employees, who seems to be around the same age as Aunt Anna, exclaims. 

Aunt Anna stops her movements of making the bread and blinks repeatedly. 

"Oh my, I forgot. Can you deliver it?" Aunt Anna asks the woman. 

"The customers outside are busy, and I can't leave them with only Jacob attending to them." 

Aunt Anna then shifts her gaze to the four employees who are assisting her—they are equally busy. 

"Aunty, can I help?" I suggest, feeling a bit guilty just sitting around when they're all overwhelmed. 

"No, sweety, just sit and enjoy your snack." 

"But, aunty, I'm getting bored. I might not be skilled in the kitchen, but I can at least help you with the delivery," I reply, semi-whining, hoping Aunt Anna will accept my help. Eventually, she sighs and nods her head. 

I immediately stand up from my comfortable seat, grab the list of orders, and a note with the customer's address. 

Occasionally, I look around and then back at the small piece of paper in my hand, as I pedal my bike with a basket full of bread orders. After wandering around the housing complex for a while, I finally find the customer's address. I hop off my bike and walk towards the entrance of a rather large house. Houses here are so different from those in Indonesia. There are no fences separating the yards from the streets, giving an open feel. Maybe there are a few houses with fences, but those can be counted on one hand. I glance around the spacious garden, hoping to spot the person who ordered the bread. 

But just a few steps towards the door, I'm startled by loud barking that makes me jump and sit down. 

Shit. 

I clutch my backside, which now hurts from the fall. What crazy person keeps a large wolf in a residential complex like this? Don't they think twice about keeping it and letting it roam around like this? 

I start panicking as the large wolf in front of me keeps barking and approaching. Okay, I don't know if wolves bark or howl, and I don't know if it's a dog or a wolf or some hybrid, whatever, I disregard that. I instantly grab the fallen bread basket beside me and take out a few pieces of bread as bait. 

"Hey, hey, go away. Do you want this bread? Take it, but let me go, okay?" I say, swinging the pieces of bread in front of me. But instead of calming down, the wolf keeps barking louder. Come on, someone get this idiot wolf away from me. 

I close my eyes, hoping that when I open them, the wolf will be gone. 

"What are you doing?" My brow furrows as I hear a deep voice. Slowly, I open my eyes to see a pair of legs standing right in front of me, forcing me to look up and see a tall man with a wolf sitting next to him. 

"What are you doing here?" he asks again, bringing me back to reality. I stand up quickly, brushing off the grass that stuck to my butt and thighs. 

"I just wanted to deliver the bread to this address," I reply, staring into his beautiful eyes before glancing at the wolf beside him—same eye color. 

"Go away!" he says coldly, making me frown. 

"The bread__" 

"Go fucking away!" his curse startles me, not just because of the high pitch of his voice, but also the foul language that escapes his bright pink lips. My inner voice slaps me for imagining those sexy lips kissing my cheek—probably feels warm. 

"What? No, you have to pay for this bread that got dirty because of your pet wolf." I retort, putting my hands on my hips and raising my chin in defiance. 

"Didn't you hear me earlier? Go away," he says again, trying to shoo me off. 

"No." 

"You'll regret it, bread delivery girl." he hisses, a smirk playing on his lips that makes my body shiver, unsure if it's from fear or his handsome face. 

"I've already told you, pay for my bread first." I stand my ground firmly. 

"Hey, bread delivery girl—" 

"My name is Aurel, not bread delivery girl." I interrupt, feeling uncomfortable with the label. 

"Whatever, now leave or I can have my friend here tear you apart." he whispers with a sharp gaze directed at me. Unfortunately, my knees start trembling from fear. I shift my gaze to the wolf next to him, which is also staring at me intently. Why do they look so alike? Both seem to dislike my presence. 

"What are you waiting for? Go away." he says again, gritting his teeth. 

"Fine, I'm leaving, but take this bread and where's the payment?" I say, pulling my hand forward to hand over the bread basket in my grip. After a moment, he glances at the basket in his hand and then at my outstretched hand. 

"Go fucking away!!" he snaps, making me shut my eyes immediately, my heart pounding. 

What's wrong with him? Why did he order the bread if he didn't want to pay for it? Does he act like this every time he orders from aunty? Well, I have to tell aunty Anna about this when I get back so she knows not to serve customers like wolves, literally. Okay, that was wrong, just like the owner of this wolf. 

"At least don't order bread if you don't have money." I grumble in frustration, and I'm pretty sure he heard that, judging by his annoyed expression. 

"Rex, I think you're getting the tastiest meal today. Are you ready, buddy?" he says, ruffling the fur around the wolf's head. Wait, did he just say Rex? He didn't really name the wolf Rex, did he? I squint my eyes at him. 

"I'll count to three, and if you're still standing here, Rex is having an early dinner." he threatens, making me even more irritated and certain that the wolf is indeed named Rex. What a jerk. 

"I can't." 

"Three!" he exclaims, causing me to jump, and without thinking, I sprint towards my bike and quickly hop on. 

I glance back at him, still watching me with his blank expression. A moment later, he tosses the bread basket onto his front yard. 

Weird guy.